Cellular immunity is primarily attributed to the action of which cells?

The primary role of cellular immunity is attributed to T cells, specifically in the context of recognizing and responding to infected or abnormal cells. T cells are a type of lymphocyte that play a crucial role in the immune response by directly attacking infected or cancerous cells. This response is particularly important for managing infections caused by viruses and certain intracellular bacteria, which cannot be effectively dealt with by antibodies alone.

T cells are divided into various subtypes, including cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells. Cytotoxic T cells are directly responsible for killing infected cells, while helper T cells assist in activating and regulating other immune cells. However, the broader category of T cells encompasses all of the functions related to cellular immunity, making this option the most accurate choice for the primary effectors in the cellular immune response.

While B cells produce antibodies and play a significant role in humoral immunity, and antigen-presenting cells are essential for initiating T cell responses, the direct action upon infected cells defining cellular immunity is primarily conducted by T cells.