Gamma globulins are the plasma proteins and include most of
the antibodies. In addition, there are the albumins and - and ß-globulins.
The individual groups can be separated from one another by electrophoresis.
Patients which cannot form antibodies suffer from a so-called agamma
globulinaemia because no globulins are found in the electrophoresis
of their serum proteins.
Gene segments: The variable domains of immune receptors are
coded in individual gene segments which are assembled into the exon
for the complete variable region by somatic recombination. There are
three types of such gene segments: the V gene segments code the first
95 amino acids, the D gene segments about five amino acids, and the
J gene segments contain the information for the last ten to fifteen
amino acids of the variable region. The DNA of the germ cells contains
numerous copies of these gene segments, but only one of them is expressed
in each case into receptor-bearing lymphocytes.
Gene therapy: In immunology, the correction of a genetic defect
by the insertion of a functional gene into bone marrow cells or other
types of cells (somatic; generative) is known as gene therapy.
Genetic immunization is a new method for triggering acquired
immune responses to a certain protein. Plasmid DNA containing information
for the desired protein is injected into muscle tissue. For reasons
not yet known, the DNA is expressed in the muscle cells, triggering
the formation of antibodies and a T cell response to the protein.
Glycoprotein: Proteins containing
carbohydrates, also known as protein sugar.
Graft versus host reaction: A graft versus host reaction occurs
when mature T lymphocytes of a donor injected into a recipient who is
not genetically identical attack the recipient's cells. Mature T cells
from allogen bone marrow transplants can cause the so-called graft versus
host disease in humans.
Granulocytes is another word for polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
Granuloma: Site of a chronic inflammation
such as that caused by tuberculosis bacteria. The centre of a granuloma
consists of phagocytes which have merged.
|