Word of the day: Antigen
Word of the day:
Antigen (N)
a substance that will induce the production of antibodies, although there are certain properties of a molecule, such as foreignness, size, and chemical complexity, that are associated with increased immunogenicity."
I got interested in this word because of an article I read the other day about rare blood types. As it turns out, antigens are what allow the immune system to respond to foreign particles of all shapes and sizes, especially viruses, bacteria and tumor cells.
However, all cells carry molecules on their surfaces, including the body's own cells, that are considered antigens. The immune system memorizes the identity of the body's own antigens, thus preventing itself from attacking its own host body.
Red blood cells can carry a combination of 342 different antigens on their surfaces. A particular combination is what determines a person's blood type. This is also why people can only receive blood of a similar type. If the red blood cells don't carry a pattern of antigens the immune system recognizes as "red blood cell," then it will attack the donated blood as a foreign body.
Still so much to learn! I don't understand, for instance, why O type blood can be donated to all other blood types without other immune systems attacking it as a foreign body.
Time for some more wikipedia. :)
Antigen (N)
a substance that will induce the production of antibodies, although there are certain properties of a molecule, such as foreignness, size, and chemical complexity, that are associated with increased immunogenicity."
I got interested in this word because of an article I read the other day about rare blood types. As it turns out, antigens are what allow the immune system to respond to foreign particles of all shapes and sizes, especially viruses, bacteria and tumor cells.
However, all cells carry molecules on their surfaces, including the body's own cells, that are considered antigens. The immune system memorizes the identity of the body's own antigens, thus preventing itself from attacking its own host body.
Red blood cells can carry a combination of 342 different antigens on their surfaces. A particular combination is what determines a person's blood type. This is also why people can only receive blood of a similar type. If the red blood cells don't carry a pattern of antigens the immune system recognizes as "red blood cell," then it will attack the donated blood as a foreign body.
Still so much to learn! I don't understand, for instance, why O type blood can be donated to all other blood types without other immune systems attacking it as a foreign body.
Time for some more wikipedia. :)
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