Functional and clinical consequences of Fc receptor polymorphic and copy number variants

S. Bournazos, J. M. Woof, S. P. Hart, I. Dransfield

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    122 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Receptors for immunoglobulins (Fc receptors) play a central role during an immune response, as they mediate the specific recognition of antigens of almost infinite diversity by leucocytes, thereby linking the humoral and cellular components of immunity. Indeed, engagement of Fc receptors by immunoglobulins initiates a range of immunoregulatory processes that might also play a role in disease pathogenesis. In the circulation, five main types of immunoglobulins (Ig) exist - namely IgG, IgA, IgE, IgM and IgD and receptors with the ability to recognize and bind to IgG (Fc gamma receptor family), IgE (Fc epsilon RI and CD23), IgA (CD89; Fc alpha/mu R) and IgM (Fc alpha/mu R) have been identified and characterized. However, it is astonishing that nearly all the known human Fc receptors display extensive genetic variation with clear implications for their function, thus representing a substantial genetic risk factor for the pathogenesis of a range of chronic inflammatory disorders.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)244-254
    Number of pages11
    JournalClinical and Experimental Immunology
    Volume157
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Keywords

    • Fc receptors
    • immunoglobulins
    • polymorphisms
    • copy number variation
    • chronic inflammatory diseases
    • SYSTEMIC-LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS
    • EPSILON-RI-BETA
    • GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME
    • IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA
    • HEPARIN-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA
    • SINGLE-NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS
    • GAMMA-RIIIB POLYMORPHISMS
    • HIGH-AFFINITY RECEPTOR
    • IIA CD32 POLYMORPHISM
    • SERUM IGE LEVELS

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