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An Immune System Glossary

Steve Cobbold

alloreactive
reactive with foreign tissue type
anergy
a specific resistance to repeated stimulations
antigen
something recognised by the immune system (usually foreign proteins)
antigen presenting cell (APC)
a cell capable of generating peptides bound to MHC molecules that can be recognised by T cells
apoptosis
programmed cell death ("suicide")
arginase
an enzyme that regulates the immune system by breaking down the essential amino acid arginine
autoimmune disease
a disease caused by the immune system "rejecting" self tissues
bystander suppression
suppression, due to tolerance, of an immune response to an unrelated, new (bystander) antigen
B lymphocyte
a lymphocyte derived from the bone marrow that makes antibody
CD
"Cluster Designation": international nomenclature for cell surface molecules (CD number)
CD25
the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor expressed on activated T cells
CD28
a co-stimulatory molecule on the surface of T lymphocytes that signals activation by binding to B7 molecules on antigen presenting cells
CD4
a T-cell signalling/co-receptor molecule involved in MHC-II adhesion
CD4 antibody
a monoclonal antibody against the CD4 T cell surface molecule
CD40
a cell surface molecule on B cells and APCs that recieves a signal for T cell help (via CD40Ligand)
CD8
a T-cell signalling/co-receptor molecule involved in MHC-I adhesion
chemokine
soluble molecules that chemically attract lymphocytes and other cells
clone
a genetically homogeneous population derived from a single cell
co-receptor
additional receptor molecules that contribute to the T or B cell receptor signalling complex
co-stimulation
signals in addition to those through the antigen receptor that are required for full T lymphocyte acitvation
CTLA4
a molecule that competes with CD28 reducing costimulation (also known as CD152)
cytokine
soluble molecules that allow communication between lymphocytes and other cells
deletion
a mechanism of tolerance achieved through the death or suicide of reactive lymphocytes
dendritic cell (DC)
a cell with finger-like processes specialised for antigen presentation
effector cell
an cell that has developed full immune functions (eg cytotoxic/killer cell)
foxP3
a master gene for controlling regulatory T cell functions
GCN2
a molecular sensor for amino acid depletion in T lymphocytes
hybridoma
a hybrid cell line between normal lymphocytes and immortal T or B cell lines (B cell hybridomas are usually used to make monoclonal antibodies)
idiotype
the unique appearence of an antibody binding site to the immune system
IDO
indoleamine -2,3 dioxygenase: an enzyme that regulates the immune system by breaking down the essential amino acid tryptophan
IL-10
interleukin-10; a cytokine that down-regulates anti-viral responses
IL-2
interleukin-2; a lymphokine required by activated T cells for growth
IL-2R
interleukin-2 receptor expressed on activated T and B lymphocytes
IL-4
interleukin-4; a cytokine produced by T cells to help antibody responses
IL-17
interleukin-17; an inflammatory cytokine produced by Th17 cells (and many other cells)
infectious tolerance
a self perpetuating state of tolerance that can be transferred by T lymphocytes
interferon
a group of cytokines that activate protection against viruses
Interleukin
international nomenclature for cytokines/lymphokines/chemokines/growth factors (IL-number)
LFA-1
lymphocyte associated antigen-1; a molecule involved in lymphocyte adhesion to antigen presenting cells
linked suppression
suppression of an immune response, similar to bystabnder suppression, but when the new antigen is presented by the same antigen presenting cell as a tolerated antigen
lymph-node
a lymph organ draining tissues where immune responses are initiated
lymphokine
soluble molecules that allow communication between lymphocytes
Major Histocompatibility Complex
the set of molecules making up the tissue type (MHC-I and MHC-II)
mast cell
a granulated, bone marrow derived cell found in tissues involved in allergic responses
MHC-I
Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I (HLA-A,B,C tissue type)
MHC-II
Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II (HLA-D,DR tissue type)
Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction or Mixed Leukocyte Culture
A proliferative response of T lymphocytes in culture as a result of MHC differences between two different donors of lymphocytes being mixed together
memory
the basis of adaptive immunity such that T or B lymphocyte responses to previously encountered antigens are more vigorous on subsequent exposures
monoclonal antibody
an antibody with a single specificity produced by an immortal B cell line
mTOR
mammalian target of rapamycin: an intracellular signalling molecule that controls cell growth and the target of the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin
naive
the state of lymphocytes before first exposure to their specific antigen
natural killer (NK) cell
a lymphocyte that kills targets expressing low levels of MHC molecules such as certain tumour cells
NKT cell
natural killer T cell: a lymphocyte with both NK markers and an "invariant" T cell receptor, usually directed against bacterial glycoproteins
peptide
a linear sequence of amino acids (often derived from proteins by degradation, but they can be artificially synthesised)
Regulatory T-cell
a T lymphocyte that turns off specific immune responses (for those who don't like the "suppression" word!)
signalling molecules
molecules involved in transmitting signals from the cell surface to the nucleus to switch genes on or off
Suppressor T-cell
a T lymphocyte that suppresses (turns off) specific immune responses
T-cell receptor
the receptor on a T-cell that binds antigen+MHC and signals recognition
Tc2
a CD8+ T cell with a Th2 cytokine profile
Tc17
a CD8+ T cell with a Th17 cytokine profile
T-lymphocyte
a nucleated white blood cell made in the thymus
TCR
the T-cell receptor
Th1
T lymphocytes making cytokines to help inflammation and anti-viral responses
Th2
T lymphocytes making cytokines to help antibody responses
Th3
T lymphocytes making predominantly TGF (and helping IgA antibody responses)
Th9
T lymphocytes making predominantly IL-9 (which promotes mast cells)
Th17
T lymphocytes making predominantly IL-17 (the cause of some autoimmune diseases)
thymus
the organ that generates T-lymphocytes found just above the heart
tissue type
molecules on the surface of tissue cells recognised by the immune system
tolerance
a non-aggressive state of the immune system normally associated with self-recognition
Tr1
T lymphocytes that regulate Th1 responses (may be related to Th3)
transforming growth factor (TGF)
a cytokine that down-regulates antigen presentation
Treg
Naturally occuring CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes that regulate responses to self antigens and inhibit autoimmunity
tumour necrosis factor (TNF)
a cytokine that induces programmed cell death in cells with a receptor

"Developing short-term treatments for long-term outcomes"

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