Glossary
- Lentivirus : A subgroup of the retrovirus family capable. They are capable of infecting non-dividing (resting) cells.
- Leukocyte : White blood cell. Some leukocytes produce antibodies, others help fight off infections.
- Lignoceric acid : Saturated fatty acid with 24 carbon atoms. With ALD, high levels of this acid are present.
- Lipid : General term for chemical substances including fatty acids, cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids. These oily substances are insoluble in water.
- Lorenzo’s oil : Oil which is four parts GTO (triglyceride containing three oleic acid molecules) and one part GTE (triglyceride containing three erucic acid molecules).
- Lymphoblast : Immature form of white blood cells, very useful for researchers. These do not exist in a healthy individual but it is possible to create them in laboratories by infecting normal lymphocytes with a virus. These cells are almost immortal, which is why they are useful to researchers (no need to take more than one sample of lymphocytes).
- Lysophospholipid : Complex lipid
- Lysosome : Organelle of the cell, found in the cytoplasm surrounding the nucleus and primarily involved with intracellular digestion (breakdown of metabolic waste products).
