Recurrent variable region gene usage and somatic mutation in the human antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 23F

Combinatorial cloning and expression library analysis were used to isolate human antibody Fab fragments specific for the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 23F. Thirty 23F-specific Fabs were isolated from seven vaccinated donors, and the sequences of the heavy (H)- and light (L)-chain variable regions were determined. All individuals utilized either the Vkappa A23 L chain, the Vkappa L6 L chain, or both chains in forming the 23F-specific combining site. Vkappa A23 L chains paired primarily with VH3-23 H chains. Vkappa L6 L chains were more promiscuous in heavy-chain usage between individuals. Both H and L chains were mutated, primarily in the complementarity-determining regions, compared to their closest germ line counterpart, suggesting a recall response that has undergone affinity maturation. H-chain isotypes were reflective of those found in the serum. Shared somatic modifications demonstrated that immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) and IgA antibodies arose from the same somatically matured B cell. Our results indicate that the response to the serotype 23F pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide is oligoclonal within the individual, with one or two paratope families accounting for the majority of expressed antibody. We also determined that, in spite of the combinatorial diversity available to the immune system, the 23F-specific response is highly restricted at the population level, with the same two L-chain-determined paratope families recurring in all individuals. Lastly, analysis of the isolated Fabs indicate all have undergone extensive somatic mutation, as well as class switch, maturational events that presumably require the participation of T cells.     

Variable region genes of human monoclonal autoantibodies to histones H2A and H2B from a systemic lupus erythematosus patient

An antibody phage library obtained from peripheral blood lymphocytes of a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient was used to isolate four monoclonal autoantibodies against histones H2A and H2B. Analysis of the variable region sequences revealed that the anti-histone monoclonal antibodies were not clonally related; they used VH genes from three different VH gene families (VH3, VH4, and VH5) and distant members of the Vkappa group (L25, L6, A27, and O8) in conjunction with different D and J gene segments. These observations suggest that certain gene families or segments are not critical in producing anti-histone autoantibodies in SLE. Most of the utilized VH and Vkappa sequences were highly mutated and the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) varied greatly in length. The VH region of the antibody SLEhis18 had an isoelectric point of 6.1, and 29% of the mutations were changes to acidic amino acid residues. The second CDR (CDR2) of SLEhis18 VH contained one basic and three acidic residues. Acidic residues were observed in the CDR3 regions of VH, but not VL, in all isolated clones; this is unusual, as most autoantibodies are comprised predominantly of non-acidic residues. This is the first report of a systematic sequence analysis of human anti-histone monoclonal antibodies. Our results suggest that certain V genes are not important for autoreactive specificity to histones in SLE; instead, other mechanisms such as an existence of acidic residues and somatic mutations in CDRs are required for specific binding to histones, which might play a role as a stimulatory autoantigen for the activation of autoantibody-producing B-cells and the selection of high affinity antibody.     

T560: an (H-2b x H-2a) F1 hybrid, phosphorylcholine (PC)-binding, murine B cell lymphoma that bears receptors for IgA and IgG, presents antigen and secretes IL-4.

We describe T560, a tissue culture-adapted B lymphoma derived from the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of a (B10 x B10.H-2a H-4b)F1 hybrid mouse. This lymphoma is interesting and useful not only because it bears an unusual IgA receptor, fully described elsewhere, but also because it is potentially capable of presenting antigen to T cells restricted by the MHC of either parent. Here we document that T560 cells are IgG2a kappa +, Ia+, B220+, J11d.2+, CD3-, CD4-, CD5-, Mac 1-, Mac 2-, non-specific esterase-. They bind bromelain-treated mouse RBC (BrMRBC) in a PC chloride-inhibitable manner but do not bind SRBC, ox RBC (ORBC) or TNP-ORBC. Two lines, T560.1 and T560.2, and several clones are available. T560.1 and its clones contain low numbers of IgA rosette-forming cells (RFC), intermediate numbers of IgG2a RFC and moderately high numbers of IgG2b RFC; T560.2 and its clones contain moderately high numbers of IgA RFC and low numbers of both IgG2a and IgG2b RFC. Both lines stimulate both B10 and B10.A cells in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) and present keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) to KLH-reactive T cells. T560.2 populations are, however, more efficient possibly because they have somewhat higher proportions of brightly fluorescent Ia+ cells and secrete larger quantities of lymphokine than T560.1 cells. They present PC-conjugated KLH (PC-KLH) approximately 20 times more efficiently than unconjugated KLH, suggesting that their PC binding receptors function in antigen uptake. They constitutively produce IL-1, IL-4 and IL-6, but not IL-2, IL-5 or TGF beta. Neither their IgA nor their IgG receptor expression is affected by IL-4 or by IFNs-alpha, -beta, or -gamma. In their ability to bind BrMRBC and secrete IL-4, they resemble the CH12 lymphoma but differ from it in that they are of F1 hybrid origin, are CD5-, bear IgG2a rather than IgM, do not bind sheep erythrocytes and have a receptor for IgA not present on CH12.     

