Antibody opsonization

Immunoglobulins participate in molecular tagging of pathogens which display antigens recognised by their specific paratope.

The binding of antibodies enhances pathogen identification and recruitment of immune effector cells, ultimately accelerating microbial clearance through phagocytic destruction or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

The interaction with leukocytes is largely driven by the predominant antibody isotype as well as the presence and concentration of immune cells recruited to the local environment.

[3] Mononuclear phagocytes and neutrophils express FcRs that bind strongly to the Fc regions of particular antibody isotypes.

This receptor conjugation triggers degranulation and release of cytotoxic granules containing perforin and granzymes to kill antibody-sensitized target cells.