| migration-inhibitory factor | <growth factor> A soluble, nondialysable factor that is produced by sensitised lymphocytes following exposure to a specific antigen. It inhibits macrophage migration and causes adherence. It was originally defined on the basis of inhibition of emigration of mononuclear cells from capillary (haematocrit) tubes, more recently a 13 kD protein with migration inhibitory activity has been isolated. Acronym: MIF Synonym: inhibition factor. (22 Sep 2002) |
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| migration-inhibitory factor test | A test which measures the presence of migration-inhibitory factor. Usually peritoneal macrophages are placed in a capillary tube in the presence or absence of supernatants from activated T-cells. If MIF is present, the migration of monocyte/macrophages is reduced. Synonym: macrophage migration inhibition test, migration inhibition test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| citrovorum factor | N5Formyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolic acid;the active form of folic acid which acts as a formyl group carrier in transformylation reactions; the calcium salt, leucovorin calcium, has therapeutic use. Synonym: citrovorum factor, leucovorin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| milk factor | Member of the retrovirus subfamily Oncornavirinae, antigenically distinct from the murine leukaemia-sarcoma complex, that is associated with adenocarcinomatous tumours of the mammary gland, commonly latent in wild and laboratory mice and causing cancer only in genetically susceptible strains under certain hormonal influences. Synonym: Bittner agent, Bittner virus, Bittner's milk factor, mammary cancer virus of mice, milk factor, mouse mammary tumour virus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| clotting factor | <haematology> A group of chemical constituents of the blood (factors I to XIII) which interact to make the blood clot. (13 Nov 1997) |
| coagulation factor | <haematology> Group of plasma protein substances (Factor I-XIII) contained in the plasma, which act in concert to bring about blood coagulation. Many of the factors contain EGF like domains. (29 Sep 1997) |
| coagulation factor XI | <haematology> A plasma serine protease with an apple domain. (18 Nov 1997) |
| cobra venom factor | A component of cobra venom that renders C3 proactivator (properdin factor B) susceptible to factor D of the properdin system, leading to activation of C3 and other components of complement and lysis of unsensitised erythrocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| coenzyme factor | <enzyme> An enzyme oxidizing dihydrolipoamide at the expense of NAD+; completes the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate; a part of several enzyme complexes (e.g., alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex). Decreased activity leads to neuronal loss in brain resulting in psychomotor retardation. Synonym: coenzyme factor, lipoamide dehydrogenase, lipoamide reductase (NADH), lipoyl dehydrogenase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| monocyte chemotactic and activating factor | Cytokine of the C C subfamily, co induced with IL-8 on stimulation of endothelial cells, fibroblasts or monocytes that activates and is chemotactic for, monocytes. A chemokine. (18 Nov 1997) |
| monocyte derived neutrophil chemotactic factor | <cytokine> A cytokine that activates neutrophils and attracts neutrophils and T-lymphocytes. It is released by several cell types including monocytes, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and keratinocytes by an inflammatory stimulus. Il-8 is a member of the beta-thromboglobulin superfamily and structurally related to platelet factor 4. Acronym: IL-8 (12 Dec 1998) |
| colony-stimulating factor | <cell biology> A glycoprotein growth factor that regulates the differentiation of particular cells. These substances act in either paracrine or autocrine fashion on marrow cells, appear to act synergistically and can exert actions on several lines of progenitor cells, and influence end cell function. These lymphokines induce the maturation and proliferation of white blood cells from the primitive cell types present in bone marrow such as the leucocyte, macrophage and monocyte lines. These substances can also be made by recombinant DNA technology for use clinically to speed bone marrow recovery typically following chemotherapy. Acronym: CSF (18 Jul 2002) |
| W factor | <biochemistry> A prosthetic group for carboxylase enzymes. Important in fatty acid biosynthesis and catabolism and has found widespread use as a covalent label for macromolecules which may then be detected by high affinity binding of labelled avidin or streptavidin. Essential growth factor for many cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| complement 3 nephritic factor | A magnesium-dependent IgG autoantibody found in serum of patients with chronic mesangioproliferative hypocomplementemic glomerulonephritis. It causes inactivation of c3 in the alternate pathway by cleaving c3 into two inactive fragments, c3c and c3d, instead of the normal c3b. (12 Dec 1998) |
| complement chemotactic factor | The activated complex of the fifth, sixth, and seventh components of complement (C567) which induces chemotaxis in the case of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |