upregulate
|up-reg-u-late|
🇺🇸
/ˌʌpˈrɛɡjəˌleɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌpˈrɛɡjʊleɪt/
increase regulation or activity
Etymology
'upregulate' is formed in English from the prefix 'up-' meaning 'increase' and 'regulate' meaning 'to control or adjust.'
'upregulate' was coined in the late 20th century in scientific literature, combining 'up-' and 'regulate' to describe the process of increasing regulation, especially in biology.
Initially, it specifically referred to increasing the number or activity of cellular components, and this meaning has remained consistent in scientific usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to increase the quantity or activity of a molecule, such as a protein or receptor, in a cell or organism, often in response to an external stimulus.
Certain drugs can upregulate the expression of specific genes.
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Verb 2
to cause a process or activity to become more active or effective, especially at the molecular or cellular level.
The immune system can upregulate its response to infection.
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Last updated: 2025/07/28 04:52