Researchers Discover Protective Antibodies

Recent findings published in the journal Nature show that a rather weak antibody that was previously thought to be a poor choice in fighting infection may actually play a key role in helping keep immune responses in "fighting" condition.

"Antibodies protect against pathogens, in large part, by clumping them together and by activating other defenses, including a set of serum proteins, known as complement, and cells that have antibody-binding molecules on their surface called Fc receptors," said Fred Finkelman, MD, Walter A. and George McDonald Foundation Chair of Medicine and professor of medicine and pediatrics at UC, in a news release. "Surprisingly, most of the antibody made by mice is IgG1, which is relatively defective in its ability to clump pathogens, activate complement, and activate cells by binding to their Fc receptors."

Findings revealed that the mouse antibody IgG1, which is composed of large quantities and resembles the human antibody known as IgG4, may actually be protective. Furthermore, humans are also equipped with a similar type of the antibody.

Researchers noted that individuals with blistering skin diseases can make antibodies against the molecules that hold skin cells together. As a result, the skin cells can separate from each other and form blisters.