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Immunoglobulin Class Switching: Molecular and Cellular Analysis

Immunoglobulin Class Switching: Molecular and Cellular Analysis Antibodies can be classified according to their heavy-chain constant regions into eight (for mice) or nine (for human) classes or serological isotypes. Each class of constant region is coded by an individual constant region gene (CH gene). The CH genes are clustered at the 3' end of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain (Igh) gene locus, downstream of the vari­ able-region gene segments, in the order (1-4): (mouse): 5'-CJ.L-c<5-cy3-cy1-cy2b-cy2a-ce-coc-3' (human): 5'-cfl-c<5-cy3-cyl-I/Ice-cOC l-I/Icy-cy2-cy4-ce-coc2-3'. In B-cell ontogeny a functional variable-region gene (VHDJ H gene) is first expressed with the cp. constant-region gene. Later, the cell can "switch" the constant-region class, expressing the same VHDJH gene with another CH gene (class switching). This process is of importance for the success of a humoral immune response, since the various classes mediate different effector functions on the antigenic target, like agglutination of antigen, complement fixation, traversal of basal membranes, and action in the mucosa, or transmembrane signalling by binding to Fc receptors. In 1964 Nossal and collaborators observed that individual B cells can switch immunoglobulin (Ig) class upon activation (5). Later, molecular analysis of immortalized switched cells, i.e. myelomas and hybridomas, revealed that the Cp. gene had been replaced by the expressed CH gene 717 0732-0582/90/0410-0717$02.00 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Annual Review of Immunology Annual Reviews

Immunoglobulin Class Switching: Molecular and Cellular Analysis

Annual Review of Immunology , Volume 8 (1) – Apr 1, 1990

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References (67)

Publisher
Annual Reviews
Copyright
Copyright 1990 Annual Reviews. All rights reserved
Subject
Review Articles
ISSN
0732-0582
eISSN
1545-3278
DOI
10.1146/annurev.iy.08.040190.003441
pmid
2188677
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Antibodies can be classified according to their heavy-chain constant regions into eight (for mice) or nine (for human) classes or serological isotypes. Each class of constant region is coded by an individual constant region gene (CH gene). The CH genes are clustered at the 3' end of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain (Igh) gene locus, downstream of the vari­ able-region gene segments, in the order (1-4): (mouse): 5'-CJ.L-c<5-cy3-cy1-cy2b-cy2a-ce-coc-3' (human): 5'-cfl-c<5-cy3-cyl-I/Ice-cOC l-I/Icy-cy2-cy4-ce-coc2-3'. In B-cell ontogeny a functional variable-region gene (VHDJ H gene) is first expressed with the cp. constant-region gene. Later, the cell can "switch" the constant-region class, expressing the same VHDJH gene with another CH gene (class switching). This process is of importance for the success of a humoral immune response, since the various classes mediate different effector functions on the antigenic target, like agglutination of antigen, complement fixation, traversal of basal membranes, and action in the mucosa, or transmembrane signalling by binding to Fc receptors. In 1964 Nossal and collaborators observed that individual B cells can switch immunoglobulin (Ig) class upon activation (5). Later, molecular analysis of immortalized switched cells, i.e. myelomas and hybridomas, revealed that the Cp. gene had been replaced by the expressed CH gene 717 0732-0582/90/0410-0717$02.00

Journal

Annual Review of ImmunologyAnnual Reviews

Published: Apr 1, 1990

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