Lexic.us

Definition of Immunoglobulin A

1. Noun. One of the most common of the five major classes of immunoglobulins; the chief antibody in the membranes of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts.

Medical Definition of Immunoglobulin A

1. Major class of immunoglobulin of external 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. Present in human colostrum but not transferred across the placenta. Have heavy chains. (30 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Immunoglobulin A

Literary usage of Immunoglobulin A

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1883)
"... thought to be independent of systemic antibody production, is characterized by production of antibodies belonging to the immunoglobulin A (IgA) class. ..."

2. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (1903)
"Peyer's patches produce immunoglobulin A (IgA) precursor cells which enter the circulation and eventually home to the mucous membranes of the ..."

3. Nutrient Composition of Rations for Short-term, High-intensity Combat Operations by Fnb, Institute of Medicine (U. S.), High-stress Situations, Committee on Military Nutrition Research, National Academy of Sciences (2005)
"(2000). and immunoglobulin A decrease 20 to 30 percent during the course, while mito- genie responses to antigen exposure have not been consistent from ..."

4. Ending the War Metaphor: The Changing Agenda for Unraveling the Host-Microbe by Forum on Microbial Threats, Institute of Medicine (U.S.) (2006)
"One likely mediator of bacterial selection is secretory immunoglobulin A (Suzuki et al., 2004). The human gut is faced with a paradox: How can functional ..."

5. Air Quality Criteria for Oxides of Nitrogenby Dennis J. Kotchmar by Dennis J. Kotchmar (1996)
"immunoglobulin A (IgA): A type of antibody that comprises approximately 10 to 15% of the total amount of antibodies present in normal serum. ..."

6. Manual of Microbiologic Monitoring of Laboratory Animals edited by Kim Waggie (1994)
"Production of immunoglobulin A protease by Streptococcus pneumoniae from animals. Infect Immun 1990; 58:2733-2737. 9. Volk, WA, Benjamin, DC, Kadner, RJ, ..."

7. Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons by DIANE Publishing Company (1995)
"... united vertebrae. secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA): the predominant immune system protein in body secretions such as oral, nasal, bronchial, urogenital, ..."

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