Describe the structure-function relationships of human IgG and how might such an understanding influence the choice of IgG subclass in potential antibody-based therapies?
Our body is under constant attack whether from external with viruses, bacteria and parasites or from the internal; with the development of tumour cells in cancer. We have a number of ways to prevent organisms from entering our body and surviving. This includes our skin, mucous membranes and the low pH of our stomach acids. However, if an organisms pass this barriers, the body have specific self defence mechanisms to act on these invasions. Humans have an intricate network of highly specialised cells known collectively as leukocytes or more commonly as white blood cells. Each cells is highly specialised and plays a critical role in the human response. One example is the HIV virus which infects and kills one particular type of immune cell which cause devastating consequences to the entire immune system. When the human body immune system invasion can lead to severe harm, the importance of understanding the structure and functions of this system may be seen as a vital role in combating the effect of these foreign substances. This essay will give some insight into the human IgG class structures and functions which is highly important in human defence system studies and show how these understanding can help in the development of potential antibody-based therapies.
Antibodies is a group of protein which is involved in the immune response against foreign substance such as a virus. There are two types of defence features. In cellular immune response, T lymphocytes is a type of lymphatic cells which carries immunoglobulin-like molecules on their surface identify and destroy foreign cells. Humoral immune response[1] involves the B lymphocytes which is also a type of lymphatic cells which synthesise