Role of Fcy receptors in cancer and infectious disease

Abstract: Receptors for the Fc domain of immunoglobulin G (Fc-yR) provide an interface between specific humoral immunity and the cellular branch of the immune system through their interaction with antibody. Cross-linking Fc-yR on myeloid cells triggers such diverse functions as clearance of immune complexes, phagocytosis of op-sonized pathogens, secretion of reactive oxygen inter-mediates, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The FcyR play a major role in the removal of antibody-coated infectious agents and are the exclusive trigger molecules for tumor cell killing by human myeloid cells. Studies of Fc’yR function have been aided by the use of FcyR specific monoclonal antibodies, self-directed target cells, and bispecific antibodies that link target cells or pathogens to specific host cell molecules, including FcyR. These reagents have contributed significantly to our un-derstanding of the role of the different classes of Fc-yR in mediating protection from various infectious agents and in mediating tumor cell killing. Taken together, these ap-preaches have provided insight into the utility of manipulating Fe-yR function in the therapy of cancer an