Psychology Wiki

Assessment | Biopsychology | Comparative | Cognitive | Developmental | Language | Individual differences | Personality | Philosophy | Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |

Biological: Behavioural genetics · Evolutionary psychology · Neuroanatomy · Neurochemistry · Neuroendocrinology · Neuroscience · Psychoneuroimmunology · Physiological Psychology · Psychopharmacology (Index, Outline)


This article needs rewriting to enhance its relevance to psychologists..
Please help to improve this page yourself if you can..


Antibody

Each antibody binds to a specific antigen; an interaction similar to a lock and key.

An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large Y-shaped protein produced by B-cells that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, called an antigen.[1][2] Each tip of the "Y" of an antibody contains a paratope (a structure analogous to a lock) that is specific for one particular epitope (similarly analogous to a key) on an antigen, allowing these two structures to bind together with precision. Using this binding mechanism, an antibody can tag a microbe or an infected cell for attack by other parts of the immune system, or can neutralize its target directly (for example, by blocking a part of a microbe that is essential for its invasion and survival). The production of antibodies is the main function of the humoral immune system.[3]

Antibodies are secreted by a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell which is contained in blood serum. Antibodies can occur in two physical forms, a soluble form that is secreted from the cell, and a membrane-bound form that is attached to the surface of a B cell and is referred to as the B cell receptor (BCR). The BCR is only found on the surface of B cells and facilitates the activation of these cells and their subsequent differentiation into either antibody factories called plasma cells, or memory B cells that will survive in the body and remember that same antigen so the B cells can respond faster upon future exposure.[4] In most cases, interaction of the B cell with a T helper cell is necessary to produce full activation of the B cell and, therefore, antibody generation following antigen binding.[5] Soluble antibodies are released into the blood and tissue fluids, as well as many secretions to continue to survey for invading microorganisms.

Antibodies are glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily; the terms antibody and immunoglobulin are often used interchangeably.[6] Antibodies are typically made of basic structural units—each with two large heavy chains and two small light chains. There are several different types of antibody heavy chains, and several different kinds of antibodies, which are grouped into different isotypes based on which heavy chain they possess. Five different antibody isotypes are known in mammals, which perform different roles, and help direct the appropriate immune response for each different type of foreign object they encounter.[7]

Though the general structure of all antibodies is very similar, a small region at the tip of the protein is extremely variable, allowing millions of antibodies with slightly different tip structures, or antigen binding sites, to exist. This region is known as the hypervariable region. Each of these variants can bind to a different target, known as an antigen.[1] This enormous diversity of antibodies allows the immune system to recognize an equally wide variety of antigens.[6] The large and diverse population of antibodies is generated by random combinations of a set of gene segments that encode different antigen binding sites (or paratopes), followed by random mutations in this area of the antibody gene, which create further diversity.[7][8] Antibody genes also re-organize in a process called class switching that changes the base of the heavy chain to another, creating a different isotype of the antibody that retains the antigen specific variable region. This allows a single antibody to be used by several different parts of the immune system.

Forms[]

Surface immunoglobulin (Ig) is attached to the membrane of the effector B cells by its transmembrane region, while antibodies are the secreted form of Ig and lack the trans membrane region so that antibodies can be secreted into the bloodstream and body cavities. As a result, surface Ig and antibodies are identical except for the transmembrane regions. Therefore, they are considered two forms of antibodies: soluble form or membrane-bound form (Parham 21-22).

The membrane-bound form of an antibody may be called a surface immunoglobulin (sIg) or a membrane immunoglobulin (mIg). It is part of the B cell receptor (BCR), which allows a B cell to detect when a specific antigen is present in the body and triggers B cell activation.[9] The BCR is composed of surface-bound IgD or IgM antibodies and associated Ig-α and Ig-β heterodimers, which are capable of signal transduction.[10] A typical human B cell will have 50,000 to 100,000 antibodies bound to its surface.[10] Upon antigen binding, they cluster in large patches, which can exceed 1 micrometer in diameter, on lipid rafts that isolate the BCRs from most other cell signaling receptors.[10] These patches may improve the efficiency of the cellular immune response.[11] In humans, the cell surface is bare around the B cell receptors for several hundred nanometers,[12] which further isolates the BCRs from competing influences.

Isotypes[]

Antibody isotypes of mammals
Name Types Description Antibody Complexes
IgA 2 Found in mucosal areas, such as the gut, respiratory tract and urogenital tract, and prevents colonization by pathogens.[13] Also found in saliva, tears, and breast milk. Some antibodies form complexes that bind to multiple antigen molecules.
IgD 1 Functions mainly as an antigen receptor on B cells that have not been exposed to antigens.[14] It has been shown to activate basophils and mast cells to produce antimicrobial factors.[15]
IgE 1 Binds to allergens and triggers histamine release from mast cells and basophils, and is involved in allergy. Also protects against parasitic worms.[3]
IgG 4 In its four forms, provides the majority of antibody-based immunity against invading pathogens.[3] The only antibody capable of crossing the placenta to give passive immunity to fetus.
IgM 1 Expressed on the surface of B cells (monomer) and in a secreted form (pentamer) with very high avidity. Eliminates pathogens in the early stages of B cell mediated (humoral) immunity before there is sufficient IgG.[3][14]

Antibodies can come in different varieties known as isotypes or classes. In placental mammals there are five antibody isotypes known as IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. They are each named with an "Ig" prefix that stands for immunoglobulin, another name for antibody, and differ in their biological properties, functional locations and ability to deal with different antigens, as depicted in the table.[16]

The antibody isotype of a B cell changes during cell development and activation. Immature B cells, which have never been exposed to an antigen, are known as naïve B cells and express only the IgM isotype in a cell surface bound form. B cells begin to express both IgM and IgD when they reach maturity—the co-expression of both these immunoglobulin isotypes renders the B cell 'mature' and ready to respond to antigen.[17] B cell activation follows engagement of the cell bound antibody molecule with an antigen, causing the cell to divide and differentiate into an antibody producing cell called a plasma cell. In this activated form, the B cell starts to produce antibody in a secreted form rather than a membrane-bound form. Some daughter cells of the activated B cells undergo isotype switching, a mechanism that causes the production of antibodies to change from IgM or IgD to the other antibody isotypes, IgE, IgA or IgG, that have defined roles in the immune system.

