Immunotoxin

Immunotoxin

An immunotoxin is a chemical that can cause immune system malfunction with exposure. When the immune system function is suppressed (immunosuppression) there is an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases and cancers. Polychlorinated-biphenyls (PCB), asbestos and herbicide DDT are known immunosuppressants. Immunotoxins can also cause autoimmune disease, where an overactive immune system attacks the bodies cells.

Therapeutic immunotoxins are compounds that are being developed for cancer and virus treatment. These immunotoxins are chimeric protein that are linked to a toxin. The protein is a modified antibody that targets a specific cell type. When the protein binds to that cell, it is taken in and the toxin kills the cell.

External links

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Companies

* [http://www.immunotox.net Immunotox]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • immunotoxin — (im u no tok sin) A monoclonal antibody that has been attached to a specific toxin or toxic agent (antibody 1 toxin 5 immunotoxin) and can kill specific target cells …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • immunotoxin — /im yeuh noh tok sin, i myooh /, n. Immunol. a monoclonal antibody linked to a toxin with the intention of destroying a specific target cell while leaving adjacent cells intact. [IMMUNO + TOXIN] * * * …   Universalium

  • immunotoxin — noun Any compound that is toxic to the immune system See Also: immunotoxicity …   Wiktionary

  • immunotoxin — im·mu·no·tox·in im yə nō .täk sən, im yü nō n a toxin that is linked to a monoclonal antibody and that is delivered to only those cells (as cancer cells) bearing the antigen targeted by the monoclonal antibody to which it is linked * * * n. one… …   Medical dictionary

  • immunotoxin — n. one of a class of compounds undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of certain cancers. Therapeutic immunotoxins combine monoclonal antibodies, which can specifically target cancerous cells, with a highly toxic compound (such as ricin)… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • immunotoxin — im•mu•no•tox•in [[t]ˌɪm yə noʊˈtɒk sɪn, ɪˌmyu [/t]] n. imu a monoclonal antibody linked to a toxin with the intention of destroying a specific target cell while leaving adjacent cells intact • Etymology: 1985–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • immunotoxin — Protein drugs consisting of an antibody joined to a toxin molecule. Made by either chemically linking the molecules, or by fusing the genes for the toxin and the antibody, and expressing a fusion protein. The antibody portion of the molecule… …   Glossary of Biotechnology

  • immunotoxin — An antibody linked to a toxic substance. Some immunotoxins can bind to cancer cells and kill them …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • immunotoxin — /im yeuh noh tok sin, i myooh /, n. Immunol. a monoclonal antibody linked to a toxin with the intention of destroying a specific target cell while leaving adjacent cells intact. [IMMUNO + TOXIN] * * * immunotoxˈin noun A toxin with… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Anti-CD19 immunotoxin — is a monoclonal antibody linked to a toxic substance. It is being studied in the treatment of some types of B cell cancer. Anti CD19 immunotoxin is made in the laboratory. It binds to CD19, a protein on the surface of normal B cells and B cell… …   Wikipedia

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