immunoglobulin A

immunoglobulin A

n. Abbr. IgA

1. The class of antibodies found predominantly in body secretions such as saliva, tears, breast milk, and mucous secretions of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, functioning to prevent attachment of viruses and bacteria to epithelial surfaces and to neutralize toxins.

2. An antibody of this class.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

immunoglobulin A - one of the most common of the five major classes of immunoglobulins; the chief antibody in the membranes of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts IgA Ig, immune gamma globulin, immune globulin, immune serum globulin, immunoglobulin - a class of proteins produced in lymph tissue in vertebrates and that function as antibodies in the immune response

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