TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 37. Humoral Immunity and Complement A1 - Lee, Lela A. A2 - Goldsmith, Lowell A. A2 - Katz, Stephen I. A2 - Gilchrest, Barbara A. A2 - Paller, Amy S. A2 - Leffell, David J. A2 - Wolff, Klaus PY - 2012 T2 - Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 8e AB - |PrintHumoral Immunity and Antibody Structure at a GlanceHumoral immunity, mediated by antibodies produced by B lymphocytes, is a form of specific immunity directed primarily toward extracellular antigens.Antibody molecules consist of two identical light chains covalently linked to two identical heavy chains. The variable region of the antibody molecule is responsible for antibody binding, and the constant region mediates most effector functions.The five antibody classes serve distinct functions. Immunoglobulin (Ig) M is involved in primary antibody responses, IgD is an antigen receptor on naive B cells, IgA is critical for mucosal immunity, IgG is the major Ig in the circulation and is important in secondary antibody responses, and IgE mediates immunity to parasites.An individual is capable of generating millions of distinct antibodies in millions of distinct B-cell clones through the processes of gene rearrangement and junctional diversity. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56032247 ER -