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Adenocarcinoma—A malignant tumor originating in the glandular epithelium.
Adjuvants—A substance enhancing the immune response to an antigen.
Affinity maturation—The process by which B-cells produce antibodies with increased affinity for an antigen. This is done by a combination of somatic hypermutation and affinity based selection.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—A common macular degeneration beginning with drusen (small bright structures seen in the retina and in the optic disc) of the macula and pigment disruption and sometimes leading to severe loss of central vision.
Ankylosing spondylitis—A ployarthritis involving the spine, which is characterized by progressive, painful stiffening of the joints and ligaments. It almost exclusively affects young men.
Antibodies—Any of a large number of proteins of high molecular weight that are produced normally by specialized B-cells after stimulation by an antigen and act specifically against the antigen in an immune response.
Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC)—An immune response in which antibodies, by coating target cells, makes them vulnerable to attack by immune cells.
Antigen—A substance that is capable of causing the production of an antibody.
Antigen presenting cells (APCs)—A cell that carries on its surface antigen bound to MCH Class I or Class I molecules and presents the antigen in this context to T-cells. Includes macrophages, endothelium, dendritic cells, and Langerhans cells of the skin.
Assay—A biological test, measurement, or analysis to determine whether compounds have the desired effect either in a living organism, outside an organism, or in an artificial environment.
Autoimmune—Of, relating to, or caused by autoantibodies or lymphocytes that attack molecules, cells or tissues of the organism producing them.
B-lymphocytes—Lymphoid cells concerned with humoral immunity. They are short-lived cells resembling bursa-derived lymphocytes of birds in their production of immunoglobulin upon appropriate stimulation.
Bacteria—Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life).
Bacterial cell expression (BCE)—A proprietary enabling technology used to discover and screen, as well as develop and manufacture, recombinant proteins and antibodies for commercial purposes.
Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI)—An endotoxin-binding neutrophil leukocyte-granule protein with antibacterial and anti-endotoxin properties. A recombinant form of BPI (rBPI21) has been developed and is being tested as a therapeutic agent to treat gram-negative bacterial infections and exposure to gram-negative bacterial endotoxin.
Bacteriophage—A virus that infects bacteria. Also called a phage.
B-cells—A type of white blood cell, specifically, a type of lymphocyte.
Biologics—An effective treatment for certain cancers. It is sometimes called immunotherapy, biotherapy, or biological response modifier therapy. Biologic therapies use the body’s immune system to fight cancer or to lessen the side effects of some cancer treatments.
Biologics License Application (BLA)—The FDA submission required for FDA approval of a biologic to be transported across state lines (used and sold for practical purposes).
Cancer—An abnormal growth of cells that tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to metastasize (spread). Cancer is not one disease; it is a group of more than 100 different and distinctive diseases.
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)—Bypass of the heart and lungs as, for example, in open-heart surgery. Blood returning to the heart is diverted through a heart-lung machine (a pump-oxygenator) before returning it to the arterial circulation. The machine does the work both of the heart (pump blood) and the lungs (supply oxygen to red blood cells).
CD40—A receptor molecule on the cell surface of all mature B-cells (B-lymphocytes), most malignant B-cells, monocytes, dendritic cells (in the nervous system), endothelial cells (within blood vessels), and epithelial cells. CD40 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. Together with the CD40 ligand, the molecule that binds to it, CD40, is an important contributor to the inflammatory processes that lead to atherosclerosis and thrombosis (clotting).
Chemotherapy—A chemical that binds to and specifically kills microbes or tumor cells. In oncology, drug therapy for cancer.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)—The most common form of leukemia in adults, in which the lymphocytes may look fairly normal but are not fully mature and do not deal effectively with infection. The malignant cells are found in the blood and bone marrow, collect in and enlarge the lymph nodes, and may crowd out other blood cells in the bone marrow, resulting in a shortage of red blood cells (producing anemia) and platelets (producing easy bruising and bleeding).
Crohn’s disease—An inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract that seems to have both genetic and environmental causes; not well understood.
Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)—A standard used by pharmaceutical, medical device, and food manufacturers as they produce and test products that people use. Drug GMPs also apply to the veterinary drugs.
Dendritic Cells—Immune cells that capture and absorb many types of foreign antigens and also activate T-cells.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)—The molecule that encodes genetic information in the nucleus of cells. It determines the structure, function, and behavior of the cell.
E.coli—A bacterium that lives harmlessly in the intestines of animals such as cattle, reptiles, and birds. However, in humans the bacterium, which can be transmitted through foods, can cause bloody diarrhea, and also lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life threatening disease.
Effector cells—A terminally differentiated leukocyte that performs one or more specific functions.
Endotoxin—Part of the outer membrane of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. It refers to the lipopolysaccaride (LPS) complex associated with the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria.
Epithelial cell—One of the many varieties of cells that form the epithelium.
