AUTOTOXIN Meaning and
Definition
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An autotoxin is a term used in the field of medicine and toxicology to describe a substance that is produced within an organism's own body, exhibiting toxic effects on its own tissues or cells. Derived from the Greek words "autos" meaning "self" and "toxikon" meaning "poison," autotoxins can be defined as endogenous toxic substances.
These toxins are typically produced as a result of metabolic processes, pathological conditions, or the breakdown of certain substances within the body. The release of autotoxins can occur through various mechanisms, such as cell damage or death, enzymatic activity, or impaired detoxification pathways.
Autotoxins can cause harm to different tissue and organ systems, depending on their distribution or target specificity. They can disrupt normal cellular functions, promote inflammation, impair organ function, and contribute to the development or progression of various diseases.
Examples of autotoxins include certain metabolic byproducts like reactive oxygen species, which can damage cells and tissues if not adequately neutralized by the body's antioxidant systems. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system can produce autotoxins, leading to the destruction of self-tissues by the immune response.
Understanding autotoxicity can have significant implications for medical diagnosis, treatment, and research. Identifying the specific autotoxins involved in a particular disorder may guide the development of targeted therapies aimed at neutralizing or reducing their harmful effects on the body's own tissues and cells.
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Any poison originating within the body upon which it acts.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AUTOTOXIN
- autotopin
- autotoyin
- autotoxyn
- autotoxan
- autotoxmn
- autotoxhn
- autotoxil
- autotoxio
- autwotwoxin
- autootooxin
- a utotoxin
- au totoxin
- aut otoxin
- auto toxin
- autot oxin
- autoto xin
- autotox in
- autotoxi n
Etymology of AUTOTOXIN
The word autotoxin is derived from two Greek roots. The first root is auto, which means self. The second root is toxikon, which refers to poison. Thus, autotoxin combines these roots to form a word that literally means self-poison.
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