Repertoire of human antibodies against the polysaccharide capsule of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6B

We examined the repertoire of antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae 6B capsular polysaccharide induced with the conventional polysaccharide vaccine in adults at the molecular level two ways. In the first, we purified from the sera of seven vaccinees antipneumococcal antibodies and determined their amino acid sequences. Their VH regions are mainly the products of VH3 family genes (candidate genes, 3-23, 3-07, 3-66, and 3-74), but the product of a VH1 family gene (candidate gene, 1-03) is occasionally used. All seven individuals have small amounts of polyclonal kappa+ antibodies (Vkappa1 to Vkappa4 families), although kappa+ antibodies are occasionally dominated by antibodies formed with the product of the A27 Vkappa gene. In contrast, lambda+ anti-6B antibodies are dominated by the antibodies derived from one of 3 very similar Vlambda2 family genes (candidate genes, 2c, 2e, and 2a2) and Clambda1 gene product. The Vlambda2(+) antibodies express the 8.12 idiotype, which is expressed on anti-double-stranded-DNA antibodies. In one case, Vlambda is derived from a rarely expressed Vlambda gene, 10a. In the second approach, we studied a human hybridoma (Dob1) producing anti-6B antibody. Its VH region sequence is closely related to those of the 3-15 VH gene (88% nucleotide homology) and JH4 (92% homology). Its VL region is homologous to the 2a2 Vlambda2 gene (91%) and Jlambda1/Clambda1. Taken together, the V region of human anti-6B antibodies is commonly formed by a VH3 and a Vlambda2 family gene product.     

Immunoglobulin variable regions usage by B-lymphocytes infiltrating a human breast medullary carcinoma

Breast medullary carcinoma are heavily infiltrated by B-lymphocytes and associated with a good prognosis despite their high histological grade. We investigated the Ig repertoire of B-lymphocytes infiltrating one such tumour. A single cell suspension was obtained from a tumor specimen by enzymatic digestion. VH, Vkappa, and Vlambda regions were amplified by RT-PCR using mixtures of primers optimized to maximize the diversity of the PCR products. They were then cloned and sequenced. Analysis of 9 VH, 5 Vkappa, and 10 Vlambda sequences using the Kabat database indicated that several VH and VL region subgroups (I, II and III) are expressed by B-lymphocytes infiltrating this tumor. The analysis of CDR3 regions also showed a variability, although some VH and VL clones exhibited identical or nearly identical sequences. Thus, the B-cell infiltration observed in this breast medullary carcinoma does not reflect a monoclonal proliferation and represents an oligoclonal or a polyclonal B-cell proliferation.     

Epstein-Barr virus-positive Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg-like B cell in non-hodgkin lymphoma: nucleotide sequence of the amplified immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region gene by the single-cell polymerase chain reaction technique.

We examined nucleotide sequences of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS)-like B cells in a case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and a case of adult T-cell lymphoma (ATL) for single-cell polymerase chain reaction of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene variable region (VH gene). HRS-like B cells were scattered in the area irrelevant to the lymphoma infiltrates of DLBCL and in the lymphoma area of ATL. HRS-like B cells were positive for CD20 and CD30 but negative for CD15. EBV presented in HRS-like B cells in both cases but not in any lymphoma cells. VH genes of five HRS-like B cells analyzed in DLBCL were polyclonal and showed in-frame sequences with 0% to 2.8% somatic mutation frequency. In an ATL, VH genes of five HRS-like B cells analyzed were polyclonal and somatically mutated. Four cells carried in-frame rearrangements with 3.5% to 17.7% mutation frequency. One of the VH genes has a one-codon deletion. From the fifth cell, an out-of-frame rearrangement with an insertion and a deletion was obtained. Thus, we showed polyclonal EBV-positive HRS-like B cells in both DLBCL and ATL and that whereas EBV-positive, HRS-like B cells in DLBCL exhibited unmutated and mutated VH gene, those in ATL were found to have a somatically mutated VH gene with/without deletions and/or insertions. The HRS-like B cells may appear because of active EBV infection in a patient who is immunosuppressed from the primary lymphoma.     

