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Health Information
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Saturday, November 22, 2008
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Glossary
of Terms Used in Primary Immunodeficiency Disease
- antibody-protein
that is part of the body's immune system; it is produced in
response to substances, usually foreign, known as antigens
(see below). The binding of antibody to foreign substances
facilitates their destruction.
- antigen-a
substance recognized as foreign by the immune system.
- autoimmunity-the
condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and
damages the body's own cells and tissues; this immune reaction
is the basis of a variety of autoimmune diseases including
diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus,
among others.
- bone marrow-blood-like
material located in the central cavities of bones. Bone marrow
is the source of all blood cells.
- complement-a
series of proteins that work together to kill foreign cells
like bacteria and viruses.
- gene-a
unit of genetic material (DNA). A gene may be defined in different
ways as follows:
- pattern of
inheritance-a segment of DNA that is transmitted, intact,
from parent to offspring;
- structur-a
segment of DNA encoding a protein molecule;
- function-a
segment of DNA that contains the information for a specific
function;
- dominant-where
the gene from one parent confers a trait;
- recessive-where
both genes at a locus are required to confer a trait.
- gene therapy-treatment
of genetic diseases by providing the correct or normal form
of the abnormal gene causing a $isease.
- genetic disease-a
disease due to an abnormal condition of one or more genes.
Although most diseases have some genetic component, the term
genetic disease is usually applied to those cases where one
or two genes determine the disease, such as sickle cell anemia,
Tay-Sachs disease, and cystic fibrosis.
- HLA (human
leukocyte antigens)-the transplantation antigens (i.e.,
the antigens that are the major targets of immune rejection)
of humans. These molecules have a role in regulating the immune
response in general.
- immune response-the
reaction of the immune system to foreign substances.
- immunocompetent-capable
of developing an immune response.
- immunodeficiency-the
lack of an adequate or normal immune response. Immunodeficiency
can be:
- primary-intrinsic,
not due to another illness or agent;
- secondary-due
to another illness or agent, e.g., human immunodeficiency
virus, cancer, chemotherapy, etc.;
- combined-deficiencies
of both killer T lymphocytes and antibodies.
- immunologic
disease-a disease due to a dysfunction of the immune system.
These are the autoimmune, allergic, and immunodeficiency diseases.
- leukocyte-a
white cell of the blood.
- phagocytes-white
blood cells called neutrophils and macrophages that engulf
and kill foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.
- protein-a
type of organic compound that is one of the major components
of cells and tissues.
- rejection (graft)-the
immunological response to transplanted tissues or organs;
if rejection is not controlled, it will eventually lead to
graft failure or graft-versus-host disease.
- transplantation-transfer
of cells, tissues, or organs from one area of the body to
another or from one organism to another.
- X-linked-boys
inherit an X chromosome with a defective gene from their mother,
and since it is their only X chromosome, they develop the
disease.
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