| immunotolerance | Lack of immune response to antigen. Theories of tolerance induction include clonal deletion and clonal anergy. In clonal deletion, the actual clone of cells is eliminated whereas in clonal anergy the cells are present but nonfunctional. Synonym: immunological tolerance, immunotolerance, nonresponder tolerance. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| immunotoxic | <immunology> This refers to any substance which damages the immune system. (09 Oct 1997) |
| immunotoxin | <immunology> Any toxin that is conjugated to either an immunoglobulin or Fab fragment directed against a specified antigen. Thus if the antigen is borne by a particular type of cell, such as a tumour cell, the toxin may be targetted at the specified cell by the immunological reaction. (18 Nov 1997) |
| immunotoxins | Semisynthetic conjugates of various toxic molecules, including radioactive isotopes and bacterial or plant toxins, with specific immune substances such as immunoglobulins, monoclonal antibodies, and antigens. The antitumour or antiviral immune substance carries the toxin to the tumour or infected cell where the toxin exerts its poisonous effect. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunotransfusion | An indirect transfusion in which the donor is first immunised by means of injections of an antigen prepared from microorganisms isolated from the recipient; later, the donor's blood is collected, defibrinated, and then administered to the patient; the latter is then presumably passively immunised by means of antibody formed in the donor, e.g., antibody that reacts with the microorganisms in the patient. (05 Mar 2000) |