cachectin
Pronunciation: ka-kek′tin
Definition: A polypeptide cytokine, produced by endotoxin-activated macrophages, which has the ability to modulate adipocyte metabolism, lyse tumor cells in vitro, and induce hemorrhagic necrosis of certain transplantable tumors in vivo.
Synonym(s): tumor necrosis factor
[G. kakos, bad, + hexis, condition of body]
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Examples: glitazone, GI cocktail, etc.
