| type II interferon | <chemical> The major interferon produced by mitogenically or antigenically stimulated lymphocytes. It is structurally different from type I interferon (interferon type I) and its major activity is immunoregulation. It has been implicated in the expression of class II histocompatibility antigens in cells that do not normally produce them, leading to autoimmune disease. Pharmacological action: antineoplastic agent, antiviral agents. Chemical name: Interferon-gamma (human lymphocyte protein moiety reduced) (12 Dec 1998) |
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| type I interferon | <chemical> Interferon secreted by leukocytes, fibroblasts, or lymphoblasts in response to viruses or interferon inducers other than mitogens, antigens, or allo-antigens. They include alpha- and beta-interferons (interferon-alpha and interferon-beta). Pharmacological action: antineoplastic agent, antiviral agents. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fibroblast interferon | <cytokine> One of the type I interferons produced by fibroblasts in response to stimulation by live or inactivated virus or by double-stranded RNA. It is a cytokine with antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulating activity. Synonym: fibroblast interferon. Pharmacological action: adjuvants, immunologic, antineoplastic agent, antiviral agents. Chemical name: Interferon-alphaB (human leukocyte protein moiety reduced) (12 Dec 1998) |
| leukocyte interferon | <cytokine> One of the type I interferons produced by peripheral blood leukocytes or lymphoblastoid cells when exposed to live or inactivated virus, double-stranded RNA, or bacterial products. It is the major interferon produced by virus-induced leukocyte cultures and, in addition to its pronounced antiviral activity, causes activation of NK cells. It is used experimentally in the treatment of hairy-cell leukaemia. A number of different subtypes exist that are elaborated by leukocytes in response to viral infection or stimulation with double-stranded RNA; IFN-alpha-2A and -2B are protein products made by recombinant DNA techniques and are used as antineoplastic agents. See: interferon-alpha 2a, interferon-alpha 2b Synonym: leukocyte interferon. Pharmacological action: antineoplastic agent, antiviral agent. (20 Sep 2002) |
| absolute unit | A unit whose value is constant regardless of place or time and not derived from dependent on gravitation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alexin unit | The smallest amount (highest dilution) of complement that will cause haemolysis of a unit of red blood cells in the presence of a haemolysin unit. Synonym: alexin unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Allen-Doisy unit | The quantity of oestrogen capable of producing in a spayed mouse a characteristic change in the vaginal epithelium, namely, disappearance of leukocytes and appearance of cornified cells, as determined by a vaginal smear; equal approximately to one-half of an estrone unit. Synonym: mouse unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amboceptor unit | haemolysin unit |
| androgen unit | The androgenic activity of 100 ug (0.1 mg) of crystalline androsterone as assayed by the comb growth response in capons. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antigen unit | The smallest amount of antigen that, in the presence of specific antiserum, will fix 1 complement unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antitoxin unit | A unit expressing the strength or activity of an antitoxin; in general, determined with reference to a preserved standard preparation of antitoxin. See: L doses. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antivenene unit | The amount of antivenum which, injected in the ear vein, will protect 1 g weight of rabbit against a fatal dose of snake venom. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atomic mass unit | <chemistry> One-twelfth the mass of a neutral atom of the most abundant isotope of carbon. (16 Dec 1997) |
| Bethesda unit | A measure of inhibitor activity: the amount of inhibitor that will inactivate 50% or 0.5 unit of a coagulation factor during the incubation period. Origin: Bethesda, MD (05 Mar 2000) |
| biological standard unit | A specific quantity of biologically active reference material (antibiotic, antitoxin, enzyme, hormone, vitamin, etc.). (05 Mar 2000) |