Anti-immunoglobulin antibodies

Definition

Anti-immunoglobulin antibodies are B cell-generated immunoglobulins that recognize other immunoglobulins.

Full Text

Immunoglobulins have two major regions, defined as the constant regions and the variable regions. The constant regions lie at one terminus of the molecule and are involved in effector function, while the other end contains the variable region, which functions in antigen recognition and binding.

Anti-immunoglobulin antibodies may bind to either the constant region or to the variable region. Those that bind to the constant region of human IgG are referred to as rheumatoid factors. Anti-immunoglobulin antibodies that bind to variable domains are referred to as anti-idiotypic antibodies (see entry of that title).