Fc Receptor Drug Discovery Assays and Products

The soluble mediators of immunological resistance to invasive infections are antibodies or immunoglobulins. These incredibly specialized and powerful mediators of host protection have had their activity honed over millions of years of evolution. Most crucially, complex effector systems have co-evolved with antibodies and are in charge of their biological effects, which are typically protective. The Fc receptors (FcRs), a family of cell surface receptors that selectively bind to the Fc region of antibodies, are a major source of these effector systems. FcRs give the humoral immune system a cellular effector arm that links the innate and adaptive immune systems by functioning as receptors for antigen-antibody immune complexes. Creative Biolabs offers high-quality, innovative tools and solutions to help research groups accelerate Fc receptors drug discovery and development projects.

Fig.1 Diagrammatic representation of the human leukocyte Fc receptors. (Hogarth & Pietersz, 2012)

Creative Biolabs offers high-quality, innovative tools to help research groups accelerate Fc receptors drug discovery and development projects.

• Fc Receptor Cell Lines

In order to extend the half-life of antibodies or achieve transmembrane drug delivery, the research of Fc cell lines can be utilized to design and develop medications based on the way that Fc and IgG interact. A perfect target for autoimmune illnesses like Myasthenia gravis, the Fc receptor drives phagocytic or cytotoxic cells to kill microorganisms or infected cells by antibody-mediated phagocytosis or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Creative Biolabs offers Fc receptor cell lines for our global clients.

• Membrane Protein Tools

FcRs Drug Discovery

Targeting FcRs to stop immune complex-induced pathogenic reactions in autoimmune illness is still in its infancy. The relative significance of the several FcγRs and the necessity of validating these targets in humans are still not fully understood. A growing body of evidence from clinical studies of therapeutic antibodies has revealed that many anticancer antibodies' clinical efficacy depends on the ability to harness FcR-dependent cellular effector systems. This has opened the door for a new class of antibodies that can have their Fc region tweaked for improved effector function.

• In Inflammation

The importance of FcRs in the generation and maintenance of immune complex-mediated pathogenic inflammatory responses, particularly autoimmune complexes, is becoming more and more clear. The balance between the "inhibitory" and "activating" functions of FcRs controls FcR-dependent antibody effector responses during normal immunity, but deviation from this delicate balance — for instance, in some autoimmune diseases — results in reduced control of immune complex-mediated activation of inflammatory cells, which causes inflammation and tissue damage. It was first suggested that soluble recombinant human FcRs can block the Arthus response, and it was later demonstrated using genetically altered mice in inflammation models that FcγRs play a crucial role in immune complex-based inflammatory processes.

• In Immunodeficiency

One of the earliest immune system medication targets might be FcRs. The intravenous infusion of pooled human immunoglobulin (IVIg) is increasingly employed in the treatment of disorders brought on by autoantibodies or immunological complexes. IVIg was initially created to offer passive protection for individuals with immunodeficiencies. But it is obvious that different mechanisms involving the Fab or Fc region of the immunoglobulin, which may function separately or cooperatively, are involved in its therapeutic actions. The effects, which can include cytokine production inhibition or suppression of B cell responses, can sometimes be disease-specific or more broad.

Reference

1. Hogarth, P. M.; Pietersz, G. A. Fc receptor-targeted therapies for the treatment of inflammation, cancer and beyond. Nature reviews Drug discovery. 2012, 11(4): 311-331.