anergy

noun

an·​er·​gy ˈa-(ˌ)nər-jē 

: a condition in which the body fails to react to an antigen

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary a- entry 2 + -ergy (as in allergy)

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

anergy

noun

an·​er·​gy ˈan-(ˌ)ər-jē 

plural anergies

: a condition in which the body's immune system fails to react to an antigen : immunological hyporesponsiveness

Specific anergy is lack of reactivity to an individual antigen, while generalized (nonspecific) anergy is the inability to react to any antigen.

—Harriet Kitzman et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association

By deliberately throwing cells into anergy, researchers also hope to control allergies and certain autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, in which white blood cells attack the body's connective tissue in the joints.

—Gina Kolata, The New York Times

anergic

-jik 

adjective

If the second signal is not provided, the T cell becomes unresponsive (anergic).

—Suryaprakash R. Sambhara et al., Science,

Patients with AIDS have tended to be anergic (both on skin tests and in vitro) and lymphopenic …

—D. Peter Drotman, The Journal of the American Medical Association