Islets of Langerhans
alpha cells that make glucagon, which raises the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood; beta cells that make insulin; delta cells that make somatostatin which inhibits the release of numerous other hormones in the body; and PP cells and D1 cells, about which little is known. Degeneration of the insulin-producing beta cells is the main cause of type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.
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- Iso-
Equal, like, or similar. Iso- is much used in medicine and science as, for example, in isotonic solution (a solution that has the same salt concentration as cells and blood), isotope (a form of a chemical element with the same atomic number as another element but having a different atomic mass), isocellular (composed of cells […]
- Isocellular
Composed of cells of the same size and type. Isocellular is a Greek-Latin hybrid term compounded from the Greek iso- meaning “equal or like” + the Latin cellula, the diminutive of cella, a storeroom.
- Isochromosome
An abnormal chromosome that has two identical arms due to duplication of one arm and loss of the other. Isochromosomes are found in tumors and in some girls with Turner syndrome.
- Isochromosome 17q
An abnormal chromosome 17 with two identical long (q) arms due to duplication of the long arm and loss of the short arm. Isochromosome 17q is the most common isochromosome in cancer. It plays an important role in tumor development and progression. Hematologic malignancies such as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with isochromosome 17q carry a […]
- Isodisomy
A remarkable situation in which both chromosomes in a pair are from one parent only. Isodisomy causes some birth defects and is suspected to play a role in cancer. Also known as uniparental disomy.