| LAF | laminar air flow; Latin American female; leukocyte-activating factor; lymphocyte-activating factor |
|---|---|
| LF | labile factor; lactoferrin; laryngofissure; Lassa fever; latex fixation; left foot; left forearm; le... |
| LRF | latex and resorcinol formaldehyde; liver residue factor; luteinizing hormone-releasing factor |
| LRSF | lactating rat serum factor; liver regenerating serum factor |
| LTF | lactotransferrin; lipotropic factor; lymphocyte-transforming factor |
| serum response factor | Transcription factor that binds to the serum response element upstream of the site of transcription initiation of genes such as c fos. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| pyruvate oxidation factor | <biochemistry> 1,2 dithiolane 3 valeric acid. Regarded as a coenzyme in the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex of the citric acid cycle. Involved generally in oxidative decarboxylations of _ keto acids. A growth factor for some organisms. (18 Nov 1997) |
| sex factor | The prototype conjugative plasmid associated with conjugation in the K-12 strain of Escherichia coli. Synonym: F agent, F-factor, F genote, F-genote, fertility agent, fertility factor, sex factor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| S factor | The individual variables, or empirically most minute subclusters of intercorrelations or common variance, found in different intelligence tests (specific). (05 Mar 2000) |
| sigma factor | Initiation factor (86 kD) that binds to E. Coli DNA dependent RNA polymerase and promotes attachment to specific initiation sites on DNA. Following attachment, the sigma factor is released. (18 Nov 1997) |
| hyperglycaemic-glycogenolytic factor | A polypeptide hormone (3485 D) secreted by the cells of the Islets of Langerhans in response to a fall in blood sugar levels. Induces hyperglycaemia. A family of structurally related peptides includes glucagon like peptides 1 & 2 (encoded by the same gene), gastric inhibitory polypeptide, secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, growth hormone releasing factor, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide, exendins. (18 Nov 1997) |
| slow-reacting factor of anaphylaxis | Slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A), a leukotriene of low molecular weight which is released in anaphylactic shock and produces slower and more prolonged contraction of muscle than does histamine; it is active in the presence of antihistamines (but not epinephrine) and seems not to occur preformed in mast cells, but as a result of an antigen-antibody reaction on the granules. Compare: peptidyl leukotrienes. Synonym: slow-reacting factor of anaphylaxis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| somatotropin release-inhibiting factor | <protein> Gastrointestinal and hypothalmic peptide hormone (two forms: 14 and 28 residues), found in gastric mucosa, pancreatic islets, nerves of the gastrointestinal tract, in posterior pituitary and in the central nervous system. Inhibits gastric secretion and motility: in hypothalamus/pituitary inhibits somatotropin release. (18 Nov 1997) |
| somatotropin-releasing factor | A decapeptide released by the hypothalamus, which induces the release of human growth hormone (somatotropin). Synonym: growth hormone-releasing factor, growth hormone-releasing hormone, somatotropin-releasing factor, somatotropin-releasing hormone. Origin: somatotropin + L. Libero, to free, + -in (05 Mar 2000) |
| spreading factor | <enzyme> Enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid, found in lysosomes. (18 Nov 1997) |
| stable factor | <chemical> Heat- and storage-stable plasma protein that is activated by tissue thromboplastin to form factor viia in the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. The activated form then catalyses the activation of factor x to factor xa. Chemical name: Blood-coagulation factor VII (12 Dec 1998) |
| natural killer cell stimulating factor | <cytokine> A 75 kD heterodimeric cytokine composed of disulfide-bonded 40 kD and 35 kD subunits that was originally identified by its ability to induce cytotoxic effector cells in synergy with less than optimal concentrations of interleukin-2. It is released by macrophages in response to infection and promotes the activation of cell-mediated immunity. Specifically, IL-12 triggers the maturation of Thl CD4 cells, specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses and an increase in the activity of NK cells and consequently, it is the initiator of cell-mediated immunity. It enhances the lytic activity of NK cells, induces interferon production, stimulates the proliferation of activated T-cells and NK cells. Is secreted by human B lymphoblastoid cells (NC 37). May play a role in controlling immunoglobulin isotype selection as it also inhibits IgE synthesis (even in the presence of anti-IFN monoclonal antibody) and as a growth factor for activated CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells independently of interleukin-2, and for CD56+ NK cells but not resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells or resting or activated tonsillar B-cells. It is likely that interleukin 12 has a major role in protective immunity against viruses and is under study as an immunotherapy in HIV infection. Formerly referred to as cytotoxic lymphocyte maturation factor. Acronym: IL-12 (12 Dec 1998) |
| Steel factor | Murine equivalent of stem cell factor. (18 Nov 1997) |
| stem cell factor | <growth factor> Haemopoietic growth factor 18.6 kD from sequence, found as dimer (35 kD protein, 53 kD in its glycosylated form). Acronym: SCF (18 Nov 1997) |
| nephritic factor | A serum protein (possibly an IgG autoantibody), found in some patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and hypocomplementemia, which, together with the cofactors of the alternate pathway of complement activation, cleaves the third component of complement (C3). (05 Mar 2000) |