New study identifies genes linked to high production of key antibody

Key takeawaysResearchers studying white blood cells identified an atlas of genes linked to high production and release of the most common type of antibody found in the human body, known as immunoglobulin G.The finding could be a step toward new antibody-based treatments and improvements in the effectiveness of cell therapies.The researchers used microscopic containers called nanovials, which were developed at UCLA, to capture the individual cells they studied.A collaboration led by UCLA and the Seattle Children ’s Research Institute has yielded new knowledge about the genes responsible for the production and release of immunoglobulin G, the most common type of antibody in the human body.The finding has the potential to advance manufacturing of antibody-based therapies for diseases such as cancer and arthritis, as well as the development of medical treatments that rely on the production of antibodies.Antibodies are a group of proteins that are crucial to the immune system. Immunoglobulin G, or IgG, stores memories of past infections and tags dangerous microbes to be eliminated by immune cells. Mothers ’ IgG is also vital for their newborns’ immune defense.Scientists have known for decades that a population of white blood cells, called plasma B cells, make IgG. Plasma B cells are highly efficient, producing more than 10,000 IgG molecules every second. But the molecular mechanisms that enable plasma cells to secrete antibodies into the bloodstream are still not fully under...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news