| gammopathy | A primary disturbance in immunoglobulin synthesis. Biclonal gammopathy, a gammopathy in which the serum contains two distinct monoclonal immunoglobulins. Monoclonal gammopathy, any one of a group of disorders due to proliferation of a single clone of lymphoid or plasma cells (visible on electrophoresis as a single peak) and characterised by the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulin in serum or urine. Polyclonal gammopathy, a gammopathy in which there is a heterogeneous increase in immunoglobulins involving more than one cell line; may be caused by any of a variety of inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic disorders. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| polyclonal | Derived from different types of cells. (14 Nov 1997) |
| polyclonal activator | A substance that will activate T-cells, B-cells, or both regardless of their specificities. (05 Mar 2000) |
| polyclonal antibodies | A group of antibodiesproduced by different B lymphocytes in responseto the same antigen, different antibodies in the group recognise different parts of the antigen. (09 Oct 1997) |
| polyclonal antibody | An antibody produced by several clones of B lymphocytes as would be the case in a whole animal. Usually refers to antibodies raised in immunised animals, whereas a monoclonal antibody is the product of a single clone of B lymphocytes, usually maintained in vitro. (18 Nov 1997) |
| polyclonal antiserum | A mixture of antibodies to a variety of antigens or to a variety of determinants on a single antigen. (09 Oct 1997) |
| polyclonal compartment | When the progeny of several cells occupy an area or volume with a defined boundary, it is referred to as a polyclonal compartment, for example clones lying close to the mid line of the wing of Drosophila. (18 Nov 1997) |