Organ reactive autoantibodies from non-immunized adult BALB/c mice are polyreactive and express non-biased VH gene usage

To examine the naturally activated autoreactive B cell repertoire, we analyzed a panel of hybridomas from unmanipulated adult BALB/c spleen cells for reactivity patterns and VH gene usage. We found a pattern of VH usage that was diverse and appeared to reflect the germline repertoire. Although all but one natural antibody hybridoma (NAb) were initially selected for organ rather than antigen binding, the majority of organ reactive IgM NAbs were polyreactive, expressing a broad range of reactivity patterns for both self and foreign antigens, that were unique for each NAb and were not indiscriminate. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that many naturally activated adult B cells are highly polyreactive and that autoreactivity is a consequence of polyreactivity. We suggest that the population of NAbs exhibiting organ reactivity overlaps the populations of other IgM autoantibodies that have been described previously, and that these all derive from a pool of polyreactive IgM antibodies which are polyclonally activated in the early immune response. These polyreactive natural antibodies may represent a first line of defense and offer protection for the host against a variety of foreign agents.     

Half-life of polyreactive antibodies

Monoclonal polyreactive antibodies bind to a variety of self and foreign antigens. In contrast, monoclonal monoreactive antibodies bind to a single or restricted number of known antigens. The rate at which polyreactive antibodies are removed from the circulation compared to monoreactive antibodies has not been determined. In the present experiments, human monoclonal polyreactive and monoreactive antibodies of different isotypes were injected intravenously into mice and the clearance from the circulation was determined. The halflife of polyreactive IgM, IgA, and IgG antibodies was 8.0, 8.2, and 9.8 hr, respectively, compared to 35.4, 26.6, and 280 hr for monoreactive IgM, IgA, and IgG antibodies, respectively. Examination of tissue sections from animals given intravenous antibody showed substantial deposition of polyreactive, but not monoreactive, antibodies in several organs, the liver being the principal site of deposition. It is concluded that polyreactive antibodies are cleared from the circulation substantially faster than monoreactive antibodies.     

Serum or breast milk immunoglobulins mask the self‐reactivity of human natural IgG antibodies

B cells producing IgG antibodies specific to a variety of self‐ or foreign antigens are a normal constituent of the immune system of all healthy individuals. These naturally occurring IgG antibodies are found in the serum, external secretions, and pooled human immunoglobulin preparations. They bind with low affinity to antigens, which can also be targets for pathologic autoantibodies. An enhancement of naturally occurring IgG autoantibody activity was observed after treatment of human IgG molecules with protein‐destabilizing agents. We have investigated the interactions of human immunoglobulins that were obtained from serum or from breast milk of healthy individuals or IVIg with human liver antigens. Proteins from an individual serum or milk were isolated by two methods, one of which included exposure to low pH and the other did not. Purified serum, mucosal IgM, IgA, and the fraction containing immunoglobulin G F(ab’)₂ fragments each inhibited the binding of a single donor or pooled IgG to human liver antigens. Our study presents findings regarding the role of the breast milk or serum antibodies in blocking the self‐reactivity of IgG antibodies. It supports the suggestion that not IVIg only, but also the pooled human IgM and IgA might possess a potent beneficial immunomodulatory activity in autoimmune patients.     

Both VH and VL chains of polyreactive IgM antibody are required for polyreactivity: expression of Fab in Escherichia coli.

Monoclonal polyreactive antibodies can bind to many structurally dissimilar self and non-self antigens. Neither the precise antigen-binding site on the polyreactive antibody molecule nor the molecular basis of polyreactivity has been elucidated. The present study was initiated to see whether antibody genes encoding the Fab fragment of a human monoclonal polyreactive IgM antibody (MoAb 67) could be efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli, and whether the bacterially expressed Fab fragments possessed biological activity. cDNA encoding the variable domains of the heavy and light chains of MoAb 67 were cloned, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and expressed in E. coli. Neither the recombinant heavy nor light chain showed antigen-binding activity. In contrast, the recombinant Fab 67 fragment showed the same antigen-binding reactivity profile as the native IgM antibody. It is concluded that the antigen-binding activity of polyreactive antibodies resides in the Fab fragment, and that both the heavy and light chains are required for activity.     

