Final answer:
The function of helper T-lymphocytes is to initiate and oversee the immune response. They act as 'managers' by secreting cytokines that help regulate and activate other immune cells to fight infections effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of helper T-lymphocytes is A) Initiate and oversee the immune response. Helper T-lymphocytes, or helper T cells, play a crucial role in the adaptive immune system by managing immune responses. They do this by secreting cytokines, which are signaling proteins that modulate the activities of other immune cells such as B cells, killer T cells (also known as cytotoxic T lymphocytes), and macrophages.
Helper T cells are essentially the "managers" of the immune system, ensuring other cells perform their functions effectively against pathogens. These immune cells do not directly destroy infected cells or pathogens; rather, they assist by releasing regulatory chemicals that activate and guide the other components of the immune system in responding to a threat. Following the clearance of a pathogen, most helper T cells die off, but some persist as memory cells, which can rapidly respond to future exposures to the same antigen.