Biophysical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2012 Dec;64(15):1759-81. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2012.06.003. Epub 2012 Jun 15.
Immunology often conveys the image of large molecules, either in the soluble state or in the membrane of leukocytes, forming multiple contacts with a target for actions of the immune system. Avidity names the ability of a polyvalent molecule to form multiple connections of the same kind with ligands tethered to the same surface. Polyvalent interactions are vastly stronger than their monovalent equivalent. In the present review, the functional consequences of polyvalent interactions are explored in a perspective of recent theoretical advances in understanding the thermodynamics of such binding. From insights on the structural biology of soluble pattern recognition molecules as well as adhesion molecules in the cell membranes or in their proteolytically shed form, this review documents the prominent role of polyvalent interactions in making the immune system a formidable barrier to microbial infection as well as constituting a significant challenge to the application of nanomedicines.
无论是在可溶性状态还是在白细胞的膜上，大的分子都与免疫系统作用的靶标形成多个接触点。亲合力是指多价分子与固定在同一表面的配体形成多个同种连接的能力。多价相互作用比单价等效物要强得多。在本综述中，从理解这种结合热力学的最新理论进展的角度探讨了多价相互作用的功能后果。从可溶性模式识别分子的结构生物学以及细胞膜中的粘附分子或其蛋白水解脱落形式的见解中，本综述记录了多价相互作用在使免疫系统成为抵御微生物感染的强大障碍以及对纳米医学应用构成重大挑战方面的突出作用。
