Engage = join?

Forums: English, Esl, Grammar
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And "three receptors" are "BR3, TACI and BCMA"?

Context:

Overexpression of BAFF is linked to autoimmunity in mice and to some autoimmune diseases in humans, especially Sjogren’s syndrome. BAFF is derived from mononuclear cells and engages three receptors that are present on B cells and on a subset of T cells as well, BR3, TACI and BCMA. The clinical goal is to ‘reset the balance’ so that normal non-selfreactive B cells are preferentially produced by the bone marrow.

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Type: Question • Score: 1 • Views: 591 • Replies: 9

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@oristarA,

yes

1 Reply

@JPB,

Thank you JPB.

But I'm still confused about the meaning of "engage." How does it "join" BR3, TACI and BCMA?

BR3, TACI and BCMA are the three receptors of BAFF, you know. How does BAFF join BR3, TACI and BCMA? The relationship between is very confusing.

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@oristarA,

I can't answer questions on microbiology, but "engage" is quite an interesting word.

A fighting ship can "engage" with the enemy, which means it joins battle.

Engage and join in that sense ( and in every other sense I can think of) mean exactly the same.

Except maybe....join usually has the sense of "join with".
....engage can have the sense of "engage against".

(And this thought takes us into the field of matrimony
Smile

)

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@oristarA,

I would say it infers that they are "activated" rather than joined.

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@JPB,

Thanks.

BAFF activates BR3, TACI and BCMA ?

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@McTag,

Quote:

(And this thought takes us into the field of matrimony
)

1 Reply

@oristarA,

I'm looking for a reference for you that explains it clearly. Here's a start...

Quote:

B-cell activating factor belonging to tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) is essential for B-cell survival and function through interaction with its receptors BAFF receptor 3 (BR3), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and/or transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI),

Source

I'll keep looking...

1 Reply

@JPB,

Good ol' wiki

Quote:

BAFF is a cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. This cytokine is a ligand for receptors TNFRSF13B/TACI, TNFRSF17/BCMA, and TNFRSF13C/BAFFR. This cytokine is expressed in B cell lineage cells, and acts as a potent B cell activator. It has been also shown to play an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of B cells.[3]

Engage = join?

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