Structure[]

Antibodies are heavy (~150 kDa) globular plasma proteins. They have sugar chains added to some of their amino acid residues.[18] In other words, antibodies are glycoproteins. The basic functional unit of each antibody is an immunoglobulin (Ig) monomer (containing only one Ig unit); secreted antibodies can also be dimeric with two Ig units as with IgA, tetrameric with four Ig units like teleost fish IgM, or pentameric with five Ig units, like mammalian IgM.[19]

File:Antibody IgG2.png

Several immunoglobulin domains make up the two heavy chains (red and blue) and the two light chains (green and yellow) of an antibody. The immunoglobulin domains are composed of between 7 (for constant domains) and 9 (for variable domains) β-strands.

The variable parts of an antibody are its V regions, and the constant part is its C region.

Immunoglobulin domains[]

The Ig monomer is a "Y"-shaped molecule that consists of four polypeptide chains; two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains connected by disulfide bonds.[16] Each chain is composed of structural domains called immunoglobulin domains. These domains contain about 70-110 amino acids and are classified into different categories (for example, variable or IgV, and constant or IgC) according to their size and function.[20] They have a characteristic immunoglobulin fold in which two beta sheets create a “sandwich” shape, held together by interactions between conserved cysteines and other charged amino acids.

Heavy chain[]

For more details on this topic, see Immunoglobulin heavy chain.

There are five types of mammalian Ig heavy chain denoted by the Greek letters: α, δ, ε, γ, and μ.[1] The type of heavy chain present defines the class of antibody; these chains are found in IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM antibodies, respectively.[6] Distinct heavy chains differ in size and composition; α and γ contain approximately 450 amino acids, while μ and ε have approximately 550 amino acids.[1]

Immunoglobulin basic unit

1. Fab region
2. Fc region
3. Heavy chain (blue) with one variable (VH) domain followed by a constant domain (CH1), a hinge region, and two more constant (CH2 and CH3) domains.
4. Light chain (green) with one variable (VL) and one constant (CL) domain
5. Antigen binding site (paratope)
6. Hinge regions.

In birds, the major serum antibody, also found in yolk, is called IgY. It is quite different from mammalian IgG. However, in some older literature and even on some commercial life sciences product websites it is still called "IgG", which is incorrect and can be confusing.

Each heavy chain has two regions, the constant region and the variable region. The constant region is identical in all antibodies of the same isotype, but differs in antibodies of different isotypes. Heavy chains γ, α and δ have a constant region composed of three tandem (in a line) Ig domains, and a hinge region for added flexibility;[16] heavy chains μ and ε have a constant region composed of four immunoglobulin domains.[1] The variable region of the heavy chain differs in antibodies produced by different B cells, but is the same for all antibodies produced by a single B cell or B cell clone. The variable region of each heavy chain is approximately 110 amino acids long and is composed of a single Ig domain.

Light chain[]

For more details on this topic, see Immunoglobulin light chain.

In mammals there are two types of immunoglobulin light chain, which are called lambda (λ) and kappa (κ).[1] A light chain has two successive domains: one constant domain and one variable domain. The approximate length of a light chain is 211 to 217 amino acids.[1] Each antibody contains two light chains that are always identical; only one type of light chain, κ or λ, is present per antibody in mammals. Other types of light chains, such as the iota (ι) chain, are found in lower vertebrates like sharks (Chondrichthyes) and bony fishes (Teleostei).

CDRs, Fv, Fab and Fc Regions[]

Some parts of an antibody have unique functions. The arms of the Y, for example, contain the sites that can bind two antigens (in general, identical) and, therefore, recognize specific foreign objects. This region of the antibody is called the Fab (fragment, antigen binding) region. It is composed of one constant and one variable domain from each heavy and light chain of the antibody.[21] The paratope is shaped at the amino terminal end of the antibody monomer by the variable domains from the heavy and light chains. The variable domain is also referred to as the FV region and is the most important region for binding to antigens. More specifically, variable loops of β-strands, three each on the light (VL) and heavy (VH) chains are responsible for binding to the antigen. These loops are referred to as the complementarity determining regions (CDRs). The structures of these CDRs have been clustered and classified by Chothia et al.[22] and more recently by North et al.[23] In the framework of the immune network theory, CDRs are also called idiotypes. According to immune network theory, the adaptive immune system is regulated by interactions between idiotypes.

