Mechanisms of action of intravenous immunoglobulin

Taking advantage of the “World Apheresis Association/Société Française d’Hémaphérèse” meeting held in Paris in April 2016, this article reviews the current knowledge on the mechanisms of action of intravenous immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins are a plasma-derived drug, which have been initially used as a replacement therapy for patients with antibody deficiency. Since 1980 they have also been used for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating efficacy in auto-immune diseases. Herein, we review the requirements for their production and composition before giving a specific attention to their mechanisms of action including substitution and immunomodulation.