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Antibodies or Immunoglobulins

Antibodies or immunoglobulins are glycoproteins produced by B lymphocytes in response to antigens. There are five classes of antibodies - IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE - which have different properties and functions. Upon exposure to an antigen, B cells activate and differentiate into plasma cells, producing antibodies that specifically bind to the antigen in order to help eliminate it from the body. Memory B cells are also formed, allowing for a rapid secondary antibody response upon re-exposure to the same antigen.

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25 views17 pages

Antibodies or Immunoglobulins

Antibodies or immunoglobulins are glycoproteins produced by B lymphocytes in response to antigens. There are five classes of antibodies - IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE - which have different properties and functions. Upon exposure to an antigen, B cells activate and differentiate into plasma cells, producing antibodies that specifically bind to the antigen in order to help eliminate it from the body. Memory B cells are also formed, allowing for a rapid secondary antibody response upon re-exposure to the same antigen.

Uploaded by

tamer273
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Antibodies or Immunoglobulins

* Definition:
Glycoprotein in serum and tissue fluid

* Produced by:
B-lymphocytes in response to exposure to antigen

* React specifically with antigen

* Five classes of Antibodies:


IgG
IgM
IgA
IgD
IgE
IgG

Properties
• Major serum Ig
• Major Ig in extravascular spaces
• The only Placental transfer Ig
• Fixes complement
• Phagocytes - opsonization
IgM

Properties
• First Ig made by fetus and B cells
• Present in colostrum and mother
milk protect newly born.
• Fixes complement
IgA
-Found in serum and body secretion:
Tears, saliva, gastric and pulmonary
secretions
• Major secretory Ig on Mucous surfaces
give Local Immunity by coating m.o,
bacteria or viruses preventing their
adherence to mucosal cells
• Does not fix complement (unless
aggregated)
• Present in colostrum and mother milk
protect newly born.
IgE

• Least common serum Ig


 Binds to basophils and mast cells (Does not
require Ag binding)
• Allergic and hypersensitivity reactions
• Parasitic infections (Helminths)
 Binds to Fc receptor on eosinophils
• Does not fix complement
IgD

• Present in very small amount in serum


• B cell surface Ig
• Does not bind complement
Antibody Production
Clonal selection theory:

*B-cells display immunoglobulin molecules on surfaces

*Immunoglobulin serve as receptors for specific antigen

*The antigen binds to immunoglobulin receptor of B-cells

*B-cells is stimulated to divide and form a clone

*B-cells become plasma cells and secrete antibodies

*Some stimulated B-cells revert to small lymphocyte (memory cells)

*Memory cells proliferate on re-exposure to same antigen


Activation of B-cells
Two mechanisms:
1) T-dependent antigen:
. Most antigen require T-helper cells to activate B-cells

. Antigen is phagocytosed by macrophages or B-cells

. Macrophages or B process present Ag to T-cells

. These activate T-cells to produce lymphokines

. lymphokines (IL-2,IL-4,IL,5) stimulate B-cells to


divide and differentiate into plasma cells

specific antibody
. Plasma cells form or
differentiate into memory cells

. All classes of antibody (IgG,IgM,IgA,IgD,IgE) are T-cell dependant


Activation of B-cells

2) T-independent antigens:

. Activation of B-cells directly without help of T-cells


(e.g. bacterial capsular polysaccharides)

. IgM antibody is primarily produced


Antibody Structure
Immunoglobulins are glycoproteins made up of

- Four polypeptid chains (IgG):


a- Two light (L) polypeptide chains
b- Two heavy (H) polypeptide chains

- The four chains are linked by disulfide bonds

- Terminal portion of L-chain contains part of antigen binding site

- H-chains are distinct for each of the five immunoglobulins

- Terminal portion of H-chain participate in antigen binding site

- The other (Carboxyl) terminal portion forms Fc fragment


ANTIBODY STRUCTURE
An antibody molecule is composed of two identical Ig
heavy chains (H) and two identical light chains (L), each
with a variable region (V) & constant region (C).

Amino acid sequences were determined from myeloma proteins.


Fig. 1-17,1-16
Variable(V) and Constant (C) Regions
- Each H-chain and each L-chain has V-region and C-region

- V-region lies in terminal portion of molecule

- V-region shows wide variation in amino a. sequences

- Hypervariable region form region complementary to Ag determinant

- It is responsible for antigen binding

- C-region lies in carboxyl or terminal portion of molecule

- C-region shows an unvarying amino acid sequence

- It is responsible for biologic functions


Antibody Fragments
 Fab fragment: antigen binding site

 Fc (crystallizable fragment):
a- Complement fixation (IgM and IgG)

b- Opsonization (IgG)

C- Placental attachment (IgG)

d- Mucosal attachment (IgA)

e- Binding to mast cells (IgE)


Properties of Immunoglobulins
Property IgG IgA IgM IgE IgD

Heavy chain γ α µ ε δ

symbol
Molecular 150 170-400 900 190 180
weight KDa KDa KDa KDa
KDa
Percentage 75 % 15 % 10 % 0.004 % % 0.2
in serum
Complement Yes No Yes No No
fixation
Transplacental Yes No No No No

passage
Antibody Diversity
*Immunoglobulins are protein (antigenic)

*Immunoglobulins subdivided into :

a- Isotypes: Antigenic difference in C-region


five immunogl. classes are different isotypes

b- Idiotypes: Ag difference in V-region of immunogl.

c- Allotypes: Antigenic feature of immunogl. that vary


among individual under genetic control
Ag difference in C-region of H and L chain
Primary and Secondary antibody response

Primary antibody respone Secondary antibody response

* first exposure to antigen * Subsequent exposure

* lag period: days or weeks * Lag period: hours


(slow onset) (rapid onset)

* Small amount immunogl. * large amount immunogl.


low Ab level with gradual increase high Ab with rapid
increas

* Ab Persist for short duration * Persist for long periods


Weeks then decline rapidly (monthes or years)

* Antibody is IgM * Antibody is IgG


Primary and Secondary antibody response

Secondary response
to Ag

Amount of
Primary response
antibodies to Ag
in serum

1 2 3 4 5 6
Time (months)
1st injection of Ag 2nd injection of Ag

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