The base of the Y plays a role in modulating immune cell activity. This region is called the Fc (Fragment, crystallizable) region, and is composed of two heavy chains that contribute two or three constant domains depending on the class of the antibody.[1] Thus, the Fc region ensures that each antibody generates an appropriate immune response for a given antigen, by binding to a specific class of Fc receptors, and other immune molecules, such as complement proteins. By doing this, it mediates different physiological effects including recognition of opsonized particles, lysis of cells, and degranulation of mast cells, basophils and eosinophils.[16][24]

Function[]

includeonly>

Activated B cells differentiate into either antibody-producing cells called plasma cells that secrete soluble antibody or memory cells that survive in the body for years afterward in order to allow the immune system to remember an antigen and respond faster upon future exposures.[25]

At the prenatal and neonatal stages of life, the presence of antibodies is provided by passive immunization from the mother. Early endogenous antibody production varies for different kinds of antibodies, and usually appear within the first years of life. Since antibodies exist freely in the bloodstream, they are said to be part of the humoral immune system. Circulating antibodies are produced by clonal B cells that specifically respond to only one antigen (an example is a virus capsid protein fragment). Antibodies contribute to immunity in three ways: they prevent pathogens from entering or damaging cells by binding to them; they stimulate removal of pathogens by macrophages and other cells by coating the pathogen; and they trigger destruction of pathogens by stimulating other immune responses such as the complement pathway.[26]

IgM white background

The secreted mammalian IgM has five Ig units. Each Ig unit (labeled 1) has two epitope binding Fab regions, so IgM is capable of binding up to 10 epitopes.

Activation of complement[]

Antibodies that bind to surface antigens on, for example, a bacterium attract the first component of the complement cascade with their Fc region and initiate activation of the "classical" complement system.[26] This results in the killing of bacteria in two ways.[3] First, the binding of the antibody and complement molecules marks the microbe for ingestion by phagocytes in a process called opsonization; these phagocytes are attracted by certain complement molecules generated in the complement cascade. Secondly, some complement system components form a membrane attack complex to assist antibodies to kill the bacterium directly.[27]

Activation of effector cells[]

To combat pathogens that replicate outside cells, antibodies bind to pathogens to link them together, causing them to agglutinate. Since an antibody has at least two paratopes it can bind more than one antigen by binding identical epitopes carried on the surfaces of these antigens. By coating the pathogen, antibodies stimulate effector functions against the pathogen in cells that recognize their Fc region.[3]

Those cells which recognize coated pathogens have Fc receptors which, as the name suggests, interacts with the Fc region of IgA, IgG, and IgE antibodies. The engagement of a particular antibody with the Fc receptor on a particular cell triggers an effector function of that cell; phagocytes will phagocytose, mast cells and neutrophils will degranulate, natural killer cells will release cytokines and cytotoxic molecules; that will ultimately result in destruction of the invading microbe. The Fc receptors are isotype-specific, which gives greater flexibility to the immune system, invoking only the appropriate immune mechanisms for distinct pathogens.[1]

Natural antibodies[]

Humans and higher primates also produce “natural antibodies” which are present in serum before viral infection. Natural antibodies have been defined as antibodies that are produced without any previous infection, vaccination, other foreign antigen exposure or passive immunization. These antibodies can activate the classical complement pathway leading to lysis of enveloped virus particles long before the adaptive immune response is activated. Many natural antibodies are directed against the disaccharide galactose α(1,3)-galactose (α-Gal), which is found as a terminal sugar on glycosylated cell surface proteins, and generated in response to production of this sugar by bacteria contained in the human gut.[28] Rejection of xenotransplantated organs is thought to be, in part, the result of natural antibodies circulating in the serum of the recipient binding to α-Gal antigens expressed on the donor tissue.[29]

Immunoglobulin diversity[]

Virtually all microbes can trigger an antibody response. Successful recognition and eradication of many different types of microbes requires diversity among antibodies; their amino acid composition varies allowing them to interact with many different antigens.[30] It has been estimated that humans generate about 10 billion different antibodies, each capable of binding a distinct epitope of an antigen.[31] Although a huge repertoire of different antibodies is generated in a single individual, the number of genes available to make these proteins is limited by the size of the human genome. Several complex genetic mechanisms have evolved that allow vertebrate B cells to generate a diverse pool of antibodies from a relatively small number of antibody genes.[32]

Domain variability[]

File:Complementarity determining regions.PNG

The complementarity determining regions of the heavy chain are shown in red (PDB 1IGT)

The region (locus) of a chromosome that encodes an antibody is large and contains several distinct genes for each domain of the antibody—the locus containing heavy chain genes (IGH@) is found on chromosome 14, and the loci containing lambda and kappa light chain genes (IGL@ and IGK@) are found on chromosomes 22 and 2 in humans. One of these domains is called the variable domain, which is present in each heavy and light chain of every antibody, but can differ in different antibodies generated from distinct B cells. Differences, between the variable domains, are located on three loops known as hypervariable regions (HV-1, HV-2 and HV-3) or complementarity determining regions (CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3). CDRs are supported within the variable domains by conserved framework regions. The heavy chain locus contains about 65 different variable domain genes that all differ in their CDRs. Combining these genes with an array of genes for other domains of the antibody generates a large cavalry of antibodies with a high degree of variability. This combination is called V(D)J recombination discussed below.[33]

V(D)J recombination[]

For more details on this topic, see V(D)J recombination.
VDJ recombination

Simplified overview of V(D)J recombination of immunoglobulin heavy chains

Somatic recombination of immunoglobulins, also known as V(D)J recombination, involves the generation of a unique immunoglobulin variable region. The variable region of each immunoglobulin heavy or light chain is encoded in several pieces—known as gene segments (subgenes). These segments are called variable (V), diversity (D) and joining (J) segments.[32] V, D and J segments are found in Ig heavy chains, but only V and J segments are found in Ig light chains. Multiple copies of the V, D and J gene segments exist, and are tandemly arranged in the genomes of mammals. In the bone marrow, each developing B cell will assemble an immunoglobulin variable region by randomly selecting and combining one V, one D and one J gene segment (or one V and one J segment in the light chain). As there are multiple copies of each type of gene segment, and different combinations of gene segments can be used to generate each immunoglobulin variable region, this process generates a huge number of antibodies, each with different paratopes, and thus different antigen specificities.[7] Interestingly, the rearrangement of several subgenes (e.i. V2 family) for lambda light chain immunoglobulin is coupled with the activation of microRNA miR-650, which further influences biology of B-cells .[34]

After a B cell produces a functional immunoglobulin gene during V(D)J recombination, it cannot express any other variable region (a process known as allelic exclusion) thus each B cell can produce antibodies containing only one kind of variable chain.[1][35]

Somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation[]

For more details on this topic, see Somatic hypermutation and Affinity maturation

Following activation with antigen, B cells begin to proliferate rapidly. In these rapidly dividing cells, the genes encoding the variable domains of the heavy and light chains undergo a high rate of point mutation, by a process called somatic hypermutation (SHM). SHM results in approximately one nucleotide change per variable gene, per cell division.[8] As a consequence, any daughter B cells will acquire slight amino acid differences in the variable domains of their antibody chains.

