Final answer:
Helper T cells are crucial in the immune system, as they release cytokines to alert and regulate other immune cells' responses to pathogens without directly destroying infected cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main thing helper T cells do is manage the immune response by telling other immune cells that there is a problem, they do this by releasing chemical messengers called cytokines.
Helper T cells, specifically CD4+ T cells, are essential for the adaptive immune response. They interact with antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and upon recognizing specific antigens, they become activated. These activated helper T cells then secrete cytokines, which play a critical role in modulating the immune system. The cytokines act as messengers that alert other immune cells, such as killer T cells and B cells, and orchestrate their response to eradicate pathogens or clear infected cells.
Importantly, helper T cells do not directly destroy infected or cancerous cells but instead, they facilitate and enhance the responses of other immune system components. They can also help to form memory T cells that remain in the body and provide a quicker response upon future encounters with the same pathogen, thus contributing to long-term immunity.