title: The Production Processes and Biological Effects of Intravenous Immunoglobulin.
abstract: Immunoglobulin is a highly diverse autologous molecule able to influence immunity in different physiological and diseased situations. Its effect may be visible both in terms of development and function of B and T lymphocytes. Polyclonal immunoglobulin may be used as therapy in many diseases in different circumstances such as primary and secondary hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent infections, polyneuropathies, cancer, after allogeneic transplantation in the presence of infections and/or GVHD. However, recent studies have broadened the possible uses of polyclonal immunoglobulin showing that it can stimulate certain sub-populations of T cells with effects on T cell proliferation, survival and function in situations of lymphopenia. These results present a novel and considerable impact of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment in situations of severe lymphopenia, a situation that can occur in cancer patients after chemo and radiotherapy treatments. In this review paper the established and experimental role of polyclonal immunoglobulin will be presented and discussed as well as the manufacturing processes involved in their production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Universidade de Évora, Colégio Luís António Verney, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal. filipabafonso@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Filipa
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Barahona Afonso
authors.affiliation: Hematology Department, Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal. cristina.joao@fundacaochampalimaud.pt.
authors.forename: Cristina Maria Pires
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: João
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
keywords: IVIg; IVIg production; immune modulation; immunoglobulin; molecular mechanisms