This serves to increase the diversity of the antibody pool and impacts the antibody’s antigen-binding affinity.[36] Some point mutations will result in the production of antibodies that have a weaker interaction (low affinity) with their antigen than the original antibody, and some mutations will generate antibodies with a stronger interaction (high affinity).[37] B cells that express high affinity antibodies on their surface will receive a strong survival signal during interactions with other cells, whereas those with low affinity antibodies will not, and will die by apoptosis.[37] Thus, B cells expressing antibodies with a higher affinity for the antigen will outcompete those with weaker affinities for function and survival. The process of generating antibodies with increased binding affinities is called affinity maturation. Affinity maturation occurs in mature B cells after V(D)J recombination, and is dependent on help from helper T cells.[38]

Class switch recombination

Mechanism of class switch recombination that allows isotype switching in activated B cells

Class switching[]

Isotype or class switching is a biological process occurring after activation of the B cell, which allows the cell to produce different classes of antibody (IgA, IgE, or IgG).[7] The different classes of antibody, and thus effector functions, are defined by the constant (C) regions of the immunoglobulin heavy chain. Initially, naïve B cells express only cell-surface IgM and IgD with identical antigen binding regions. Each isotype is adapted for a distinct function, therefore, after activation, an antibody with an IgG, IgA, or IgE effector function might be required to effectively eliminate an antigen. Class switching allows different daughter cells from the same activated B cell to produce antibodies of different isotypes. Only the constant region of the antibody heavy chain changes during class switching; the variable regions, and therefore antigen specificity, remain unchanged. Thus the progeny of a single B cell can produce antibodies, all specific for the same antigen, but with the ability to produce the effector function appropriate for each antigenic challenge. Class switching is triggered by cytokines; the isotype generated depends on which cytokines are present in the B cell environment.[39]

Class switching occurs in the heavy chain gene locus by a mechanism called class switch recombination (CSR). This mechanism relies on conserved nucleotide motifs, called switch (S) regions, found in DNA upstream of each constant region gene (except in the δ-chain). The DNA strand is broken by the activity of a series of enzymes at two selected S-regions.[40][41] The variable domain exon is rejoined through a process called non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) to the desired constant region (γ, α or ε). This process results in an immunoglobulin gene that encodes an antibody of a different isotype.[42]

Affinity designations[]

A group of antibodies can be called monovalent (or specific) if they have affinity for the same epitope,[43] or for the same antigen[44] (but potentially different epitopes on the molecule), or for the same strain of microorganism[44] (but potentially different antigens on or in it). In contrast, a group of antibodies can be called polyvalent (or unspecific) if they have affinity for various antigens[45] or microorganisms.[45] Intravenous immunoglobulin, if not otherwise noted, consists of polyvalent IgG. In contrast, monoclonal antibodies are monovalent for the same epitope.

Medical applications[]

Disease diagnosis and therapy[]

Detection of particular antibodies is a very common form of medical diagnostics, and applications such as serology depend on these methods.[46] For example, in biochemical assays for disease diagnosis,[47] a titer of antibodies directed against Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme disease is estimated from the blood. If those antibodies are not present, either the person is not infected, or the infection occurred a very long time ago, and the B cells generating these specific antibodies have naturally decayed. In clinical immunology, levels of individual classes of immunoglobulins are measured by nephelometry (or turbidimetry) to characterize the antibody profile of patient.[48] Elevations in different classes of immunoglobulins are sometimes useful in determining the cause of liver damage in patients for whom the diagnosis is unclear.[6] For example, elevated IgA indicates alcoholic cirrhosis, elevated IgM indicates viral hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis, while IgG is elevated in viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis. Autoimmune disorders can often be traced to antibodies that bind the body's own epitopes; many can be detected through blood tests. Antibodies directed against red blood cell surface antigens in immune mediated hemolytic anemia are detected with the Coombs test.[49] The Coombs test is also used for antibody screening in blood transfusion preparation and also for antibody screening in antenatal women.[49] Practically, several immunodiagnostic methods based on detection of complex antigen-antibody are used to diagnose infectious diseases, for example ELISA, immunofluorescence, Western blot, immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, and magnetic immunoassay. Antibodies raised against human chorionic gonadotropin are used in over the counter pregnancy tests. Targeted monoclonal antibody therapy is employed to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis,[50] multiple sclerosis,[51] psoriasis,[52] and many forms of cancer including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,[53] colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer and breast cancer.[54] Some immune deficiencies, such as X-linked agammaglobulinemia and hypogammaglobulinemia, result in partial or complete lack of antibodies.[55] These diseases are often treated by inducing a short term form of immunity called passive immunity. Passive immunity is achieved through the transfer of ready-made antibodies in the form of human or animal serum, pooled immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibodies, into the affected individual.[56]

Prenatal therapy[]

