Isotype (immunology)

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Some antibodies form complexes that bind to multiple antigen molecules.

In immunology, the "immunoglobulin isotype" refers to the genetic variations or differences in the constant regions of the heavy and light chains of the Ig (immunoglobulins)classes and sub-classes. In humans, there are nine isotypes:

heavy chain
- α - IgA 1, 2
- δ - IgD
- γ - IgG 1, 2, 3, 4
- ε - IgE
- μ - IgM
light chain
- κ
- λ

Immunoglobulin class switching can be used to change the class of the heavy chain, but not of the light chain.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

MeSH Immunoglobulin+Isotypes
Isotype at eMedicine Dictionary
Overview at University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Overview at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

v • d • e Immune system / Immunology

Systems	Adaptive immune system vs. Innate immune system • Humoral immune system vs. Cellular immune system • Complement system (Anaphylatoxins) • Intrinsic immune system

Antibodies and antigens	Antibody (Monoclonal antibodies, Polyclonal antibodies, Autoantibody) • Allotype • Isotype • Idiotype • Antigen (Superantigen) • Polyclonal response

Immune cells	White blood cells (T cell, B cell, NK cell, Mast cell, Basophil, Eosinophil) • Phagocyte (Neutrophil, Macrophage, Dendritic cell) • Antigen-presenting cell • Reticuloendothelial system

Immunity vs. tolerance	Immunity • Autoimmunity • Allergy • Tolerance (Central) • Immunodeficiency

Immunogenetics	Somatic hypermutation • V(D)J recombination • Immunoglobulin class switching • MHC/HLA

Substances	Cytokines • Opsonin • Cytolysin

Other	Inflammation • Epitope (Hapten) • Cross-reactivity • Diagnostic immunology