Isotype (immunology)

Some antibodies form complexes that bind to multiple antigen molecules.

In immunology, the "immunoglobulin isotype" refers to the type of chain. In humans, there are nine isotypes:

* heavy chain
* α - IgA 1, 2
* δ - IgD
* γ - IgG 1, 2, 3, 4
* ε - IgE
* μ - IgM
* light chain
* κ
* λ

Immunoglobulin class switching can be used to change the class of the heavy chain, but not of the light chain.

## See also

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* idiotype
* immunoglobulin allotype

## External links

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* Immunoglobulin+Isotypes at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
* Template:EMedicineDictionary
* Overview at University of South Carolina School of Medicine
* Overview at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

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Immunology: lymphocytic adaptive immune system and complement

Lymphoid|

| Antigens|

* Antigen
* Superantigen
* Allergen
* Hapten

* Epitope
* Linear
* Conformational
* Mimotope

* Antigen presentation/Professional APCs: Dendritic cell
* Macrophage
* B cell
* Immunogen

|

Antibodies|

* Antibody
* Monoclonal antibodies
* Polyclonal antibodies
* Autoantibody
* Microantibody
* Polyclonal B cell response
* Allotype
* Isotype
* Idiotype

* Immune complex
* Paratope

Immunity vs.
tolerance|

* action: Immunity
* Autoimmunity
* Alloimmunity
* Allergy
* Hypersensitivity
* Inflammation
* Cross-reactivity

* inaction: Tolerance
* Central
* Peripheral
* Clonal anergy
* Clonal deletion
* Tolerance in pregnancy
* Immunodeficiency

Immunogenetics|

* Affinity maturation
* Somatic hypermutation
* Clonal selection
* V(D)J recombination
* Junctional diversity
* Immunoglobulin class switching
* MHC/HLA

Lymphocytes|

* Cellular
* T cell
* Humoral
* B cell
* NK cell

Substances|

* Cytokines
* Opsonin
* Cytolysin

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