Erythema—A name applied to redness of the skin produced by congestion of the capillaries, which may result from a variety of causes, the etiology or a specific type of lesion often being indicated by a modifying term.
Erythrodermic psoriasis—A particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that often affects most of the body surface. It generally appears on people who have unstable plaque psoriasis, where lesions are not clearly defined.
Exfoliation—A falling off in scales or layers.
Expression Vector—A virus or plasmid that harbors a DNA sequence constructed in the aim of expressing a specific protein into a host cell.
Gene knockout—Proprietary technology of Lexicon Genetics Inc. that systematically discovers the physiological and behavioral functions of genes to identify potential drug targets.
Genome 5000 Program—Proprietary technology of Lexicon Genetics Inc. where Lexicon is using its gene knockout technology (described above) to discover the physiological functions of 5,000 potential drug targets.
Genotype—Genetic constitution of an organism.
Gram-negative bacteria—The gram-negative bacteria include most of the bacteria normally found in the gastrointestinal tract that can be responsible for disease as well as gonococci (venereal disease) and meningococci (bacterial meningitis). Gram-negative bacteria lose the crystal violet stain (and take the color of the red counter-stain) in Gram’s method of staining. This is characteristic of bacteria that have a cell wall composed of a thin layer of a particular substance (called peptidoglycan).
Granulocytes—Leukocyte with conspicuous cytoplasmic granules. In humans the granulocytes are also classified as ploymorphonuclear leukocytes and are subdivided according to the staining properties of the granules into eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils (using Romanovsky type stain).
Guttate psoriasis—A form of psoriasis that often starts in childhood or young adulthood. This form of psoriasis resembles small, red, individual spots on the skin, usually appearing on the trunk and limbs. These spots are not normally as thick or as crusty as lesions of plaque psoriasis, and often come on quite suddenly.
Helper T-cells—T-lymphocyte bearing the CD4+ cell surface marker. Helper T-cells are the chief regulatory cells of the immune system, controlling activities such as turning antibody production on and off. They are the main targets of HIV infection.
Hepatitis B—Inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus; spread in a variety of ways, including blood transfusions, sexual contact, and less intimate close contact and childbirth.
Hybridoma—A cell hybrid resulting from the fusion of a cancer cell and a normal lymphocyte (a type of white blood cell). The hybridoma is immortal in the laboratory and makes the same products as its parent cells forever.
Immune system—A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing humans (hostO from everything foreign to humans, and for protection against infections and foreign substances. The immune system works to seek and kill invaders.
Immunogenictiy—The property of being able to evoke an immune response within an organism. Immunogenicity depends partly upon the size of the substance in question and partly upon how unlike host molecules it is. Highly conserved proteins tend to have rather low immunogenicity.
Immunoglobulin—A specific protein substance that is produced by plasma cells to aid in fighting infection.
Immunological—A subfield of biology that deals with the study of antigens and the immune process and how humans and higher animals fight of disease.
Immunotherapy—Treatment of disease by stimulating the body’s own immune system. This is a type of therapy currently being researched as a treatment for cancer.
Inflammatory disorder—A disease characterized by inflammation (a response of body tissues to injury or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat).
Intravenous—Within or administered into a vein.
Inverse psoriasis—Found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and in other skin folds around the genitals and the buttocks. This type of psoriasis first shows up as lesions that are very red and usually lack the scale associated with plaque psoriasis. It may appear smooth and shiny and is particularly subject to irritation from rubbing and sweating because of its location in skin folds and tender areas. Inverse psoriasis is more common and troublesome in overweight people and people with deep skin folds.
Investigational New Drug (IND)—Status given an experimental drug after the FDA approves an application for testing it in people.
Investigator Sponsored Studies—These studies confirm that the technology is not only safe and potent at inducing anti-tumor responses in immunized patients, but also show encouraging clinical responses in physician-sponsored small trials.
Keratinocytes—Epidermal cells that synthesize keratin and undergo characteristic changes as they move upward from the basal layers of the epidermis to the horny layer of the skin.
Killer T-cells—Mammalian cells which can lyse antibody coated target cells. They have a receptor for the Fc portion of lgG and are probably of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage, though some may be lymphocytes.
Ligand—A molecule that binds to another. Often, a soluble molecule such as a hormone or neurotransmitter that binds to a receptor.
Lipopolysaccharide—The major constituents of the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria. Highly immunogenic and stimulates the production of endogenous pyrogen interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor.
Lymphocytes—White blood cells that fight infection and disease.
Macrophages—Round, granular, mononuclear phagocytes found in the alveoli of the lungs. They ingest small inhaled particles resulting in degradation and presentation of the antigen to immunocompetent cells.
Malignancies—Tending to become progressively worse and to result in death. Having the properties of anaplasia, invasion, and metastasis, said of tumors.
Monoclonal antibody (MAb)—Any of the highly specific antibodies produced in large quantity by the clones of a single hybrid cell formed in the laboratory by the fusion of a B-cell with a tumor cell.
