Fcgamma receptors in autoimmune diseases

Fcgamma-receptors (Fcgamma-R) recognise the Fc portion of IgG and thus form a link between humoral and cellular immunity. These receptors are expressed by a variety of immune cells, and they function in the binding of immune complexes or IgG-opsonised particles, such as microbial pathogens. The are three major types of Fcgamma-R, namely Fcgamma-RI (CD64), Fcgamma-RII (CD32) and Fcgamma-RIII (CD16), and these differ in their ability to bind IgG and complexes. There are many isoforms of these receptors and a number of recently identified polymorphisms in their structure. This review describes the structure and function of these Fcgamma-Rs, and highlights how gene deficiencies and polymorphisms may contribute to the pathology of human diseases.