The immune complex: possible ways of regulating the antibody response.
B cells express antigen, Fc and complement receptors on their surfaces and can thus bind all three components of an immune complex. In addition to the direct effects that they exert on cells, immune complexes may affect localization, presentation and digestion of antigen. In this article, Birgitta Heyman discusses recent developments in antibody-mediated regulation of the humoral immune response, with emphasis on in vivo systems where antigens are injected together with highly purified IgM or IgG antibodies in the absence of adjuvants.
Dept of Medical and Physiological Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden.
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Heyman
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D003165:Complement System Proteins