Question | Answer |
acquired immunity | Formation of antibodies and lymphocytes after exposure to an antigen. |
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) | Depression or suppression of the immune system after exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); marked by opportunistic infections, secondary neoplasms, and neurologic problems. |
adenoids | Masses of lymphatic tissue in the nasopharynx. |
allergen | Substance capable of causing a specific hypersensitivity in a body; an antigen. |
allergy | Abnormal hypersensitivity acquired by exposure to an antigen (allergen). |
anaphylaxis | Exaggerated or unusual hypersensitivity to foreign protein or other substance. |
antibody | Protein produced in the bloodstream by lymphocytes in response to a specific antigen, such as bacterium or toxin. Antibodies destroy or weaken antigens. |
atopy | Intense allergic reaction (such as asthma) influenced by hereditary tendency or predisposition. |
autoimmune disease | Chronic disabling disease caused by the abnormal production of antibodies to normal body tissues; multiple sclerosis and lupus erythematosus are examples. |
axillary node | Lymph node under the arm. |
B cell | A lymphocyte that originates in bone marrow and transforms into a plasma cell to secrete antibodies. |
CD4+ lymphocytes | Helper T-cells that carry the CD4+ protein antigen on their surface. |
cell-mediated immunity | Type of immune response that involves T-cell lymphocytes. These lymphocytes act directly on antigens to destroy them. |
cervical node | Lymph node in the neck. |
cytokine | Protein that aids cells to destroy antigens. Examples are interleukins and interferons. |
cytotoxic cell | T-cell lymphocyte that directly kills foreign cells; T8 cell. |
dendritic cell | A type of macrophage that captures antigens and presents them to T-cells for destruction. |
ELISA | Test to detect anti-HIV antibodies in blood. This is a screening test for AIDS. |
helper T cell | Lymphocyte that aids a B-cell lymphocyte in recognizing antigens and stimulating antibody production. |
hypersplenism | Syndrome of spleen enlargement (splenomegaly) and destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). |
immune response | The body’s capability to resist foreign organisms and toxins that can damage tissue and organs. |
immunoelectrophoresis | Laboratory test that separates immunoglobulins (lgG, lgM, IgD, IgE, and IgA). |
Immunoglobulins | Antibodies (proteins) secreted by B-cell lymphocytes (plasma cells). |
immunosuppression | Blocking or turning off the normal immune response. |
immunotherapy | Use of immunologic techniques to treat disease. |
inguinal node | Lymph node in the groin region. |
interferons | Anti-viral proteins secreted by lymphocytes. |
interleukins | Proteins (cytokines) that simulate the immune system including B & T cell lymphocytes. |
interstitial fluid | Fluid that fills the spaces in between cells. |
kaposi sarcoma | Malignant tumor of skin and connective tissue; associated with AIDS. |
lymph | Fluid that circulates within lymph vessels and lymph nodes. |
lymph capillaries | Tiny lymph vessels that carry lymph through the body. |
lymph node | Mass of stationary lymphatic tissue along the path of lymph vessels. |
lymph vessels | Carry lymph throughout the body. |
lymphadenitis | Inflammation of lymph nodes. |
lymphadenopathy | Disease of lymph nodes. |
lymphedema | Abnormal collection of fluid in tissue spaces caused by obstruction of lymph vessels and backflow of lymph. |
lymphocytes | White blood cells that develop primarily in lymph nodes and the spleen and fight against foreign organisms. |
lymphocytopenia | Deficiency of lymphocytes. |
lymphocytosis | Increase in numbers of lymphocytes in the bloodstream. |
lymphoid organs | Organs containing and derived from lymphatic tissue; spleen, thymus gland, and lymph nodes. |
lymphoma | Malignant tumor of lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue. |
lymphopoiesis | Formation of lymphocytes. |
macrophage | Large phagocyte found in lymphatic tissues and connective tissues; derived from a monocyte. |
mediastinal node | Lymph node in the mediastinum (central area between the lungs in the chest). |
monoclonal antibody | Antibody produced in a laboratory to attack specific antigens. |
multiple myeloma | Malignant tumor of bone marrow cells (plasma cells that produce immunoglobulins). |
natural immunity | Person’s own genetic ability to fight off disease. It includes phagocytes and lymphocytes such as natural killer cells. |
natural killer cell | Lymphocyte that recognizes and destroys foreign cells by releasing proteins called cytokines. |
non-Hodgkin lymphoma | Malignant tumor of cells (lymphocytes and large macrophages called histocytes) found in lymph nodes and spleen. |
opportunistic infections | Infectious diseases associated with AIDS; toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, herpes simplex, and Pneumocystosis carinii pneumonia (PCP). |
plasma cell | B cell lymphocyte that secretes antibodies. |
protease inhibitor (PI) | Drug used to treat AIDS by blocking production of protease, an enzyme that helps HIV to reproduce. |
retrovirus | Virus that makes copies of itself using the host cell’s DNA, a process that is the reverse of the normal replication mechanism in cells. HIV is a retrovirus. |
reverse transcriptase inhibitor | Drug used to treat AIDS by blocking an enzyme (reverse transcriptase), needed to make copies of HIV. |
right lymphatic duct | Receives lymph from the right side of the body and empties lymph into a vein in the neck. |
spleen | Organ adjacent to the stomach (in the LUQ) that produces, stores, and eliminates blood cells. |
splenectomy | Removal of the spleen. |
splenomegaly | Enlargement of the spleen. |
suppressor T cell | Lymphocyte that inhibits the activity of B and T cell lymphocytes. |
T cell | Lymphocyte originating in the thymus gland and destroys antigens by direct action or production of cytokines such as interferons and interleukins. |
thoracic duct | Large lymphatic vessel in the upper chest. |
thymectomy | Removal of the thymus gland. |
thymoma | Malignant tumor of the thymus gland. |
thymus gland | Lymphoid organ in the mediastinum that produces T cell lymphocytes and aids in the immune response. |
toxic | Pertaining to a toxin, which is a poison or harmful substance. |
toxins | Poison or harmful substance. |
vaccination | Introduction of a vaccine (containing dead or weakened antigen) to produce immunity. It is a type of acquired immunity. |
vaccine | Weakened or dead antigen is administered to induce production of antibodies resulting in immunity. |
viral load test | Measures the amount of HIV in the blood stream. |
wasting syndrome | Weight loss and decrease in muscle strength, appetite, and mental activity that occurs with AIDS. |
western blot | Specific test to detect presence of anti-HIV antibodies in the bloodstream. |