Rhesus factor, also known as Rhesus D (RhD) antigen, is an antigen found on red blood cells; individuals that are Rhesus-positive (Rh+) have this antigen on their red blood cells and individuals that are Rhesus-negative (Rh–) do not. During normal childbirth, delivery trauma or complications during pregnancy, blood from a fetus can enter the mother's system. In the case of an Rh-incompatible mother and child, consequential blood mixing may sensitize an Rh- mother to the Rh antigen on the blood cells of the Rh+ child, putting the remainder of the pregnancy, and any subsequent pregnancies, at risk for hemolytic disease of the newborn.[57]

Rho(D) immune globulin antibodies are specific for human Rhesus D (RhD) antigen.[58] Anti-RhD antibodies are administered as part of a prenatal treatment regimen to prevent sensitization that may occur when a Rhesus-negative mother has a Rhesus-positive fetus. Treatment of a mother with Anti-RhD antibodies prior to and immediately after trauma and delivery destroys Rh antigen in the mother's system from the fetus. Importantly, this occurs before the antigen can stimulate maternal B cells to "remember" Rh antigen by generating memory B cells. Therefore, her humoral immune system will not make anti-Rh antibodies, and will not attack the Rhesus antigens of the current or subsequent babies. Rho(D) Immune Globulin treatment prevents sensitization that can lead to Rh disease, but does not prevent or treat the underlying disease itself.[58]

Research applications[]

FluorescentCells

Immunofluorescence image of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Actin filaments are shown in red, microtubules in green, and the nuclei in blue.

Specific antibodies are produced by injecting an antigen into a mammal, such as a mouse, rat, rabbit, goat, sheep, or horse for large quantities of antibody. Blood isolated from these animals contains polyclonal antibodies—multiple antibodies that bind to the same antigen—in the serum, which can now be called antiserum. Antigens are also injected into chickens for generation of polyclonal antibodies in egg yolk.[59] To obtain antibody that is specific for a single epitope of an antigen, antibody-secreting lymphocytes are isolated from the animal and immortalized by fusing them with a cancer cell line. The fused cells are called hybridomas, and will continually grow and secrete antibody in culture. Single hybridoma cells are isolated by dilution cloning to generate cell clones that all produce the same antibody; these antibodies are called monoclonal antibodies.[60] Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are often purified using Protein A/G or antigen-affinity chromatography.[61]

In research, purified antibodies are used in many applications. They are most commonly used to identify and locate intracellular and extracellular proteins. Antibodies are used in flow cytometry to differentiate cell types by the proteins they express; different types of cell express different combinations of cluster of differentiation molecules on their surface, and produce different intracellular and secretable proteins.[62] They are also used in immunoprecipitation to separate proteins and anything bound to them (co-immunoprecipitation) from other molecules in a cell lysate,[63] in Western blot analyses to identify proteins separated by electrophoresis,[64] and in immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence to examine protein expression in tissue sections or to locate proteins within cells with the assistance of a microscope.[62][65] Proteins can also be detected and quantified with antibodies, using ELISA and ELISPOT techniques.[66][67]

Structure prediction[]

The importance of antibodies in health care and the biotechnology industry demands knowledge of their structures at high resolution. This information is used for protein engineering, modifying the antigen binding affinity, and identifying an epitope, of a given antibody. X-ray crystallography is one commonly used method for determining antibody structures. However, crystallizing an antibody is often laborious and time consuming. Computational approaches provide a cheaper and faster alternative to crystallography, but their results are more equivocal since they do not produce empirical structures. Online web servers such as Web Antibody Modeling (WAM)[68] and Prediction of Immunoglobulin Structure (PIGS)[69] enables computational modeling of antibody variable regions. Rosetta Antibody is a novel antibody FV region structure prediction server, which incorporates sophisticated techniques to minimize CDR loops and optimize the relative orientation of the light and heavy chains, as well as homology models that predict successful docking of antibodies with their unique antigen.[70]

History[]

See also: History of immunology

The first use of the term "antibody" occurred in a text by Paul Ehrlich. The term Antikörper (the German word for antibody) appears in the conclusion of his article "Experimental Studies on Immunity", published in October 1891, which states that "if two substances give rise to two different antikörper, then they themselves must be different".[71] However, the term was not accepted immediately and several other terms for antibody were proposed; these included Immunkörper, Amboceptor, Zwischenkörper, substance sensibilisatrice, copula, Desmon, philocytase, fixateur, and Immunisin.[71] The word antibody has formal analogy to the word antitoxin and a similar concept to Immunkörper.[71]

File:AngeloftheWest.jpg

Angel of the West (2008) by Julian Voss-Andreae is a sculpture based on the antibody structure published by E. Padlan.[72] Created for the Florida campus of the Scripps Research Institute,[73] the antibody is placed into a ring referencing Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man thus highlighting the similar proportions of the antibody and the human body.[74]

The study of antibodies began in 1890 when Kitasato Shibasaburō described antibody activity against diphtheria and tetanus toxins. Kitasato put forward the theory of humoral immunity, proposing that a mediator in serum could react with a foreign antigen.[75][76] His idea prompted Paul Ehrlich to propose the side chain theory for antibody and antigen interaction in 1897, when he hypothesized that receptors (described as “side chains”) on the surface of cells could bind specifically to toxins – in a "lock-and-key" interaction – and that this binding reaction was the trigger for the production of antibodies.[77] Other researchers believed that antibodies existed freely in the blood and, in 1904, Almroth Wright suggested that soluble antibodies coated bacteria to label them for phagocytosis and killing; a process that he named opsoninization.[78]