Antigen-binding B cells and polyreactive antibodies

The present experiments were initiated to see if cells capable of binding antigens could make polyreactive antibodies. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled self and non-self antigens were incubated with B cells from normal individuals. Antigenbinding cells were separated from non-antigen-binding cells by flow cytometry, immortalized with Epstein-Barr virus and analyzed at the clonal level for their capacity to make polyreactive antibodies. Four to six times more cells making polyreactive antibodies were found in the B cell subset that bound antigens than in the B cell subset that did not bind antigens. The majority of the polyreactive antibodies were of the immunoglobulin (Ig)M isotype. Immunoflow cytometry revealed that cell lines making polyreactive antibodies bound a variety of antigens (e.g., insulin, IgGFc and β-galactosidase), whereas cell lines making monoreactive antibodies bound only a single antigen. The binding of antigens to B cell lines that made polyreactive antibodies could be inhibited (range, 28%–57%) by both homogeneous and heterogeneous antigens. Both CD5⁺ and CD5^? antigen-binding B cells made polyreactive antibodies, but the frequency was slightly higher in the CD5⁺ antigen-binding (85%) as compared to the CD5^? antigen-binding (50%) population. Comparison of CD5⁺ B cells that bound antigens with CD5⁺ B cells that did not bind antigens showed that approximately 86% of the former, but only 15% of the latter, made polyreactive antibodies. It is concluded that cells capable of binding a variety of different antigens can make polyreactive antibodies and that antigen binding is a good marker for identifying polyreactive antibody-producing cells.     

Production of Heterohybridomas Secreting Autoreactive and Polyreactive Human Monoclonal Antibodies

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from two polytransfused renal dialysis patients were transformed by Epstein-Barr virus, fused to a heteromyeloma and cloned. Eight human monoclonal antibodies from the resulting clones were tested for their binding to a variety of antigens by ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Antigens tested included B-cell lines, T and B lymphocytes, red blood cells, chronic lymphocytic leukaemic B cells, IgG, ssDNA, dsDNA, histones, nucleoprotamine, sperm nuclei, thymus and spleen extracts, MOLT4 cell lysates, affinity purified autoantigens, tetanus toxoid, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, insulin, and a tissue section screen. These human monoclonal antibodies reacted with more than one antigen to varying degrees and were autoreactive and polyreactive. One of these heterohybridoma cell lines exhibited cytoplasmic staining with an anti-CD5 monoclonal. Our findings support the concept that in adult individuals a subset of B cells produce heterogeneous IgM antibodies which can bind to a variety of different autoantigens and also to foreign antigens. These monoclonals were different from the autoantibodies usually seen in renal dialysis patients in the sense that they were not lymphocytotoxic.     

Polyreactive antigen-binding B cells in the peripheral circulation are IgD+ and B7−

Polyreactive antibodies are naturally occurring antibodies, primarily of the IgM isotype, that are capable of reacting with a wide variety of different self and non-self antigens. Previously, we reported that a B cell capable of making polyreactive antibody has Ig receptors on its surface that can bind different antigens. The present investigation was initiated to characterize these polyreactive antigen-binding B cells further. A panel of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled antigens (insulin, IgG Fc fragment or β-galactosidase) served as probes to select polyreactive antigen-binding B cells by cell sorting. Our experiment revealed that these polyreactive antigen-binding B cells were mainly of the IgD isotype. They expressed high levels of CD40 and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, but little or no B7-1, B7-2, or Fas. In contrast to the binding of antigens to monoreactive receptors (usually high affinity), the binding of antigens to polyreactive receptors (usually moderate or low affinity) did not up-regulate the expression of B7-1 or B7-2. Antigens that bound to polyreactive receptors, however, were internalized and degraded, although not as efficiently as antigens that bound to monoreactive receptors. Despite the ability of these B7⁻ cells to process antigens, they were not able to activate T cells in a mixed leukocyte reaction. It is concluded that polyreactive antigen-binding B cells have properties that are consistent with the ability to induce immunological tolerance.     

