title: How antibodies act as natural adjuvants.
abstract: Antibodies can act like adjuvants. They can potently enhance the antibody response, and in the case of IgG and IgE also the T cell response, to the very antigen they are specific for. In this review we will discuss the recent advances made in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of antibody-mediated feedback enhancement. The immuno-stimulatory properties of IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3 and IgE will be reviewed in relationship to the complement system and Fc receptors and the physiological relevance will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. andrew.getahun@genpat.uu.se
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Getahun
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heyman
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins