The Immunoregulatory Roles of Antibody Glycosylation
- Autores: Madeleine F. Jennewein, Galit Alter
- Localización: Trends in immunology, ISSN 1471-4906, Vol. 38, Nº. 5, 2017, págs. 358-372
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
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.