Analysis of antibody reactivities toward self antigens of IgM of patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

By using a quantitative immunoblotting technique, we have analyzed the repertoires of antibody reactivities of IgM directed toward self antigens in the serum of patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) and in the serum of healthy adults. Monoclonal IgM of patients with WM expressed various degrees of polyreactivity and a high degree of heterogeneity with regard to the number and the nature of the protein bands that were recognized in homologous tissue extracts. Heterogeneous patterns of reactivity of WM IgM contrasted with the conserved profiles of reactivity of IgM in the serum of healthy blood donors. Protein bands that were recognized by WM IgM belonged to the restricted set of self antigens recognized in homologous tissues by normal polyclonal IgM, indicating the absence of a disease-specific reactivity profile of monoclonal WM IgM. Thus, monoclonal IgM that is present in large amounts in WM distorts the homogeneous pattern of reactivity of natural antibodies with self antigens which characterizes the natural antibody repertoire of healthy individuals.      

Specificity of antibodies from human sera for Naegleria species.

Serum samples from adult humans in North Carolina and Pennsylvania were assayed for antibodies against four Naegleria species: N. australiensis, N. fowleri, N. gruberi, and N. lovaniensis. Agglutinating activities of serum samples from North Carolina subjects were higher for N. fowleri than were those from Pennsylvania subjects. The distributions of agglutination titers of human serum samples for N. australiensis, N. gruberi, and N. lovaniensis were heterogeneous. The agglutination capabilities of selected serum samples absorbed with rounded, killed trophozoites of N. australiensis and N. lovaniensis were distinctly different, as were those of serum samples absorbed with N. fowleri and N. gruberi. N. australiensis and N. gruberi shared some agglutinating antigens, as did N. fowleri and N. lovaniensis. The agglutinating activities of most serum samples correlated with the capability of their immunoglobulin M (IgM) to bind to antigens in extracts of Naegleria species but not with the capabilities of their IgG to bind to antigens of Naegleria species. Absorption of IgM binding capability with rounded, killed trophozoites established that N. gruberi was distinctly different from N. fowleri and N. lovaniensis but that N. fowleri and N. lovaniensis shared surface antigens. The proteins in extracts of the four Naegleria species were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and tested for their ability to bind immunoglobulins in a serum sample. The antigens of the four species that bound IgM or IgG in the tested serum sample were separated by SDS-PAGE, and when they were incubated with anti-IgM or anti-IgG, they gave distinct profiles. There was one distinct, shared antigen that had a molecular size of 40,000 daltons. Absorption of the test serum with killed, rounded trophozoites did not markedly change the immunoglobulin binding profile for Naegleria internal antigens separated by SDS-PAGE and did not remove the shared 40,000-dalton protein(s). These results demonstrate that the four Naegleria species have antigenically distinct surfaces and that humans have been individually exposed to antigens of Naegleria species.     

Specific and natural antibody production during Salmonella typhimurium infection in genetically susceptible and resistant mice.

Genetically susceptible (C57BL/6) and resistant (CBA) mice were infected with an avirulent strain of Salmonella typhimurium and studied over a 35-day period for the production of antibodies directed against bacterial antigens including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (specific antibodies) and antibodies directed against self antigens [natural antibodies (NAb)]. Antibodies directed against LPS and self antigens were detected by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and those directed against other bacterial antigens by immunoblotting. We found that serum natural antibody titres in C57BL/6 and CBA mice were similar and correlated with the bacterial load in the spleen and liver. In C57BL/6 mice, anti-LPS antibodies remained polyreactive and of the IgM isotype. In contrast, CBA mice, after an early increase in polyreactive IgM anti-LPS antibodies, mounted a specific anti-LPS IgG antibody response. The immunoblotting results demonstrated that the IgM polyreactive antibodies in the resistant and susceptible mice recognized bacterial antigens of different molecular weights and that CBA, but not C57BL/6 mice, were able to produce IgG antibodies recognizing bacterial components. Our results suggest that the synthesis of antibodies directed against bacterial antigens and natural antibodies follow, at least partially, distinct pathways, but they do not allow us to determine whether these two antibody populations are produced by the same or distinct B-cell subpopulations.     

