AUTOCYTOTOXIN Meaning and
Definition
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Autocytotoxin is a medical term used to describe a substance that is produced or released by an organism which directly harms or damages its own cells. The term is derived from the Greek words "auto," meaning self, "cyto," pertaining to cells, and "toxin," indicating a poisonous or harmful substance.
In the context of biology and medicine, autocytotoxins can refer to a variety of substances produced by the body that have a negative impact on cellular health. These substances can include certain enzymes, chemicals, or immune system components that are normally involved in cellular processes, but when produced excessively, can lead to self-damage.
Autocytotoxins can be implicated in several pathological conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly targets and attacks the body's own cells. In these cases, autocytotoxins are produced in excess and contribute to the destruction of healthy tissues and organs.
Understanding autocytotoxicity is crucial in medical research and healthcare as it sheds light on the mechanisms underlying certain diseases and helps in the development of targeted treatments. By identifying and regulating autocytotoxin production or activity, medical professionals can potentially prevent or mitigate cellular damage, offering new avenues for therapeutic interventions.
Overall, autocytotoxin represents a complex and important concept in biology and medicine, encompassing the self-destructive actions of substances produced by an organism that harm its own cells.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AUTOCYTOTOXIN
- autocytotoxhn
- autocytotoxif
- autocytotoxil
- autocytotoxio
- a utocytotoxin
- au tocytotoxin
- aut ocytotoxin
- auto cytotoxin
- autoc ytotoxin
- autocy totoxin
- autocyt otoxin
- autocyto toxin
- autocytot oxin
- autocytoto xin
- autocytotox in
- autocytotoxi n
Etymology of AUTOCYTOTOXIN
The term "autocytotoxin" consists of three components: "auto-", "cyto-", and "-toxin".
1. "Auto-" comes from the Greek word "autos", meaning "self" or "same".
2. "Cyto-" comes from the Greek word "kytos", which means "cell".
3. "-Toxin" is derived from the Latin word "toxicum", referring to poison.
Thus, "autocytotoxin" can be broken down etymologically as follows: "auto-" (self) + "cyto-" (cell) + "-toxin" (poison). This term refers to a substance that acts as a poison or toxin to cells within the same organism.
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