title: The Immunoregulatory Roles of Antibody Glycosylation.
abstract: Beyond their role in neutralization, antibodies mediate functions such as phagocytosis, cytotoxicity, and maintenance of immune homeostasis. Two modifications to the constant domain control antibody activity: theirreversible genomic selection of isotype/subclass and alterations in glycosylation. Because glycosylation alters the affinity of antibodies for Fc receptors, evidence suggests that glycosylation is a central mechanism for the immune system to tune a broad range of biological activities. While monoclonal therapeutics have exploited glycosylation to improve function, its in vivo control and whether it may be selectively harnessed to target pathogens and/or tumors isunknown. Here, we review the process of antibody glycosylation, how it changes with disease, how it impacts antibody functionality, and the potential for deliberately controlling this biological activity.
authors.affiliation: Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Madeleine F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Jennewein
authors.affiliation: Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Electronic address: galter@partners.org.
authors.forename: Galit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011961:Receptors, Fc