Polyreactive igm antibodies in the circulation are masked by antigen binding

Human plasma containing IgM showed only minimal, if any, reactivity with a panel of antigens as measured by ELISA. In contrast, affinity-purified IgM showed many times more reactivity with the same panel of antigens. When plasma was added back to the affinity-purified IgM, the reactivity of the IgM with antigens was completely inhibited by undiluted plasma and by as much as 40% with as little as a 1100 dilution of plasma. When the affinity-purified IgM was affinity-purified a second time by passage through antigen-specific columns (e.g., insulin or Fc or -galactosidase), the eluted antibodies bound not only to the antigen used for purification, but also to a panel of unrelated antigens, indicating that the antibodies were polyreactive. It is concluded that polyreactive IgM antibodies are present in the circulation but are masked by binding to circulating antigens.     

Human monoclonal antibodies demonstrate polyreactivity for histones and the cytoskeleton.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases are characterized by immune responses to intracellular, highly conserved antigens such as DNA and histone. In this study, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from a patient with histone autoantibodies were used to prepare IgM human-human hybridoma cell lines. Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) was used to identify monoclonal antibodies that bound to cytoskeletal and other cytoplasmic constituents. These supernatants did not bind double-stranded or single-stranded DNA. However, immunoblotting revealed that 7/20 hybridomas selected for their binding to cytoskeletal components produced antibodies that also bound mammalian and avian histones. When peptide fragments of histone were used in immunoblotting experiments, it was found that the monoclonal antibodies bound to the carboxyl terminus of H1, a region previously shown to bind autoantibodies from sera of patients with SLE and drug-induced lupus (DIL). When the amino acid sequences of histones and cytoskeletal components were compared using the Swiss-Prot protein data bank, it was confirmed that there are eight regions of similarity. While the significance of polyreactive human monoclonal antibodies to cytoskeletal components and histones is not understood at present, it is possible that the human histone antibodies represent polyreactive antibodies that arise through the mechanism of molecular mimicry.     

Structural aspects of human IgM antibodies expressed in chronic B lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Malignant B cells from patients with chronic B lymphocytic leukemia (B CLL) generally express both surface IgM and the pan T cell antigen CD5, a characteristic of the B1 population of B lymphocytes. The IgM on the surface of these B CLL cells is frequently polyreactive with respect to its capacity to recognize multiple structurally dissimilar antigens (Ag). OBJECTIVES: To understand the structural characteristics of the polyreactive binding sites of human IgM molecules expressed on B CLL cells by: (1) analyzing the nucleotide and protein sequences of the variable (V) domains of five IgM molecules expressed in cases of B CLL and; (2) utilizing these sequences to generate three-dimensional (3D) models of Fv (VL - VH) molecules. STUDY DESIGN: Peripheral blood leukocytes obtained from five cases of B CLL were tested for polyreactive binding properties by assessing their capacity to bind mouse IgG by indirect immunofluorescence. The V region genes of light and heavy chains were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction, subsequently cloned and their nucleotide sequences obtained. Translated amino acid sequences of the V domains were used to generate homology models of the Fv molecules. RESULTS: Low affinity binding of mouse IgG was demonstrated for all B CLL samples examined, confirming the polyreactive nature of the IgM expressed on these cells. There was an absence or minimal mutation within V region genes when compared to germline Ig genes. Junctional diversity was not observed for VL regions, although truncations and insertions were frequent in D minigenes of VH regions. The binding sites were predicted to form either relatively flat surfaces with occasional protrusions or cavities at the VL - VH domain interface. Aromatic side chains covered a large proportion of the potential binding surfaces in the models of B CLL Fv components. DISCUSSION: Primary DNA sequences can be categorized as germline, suggesting that the B cells involved in B CLL are germline or naive in origin. The medium to large HCDR3s provide the majority of probable contact residues for antigens. While prominent aromatic residues are likely to engage in binding patterns which are conserved (e.g. mouse Ig reactivity), the diverse binding sites predicted for B CLL-derived IgMs also have properties which are conducive to polyreactive antigen binding.     