Monocytes—One of three types of white blood cells. Monocytes are precursors to macrophages.
Multiple myeloma (MM)—A type of cancer. It affects certain white blood cells called plasma cells.
Murine—Of or relating to the rodent family.
Myeloma—A malignant tumor formed by the cells of the bone marrow.
Osteoarthritis—Noninflammatory degenerative joint disease occurring chiefly in older persons, characterized by degeneration of the particular cartilage, hypertrophy of bone at the margins and changes in the synovial membrane. It is accompanied by pain and stiffness, particularly after prolonged activity.
Periplasmic—The region near or immediately within a bacterial or other cell wall, outside the plasma membrane.
Phase—Short for bacteriophage, a virus that lives within a bacteria. A virus for which the natural host is a bacterial cell.
Phage display—A test to screen for protein interactions by integrating multiple genes from a gene bank into phages.
Pharmacokinetic—Relating to the disposition of drugs in the body (i.e., their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination).
Phenotype—The observable traits or characteristics of an organism, for example hair color, weight, or the presence or absence of a disease. Phenotypic traits are not necessarily genetic.
Plaque psoriasis—The most common form of psoriasis. It can appear on any skin surface, although the knees, elbows, scalp, trunk and nails are the most common locations. It is characterized by well-defined patches of red raised skin. The flaky silvery white buildup on top of the plaques is called scale; it is composed of dead skin cells. This scale comes loose and sheds constantly from the plaques.
Plasmid—A self-replicating (autonomous) circle of DNA distinct from the chromosomal genome of bacteria. A plasmid contains genes normally not essential for cell growth or survival. Some plasmids can integrate into the host genome, be artificially constructed in the laboratory and serve as vectors (carriers) in cloning.
Polymannuronic acid—From mucoid strain of pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patient with cystic fibrosis.
Protein—Any of a group of complex organic compounds which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and usually sulphur, the characteristic element being nitrogen and which are widely distributed in plants and animals.
Psoralen Ultra-Violet A (PUVA)—PUVA is a type of ultraviolet radiation treatment (phototherapy) used for severe skin diseases.
Psoratic arthritis—A chronic inflammatory disease of the joints and connective tissue, which causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in and around the joints.
Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)—Measures the overall psoriasis severity and coverage. It is a commonly-used measure in clinical trials for psoriasis treatments. Typically, the PASI would be calculated before, during, and after a treatment period in order to determine how well psoriasis responds to the treatment under test (a lower PASI means less psoriasis, generally).
Psoriasis vulgaris—Another term for plaque psoriasis.
Pustular psoriasis—Characterized by white blisters of noninfectious pus surrounded by red skin. The pus consist of white blood cells. Pustular psoriasis is not an infection, nor is it contagious. This relatively unusual form of psoriasis affects fewer than 5% of all people with psoriasis, and may be localized or also can be generalized, covering most of the body. It tends to go in a cycle: reddening of the skin followed by formation of pustules and scaling. Pustular psoriasis can appear suddenly as the first sign of plaque psoriasis or can turn into pustular psoriasis.
Radiation—Propagation of energy through space. The context of this report, it is electromagnetic radiation (X-rays or gamma rays) or corpuscular radiation (alpha particles, electrons, protons, neutrons) capable of producing ionization.
Recombinant—A person with a new combination of genes, a combination of genes not present in either parent, due to parental recombination of those genes.
Rheumatoid arthritis—Chronic inflammatory disease in which there is destruction of joints. Considered by some to be an autoimmune disorder in which immune complexes are formed in joints and excite an inflammatory response (complex mediated hypersensitivity).
Stem Cell—An unspecialized cell that vies rise to a specific specialized cell, such as a blood cell.
Subcutaneous—Located or placed just beneath the skin.
T-cells—Any of the lymphocytes that mature in the thymus and have the ability to recognize specific peptide antigens through the receptors on their cell surface.
T-lymphocytes—Lymphocytes that kill other (target) cells.
Thrombocytopenia—A decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, resulting in the potential for increased bleeding and decreased ability for clotting.
Transgenic—This term describes an organism that has had genes from another organism put into its genome through recombinant DNA techniques.
Translational medicine—The transformation of laboratory findings into new ways to diagnose and treat patients, supporting programs with the potential to improve the health of millions of people all over the world.
Type II diabetes—Also referred to as adult-onset diabetes. A common form of diabetes mellitus that develops especially in adults and most often in obese individuals and that is characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from impaired insulin utilization coupled with the body’s inability to compensate with increased insulin production.
Ultraviolet light (UV)—Radiation lying in the ultraviolet range; wave lengths shorter than light buy longer than X-rays.
White blood cell—Any of various blood cells that have a nucleus and bytoplasm, separate into a thin white layer when whole blood is centrifuged, and help protect the body from infection and disease. White blood cells include neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes.
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©XOMA 2008