Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41925250›Full record

ArticlemAbs2026

Glycan pairing in therapeutic IgG orchestrates Fcγ receptor engagement and ADCC: an integrated structure-function approach for thorough evaluation of Fc N-glycans as critical quality attributes.

Maximilian Meudt, Julia Baumeister, Antoinette Cassiopeia Russell, Lindsey Dzielak, Gale Hansen, Boris Mizaikoff, Sybille Ebert, Frank Rosenau, Michaela Blech, Fabian Higel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in mAbs, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Maximilian MeudtGlobal Development CMC Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany.ORCID 0009-0004-1863-0008
Julia BaumeisterGlobal Development CMC Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany.
Antoinette Cassiopeia RussellBiotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, CT, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4725-1758
Lindsey DzielakGlobal Non-Clinical Safety Science, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, CT, USA.
Gale HansenBiotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, CT, USA.
Boris MizaikoffInstitute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-5583-7962
Sybille EbertInstitute of Applied Biotechnology, Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Biberach an der Riss, Germany.
Frank RosenauInstitute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9297-6419
Michaela BlechGlobal Development CMC Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-8513-1111
Fabian HigelGlobal Development CMC Biologicals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can mediate their therapeutic activity through antigen binding and by engaging Fc receptors (FcRs) or the complement system. FcRs are expressed on immune cells and can initiate effector functions such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. The conserved Fc N-glycans of immunoglobulin G (IgG) at N297 modulate the strength and stability of Fc-FcγR interactions and the resulting effector responses. Conventional analysis typically considers individual glycans in isolation and neglects the fact that each Fc part carries two N-glycans, that may be paired symmetrically or asymmetrically. Recent studies with IgG Fc regions have demonstrated that glycan pairing can significantly shape Fc-FcR interactions. Here, the effect of glycan pairing was evaluated with full-length IgG using rituximab as a model. A set of pure, homogeneous, symmetrical, and asymmetrical Fc glyco-pair variants was generated by controlled chemoenzymatic remodeling and purification. Surface plasmon resonance binding studies across a comprehensive panel of human FcγRs revealed receptor- and allotype-specific effects: FcγRI binding was essentially unaffected, FcγRIIa showed allotype dependence, with FcγRIIa-H131 predominantly modulated by galactosylation and FcγRIIa-R131 by afucosylation, whereas FcγRIIIa required only a single afucosylation to reach maximal binding. Galactosylation exerted modest and receptor-dependent effects, most pronounced for FcγRIIIb. High-mannose species reduced binding to FcγRI and FcγRII, but displayed intermediate affinity to FcγRIIIa, which was lower than afucosylated complex types yet higher than fully fucosylated variants. To evaluate the biological relevance, cell-based ADCC reporter gene assays confirmed that single afucosylation was sufficient to drive the increase in ADCC potency, with galactosylation and high-mannose contributing only modest or context-dependent effects. Together, these findings establish glycan pairing as a critical quality attribute of therapeutic antibodies and provide a framework for precise evaluation of Fc N-glycan criticality and for tailoring mAbs with defined effector function profiles.

Indexed as

Antibody-Dependent Cell CytotoxicityImmunoglobulin Fc FragmentsImmunoglobulin GPolysaccharidesReceptors, IgGRituximabAntibodies, MonoclonalGlycosylationHumansStructure-Activity RelationshipAntibodies, MonoclonalImmunoglobulin Fc FragmentsImmunoglobulin GPolysaccharidesReceptors, IgGRituximabAntibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)effector functionsFcγ receptorsfucosylationgalactosylationglycan pairinghigh-mannoseIgGmonoclonal antibodyN-glycosylation

Identifiers

PMID41925250
PMCPMC13048574

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.