down-regulate

IPA/dˌaʊnɹˈɛɡjʊlˌeɪt/
IPA/dˌaʊnɹˈɛɡjʊlˌeɪt/

down-regulate — verb

  • down-regulatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • down-regulates3rd person singular
  • down-regulating-ing form
  • down-regulatedpast simple

1. to reduce the activity or number of receptors in a biological system so that a s

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

to reduce the activity or number of receptors in a biological system so that a signal has a weaker effect on the cell or organism

例句

Theo's ears down-regulated their sound receptors after months of loud music exposure.

active voice: down-regulated + direct object (receptors)

When Lisa started her new treatment, the immune cells down-regulated the production of inflammatory proteins.

temporal clause + subject (cells) + down-regulated + object

同義詞
  • suppress

    broader term that describes reducing any activity, not just biological receptor processes

  • reduce

    more general; does not carry the specific cellular mechanism of receptor decrease

  • inhibit

    often used in biochemistry to describe blocking an enzyme or process, rather than reducing receptor numbers

反義詞
  • up-regulate

    the opposite process of increasing receptor numbers or activity in response to a signal

文法句型

down-regulate + noun phrase

be down-regulated (passive)

用法筆記

Almost exclusively used in biology and medicine, particularly in cell biology, neurology, and immunology. The noun form is 'down-regulation', which is far more common in formal scientific writing.

常見錯誤

❌The drug causes a down-regulate of proteins.
✅The drug down-regulates the proteins.
💡'Down-regulate' is a verb; the noun form is 'down-regulation'.