Medical term:
agglutinin
agglutinin
[ah-gloo´tĭ-nin]any substance causing agglutination (clumping together) of cells, particularly a specific antibody formed in the blood in response to the presence of an invading agent. Agglutinins are proteins (immunoglobulins) and function as part of the immune mechanism of the body. When the invading agents that bring about the production of agglutinins are bacteria, the agglutinins produced bring about agglutination of the bacterial cells.
Erythrocytes also may agglutinate when agglutinins are formed in response to the entrance of noncompatible blood cells into the bloodstream. A transfusion reaction is an example of the result of agglutination of blood cells brought about by agglutinins produced in the recipient's blood in response to incompatible or foreign cells (the donor's blood). Anti-Rh agglutinins are produced in cases of Rh incompatibility and can result in a condition known as erythroblastosis fetalis when the maternal blood is Rh negative and the fetal blood is Rh positive. (See also rh factor.)
Erythrocytes also may agglutinate when agglutinins are formed in response to the entrance of noncompatible blood cells into the bloodstream. A transfusion reaction is an example of the result of agglutination of blood cells brought about by agglutinins produced in the recipient's blood in response to incompatible or foreign cells (the donor's blood). Anti-Rh agglutinins are produced in cases of Rh incompatibility and can result in a condition known as erythroblastosis fetalis when the maternal blood is Rh negative and the fetal blood is Rh positive. (See also rh factor.)
cold agglutinin antibody that agglutinates erythrocytes or bacteria more efficiently at temperatures below 37°C than at 37°C.
group agglutinin one that has a specific action on certain organisms, but will agglutinate other species as well.
H agglutinin one that is specific for flagellar antigens of the motile strain of an organism.
immune agglutinin a specific agglutinin found in the blood after recovery from the disease or injection of the microorganism.
incomplete agglutinin one that at appropriate concentrations fails to agglutinate the homologous antigen.
O agglutinin one specific for somatic antigens of a microorganism.
platelet agglutinin an antibody capable of agglutinating platelets; these may be associated with a variety of disorders, with and without frank thrombocytopenia.
warm agglutinin an incomplete antibody that sensitizes and reacts optimally with erythrocytes at 37°C.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
ag·glu·ti·nin
(ă-glū'ti-nin),1. An antibody that causes clumping or agglutination of the bacteria or other cells that either stimulated the formation of the agglutinin, or contain immunologically similar, reactive antigen. Synonym(s): agglutinating antibody, immune agglutinin
2. A substance, other than a specific agglutinating antibody, that causes organic particles to agglutinate, for example, plant agglutinin.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
agglutinin
(ə-glo͞ot′n-ĭn)n.
A substance, such as an antibody, that is capable of causing agglutination of a particular antigen, especially red blood cells or bacteria.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Agglutinin
Medspeak Any antigenic substance capable of agglutinating. See Neuroprotective agglutinin, 2-adrenoceptor agglutinin, Cold agglutinin, Febrile agglutinin, Mixed fieldagglutinin.Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ag·glu·ti·nin
(ă-glū'ti-nin)1. An antibody that causes clumping or agglutination of the bacteria or other cells that either stimulated the formation of the agglutinin or contain immunologically similar, reactive antigen.
2. A substance, other than a specific agglutinating antibody, that causes organic particles to agglutinate.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
agglutinin
A substance that causes cells or other particles to clump together and, usually, to lose their former properties. ‘Warm’ agglutinins function at normal body temperatures; ‘cold’ agglutinins do so at lower temperatures. Agglutinins can cause severe ANAEMIA.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
Agglutinin
An antibody that causes particulate antigens such as bacteria or other cells to clump together.
Mentioned in: Cold Agglutinins Test, Scrub Typhus
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ag·glu·ti·nin
(ă-glū'ti-nin)Antibody that causes clumping or agglutination of the bacteria or other cells that either stimulated the formation of the agglutinin or contain immunologically similar, reactive antigen.
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012
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