title: Fibrinogen binds IgG antibody and enhances IgG-mediated phagocytosis.
abstract: While Fibrinogen (Fg) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) are traditionally thought to have separate functions in thrombosis and immune response, recent studies suggest overlapping functions. Here we present evidence that Fibrinogen binds to IgG specifically, and that Fibrinogen-IgG interactions enhance phagocytosis. We demonstrate specific, saturable binding of Fibrinogen to immobilized IgG and its fragments on nitrocellulose or poly-(L)-Lys styrene plates using Biotin/Streptavidin-Horse Radish Peroxidase detection systems. We also demonstrated that GFP-expressing E.coli coated with anti-E.coli antibody (IgG) and Fibrinogen elicit higher rates of phagocytosis than either Fibrinogen or IgG-treated E.coli alone (p < 0.001). We conclude that Fibrinogen enhances phagocytosis and possibly other leukocyte functions in concert with IgGs. This mechanism might focus leukocyte action triggered by fibrinogen towards specific antigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA. tboehm@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Tobias K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: DeNardin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D005340:Fibrinogen