Antibody Isotypes, Idiotypes, and Allotypes

W. Robert Fleischmann, Ph.D.

Department of Urologic Surgery

University of Minnesota Medical School

rfleisch@umn.edu

(612) 626-5034

Objectives

• Understand the terms isotypes, idiotypes, and allotypes of antibodies

• Understand the major characteristics of each isotype and their biologic functions

• Understand the biological and medical significance of idiotype and anti-idiotype antibodies

Isotypes have different heavy chains. They are represent classes of antibody.

Allotypes have the same constant regions with minor, but immunologic differences. Different individuals have different allotypes.

Idiotypes are antibodies that recognize different specific epitopes. Each idiotype is composed of several idiotopes or combining sites.

Antibody Isotypes

Antibody Isotypes (Classes)

Five major classes of antibody

1. IgM

2. IgD

3. IgG Subclasses: IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4

4. IgE

5. IgA

Subclasses: IgA1, IgA2

Characteristics of the Antibody IsotypesLight Chains Heavy Chains Other Chains

IgM Kappa Chain

Lambda Chain

Mu Chain J Chain

IgD Kappa Chain

Lambda Chain

Delta Chain

IgG Kappa Chain

Lambda Chain

Gamma1 Chain

Gamma2 Chain

Gamma3 Chain

Gamma4 Chain

IgE Kappa Chain

Lambda Chain

Epsilon Chain

IgA Kappa Chain

Lambda Chain

Alpha1 Chain

Alpha2 Chain

J Chain

Secretory Component

The different antibodyisotypes (classes) differ in 1. Number of subunits2. Number of domains, 3. Number and location

of carbohydrate chains,

4. Presence or absence of hinge region,

5. Number and location of disulfide bridges.

Structures of Different Isotypes (Classes) of Antibodies

Antibody Isotypes in the Serum

IgM IgD IgG IgE IgA

No. of monomers 5 1 1 1 1-3

Molecular Weight 900 kD 150 kD 150 kD 190 kD 150 kD

450 kD

600 kD

Serum Conc (mg/ml) 1.5 0.03 13.5 0.0003 3.5

Serum Half-life (days) 5 3 8-23 2.5 6

Placental Transfer No No Yes No No

Biological Activity of Antibody Isotypes

IgM IgD IgG IgE IgA

Complement Fixation ++++ - + - -

Mast Cell/Basophil Degranulation

- - - ++++ -

Bacterial Lysis +++ - + - +

Antiviral Activity + - + - +++

Toxin Neutralization - - +++ - +++

Concentrations of Serum Immunoglobulins

Serum electrophoresis showing the mobility and relative amounts of the five classes of immunoglobulin. IgG is found in the region while most of IgM is found in the region.

IgM

• Monomeric IgM is expressed on the surface of B cells where it serves the role of antigen recognition.

• Pentameric IgM is expressed in the serum (5-10% of total serum Ab).

• Pentameric IgM is secreted into mucosal secretions.

IgM Structure• The pentameric structure of IgM is

stabilized by a J chain (joining chain) and by disulfide bonds.

• Secretory IgM has a secretory component that assists in transport across the epithelial membrane.

• Note that for IgM, the pentameric structure is shown as a flat molecule (like a hand flat on a surface). In reality, the disulfide bonds would all be the same length. In its binding form, the molecule would look more like a hand poised on a surface with only its fingertips touching the surface. This allows for multiple interactions with repeated epitopes on a given antigen.

Biological Functions of IgM

• Good at virus neutralization• Poor at toxin neutralization• Excellent at bactericidal activity• Excellent at causing agglutination of antigens• Excellent at causing precipitation of antigens• Excellent at complement fixation• Does not bind to M Fc receptors• As a monomer, it serves as surface receptor

for antigens on B cells

Medical Considerations of IgM

• Elevated levels indicate a recent infection or other exposure to antigen

• Does not cross placenta• Not useful for protecting immunocompromised

individuals (short half-life and lower specificity than IgG)

• Not useful as blocking antibody to block TNF production

• Not useful as blocking antibody to block allergens• Not present in interstitial fluids (too big)• Can be present in bodily secretions

IgD

• Monomeric IgD is expressed on the surface of B cells where it serves the role of antigen recognition.

