Isotype (immunology)

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Some antibodies form complexes that bind to multiple antigen molecules.

In immunology, the "immunoglobulin isotype" refers to the type of chain. In humans, there are nine isotypes:

Immunoglobulin class switching can be used to change the class of the heavy chain, but not of the light chain.

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v • d • e Immune system / Immunology
Systems	Adaptive immune system vs. Innate immune system • Humoral immune system vs. Cellular immune system • Complement system (Anaphylatoxins) • Intrinsic immune system
Antibodies and antigens	Antibody (Monoclonal antibodies, Polyclonal antibodies, Autoantibody) • Allotype • Isotype • Idiotype • Antigen (Superantigen)
Immune cells	White blood cells (T cell, B cell, NK cell, Mast cell, Basophil, Eosinophil) • Phagocyte (Neutrophil, Macrophage, Dendritic cell) • Antigen-presenting cell • Reticuloendothelial system
Immunity vs. tolerance	Immunity • Autoimmunity • Allergy • Tolerance (Central) • Immunodeficiency
Immunogenetics	Somatic hypermutation • V(D)J recombination • Immunoglobulin class switching • MHC / HLA
Substances	Cytokines • Opsonin • Cytolysin
Other	Inflammation • Epitope (Hapten) • Cross-reactivity