Fc receptor targeting in the treatment of allergy, autoimmune diseases and cancer

Abstract
Immune activation and inhibitory receptors play an important role in the maintenance of an adequate activation threshold of various cells in our immune system. Analyses of murine models show that the inhibitory Fcreceptor, FcγRIIB plays an indispensable role in the suppression of anti-body-mediated allergy and autoimmunity. In contrast, the activating-type Fcreceptors (FcRs) are essential for the development of these diseases, suggesting that regulation of inhibitory or activating FcR is an ideal target as a therapeutic agent. In addition, recent crystal structural analyses of FcR-Ig-Fc fragment complexes provide an effective approach for developing FcR-targeting drugs. This review summarises recent advances of FcR, which were mainly obtained by murine studies, and highlights novel antibodies as possible FcR-targeting therapies for allergy, autoimmune diseases and cancer.