Fcy receptors and autoimmunity

Abstract

Fc receptors (FcR) belong to the immunoglobulin super-family and have been proposed as important regulators of inflammation, acting in both innate and acquired immunity. Environmental and genetic factors affect FcR expression. FcR receptors participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, cancer and infectious diseases. In autoimmunity, they play important roles in different settings including immune-complex reactions, cytokines release, complement-dependent cellular citotoxicity, apoptosis, mastocyte-degranulation, endocytosis, and antigen presentation enhancement. FcgRIIb deficiency has been associated to the development of autoimmunity. Likewise polymorphism in the FcR genes is a susceptibility risk for autoimmune pathology. This article reviews the main functional aspects of FcR and their genetic polymorphism as well as their practical impact in the clinic, with emphasis in autoimmune diseases.