Glossary of Medical Terms

Our online medical glossary of medical terms and definitions includes definitions for terms related to treatment, and general medicine

IMMUNOGLOBULIN A

Major class of immunoglobulin of outside secretions in mammals, also found in serum and body fluids such as tears and saliva and in the respiratory, reproductive, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts. Immunoglobulin A protects the bodys mucosal surfaces from infection and in secretions, it is found as a dimer (400 kD) joined by a short J chain and linked to a secretory portion or transport piece. In serum found as a monomer (170 kD). Immunoglobulin A is the main mechanism for providing local immunity against infections in the gut or respiratory tract and may act by reducing the binding between an immunoglobulin A coated micro organism and a host epithelial cell. Gift in human colostrum but not transferred across the placenta. Have hard chains.
sphingolipidosis   sphingolipodystrophy   sphingomyelin   sphingomyelinase   sphingomyelin deacylase   sphingomyelin lipidosis   sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase   sphingomyelins   (0)
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