IMMUNOLOGIC CYTOTOXICITY Meaning and
Definition
-
Immunologic cytotoxicity refers to a biological process in which immune cells, mainly cytotoxic lymphocytes, recognize and eliminate abnormal or infected cells within the body. This immune response plays a crucial role in the body's defense against a variety of diseases, including viral infections and cancerous conditions.
During immunologic cytotoxicity, immune cells recognize target cells that express specific molecular markers known as antigens. These antigens are typically foreign or aberrantly expressed on the surface of infected or transformed cells. The immune cells then release a variety of cytotoxic molecules, such as perforin and proteases, which can directly induce cell death by compromising the integrity of the target cell's plasma membrane or activating apoptotic pathways within the cell.
Immunologic cytotoxicity can be mediated by various immune cell types, including natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and activated macrophages. These cells can also engage in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), where they recognize cells that have become coated with antibodies produced by B cells. This process further enhances the efficiency of immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
Immunologic cytotoxicity is a crucial process in both innate and adaptive immune responses. It acts as a defense mechanism against infected cells, ensures the clearance of abnormal cells, and provides immune surveillance to prevent the spreading of pathogens and the development of cancers. Studies and manipulation of immunologic cytotoxicity have important implications in developing immunotherapeutic strategies for diseases such as cancer and viral infections.
Common Misspellings for IMMUNOLOGIC CYTOTOXICITY
- ummunologic cytotoxicity
- jmmunologic cytotoxicity
- kmmunologic cytotoxicity
- ommunologic cytotoxicity
- 9mmunologic cytotoxicity
- 8mmunologic cytotoxicity
- inmunologic cytotoxicity
- ikmunologic cytotoxicity
- ijmunologic cytotoxicity
- imnunologic cytotoxicity
- imkunologic cytotoxicity
- imjunologic cytotoxicity
- immynologic cytotoxicity
- immhnologic cytotoxicity
- immjnologic cytotoxicity
- imminologic cytotoxicity
- imm8nologic cytotoxicity
- imm7nologic cytotoxicity
- immubologic cytotoxicity
- immumologic cytotoxicity
Etymology of IMMUNOLOGIC CYTOTOXICITY
The word "immunologic cytotoxicity" can be broken down into its two main components: "immunologic" and "cytotoxicity".
1. Immunologic: The term "immunologic" is derived from the word "immune" and the suffix "-logic".
- "Immune" comes from the Latin word "immunis", meaning "exempt" or "free". In Latin, the word "immunis" was composed of "in-" (meaning "not") and "munis" (meaning "obligation" or "duty"). Thus, "immune" refers to being exempt or protected from something, such as a disease or infection.
- The suffix "-logic" comes from the Greek word "logos", meaning "word" or "reason".