File:Michael Heidelberger 1954.jpg

Michael Heidelberger

In the 1920s, Michael Heidelberger and Oswald Avery observed that antigens could be precipitated by antibodies and went on to show that antibodies were made of protein.[79] The biochemical properties of antigen-antibody binding interactions were examined in more detail in the late 1930s by John Marrack.[80] The next major advance was in the 1940s, when Linus Pauling confirmed the lock-and-key theory proposed by Ehrlich by showing that the interactions between antibodies and antigens depended more on their shape than their chemical composition.[81] In 1948, Astrid Fagreaus discovered that B cells, in the form of plasma cells, were responsible for generating antibodies.[82]

Further work concentrated on characterizing the structures of the antibody proteins. A major advance in these structural studies was the discovery in the early 1960s by Gerald Edelman and Joseph Gally of the antibody light chain,[83] and their realization that this protein was the same as the Bence-Jones protein described in 1845 by Henry Bence Jones.[84] Edelman went on to discover that antibodies are composed of disulfide bond-linked heavy and light chains. Around the same time, antibody-binding (Fab) and antibody tail (Fc) regions of IgG were characterized by Rodney Porter.[85] Together, these scientists deduced the structure and complete amino acid sequence of IgG, a feat for which they were jointly awarded the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.[85] The Fv fragment was prepared and characterized by David Givol.[86] While most of these early studies focused on IgM and IgG, other immunoglobulin isotypes were identified in the 1960s: Thomas Tomasi discovered secretory antibody (IgA)[87] and David S. Rowe and John L. Fahey identified IgD,[88] and IgE was identified by Kimishige Ishizaka and Teruko Ishizaka as a class of antibodies involved in allergic reactions.[89] In a landmark series of experiments beginning in 1976, Susumu Tonegawa showed that genetic material can rearrange itself to form the vast array of available antibodies.[90]

