Isotype (immunology)

In immunology, the “immunoglobulin isotype” refers to the type of chain. In humans, there are nine isotypes:

• heavy chain
  • α – IgA 1, 2
  • δ – IgD
  • γ – IgG 1, 2, 3, 4
  • ε – IgE
  • μ – IgM
• light chain
  • κ
  • λ

Immunoglobulin class switching can be used to change the class of the heavy chain, but not of the light chain.