Post by jeffs on Feb 8, 2006 18:00:34 GMT -5
Antibody (immunoglobulin): A protein that is produced by B lymphocytes and that interacts with a specific antigen.
Antibody (immunoglobulin): A protein that is produced by B lymphocytes and that interacts with a specific antigen.
Antigen: Any substance that can stimulate an immune response.
Basophil: A white blood cell that releases histamine (a substance involved in allergic reactions) and that produces substances to attract neutrophils and eosinophils to a trouble spot.
Cell: The smallest unit of a living organism, composed of a nucleus and cytoplasm surrounded by a membrane.
Chemotaxis: The process of attracting cells by means of a chemical substance.
Complement system: A group of proteins with various immune functions, such as killing bacteria and other foreign cells, making foreign cells easier for macrophages to identify and ingest, attracting macrophages and neutrophils to a trouble spot, and enhancing the effectiveness of antibodies.
Cytokines: The immune system's messengers, which help regulate an immune response.
Dendritic cell: A white blood cell that usually resides in tissues and that helps T lymphocytes recognize foreign antigens.
Eosinophil: A white blood cell that can ingest bacteria and other foreign cells, that may help immobilize and kill parasites, that participates in allergic reactions, and that helps destroy cancer cells.
Helper T cell: A white blood cell that helps B lymphocytes recognize and produce antibodies against foreign antigens.
Histocompatibility: Literally, compatibility of tissue; determined by human leukocyte antigens (the major histocompatibility complex) and used to determine whether a transplanted tissue or organ will be accepted by the recipient.
Human leukocyte antigens (HLA): A group of molecules that are located on the surface of cells and that are unique in each organism, enabling the body to distinguish self from nonself; also called the major histocompatibility complex.
Immune response: The reaction of the immune system to an antigen.
Immunoglobulin: A synonym for antibody.
Interleukin: A type of cytokine secreted by some white blood cells to affect other white blood cells.
Killer (cytotoxic) T cell: A lymphocyte that attaches to foreign or abnormal cells and kills them.
Leukocyte: A white blood cell, such as a monocyte, a neutrophil, an eosinophil, a basophil, or a lymphocyte.
Lymphocyte: The white blood cell responsible for specific immunity, including producing antibodies (by B lymphocytes) and distinguishing self from nonself (by T lymphocytes).
Macrophage: A large cell that is derived from a white blood cell called a monocyte, that ingests bacteria and other foreign cells, and that helps white blood cells identify microorganisms and other foreign substances.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC): A synonym for human leukocyte antigens.
Mast cell: A cell in tissues that releases histamine and other substances involved in allergic reactions.
Molecule: A group of atoms chemically combined to form a unique chemical substance.
Natural killer cell: A type of lymphocyte that, unlike other lymphocytes, is formed ready to kill certain microorganisms and cancer cells.
Neutrophil: A white blood cell that ingests and kills bacteria and other foreign cells.
Phagocyte: A cell that ingests and kills invading microorganisms, other cells, and cell fragments.
Phagocytosis: The process of a cell ingesting an invading microorganism, another cell, or a cell fragment.
Receptor: A molecule on a cell's surface or inside the cell that allows only molecules that fit precisely to it—as a key fits in its lock—to attach to it.
Suppressor T cell: A white blood cell that helps end an immune response.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AT MERCK
www.merck.com/mmhe/sec06/ch092/ch092b.html
(see Biology of the Immune System: Introduction)
Antibody (immunoglobulin): A protein that is produced by B lymphocytes and that interacts with a specific antigen.
Antigen: Any substance that can stimulate an immune response.
Basophil: A white blood cell that releases histamine (a substance involved in allergic reactions) and that produces substances to attract neutrophils and eosinophils to a trouble spot.
Cell: The smallest unit of a living organism, composed of a nucleus and cytoplasm surrounded by a membrane.
Chemotaxis: The process of attracting cells by means of a chemical substance.
Complement system: A group of proteins with various immune functions, such as killing bacteria and other foreign cells, making foreign cells easier for macrophages to identify and ingest, attracting macrophages and neutrophils to a trouble spot, and enhancing the effectiveness of antibodies.
Cytokines: The immune system's messengers, which help regulate an immune response.
Dendritic cell: A white blood cell that usually resides in tissues and that helps T lymphocytes recognize foreign antigens.
Eosinophil: A white blood cell that can ingest bacteria and other foreign cells, that may help immobilize and kill parasites, that participates in allergic reactions, and that helps destroy cancer cells.
Helper T cell: A white blood cell that helps B lymphocytes recognize and produce antibodies against foreign antigens.
Histocompatibility: Literally, compatibility of tissue; determined by human leukocyte antigens (the major histocompatibility complex) and used to determine whether a transplanted tissue or organ will be accepted by the recipient.
Human leukocyte antigens (HLA): A group of molecules that are located on the surface of cells and that are unique in each organism, enabling the body to distinguish self from nonself; also called the major histocompatibility complex.
Immune response: The reaction of the immune system to an antigen.
Immunoglobulin: A synonym for antibody.
Interleukin: A type of cytokine secreted by some white blood cells to affect other white blood cells.
Killer (cytotoxic) T cell: A lymphocyte that attaches to foreign or abnormal cells and kills them.
Leukocyte: A white blood cell, such as a monocyte, a neutrophil, an eosinophil, a basophil, or a lymphocyte.
Lymphocyte: The white blood cell responsible for specific immunity, including producing antibodies (by B lymphocytes) and distinguishing self from nonself (by T lymphocytes).
Macrophage: A large cell that is derived from a white blood cell called a monocyte, that ingests bacteria and other foreign cells, and that helps white blood cells identify microorganisms and other foreign substances.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC): A synonym for human leukocyte antigens.
Mast cell: A cell in tissues that releases histamine and other substances involved in allergic reactions.
Molecule: A group of atoms chemically combined to form a unique chemical substance.
Natural killer cell: A type of lymphocyte that, unlike other lymphocytes, is formed ready to kill certain microorganisms and cancer cells.
Neutrophil: A white blood cell that ingests and kills bacteria and other foreign cells.
Phagocyte: A cell that ingests and kills invading microorganisms, other cells, and cell fragments.
Phagocytosis: The process of a cell ingesting an invading microorganism, another cell, or a cell fragment.
Receptor: A molecule on a cell's surface or inside the cell that allows only molecules that fit precisely to it—as a key fits in its lock—to attach to it.
Suppressor T cell: A white blood cell that helps end an immune response.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AT MERCK
www.merck.com/mmhe/sec06/ch092/ch092b.html
(see Biology of the Immune System: Introduction)