Comparison of Non B-Ig and B-Ig.

ABSTRACT

Immunoglobulin (Ig) has been widely acknowledged to be produced solely by B-lineage cells. However, growing evidence has demonstrated the expression of Ig in an array of cancer cells, as well as normal cells including epithelial cells, epidermal cells, mesangial cells, monocytes, and neutrophils. Ig has even been found to be expressed in non-B cells at immune-privileged sites such as neurons and spermatogenic cells. Despite these non-B cell-derived Igs (non-B-Igs) sharing the same symmetric structures with conventional Igs (B-Igs), further studies have revealed unique characteristics of non-B-Ig, such as restricted variable region and aberrant glycosylation. Moreover, non-B-Ig exhibits properties of promoting malignant behaviours of cancer cells, therefore it could be utilised in the clinic as a potential therapeutic biomarker or target. The elucidation of the generation and regulation of non-B-Ig will certainly broaden our understanding of immunology.