Table of Contents
How does switching the class or isotype of an antibody change the antibody?
Since the variable region does not change, class switching does not affect antigen specificity. Instead, the antibody retains affinity for the same antigens, but can interact with different effector molecules.
Where does class switching occur for B cells?
germinal center maturation
Class switching occurs during germinal center maturation and is linked to cell division and somatic hypermutation (Hodgkin et al., 1996; Liu et al., 1996; Tangye et al., 2002).
When do B cells undergo class switching?
1.2 Induction of CSR B cells undergo antibody or Ig class switching in vivo after immunization or infection, or in culture upon appropriate activation.
What happens during isotype switching?
During this process, the constant region portion of the antibody heavy chain is replaced with a different chain, but the variable region of the heavy chain stays the same. Therefore, isotype switching does not affecting antigen specificity. Instead, the antibody retains affinity for the same antigens.
Why does class switching occur in B cells?
Class switching occurs after activation of a mature B cell via its membrane-bound antibody molecule (or B cell receptor) to generate the different classes of antibody, all with the same variable domains as the original antibody generated in the immature B cell during the process of V(D)J recombination, but possessing …
What is antibody class switching and why is it important?
Ig heavy chain class switching occurs rapidly after activation of mature naïve B cells, resulting in a switch from expressing IgM and IgD to expression of IgG, IgE, or IgA; this switch improves the ability of antibodies to remove the pathogen that induces the humoral immune response.
What is class switching in immunoglobulin?
Immunoglobulin class switching, also known as isotype switching, isotypic commutation or class-switch recombination (CSR), is a biological mechanism that changes a B cell’s production of immunoglobulin from one type to another, such as from the isotype IgM to the isotype IgG.
What is class switching in B cells?
Class switching is the process whereby an activated B cell changes its antibody production from IgM to either IgA, IgG, or IgE depending on the functional requirements. the different classes of antibodies and the general functions of each.
Why do B cells switch?
After immunization or infection, activated naïve B cells can switch from expressing IgM and IgD on their surface to expressing IgG, IgE or IgA. This isotype/class switch changes the effector function of the antibody, and improves its ability to eliminate the pathogen that induced the response.
How does IgM switch to IgG?
Antibody-producing cells undergo a process of differentiation and class switch recombination (CSR) such that the antibodies produced start as immunoglobulin M (IgM) and then switch to IgG and IgA as the concentration of antigen changes and as the cells differentiate.
How does antibody class switching work?