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[The Fc portion of antibodies]
1Laboratoire d'immunologie cellulaire et clinique, Inserm U 255, Institut Curie, Paris.
The binding of an antibody to antigen is only the first step of the antigen-antibody reaction. The Fab portions of the antibody determine its specificity and enable the binding of antigen, but the Fc portions is responsible for its biological activity. This biological activity depends on interactions between the Fc portion and specific receptors, Fc Receptor (FcR). FcR are expressed at the surface of many different cell types. Their aggregation by complexed antibodies triggers the activation of cells, which exert their biological activities on antigen-bearing structures. Fc-FcR interactions couple humoral and cellular immunity.
The binding of an antibody to antigen is only the first step of the antigen-antibody reaction. The Fab portions of the antibody determine its specificity and enable the binding of antigen, but the Fc portions is responsible for its biological activity. This biological activity depends on interactions between the Fc portion and specific receptors, Fc Receptor (FcR). FcR are expressed at the surface of many different cell types. Their aggregation by complexed antibodies triggers the activation of cells, which exert their biological activities on antigen-bearing structures. Fc-FcR interactions couple humoral and cellular immunity.