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Charles Janeway (2001). Immunobiology., 5th, Garland Publishing. (electronic full text via NCBI Bookshelf). Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Janeway5" defined multiple times with different content
  2. Litman GW, Rast JP, Shamblott MJ, Haire RN, Hulst M, Roess W, Litman RT, Hinds-Frey KR, Zilch A, Amemiya CT (January 1993). Phylogenetic diversification of immunoglobulin genes and the antibody repertoire. Mol. Biol. Evol. 10 (1): 60–72.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Pier GB, Lyczak JB, Wetzler LM (2004). Immunology, Infection, and Immunity, ASM Press.
  4. Borghesi L, Milcarek C (2006). From B cell to plasma cell: regulation of V(D)J recombination and antibody secretion. Immunol. Res. 36 (1–3): 27–32.
  5. Parker D (1993). T cell-dependent B cell activation. Annu Rev Immunol 11 (1): 331–360.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Rhoades RA, Pflanzer RG (2002). Human Physiology, 4th, Thomson Learning. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Rhoades" defined multiple times with different content
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Market E, Papavasiliou FN (October 2003). V(D)J recombination and the evolution of the adaptive immune system. PLoS Biol. 1 (1): E16.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Diaz M, Casali P (2002). Somatic immunoglobulin hypermutation. Curr Opin Immunol 14 (2): 235–240.
  9. Parker D (1993). T cell-dependent B cell activation. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 11 (1): 331–360.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Wintrobe, Maxwell Myer (2004). Wintrobe's clinical hematology, John G. Greer, John Foerster, John N Lukens, George M Rodgers, Frixos Paraskevas, 11, 453–456, Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  11. Tolar P, Sohn HW, Pierce SK (February 2008). Viewing the antigen-induced initiation of B-cell activation in living cells. Immunol. Rev. 221 (1): 64–76.
  12. Wintrobe, Maxwell Myer (2004). Wintrobe's clinical hematology, John G. Greer, John Foerster, John N Lukens, George M Rodgers, Frixos Paraskevas, 11, 453–456, Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  13. Underdown B, Schiff J (1986). Immunoglobulin A: strategic defense initiative at the mucosal surface. Annu Rev Immunol 4 (1): 389–417.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Geisberger R, Lamers M, Achatz G (2006). The riddle of the dual expression of IgM and IgD. Immunology 118 (4): 060526021554006––.
  15. Chen K, Xu W, Wilson M, He B, Miller NW, Bengtén E, Edholm ES, Santini PA, Rath P, Chiu A, Cattalini M, Litzman J, B Bussel J, Huang B, Meini A, Riesbeck K, Cunningham-Rundles C, Plebani A, Cerutti A (2009). Immunoglobulin D enhances immune surveillance by activating antimicrobial, proinflammatory and B cell-stimulating programs in basophils. Nature Immunology 10 (8): 889–898.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Woof J, Burton D (2004). Human antibody-Fc receptor interactions illuminated by crystal structures.. Nat Rev Immunol 4 (2): 89–99.
  17. Goding J (1978). Allotypes of IgM and IgD receptors in the mouse: a probe for lymphocyte differentiation. Contemp Top Immunobiol 8: 203–43.
  18. Mattu T, Pleass R, Willis A, Kilian M, Wormald M, Lellouch A, Rudd P, Woof J, Dwek R (1998). The glycosylation and structure of human serum IgA1, Fab, and Fc regions and the role of N-glycosylation on Fc alpha receptor interactions. J Biol Chem 273 (4): 2260–2272.
  19. Roux K (1999). Immunoglobulin structure and function as revealed by electron microscopy. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 120 (2): 85–99.
  20. Barclay A (2003). Membrane proteins with immunoglobulin-like domains - a master superfamily of interaction molecules. Semin Immunol 15 (4): 215–223.
  21. Putnam FW, Liu YS, Low TL (1979). Primary structure of a human IgA1 immunoglobulin. IV. Streptococcal IgA1 protease, digestion, Fab and Fc fragments, and the complete amino acid sequence of the alpha 1 heavy chain. J Biol Chem 254 (8): 2865–74.
  22. Al-Lazikani B, Lesk AM, Chothia C (1997). Standard conformations for the canonical structures of immunoglobulins. J Mol Biol 273 (4): 927–948.
  23. North B, Lehmann A, Dunbrack RL (2010). A new clustering of antibody CDR loop conformations. J Mol Biol 406 (2): 228–256.
  24. Heyman B (1996). Complement and Fc-receptors in regulation of the antibody response. Immunol Lett 54 (2–3): 195–199.
  25. Borghesi L, Milcarek C (2006). From B cell to plasma cell: regulation of V(D)J recombination and antibody secretion. Immunol Res 36 (1–3): 27–32.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Ravetch J, Bolland S (2001). IgG Fc receptors. Annu Rev Immunol 19 (1): 275–290.
  27. Rus H, Cudrici C, Niculescu F (2005). The role of the complement system in innate immunity. Immunol Res 33 (2): 103–112.
  28. Racaniello, Vincent. Natural antibody protects against viral infection. Virology Blog. URL accessed on 2010-01-22.
  29. Milland J, Sandrin MS (December 2006). ABO blood group and related antigens, natural antibodies and transplantation. Tissue Antigens 68 (6): 459–466.
  30. Mian I, Bradwell A, Olson A (1991). Structure, function and properties of antibody binding sites. J Mol Biol 217 (1): 133–151.
  31. Fanning LJ, Connor AM, Wu GE (1996). Development of the immunoglobulin repertoire. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 79 (1): 1–14.
  32. 32.0 32.1 Nemazee D (2006). Receptor editing in lymphocyte development and central tolerance. Nat Rev Immunol 6 (10): 728–740.
  33. Peter Parham. "The Immune System. 2nd ed. Garland Science: New York, 2005. pg.47-62
  34. PMID 22234685 (PMID 22234685&query_hl=14&itool=pubmed_docsum 22234685)
    Citation will be completed automatically in a few minutes. Jump the queue or expand by hand
  35. Bergman Y, Cedar H (2004). A stepwise epigenetic process controls immunoglobulin allelic exclusion. Nat Rev Immunol 4 (10): 753–761.
  36. Honjo T, Habu S (1985). Origin of immune diversity: genetic variation and selection. Annu Rev Biochem 54 (1): 803–830.
  37. 37.0 37.1 Or-Guil M, Wittenbrink N, Weiser AA, Schuchhardt J (2007). Recirculation of germinal center B cells: a multilevel selection strategy for antibody maturation. Immunol. Rev. 216: 130–41.
  38. Neuberger M, Ehrenstein M, Rada C, Sale J, Batista F, Williams G, Milstein C (March 2000). Memory in the B-cell compartment: antibody affinity maturation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 355 (1395): 357–360.
  39. Stavnezer J, Amemiya CT (2004). Evolution of isotype switching. Semin. Immunol. 16 (4): 257–275.
  40. Durandy A (2003). Activation-induced cytidine deaminase: a dual role in class-switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. Eur. J. Immunol. 33 (8): 2069–2073.
  41. Casali P, Zan H (2004). Class switching and Myc translocation: how does DNA break?. Nat. Immunol. 5 (11): 1101–1103.
  42. Lieber MR, Yu K, Raghavan SC (2006). Roles of nonhomologous DNA end joining, V(D)J recombination, and class switch recombination in chromosomal translocations. DNA Repair (Amst.) 5 (9–10): 1234–1245.
