Cellular Localization of Immunoglobulins

Considerable attention has been devoted recently, to the genetically defined differences that may exist amongst the immunoglobulins of different individuals belonging to the same species. This phenomenon (allotypy), is not confined to the immuuoglobulins, but it is particularly in this field that the presence of genetical markers allows a deeper insight in different physiological or pathological processes that are related with the synthesis of these molecules. One of the more interesting questions that, on the basis of the genetic markers, have been raised with regards to the synthesis of the immunoglobulins is whether, in an individual heterozygous at a given locus, the products of two allelic genes are manufactured by different immunoglobulin-producing cells.