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secretory component

(Science: physiology) A glycoprotein found in a variety of external secretions (tears, bile, colostrum) usually complexed to secreted polymeric immunoglobulins (igA or, less frequently igM).

It is derived, by proteolytic cleavage, from the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (receptors, polymeric immunoglobulin) and probably functions to protect the immunoglobulins from proteolysis in the secretions.