  43. page 22 in: (2007) Autoantibodie, Amsterdam ; Boston: Elsevier.
  44. 44.0 44.1 Farlex dictionary > monovalent Citing: The American Heritage Science Dictionary, Copyright 2005
  45. 45.0 45.1 Farlex dictionary > polyvalent Citing: The American Heritage Medical Dictionary. 2004
  46. Animated depictions of how antibodies are used in ELISA assays. Cellular Technology Ltd.—Europe. URL accessed on 2007-05-08.
  47. Animated depictions of how antibodies are used in ELISPOT assays. Cellular Technology Ltd.—Europe. URL accessed on 2007-05-08.
  48. Stern P (2006). Current possibilities of turbidimetry and nephelometry. Klin Biochem Metab 14 (3): 146–151.
  49. 49.0 49.1 Dean, Laura (2005). "Chapter 4: Hemolytic disease of the newborn" Blood Groups and Red Cell Antigens, NCBI Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US),.
  50. Feldmann M, Maini R (2001). Anti-TNF alpha therapy of rheumatoid arthritis: what have we learned?. Annu Rev Immunol 19 (1): 163–196.
  51. Doggrell S (2003). Is natalizumab a breakthrough in the treatment of multiple sclerosis?. Expert Opin Pharmacother 4 (6): 999–1001.
  52. Krueger G, Langley R, Leonardi C, Yeilding N, Guzzo C, Wang Y, Dooley L, Lebwohl M (2007). A human interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of psoriasis. N Engl J Med 356 (6): 580–592.
  53. Plosker G, Figgitt D (2003). Rituximab: a review of its use in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Drugs 63 (8): 803–843.
  54. Vogel C, Cobleigh M, Tripathy D, Gutheil J, Harris L, Fehrenbacher L, Slamon D, Murphy M, Novotny W, Burchmore M, Shak S, Stewart S (2001). First-line Herceptin monotherapy in metastatic breast cancer. Oncology Suppl 2 (Suppl. 2): 37–42.
  55. LeBien TW (1 July 2000). Fates of human B-cell precursors. Blood 96 (1): 9–23.
  56. Ghaffer A. Immunization. Immunology — Chapter 14. University of South Carolina School of Medicine. URL accessed on 2007-06-06.
  57. Urbaniak S, Greiss M (2000). RhD haemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn. Blood Rev 14 (1): 44–61.
  58. 58.0 58.1 Fung Kee Fung K, Eason E, Crane J, Armson A, De La Ronde S, Farine D, Keenan-Lindsay L, Leduc L, Reid G, Aerde J, Wilson R, Davies G, Désilets V, Summers A, Wyatt P, Young D (2003). Prevention of Rh alloimmunization. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 25 (9): 765–73.
  59. Tini M, Jewell UR, Camenisch G, Chilov D, Gassmann M (2002). Generation and application of chicken egg-yolk antibodies. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., Part a Mol. Integr. Physiol. 131 (3): 569–574.
  60. Cole SP, Campling BG, Atlaw T, Kozbor D, Roder JC (1984). Human monoclonal antibodies. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 62 (2): 109–20.
  61. Kabir S (2002). Immunoglobulin purification by affinity chromatography using protein A mimetic ligands prepared by combinatorial chemical synthesis. Immunol Invest 31 (3–4): 263–278.
  62. 62.0 62.1 Brehm-Stecher B, Johnson E (2004). Single-cell microbiology: tools, technologies, and applications. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 68 (3): 538–559.
  63. Williams N (2000). Immunoprecipitation procedures. Methods Cell Biol 62: 449–453.
  64. Kurien B, Scofield R (2006). Western blotting. Methods 38 (4): 283–293.
  65. Scanziani E (1998). Immunohistochemical staining of fixed tissues. Methods Mol Biol 104: 133–140.
  66. Reen DJ. (1994). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Methods Mol Biol. 32: 461–466.
  67. Kalyuzhny AE (2005). Chemistry and biology of the ELISPOT assay. Methods Mol Biol. 302: 015–032.
  68. Whitelegg N.R.J., Rees A.R. (2000). WAM: an improved algorithm for modeling antibodies on the WEB. Protein Engineering 13 (12): 819–824.
    WAM
  69. Marcatili P, Rosi A,Tramontano A (2008). PIGS: automatic prediction of antibody structures. Bioinformatics 24 (17): 1953–1954.
    Prediction of Immunoglobulin Structure (PIGS)
  70. Sivasubramanian A, Sircar A, Chaudhury S, Gray J J (2009). Toward high-resolution homology modeling of antibody Fv regions and application to antibody–antigen docking. Proteins 74 (2): 497–514.
    RosettaAntibody
  71. 71.0 71.1 71.2 Lindenmann, Jean (1984). Origin of the Terms 'Antibody' and 'Antigen'. Scand. J. Immunol. 19 (4): 281–5.
  72. Padlan, Eduardo (February 1994). Anatomy of the antibody molecule. Mol. Immunol. 31 (3): 169–217.
  73. New Sculpture Portraying Human Antibody as Protective Angel Installed on Scripps Florida Campus. URL accessed on 2008-12-12.
  74. Protein sculpture inspired by Vitruvian Man. URL accessed on 2008-12-12.
  75. Emil von Behring — Biography. URL accessed on 2007-06-05.
  76. AGN (1931). The Late Baron Shibasaburo Kitasato. Canadian Medical Association Journal 25 (2).
  77. Winau F, Westphal O, Winau R (2004). Paul Ehrlich--in search of the magic bullet. Microbes Infect. 6 (8): 786–789.
  78. Silverstein AM (2003). Cellular versus humoral immunology: a century-long dispute. Nat. Immunol. 4 (5): 425–428.
  79. Van Epps HL (2006). Michael Heidelberger and the demystification of antibodies. J. Exp. Med. 203 (1).
  80. Marrack, JR (1938). Chemistry of antigens and antibodies, 2nd, London: His Majesty's Stationery Office.
  81. The Linus Pauling Papers: How Antibodies and Enzymes Work. URL accessed on 2007-06-05.
  82. Silverstein AM (2004). Labeled antigens and antibodies: the evolution of magic markers and magic bullets. Nat. Immunol. 5 (12): 1211–1217.
  83. Edelman GM, Gally JA (1962). The nature of Bence-Jones proteins. Chemical similarities to polypetide chains of myeloma globulins and normal gamma-globulins. J. Exp. Med. 116 (2): 207–227.
  84. Stevens FJ, Solomon A, Schiffer M (1991). Bence Jones proteins: a powerful tool for the fundamental study of protein chemistry and pathophysiology. Biochemistry 30 (28): 6803–6805.
  85. 85.0 85.1 Raju TN (1999). The Nobel chronicles. 1972: Gerald M Edelman (b 1929) and Rodney R Porter (1917-85). Lancet 354 (9183).
  86. Hochman J, Inbar D, Givol D (1973). An active antibody fragment (Fv) composed of the variable portions of heavy and light chains. Biochemistry 12 (6): 1130–1135.
  87. Tomasi TB (1992). The discovery of secretory IgA and the mucosal immune system. Immunol. Today 13 (10): 416–418.
  88. Preud'homme JL, Petit I, Barra A, Morel F, Lecron JC, Lelièvre E (2000). Structural and functional properties of membrane and secreted IgD. Mol. Immunol. 37 (15): 871–887.
  89. Johansson SG (2006). The discovery of immunoglobulin E. Allergy and asthma proceedings : the official journal of regional and state allergy societies 27 (2 Suppl 1): S3–6.
  90. Hozumi N, Tonegawa S (1976). Evidence for somatic rearrangement of immunoglobulin genes coding for variable and constant regions. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73 (10): 3628–3632.

External links[]

Commons-logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
[[Commons: Category:Antibodies

| Antibodies

]]


Template:Globular proteins

Template:Autoantibodies

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).