• IgD is a very minor component of serum Ig (0.2%)

• Biological Functions: no biological effector function has been determined for IgD.

• Medical Consideration: some multiple myeloma patients over-express IgD.

IgG• IgG is the predominant antibody synthesized

during a secondary immune response (anamnestic response)

• IgG is the most abundant class in serum, constituting 80% of serum Abs.

• Although it cannot be transported across the epithelium, it is produced in the distal pulmonary tract and is important in pulmonary secretions.

• There are four subclasses of IgG.

Four Subclasses of IgG

Note the much longer Gamma chain on IgG3

IgG SubclassesIgG1 IgG2 IgG3 IgG4

Serum Conc (mg/ml) 900 300 100 50

Serum Half-life (days) 23 23 8 23

Complement Fixation + +/- ++ -

Crosses Placenta + +/- + +

Binds to M Fc Receptors ++ +/- ++ +

Longer gamma chain

Biological Functions of IgG

• Good at virus neutralization• Excellent at toxin neutralization• Good at bactericidal activity• Good at causing agglutination of antigens• Good at causing precipitation of antigens• Good at complement fixation• Binds to M Fc receptors

Medical Considerations of IgG• Crosses placenta providing protection to the

fetus.• Can mediate hemolytic disease of the newborn

(blue baby syndrome, Rh mismatch).• Can be used to protect immunocompromised

(gamma globulin).• Can be used as blocking antibody to block TNF

production (rheumatoid arthritis).• Can be used as blocking antibody to block

allergens (desensitization to hypersensitivity)• Not present in most bodily secretions• Present in interstitial fluids

IgA

• IgA is the predominant Ig in bodily secretions.

• IgA in blood can be monomeric, dimeric, or trimeric. When multimeric, the J chain stabilizes the interactions of the two or three monomers.

• IgA in bodily secretions is dimeric and combined with the J chain and with secretory component.

Secretion of IgA• Dimeric IgA molecules, stabilized

as a dimer by the J chain is secreted into the blood by a plasma cell.

• The dimeric IgA binds to the Poly-Ig receptor on the basolateral membrane of an epithelial cell.

• The dimeric IgA, bound to the Poly-Ig receptor is internalized in an endocytic vesicle.

• The Poly-Ig receptor is cleaved, with the larger peptide remaining associated with the dimeric IgA as secretory component.

• The dimeric IgA, with secretory component, is released on the luminal side of the epithelial cell.

• Secretory component protects IgA from enzymatic degradation.

Biological Functions of IgA

• Excellent at virus neutralization• Excellent at toxin neutralization• Good at bactericidal activity• Good at causing agglutination of

antigens• Good at causing precipitation of

antigens• Does not bind to M Fc receptors

Medical Considerations of IgA

• Daily production of IgA is greater than any other Ig.

• B cells that will produce IgA migrate to subepithelial tissue of most mucosal epithelia and of glandular epithelia.

• Present in bodily secretions.• Present at very high levels in colostrum and

present in breast milk. Provides an excellent level of protection of newborns against respiratory and intestinal infections.

IgE

• There is very little IgE in the blood (0.02% of Ig).

• Most of the IgE is bound to Fc receptors on mast cells in the epithelial tissue and on basophils in the blood.

Biological Functions of IgE• Cross-linking of IgE molecules on the

surface of a mast cell or basophil causes the release of histamine; the synthesis of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and other chemokines; the production of various cytokines.

• IgE plays a major role in combating parasitic infections.

• IgE plays a role in combating pulmonary fungal infections.

IgE-Mediated Release of Histamine

• The epitope of an antigen binds to an IgE paratope.

• If another epitope of the antigen binds to the paratope of another IgE molecules, this causes cross-linking.

• The cross-linking changes the character of the binding of the Fc receptors to the mast cell, initiating a trans-membrane signal.

• The mast cell degranulates.

Medical Considerations of IgE• Individuals who express allergies to certain

antigens over-produce IgE to those antigens.• This causes a high level of expression of IgE

with the same paratopes (recognize same epitope on antigen) on given mast cells. This makes it easier to cross-link two IgE antibodies.

• When antigen is present, many mast cells are degranulated, resulting in an over-stimulation of the immune system that is manifested as an allergic reaction (Type 1 hypersensitivity).

• IgE plays an important role in asthma, too.

Events Associated With Mast CellDegranulation