Effector cell

In cell biology, an effector cell is any of various types of cell that actively responds to a stimulus and effects some change (brings it about).

Examples of effector cells include:

• The muscle, gland or organ cell capable of responding to a stimulus at the terminal end of an efferent nerve fiber
• Plasma cell, an effector B cell in the immune system
• Effector T cells, T cells that actively respond to a stimulus
• Cytokine-induced killer cells, strongly productive cytotoxic effector cells that are capable of lysing tumor cells
• Microglia, a glial effector cell that reconstructs the Central nervous system after a bone marrow transplant
• Fibroblast, a cell that is most commonly found within connective tissue
• Mast cell, the primary effector cell involved in the development of asthma