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Immunology Related Terms



- C -

  • Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

  • Antigen present during embryonic development which normally disappears but reappears in malignant tissue.

  • Carrier

  • A large immunogenic molecule or particle to which an antigenic determinant is attached, allowing the determinant to become immunogenic.

  • Cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC)

  • Killing (lysis) of a target cell by an effector lymphocyte.

  • Cell-mediated immunity (CMI)

  • Immune reaction mediated by T cells; in contrast to humoral immunity, which is antibody mediated. Also referred to as delayed-type hypersensitivity.

  • Chemotaxis

  • Migration of cells along a concentration gradient of an attractant.

  • Class I, II and III MHC molecules

  • Proteins encoded by genes in the major histocompatibility complex (q.v.). Class I molecules are designated HLA-A, B, or C. Class II molecules are designated DP, DQ or DR.

  • Class switch

  • See isotype switch.

  • Classical pathway

  • The mechanism of complement activation initiated by antigen-antibody aggregates and proceeding by way of C1, C4 and C2.

  • Clonal deletion

  • The loss of lymphocytes of a particular specificity due to contact with either "self" or artificially introduced antigen.

  • Clonal selection theory

  • The prevalent concept that specificity and diversity of an immune response are the result of selection by antigen of specifically reactive clones from a large repertoire of preformed lymphocytes, each with individual specificities.

  • Cluster determinant (CD)

  • Cluster of antigens with which antibodies react that characterize a cell surface marker.

  • Combinatorial joining

  • The joining of segments of DNA to generate essentially new genetic information, as occurs with Ig genes during the development of B cells. Combinatorial joining allows multiple opportunities for 2 sets of genes to combine in different ways.

  • Complement

  • A series of serum proteins involved in the mediation of immune reactions. The complement cascade is triggered classically by the interaction of antibody with specific antigen.

  • Complement components

  • An enzymatic system of serum proteins triggered by the classical and alternative pathways, and resulting in target cell lysis, phagocytosis, opsonization and chemotaxis.

  • Complement receptor

  • A structure found on erythrocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages that binds C3 fragments.

  • Constant region (C region)

  • The invariant carboxyl-terminal portion of an antibody molecule, as distinct from the variable region which is at the amino-terminal of the chain.

  • Coombs' test

  • A test named for its originator, R.R.A. Coombs, used to detect non-agglutinating antibodies on red blood cells by addition of an anti-immunoglobulin antibody.

  • Cross-reactivity

  • The ability of an antibody, specific for one antigen, to react with a second antigen; a measure of relatedness between two different antigenic substances.

  • Cytokines

  • Soluble substances secreted by cells, which have a variety of effects on other cells, e.g. Interleukin 1 (Il-1).

  • Cytotoxic (Cytolytic) T cell

  • Cell that kills target cells bearing appropriate antigen within the groove of an MHC class I molecule that is identical to that of the T cell.


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Immunology Terms


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