Alloantigen is a term that is frequently used in the field of immunology. It is a complex term that refers to the proteins that are present on the surface of cells that are not found in the cells of the host. Alloantigens are important because they are often responsible for triggering immune responses that can lead to transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases.
Definitions
Alloantigen can be defined as a protein that is present on the surface of cells that is not found in the cells of the host. These proteins are often recognized by the immune system as foreign and can trigger an immune response.
Origin
The term alloantigen comes from the Greek words “allo” meaning “other” and “antigen” meaning “substance that induces an immune response”. The term was first used in the early 1950s to describe the proteins that were responsible for transplant rejection.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The term alloantigen is not commonly found in general dictionaries. However, it is frequently used in medical and immunology dictionaries. In these dictionaries, alloantigen is defined as a protein that is present on the surface of cells that is not found in the cells of the host.
Associations
Alloantigens are often associated with transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases. When a transplant is performed, the recipient’s immune system will recognize the alloantigens on the surface of the donor cells as foreign and will mount an immune response to destroy the transplanted tissue. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly recognizes the host’s own cells as foreign and mounts an immune response against them.
Synonyms
There are several synonyms for alloantigen, including alloantibody, allogeneic antigen, and allograft antigen.
Antonyms
There are no antonyms for alloantigen.
The same root words
The root words of alloantigen are “allo” and “antigen”. “Allo” means “other” and “antigen” means “substance that induces an immune response”. These same root words are found in other immunology terms, such as alloimmunity and alloreactivity.
Example Sentences
- The presence of alloantigens on the surface of transplanted tissue can trigger an immune response that leads to transplant rejection.
- Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly recognizes the host’s own cells as foreign and mounts an immune response against them.
- Alloantibodies are antibodies that are produced in response to alloantigens.
- Alloreactivity is the ability of the immune system to recognize and respond to alloantigens.