What is the role of CD4 T helper cells in the immune system?

The role of CD4 T helper cells in the immune system is to enhance the immune response. These cells are crucial for orchestrating the adaptive immune response by providing help to other cells of the immune system. They achieve this by releasing various cytokines, which are signaling proteins that influence the activity of other immune cells, including CD8 cytotoxic T cells and B cells.

CD4 T helper cells do not directly kill infected cells; that function is primarily carried out by CD8 T cytotoxic cells. Similarly, while they play a supportive role in the antibody production process, the actual production of antibodies is performed by B cells, which are also stimulated by CD4 T helper cells through their cytokine signaling. Blood clotting is a completely separate process regulated by platelets and other factors, not directly associated with the function of T helper cells. Therefore, the primary and essential role of CD4 T helper cells lies in enhancing and regulating various aspects of the immune response, making the option regarding their function to enhance the immune response the most accurate.