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| | Hapten - definition of Hapten in Encyclopedia |
 | | A hapten is a small molecule which can elicit an immune response only when attached to a large carrier such as a protein; the carrier may be one which also does not elicit an immune response by itself. | | | Once the body has generated antibodies to a hapten-carrier adduct, the small-molecule hapten may also be able to bind to the antibody, but it will usually not initiate an immune response; usually only the hapten carrier adduct can do this. | | | When absorbed through the skin from a poison ivy plant, urushiol undergoes oxidation in the skin cells to generate the actual hapten, a reactive molecule called a quinone which then reacts with skin proteins to form hapten adducts. |
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http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Hapten
(268 words)
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| | Faculty Publications 97 |
| | Bacci, S., Alard, P., Dai, R., Nakamura, T., and Streilein, J.W.: High and low doses of haptens dictate whether dermal or epidermal antigen-presenting cells promote contact hypersensitivity. |
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http://www.theschepens.org/faculty_publications_97.htm
(3192 words)
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