In vitro effects of enzymes of polymorphonuclear leukocytes on the antigenicity of stratum corneum

Anti-stratum corneum (SC) antibodies of human serum bind in vitro to the SC of frozen sections of normal skin of psoriatic patients and of healthy controls. Pretreatment of skin sections with selected dilutions of acid extracts from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) prior to the incubation with serum containing anti-SC autoantibodies enhances this binding in comparison with binding to untreated sections. Pretreatment of at least some specimens with higher concentrations of the same PMN extracts brings about a reduction in their reactivity with anti-SC autoantibodies. These findings indicate that enzymes of PMN are capable of altering SC antigens by first increasing and then decreasing their reactivity with SC autoantibodies.     

Autoantibodies to heat shock protein 90 in the human natural antibody repertoire

The present study demonstrates the presence of natural autoantibodies of the IgG isotype directed against heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). The binding properties of affinity-purified anti-HSP antibodies were compared with those of natural antibodies specific for other self antigens, including anti-thyroglobulin and anti-myoglobin autoantibodies, by using semiquantitative immunoblotting, with solubilized proteins from normal liver tissue as antigens, and cross-blot analysis using purified self proteins. Affinity-purified anti-HSP90 antibodies were polyreactive and the non-HSP90-specific fraction of normal IgG was depleted in its natural autoantibody content. We further observed that self antigens including HSP, myosin, tubulin and aldolase with highly conserved structures show similar patterns of binding with natural antibodies, and form a well-defined cluster as demonstrated by cluster analysis of immunoreactivity data, whereas the less-conserved self and non-self antigens remained unclustered. The results favor the hypothesis that HSP90 belongs to a subset of highly conserved and immunodominant self antigens that are the primary target for natural autoantibodies in normal human IgG.     

A substantial proportion of the adult BALB/c available B cell repertoire consists of multireactive B cells

A variety of studies have documented multireactive antibodies in both the preimmune and naturally activated repertoire, but the relationship of these primarily IgM multireactive antibodies to antigen-specific primary and secondary response antibodies is currently not defined. In order to characterize the BALB/c preimmunization specificity repertoire and the baseline of naturally activated antibodies from which the immune response to a specific antigen (hen egg-white lysozyme, HEL) develops, panels of polyclonally activated blast-derived hybridomas (BlAbs) and natural antibody hybridomas (NAbs) from the spleens of unimmunized mice were screened for binding to a panel of nine complex antigens. Over half of the IgM-secreting BlAbs produced antibodies that were antigen-reactive; of these, over half were multireactive, i.e. capable of binding more than one complex antigen. There was no bias towards self vs foreign or thymus-dependent vs thymus-independent antigens. The frequency of antigen-reactive NAbs was about half the frequency of antigen-reactive antibodies found among the BlAbs. However, over half of the antigen-reactive NAbs were also multireactive, and the reactivity profile within the antigen-reactive subset of NAbs was similar to that within the antigen-reactive subset of BlAbs. These results suggest that the available repertoire of adult spleen cells contains a high proportion of multireactive antibodies, and that a subset of the available repertoire is randomly activated, yielding a small proportion of natural antibodies which closely reflect a random sampling of the available repertoire. Although monospecific precursor cells are rare, monospecific IgM BlAbs were found for all antigens in the panel except staphylococcal nuclease and mouse IgG. Monospecific as well as multireactive HEL-binding BlAbs were found at frequencies comparable to other protein antigens in the panel, and HEL-reactive NAbs were also present. On the other hand, it has previously been shown that HEL-reactive IgM antibodies (including multireactive antibodies whose specificities include HEL) are rare or absent in both the primary and secondary response to HEL. This cannot be attributed to an absence of available precursor B cells, and most likely reflects an early recruitment of HEL-reactive clones into the peripheral B cell pool. The possibility that polyreactive B cells may serve as precursors for some HEL-specific IgG antibodies is discussed.     

