Mechanisms of action of intravenous immunoglobulin

Benjamin Chaigne; Luc Mouthon

doi:10.1016/j.transci.2016.12.017

Mechanisms of action of intravenous immunoglobulin

Transfus Apher Sci. 2017 Feb;56(1):45-49. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2016.12.017. Epub 2016 Dec 30.

Authors

Benjamin Chaigne¹, Luc Mouthon²

Affiliations

¹ Université Paris Descartes, Faculté de Médecine, Service de Médecine Interne, Centre de référence pour les vascularites nécrosantes et la sclérodermie systémique, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France; Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
² Université Paris Descartes, Faculté de Médecine, Service de Médecine Interne, Centre de référence pour les vascularites nécrosantes et la sclérodermie systémique, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France; Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France. Electronic address: luc.mouthon@aphp.fr.

PMID: 28161150
DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2016.12.017

Abstract

Taking advantage of the "World Apheresis Association/Société Française d'Hémaphérèse" meeting held in Paris in April 2016, this article reviews the current knowledge on the mechanisms of action of intravenous immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins are a plasma-derived drug, which have been initially used as a replacement therapy for patients with antibody deficiency. Since 1980 they have also been used for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating efficacy in auto-immune diseases. Herein, we review the requirements for their production and composition before giving a specific attention to their mechanisms of action including substitution and immunomodulation.

Keywords: Auto-immune diseases; Immunomodulation; Intravenous immunoglobulins; Substitution.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use*
Immunomodulation / physiology*

Substances

Immunoglobulins, Intravenous