The dual role of IgG4 in immunity: bridging pathophysiology and therapeutic applications.

ABSTRACT: IgG4 antibodies exhibit unique structural and functional properties, which distinguish them from other IgG subclasses. Among clinicians, IgG4 has been primarily associated with IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RDs), such as autoimmune pancreatitis, where its role has been a focus of intense discussion. However, growing evidence reveals that IgG4 is involved in a broader spectrum of immune-regulatory processes, extending beyond IgG4-RDs and positioning it as a key modulator of immune tolerance. In this context, several specific features allow IgG4 to play dual roles, serving as a protective factor in immune regulatory settings, such as allergic responses and antibody therapies that require tolerance induction towards target cells, while its role in IgG4-RDs remains uncertain, potentially contrib

SUBMITTER: Piseddu I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12418560 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature