| EF | ectopic focus; edema factor; ejection fraction; elastic fibril; electric field; elongation factor; e... |
|---|---|
| PF | pair feeding; peak flow; perfusion fluid; pericardial fluid; periosteal fibroblast; peritoneal fluid... |
| PAF | paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; peroxisomal assembly factor; phosphodiesterase-activating factor; pl... |
| SF | Sabin-Feldman [test]; safety factor; salt-free; scarlet fever; screen film; seminal fluid; serosal f... |
| TF | free thyroxine; tactile fremitus; tail flick [reflex]; temperature factor; testicular feminization; ... |
| GM-CSF | Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor |
|---|---|
| GM-CSF | Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulator factor |
| hGM CSF | Human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor |
| hM-CSF | Human macrophage colony-stimulating factor |
| GM-CSF | IFN)-gamma and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor |
| macrophage | Relatively long lived phagocytic cell of mammalian tissues, derived from blood monocyte. Macrophages from different sites have distinctly different properties. Main types are peritoneal and alveolar macrophages, tissue macrophages (histiocytes), Kupffer cells of the liver and osteoclasts. In response to foreign materials may become stimulated or activated. Macrophages play an important role in killing of some bacteria, protozoa and tumour cells, release substances that stimulate other cells of the immune system and are involved in antigen presentation. May further differentiate within chronic inflammatory lesions to epithelioid cells or may fuse to form foreign body giant cells or Langhans giant cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| macrophage-1 antigen | An adhesion-promoting leukocyte surface membrane heterodimer. The alpha subunit consists of the CD11b antigen and the beta subunit of the CD18 antigen (antigens, CD18). The antigen, which is an integrin, functions both as a receptor for complement 3 and in cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesive interactions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| macrophage activation | The process of altering the morphology and functional activity of macrophages so that they become avidly phagocytic. It is initiated by lymphokines, such as the macrophage activation factor (maf) and the macrophage migration-inhibitory factor (mmif), immune complexes, c3b, and various peptides, polysaccharides, and immunologic adjuvants. (12 Dec 1998) |
| macrophage inflammatory protein | <cytokine> A chemokine that is chemotactic for neutrophils and monocytes, stimulates macrophages, and may play a role in regulating haematopoiesis. Its two variants, mip-1alpha and mip-1beta, are 60% homologous to each other. They are heparin-binding proteins that exhibit a number of inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities. Originally identified as secretory products of macrophages, these chemokines are produced by a variety of cell types including neutrophils, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells. They most likely also play a significant role in respiratory tract defenses. (20 Sep 2002) |
| macrophage migration inhibition 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) |
| macrophage migration-inhibitory factors | Proteins released by sensitised lymphocytes and possibly other cells that inhibit the migration of macrophages away from the release site. The structure and chemical properties may vary with the species and type of releasing cell. (12 Dec 1998) |
| chemotactic factors, macrophage | Cytotaxins liberated from normal or invading cells that specifically attract macrophages. They may be lymphokines, products of antigen, antibody and complement interactions or other. (12 Dec 1998) |
| wandering macrophage | <haematology> A macrophage that leaves the blood and migrates to infected tissue. (09 Oct 1997) |
| Hansemann macrophage | Large histiocytes with abundant cytoplasm that may contain Michaelis-Gutmann bodies and one or several nuclei; described in lesions of malacoplakia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inflammatory macrophage | A macrophage found at sites of inflammation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fixed macrophage | A relatively immotile macrophage found in connective tissue, lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. Synonym: resting wandering cell. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free macrophage | An actively motile macrophage typically found in sites of inflammation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acetylcholine receptor antibodies | <neurology, investigation> A test used to measure the amount of antibodies to acetylcholine receptors on nerve endings. This is a diagnostic test for myasthenia gravis. A normal value is no antibodies in the bloodstream. Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) binding autoantibodies (i.e. Antibodies reactive with several epitopes other than the binding site for acetylcholine or alpha-bungarotoxin) are present in approximately 88% of patients with generalised myasthenia gravis, 70% of ocular myasthenia and in approximately 80% of myasthenia gravis in remission. Although serum concentrations of AChR binding autoantibodies do not in general correlate well with severity of weakness, there is typical decrease in concentration as weakness improves with immunosuppressive therapy. AChR blocking autoantibodies (i.e., antibodies reactive with the AChR binding site) are present in about 50% of patients with myasthenia gravis, 30% with ocular myasthenia gravis and 20% of myasthenia gravis in remission, AChR blocking autoantibodies are the only AChR autoantibodies present in about 1% of myasthenia gravis. AChR modulating autoantibodies (i.e., autoantibodies which cross-link AChRs and cause their removal from muscle membrane surfaces) are present in more than 90% of myasthenia gravis and occasionally are the only AchR autoantibodies detectable in mild, recent onset or ocular-restricted myasthenia gravis. Results for AChR modulating autoantibodies can be transiently false-positive due to curare-like drugs used during general anesthesia. AChR autoantibodies of one or more types are found in at least 80% of ocular myasthenia gravis. Although generally absent in neurological conditions other than myasthenia gravis(and consequently unlikely to cause confusion in neurodiagnosis), false-positive results for AChR autoantibodies occasionally occur in primary biliary cirrhosis, tardive dyskinesia, autoimmune thyroiditis, the elderly, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients treated with cobra venom and patients with thymoma in the absence of myasthenia gravis. Approximately 1% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with D-penicillamine develop AChR autoantibodies and myasthenia gravis, both of which disappear when the drug is discontinued. Babies born to ~10% of myasthenia gravis mothers have a transient neonatal form of myasthenia gravis that responds well to anticholinesterase therapy and usually remits within 1 month as maternal IgG disappears. (29 Dec 1997) |
| amino acid receptor | <biochemistry> Ligand gated ion channels with specific receptors for amino acid transmitters. An extended protein superfamily that also includes subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. (18 Nov 1997) |
| AMPA receptor | <cell biology> Glutamate operated ion channel. See: excitatory amino acid receptor channels. (05 Feb 1998) |