class switching
Immunoglobulin isotype change
Class switching is an immunological process where a B cell changes the type of antibody it produces—from IgM to IgG, IgA, or IgE—while retaining the same antigen specificity.
This allows the immune system to deploy different defensive strategies against the same pathogen.
The process occurs in lymph nodes during an immune response and is irreversible.
- immunoglobulinDefensive blood protein
- antibodyProtein targeting foreign substances
- B cellAntibody-secreting immune cell
- recombinationGenetic material exchange process
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
affinity · lymph node · cytokine · memory · immune memory · isotype · heavy chain · lymphocyte · antigen · somatic · differentiation · bone marrow · allergen · allergic reaction · immune response · DNA repair · histamine · mast cell
- antibodiesantibody, antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, heavy chain, nanobodies
- Germinal Centersdark zone
- immunityimmune, immunity, immune system, immune response, immune cells
- immunologyimmune system, immune response, antibodies, antigens, immunity
- B Cellsplasma cells
class, switch, classes, classed, classing, classify, classification, classifier, classifiable