antisperm antibody

antibody /an·ti·body/ (Ab) (an´tĭ-bod-e) an immunoglobulin molecule that reacts with a specific antigen that induced its synthesis and with similar molecules; classified according to mode of action as agglutinin, bacteriolysin, hemolysin, opsonin, or precipitin. Antibodies are synthesized by B lymphocytes that have been activated by the binding of an antigen to a cell-surface receptor. See immunoglobulin.

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anaphylactic antibody  IgE antibody causing anaphylaxis.

antimitochondrial antibodies  circulating antibodies directed against inner mitochondrial antigens seen in almost all patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

antinuclear antibodies  (ANA) autoantibodies directed against components of the cell nucleus, e.g., DNA, RNA, and histones.

antireceptor antibodies  autoantibodies against cell-surface receptors, e.g., those directed against β2-adrenergic receptors in some patients with allergic disorders.

antisperm antibody  (ASA) any of various surface-bound antibodies found on sperm after infection, trauma to the testes, or vasectomy; they interfere with the fertilization process or result in nonviable zygotes.

antithyroglobulin antibodies  those directed against thyroglobulin, demonstrable in about one-third of patients with thyroiditis, Graves' disease, and thyroid carcinoma.

blocking antibody 

1. one (usually IgG) that reacts preferentially with an antigen, preventing it from reacting with a cytotropic antibody (IgE), and producing a hypersensitivity reaction.

2. incomplete a.

complement-fixing antibody  one that activates complement when reacted with antigen: IgM and IgG fix complement by the classical pathway; IgA, by the alternative pathway.

complete antibody  one that reacts with the antigen in saline, producing an agglutination or precipitation reaction.

cytophilic antibody  cytotropic a.

cytotoxic antibody  any specific antibody directed against cellular antigens that, when bound to the antigen, activates the complement pathway or activates killer cells, resulting in cell lysis.

cytotropic antibody  any of a class of antibodies that attach to tissue cells through their Fc segments to induce the release of histamine and other vasoconstrictive amines important in immediate hypersensitivity reactions.

Donath-Landsteiner antibody  an IgG antibody directed against the P blood group antigen; it binds to red cells at low temperatures and induces complement-mediated lysis on warming, and is responsible for hemolysis in paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria.

Forssman antibody  heterophile antibody directed against the Forssman antigen.

heteroclitic antibody  antibody produced in response to immunization with one antigen but having a higher affinity for a second antigen that was not present during immunization.

heterogenetic antibody , heterophil antibody, heterophile antibody antibody directed against heterophile antigens. Heterophile sheep erythrocyte agglutinins appear in the serum of patients with infectious mononucleosis.

immune antibody  one induced by immunization or by transfusion incompatibility, in contrast to natural antibodies.

incomplete antibody 

1. antibody that binds to erythrocytes or bacteria but does not produce agglutination.

2. a univalent antibody fragment, e.g., Fab fragment.

indium-111 antimyosin antibody  a monoclonal antibody against myosin, labeled with indium 111; it binds selectively to irreversibly damaged myocytes and is used in infarct avid scintigraphy.

monoclonal antibodies  chemically and immunologically homogeneous antibodies produced by hybridomas, used as laboratory reagents in radioimmunoassays, ELISA, and immunofluorescence assays.

natural antibodies  ones that react with antigens to which the individual has had no known exposure.

neutralizing antibody  one which, on mixture with the homologous infectious agent, reduces the infectious titer.

OKT3 monoclonal antibody  a mouse monoclonal antibody directed against T3 lymphocytes and used to prevent or treat organ rejection after transplantation.

panel-reactive antibody  (PRA)

1. the preexisting antibody against HLA antigens in the serum of a potential allograft recipient that reacts with a specific antigen in a panel of leukocytes, with a higher percentage indicating a higher risk of a positive crossmatch.

2. the percentage of such antibody in the recipient's blood.

P-K antibodies , Prausnitz-Küstner antibodies cytotropic antibodies of the immunoglobulin class IgE, responsible for cutaneous anaphylaxis.

protective antibody  one responsible for immunity to an infectious agent observed in passive immunity.

reaginic antibody  reagin.

saline antibody  complete a.

sensitizing antibody  anaphylactic a.

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antisperm antibody (ASA),

any of the various surface-bound antibodies found on spermatozoa after infection, trauma to the testes, or vasectomy; they interfere with fertilization or result in nonviable zygotes.