Untitled - D Ank Unlimited

nephelometry 528 network theory
VLA-4
Melanoma cell
VCAM-1
CD44
Melanoma cell attached to endothelial cell surface through VLA-4–
VCAM-1 interaction.
diminishing CD4 lymphocyte levels reflects the progression
of HIV-1 infection to clinical AIDS.
Lens
Nephelometry.
Antigen
+
Antibody
Lens
Detector
nephelometry
A technique to assay proteins and other biological materials
through the formation of a precipitate of antigen and
homologous antibody. The assay depends on the turbidity or
cloudiness of a suspension and is based on determination of
the degree to which light is scattered when a helium–neon
laser beam is directed through the suspension. The antigen
concentration is ascertained using a standard curve devised
from the light scatter produced by solutions of known antigen
concentration. This method is used by many clinical
immunology laboratories for the quantification of complement
components and immunoglobulins in patients’ sera or
other body fluids.
nephritic factor
C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) is found in the sera of patients
with type II membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
70°
(i.e., dense-deposit disease). This factor can activate the
alternate complement pathway; it is an immunoglobulin that
interacts with alternate complement pathway C3 convertase
and stabilizes it. Thus, it activates the pathway and leads to
the generation of biologically active complement fragments.
C3NeF is an autoantibody against alternate pathway C3 convertase.
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis patients
have a genetic predisposition to develop the disease. The
excessive C3 consumption leads to hypocomplementemia.
nephritic factor autoantibodies
The most frequently encountered of the four types of
autoantibodies reactive with the complement system in
membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) are
antibodies to a neoepitope on the Bb moiety of C3bBb
(properdin-independent C3NeF). These autoantibodies are
designated C3NeF (or as Nfa, NFII, or C3bBb stabilizing
factor). They belong to the immunoglobulin G (IgG) or IgM
class and are found in type II (dense-deposit) MPGN. They
have also been found in partial lipodystrophy (PLD), poststreptococcal
glomerulonephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
idiopathic rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, and
rarely in MPGN types I and III. The sera of patients with
MPGN contain anti-idiotypic antibodies. C3NeF (Nfa) interaction
with inhomologous antigen induces prolonged in vitro
C3bBb C3-cleaving activity half-life and decreased serum
C3 concentrations. The presence of these antibodies is used
to distinguish types of MPGN and monitor treatment.
nephritic syndrome
A clinical complex of acute onset characterized by hematuria
with red cell and hemoglobin casts in the urine, oliguria,
azotemia, and hypertension. There may be limited proteinuria.
Inflammatory reactions within glomeruli cause injury
to capillary walls which permits the release of erythrocytes
into the urine. Acute diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis
is an example of a primary glomerular disease associated
with acute nephritic syndrome.
nephrotic syndrome
A clinical complex that consists of massive proteinuria with
the loss of greater than 3.5 g of protein per day, generalized
edema, hypoalbuminemia (i.e.,