anaphylatoxin
Pronunciation: an′ă-fil-ă-tok′sin
Definition: Low molecular weight cleavage products (C3a, C4a, and C5a); generated by the activation of the complement cascade. They are proinflammatory; can cause permeability, smooth muscle contraction, and mask cell degranulation.
Synonym(s): anaphylotoxin
[anaphylaxis + toxin]
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Examples: glitazone, GI cocktail, etc.
