antibody mediated immunity

• b lymphocytes


  humoral immunity
• immunoglobins


  each chain has a constant C-region and variable V-region
• immunoglobulins - 4 polypeptide chains


  2 identical heavy (400+ amino acids), 2 identical light (214 amino acids)
• where are binding sites on immunoglobins?

  V-region
• antibody action - agglutination


  clumps antigenic agents on cells together
• antibody action - precipitation


  a soluble antigen becomes insoluble and precipitates out
• antibody action - neutralisation

  antibodies bind to specific sites
• which antibodies activate the first component of the complement system?

  IgM and IgG
• anaphylactic system 


  IgE immunoglobins, histamine released, vasodilation, inflammation