Immunoglobulin G

Immunoglobulin G (pronunciation: im-yuh-no-glob-yuh-lin gee) is a type of antibody that is found most abundantly in the human body. It is produced by plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell. Immunoglobulin G is involved in the immune response against pathogens.

Etymology

The term "Immunoglobulin G" is derived from the Latin word immunis, meaning "exempt", and the Greek word globus, meaning "sphere". The "G" stands for "gamma", which is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. This is because Immunoglobulin G was the third type of antibody to be discovered.

Function

Immunoglobulin G is responsible for recognizing and binding to specific antigens, such as bacteria and viruses, in order to neutralize them. It can also activate other parts of the immune system, such as the complement system, to help destroy the pathogen.

Types

There are four subclasses of Immunoglobulin G: IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4. Each subclass has slightly different properties and functions.

Related Terms

• Antibody
• Antigen
• Plasma cell
• White blood cell
• Complement system
• IgG1
• IgG2
• IgG3
• IgG4

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Immunoglobulin G
• Wikipedia's article - Immunoglobulin G

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