- immunoglobulin complex, circulating
An immunoglobulin complex that is secreted into extracellular space and found in mucosal areas or other tissues or circulating in the blood or lymph. In its canonical form, a circulating immunoglobulin complex is composed of two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains, held together by disulfide bonds. Some forms of are polymers of the basic structure and contain additional components such as J-chain and the secretory component.
- secretory IgA immunoglobulin complex
A polymeric IgA immunoglobulin complex that is complexed with one chain of secretory component (SC). Polymeric IgA is present in mucosal areas, having been transported via a transcytosis mechanism in mucosal epithelial cells relying on the polymeric Ig receptor, a portion of which then remains bound to the polymeric IgA as secretory component.
- polymeric IgA immunoglobulin complex
A protein complex composed of two, three, or four monomeric IgA immunoglobulin complexes linked through both direct disulfide bonds and through disulfide binded monomers of J chain acting as a bridge. Each IgA monomer consists of two identical immunoglobulin heavy chains of an IgA isotype and two identical immunoglobulin light chains, held together by disulfide bonds. Dimeric IgA is sometimes complexed additionally with secretory component, and present in the extracellular space, in mucosal areas or other tissues, or circulating in the blood or lymph.
- IgA immunoglobulin complex, circulating
A protein complex composed of two identical immunoglobulin heavy chains of an IgA isotype and two identical immunoglobulin light chains, held together by disulfide bonds, sometimes complexed with J chain or J chain and secretory component, and present in the extracellular space, in mucosal areas or other tissues, or circulating in the blood or lymph.
- IgE immunoglobulin complex, circulating
A protein complex composed of two identical immunoglobulin heavy chains of the IgE isotype and two identical immunoglobulin light chains, held together by disulfide bonds, and present in the extracellular space, in mucosal areas or other tissues, or circulating in the blood or lymph.
- IgD immunoglobulin complex, circulating
A protein complex composed of two identical immunoglobulin heavy chains of the IgD isotype and two identical immunoglobulin light chains, held together by disulfide bonds, and present in the extracellular space, in mucosal areas or other tissues, or circulating in the blood or lymph.
- IgM immunoglobulin complex, circulating
A polymer of five or six IgM core units each composed of two identical immunoglobulin heavy chains of the IgM isotype and two identical immunoglobulin light chains, held together by disulfide bonds; the individual IgM core units are held together via disulfide bonds with a single J chain polypeptide acting as a bridge between two of the polymeric units. Circulating IgM is present in the extracellular space, in mucosal areas or other tissues, or in the blood or lymph.
- immunoglobulin production
The appearance of immunoglobulin due to biosynthesis or secretion following a cellular stimulus, resulting in an increase in its intracellular or extracellular levels.
- dimeric IgA immunoglobulin complex
A protein complex composed of two monomeric IgA immunoglobulin complexes linked through both direct disulfide bonds and through a disulfide binded monomer of J chain acting as a bridge. Each IgA monomer consists of two identical immunoglobulin heavy chains of an IgA isotype and two identical immunoglobulin light chains, held together by disulfide bonds. Dimeric IgA is sometimes complexed additionally with secretory component, and present in the extracellular space, in mucosal areas or other tissues, or circulating in the blood or lymph.
- immunoglobulin-mediated neutralization
The inhibition of an antigen's biological effects by antibody binding to it. An example is neutralization of diphtheria toxin by preventing its entry into human cells via the binding of antibody specific for diphtheria toxin.