Human Polyreactive IgM Monoclonal Antibodies with Blocking Activity Against Self-Reactive IgG

Natural IgM antibodies have been found to be involved in the control of IgG reactivity in normal serum. The authors investigated the blocking activity of four human IgM monoclonal antibodies (BY-2, BY-7, BY-10 and IRM-7) derived from B-cells from blood samples of three renal dialysis patients, which had shown multispecific properties similar to those observed for natural polyreactive autoantibodies. To achieve this, competitive inhibition assays were performed with these MoAbs on the binding of IgG purified from a healthy control, three patients with SLE, and two patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, to histone, dsDNA, RNP and thyroglobulin. MoAbs inhibited binding of self-reactive IgG to histone and dsDNA, but not to thyroglobulin or RNP, of natural and active or inactive phase disease-associated autoreactive IgG. The inhibitory effect of the MoAbs was mediated by V-region dependent interactions with autoreactive IgG, as shown by the ability of these MoAbs to block the binding of F(ab')₂ fragments of autoreactive IgG to antigens (histone and dsDNA). The blocking of autoantibody activity was dose-dependent with maximal inhibition occurring at a specific molar ratio between the patient's IgG and a given MoAb. In contrast, MoAbs did not inhibit binding of IgG alloantibodies present in the sera of four polytransfused renal dialysis patients to target antigens on the surface of different cells. These results support the concept of a functional idiotypic network regulating autoimmune responses, and suggest that the IgM MoAbs under study may be natural polyreactive antibodies belonging to the physiological network of autoantibodies with highly connected V-regions, capable of binding and functionally neutralizing V-regions of natural and pathologic autoantibodies.     

Properties of polyreactive natural antibodies to self and foreign antigens

Conclusions Natural polyreactive antibodies with the capacity to bind to both self and foreign antigens are present in the sear of healthy individuals. The B lymphocytes that secrete these antibodies belong to the subset of CD5+ B cells and may utilize a restricted set of VH and VL genes, strongly conserved during evolution. The role of these antibodies in the immune system is still a matter of debate. Further studies on their behavior in normal and autoimmune responses are required to elucidate this important issue.     

A V region-connected autoreactive subfraction of normal human serum immunoglobulin G.

Mouse and human natural IgM autoantibodies have been shown to be polyreactive and "connected" through V region-dependent interactions. In the present study, we have identified a connected subfraction of normal human serum IgG by using affinity chromatography of F(ab')2 fragments of pooled IgG (IVIg) or of IgG from a single donor on Sepharose-bound F(ab')2 fragments of the same source of IgG. The connected fraction of IgG exhibited a high content of autoantibodies directed against a wide panel of evolutionarily conserved self antigens and of self antigens that may be targets of autoantibodies in autoimmune diseases. Connected IgG also contained higher amounts of antibodies directed against commonly encountered microbial antigens than unfractionated IgG. The connected fraction did not, however, differ from unchromatographed IgG nor from non-connected IgG in its content of antibodies to vaccinal antigens and to distant foreign antigens. Thus, in humans as in mice, connectivity is a prominent feature of autoantibodies. Our observations are suggestive of a tight control by IgG of the expressed autoreactive repertoire in healthy individuals and strengthen the concept that the therapeutic infusion of pooled normal IgG (IVIg) may be effective in autoimmune diseases by bringing to patients normal regulatory components of the immunoglobulin network.     

Polyreactivity of human monoclonal antibodies: Human IgM anti-rhesus monoclonal antibodies are frequently polyreactive

The aim of this study was to characterize human anti-Rhesus monoclonal antibodies cross-reacting with tissue antigens. Of the 155 monoclonal alloantibodies tested, 49 also reacted with intracellular antigens, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence assay on cryostat sections of animal and human tissues. This cross-reactivity was mainly a property of monoclonal alloantibodies belonging to the IgM isotype (among the 49 cross-reacting Mabs, 37 were IgM). The results confirm that during an immune response against a foreign antigen (alloantigen), B cells that produce polyreactive antibodies are not excluded from the pool of responding cells.