Differential macrophage modulation of asymmetric IgG antibody synthesis by soluble or particulate stimuli.

Asymmetric IgG antibodies behave as antigen-blocking due to the presence of a mannose-rich oligosaccharide residue in one of the Fab fragments of the molecule. This feature prevents the interaction of this antibody with the antigenic epitope, then they are unable to activate of the immune effector mechanisms. Taking into account that macrophages modulate the adaptive immune response according to the nature of the stimulating antigen and that IL-6 increases the synthesis of asymmetric IgG, in this work we analysed the differential modulation of the synthesis of asymmetric IgG by culture supernatants from peritoneal macrophages (CSPM) stimulated with either OVA-polystyrene beads or soluble OVA.