Homophilic antibodies as immunotherapeutics

The Homophilic Domain - An Immunological Archetype

The homophilic potential emerges as an important biological principle to boost the potency of immunoglobulins. Since homophilic antibodies in human and mouse sera exist prior environmental exposure, they are part of the natural antibody repertoire. Nevertheless, hemophilic properties are also identified in induced antibody repertoire. The use of homophilicity of antibodies in the adaptive immunity signifies an archetypic antibody structure. The unique feature of homophilicity in the antibody repertoire also highlights an important mechanism to boost the antibody potency to protect against infection and atherosclerosis as well to treat cancer patients.

Homophilic peptide inhibits growth of malignant murine and human B cells

A homophilic peptide from the T15 plasmacytoma inhibits growth of murine and human B cell tumors. This finding confirms the hypothesis that B cell malignancies are driven by a self-binding epitope in the B cell receoptor (BCR) proposed as the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).