Ab Antibody (sometimes AB)
ADCC Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
Ag Antigen
AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
APC Antigen-presenting cell
2m Beta 2 microglobulin
BALT Bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue
BCR B cell (antigen) receptor
BM Bone marrow
C region Constant region of a molecule or gene
C' Complement
CAM Cell adhesion molecule
CD Cluster designation (cluster of differentiation)
CDR Complementarity-determining (hypervariable) region
CLIP Class II-associated invariant chain peptide
CMI Cell-mediated immunity
CML Cell-mediated lysis
Con A Concanavalin A (a plant lectin)
CR Complement receptor
CRP C-reactive protein
CSF Colony-stimulating factor
CTL Cytotoxic T lymphocyte
DAF Decay accelerating factor
DC Dendritic cell
DTH Delayed-type hypersensitivity
ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Fab Antigen-binding region of antibody molecule
FACS Fluorescence-activated cell sorter
Fc Crystalizable (constant) region of antibody molecule
FcR Receptor for Fc region of immunoglobulin
FDC Follicular dendritic cell
FITC Fluorescein isothiocyanate (a fluorochrome)
FR Framework region of antibody molecule
GALT Gut-associated lymphoid tissue
GM-CSF Granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor
GVHD Graft-versus-host disease
H-2 Mouse MHC
HA Hemagglutinin
HAMA Human anti-mouse antibody response
H chain Heavy chain of antibody molecule
HEV High endothelial venule
HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
HLA Human leukocyte antigen (MHC)
HRF Homologous restriction factor
HSP Heat shock protein
HTLV Human T cell leukemia virus
ICAM Intercellular adhesion molecule
Id Idiotype
IDC Interdigitating dendritic cell
IDDM Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
IFN Interferon
Ig Immunoglobulin (antibody molecule)
Ii Invariant chain associated with Class II MHC
IL Interleukin
ISCOM Immune stimulating complex
IR Immune response
ITAM Immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif
ITIM Immunoreceptor tyrosine inhibition motif
J chain Joining chain of some antibody molecules
J region Joining region of Ig and TCR genes
K cell Killer cell (one that performs ADCC)
LAD Leukocyte adhesion deficiency syndrome
LAK Lymphokine-activated killer cell
L chain Light chain of antibody molecule
LFA Leukocyte functional antigen
LGL Large granular lymphocyte
LMP Low molecular weight proteins
LPS Lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin)
LT Lymphotoxin
mAb Monoclonal antibody
MAC Membrane attack complex (complement)
MAF Macrophage-activating factor
MAGE Melanoma-associated antigen (tumor antigen)
MALT Mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue
MBL Mannan-binding lectin
MCP Macrophage chemotactic protein
MHC Major histocompatibility complex
MIF Macrophage inhibitory factor (IL-10)
MIP (1) Macrophage inhibitory protein (cytokine)
(2) Same as HRF (complement regulatory protein)
MLC Mixed lymphocyte culture
M Macrophage
NK Natural killer cell
PAF Platelet-activating factor
PAGE Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
PALS Periarteriolar lymphoid sheath
PCA Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis
PCR Polymerase chain reaction
PHA Phytohemagglutinin (a plant lectin)
PK Protein kinase
PMN Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (granulocyte)
PWM Pokeweed mitogen (a plant lectin)
RAG Recombination-activating gene
RAST Radioallergosorbent test (an IgE-specific ELISA)
RBC Red blood cell (erythrocyte)
RES Reticuloendothelial system
RIA Radioimmunoassay
SCID Severe combined immune deficiency
SLE Systemic lupus erythematosis
SRS Slow reacting substance
TAC T cell activating cytokine; alpha chain of IL-2R
TAP Transporters associated with antigen processing
TC Cytotoxic T cell
TCR T cell (antigen) receptor
TD Delayed-type hypersensitivity T cell (now called TH1)
TGF Tumor growth factor
TH Helper T cell
TIL Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
TK Tyrosine kinase
TNF Tumor necrosis factor
TS Suppressor T cell
VLA Very late antigen
V region Variable region of a molecule or gene
X-SCID X-linked severe combined immune deficiency
XLA X-linked agammaglobulinemia
