The immunoglobulin constant region contributes to affinity and specificity.
Trends Immunol 2008;
29:91-7. [PMID:
18191616 DOI:
10.1016/j.it.2007.11.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2007] [Revised: 11/06/2007] [Accepted: 11/07/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A central dogma in immunology is that antibody specificity is solely the result of variable (V)-region interactions with an antigen. However, this view is not tenable in light of numerous reports that constant heavy (C(H)) domains can affect binding affinity and specificity and V-region structure. Kinetic and thermodynamic proof for the occurrence of this phenomenon is now available. C(H)-region effects on affinity and specificity suggest new mechanisms for generating antibody diversity and polyreactivity (multispecificity) that impact current views on idiotype regulation, autoimmunity, and B cell selection and change our understanding of vaccine responses.
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