Polyclonal immunoglobulin synthesis induced by a macrophage factor acting via T cells.

New Zealand White rabbits were killed 7 days after immunization with 1 mg of alum precipitated, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) into each hind footpad and 3 days after intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate. When supernatants from cultures of purified, elicited macrophages were added to Mishell-Dutton cultures of primed popliteal lymphocytes, they induced synthesis of both general immunoglobulins and antibody specific for KLH. The active factor(s), polyclonal lymphocyte activator (PLA), appears to be a glycoprotein with a molecular weight between 150,000 and 200,000 daltons. Absorption with high concentrations of thymocytes but not bone marrow cells removed polyclonal stimulatory activity from peritoneal macrophage supernatants which contained PLA. Purified lymph-node B cells were stimulated by PLA only in the presence of T cells. In addition, supernatants from PLA activated, washed T cells were effective at inducing polyclonal B-cell activation. Thus, PLA appears to act indirectly on B cells by stimulating T cells to produce a soluble factor which induces polyclonal B-cell activation.     

Regulation of anti-phosphatidylserine antibodies

The degree of heavy chain (H) editing, the types of Vkappa editors, and the pattern of Jkappa usage are correlated with a range of the affinity of anti-DNA. This range was determined by the number and location of arginine (R) residues in the VH. We, here, changed a key arginine residue in the VH of anti-DNA transgene to glycine, which sharply reduces the affinity for dsDNA. However, complete reversion of this anti-DNA to germline enhances the affinity for phosphatidylserine (PS). The B cells of this low-affinity anti-DNA and anti-PS transgenic mouse are tightly regulated by receptor editing. Thus, anti-PS B cells are another example of a constitutive self-antigen regulated in the bone marrow.     

A novel and easy method for the production of recombinant peptides for use in the generation of monospecific antisera against Lama glama IgG2b and IgG2c subclasses

We describe an easy method for the production of small recombinant peptides of 8 amino acid residues expressed as a fusion peptide with glutathione S-transferase (GST) and employed in an immunisation schedule to obtain polyclonal antibodies. The chosen peptides corresponded to specific fragments of the hinge regions of llama (Lama glama) IgG2 subisotypes b (2bH) and c (2cH). The DNA sequences encoding each peptide were ligated individually into pGEX-5X-2, which encodes GST. Once purified from a bacterial lysate by glutathione affinity chromatography, GST-2bH and GST-2cH were used to immunize rabbits. In parallel, polyclonal antibodies were generated against specific synthetic fragments of the hinge regions of llama IgG2a (2aH) and IgG3 (3H) coupled to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). Polyclonal antibodies raised against GST-peptides and KLH-peptides were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot (WB) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). The results obtained by ELISA demonstrated that monospecific anti-IgG2 and anti-IgG3 antisera were obtained using KLH-2aH, GST-2bH, GST-2cH and KLH-3H as antigens. All antisera showed reactivity with their specific IgG isotype by WB and IIF. This simple and novel recombinant DNA methodology for the generation of two monospecific anti-isotype antisera using small peptides expressed as fusion peptides with GST offers the possibility of large scale peptide production as an alternative to chemical peptide synthesis.     

Whole Cholera Toxin and B Subunit Act Synergistically as an Adjuvant for the Mucosal Immune Response of Mice to Keyhole Limpet Haemocyanin

Cholera toxin (CT) is a potent stimulator of IgA responses when administered orally and has been shown to promote IgA responses to a second protein such as keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) if this is fed simultaneously. In this paper we show that whilst feeding 5 mg KLH with either 0.5 micrograms CT or 10 micrograms B subunit fails to stimulate a mucosal IgA response to KLH, feeding 0.5 microgram CT and 10 micrograms B subunit together with 5 mg KLH produces a local IgA anti-KLH response as great as that produced by 10 micrograms of whole CT. In addition to stimulating IgA responses in the lamina propria, preliminary results indicate that cellular responses are also stimulated, as we have demonstrated KLH antigen-driven proliferation of cells isolated from groups of mice fed either 10 micrograms CT + 5 mg KLH or 0.5 micrograms CT + 10 micrograms CTB + 5 mg KLH but not mice fed KLH alone or with either 10 micrograms CTB or 0.5 micrograms CT. These results indicate that the mucosal adjuvant action of CT is due to a synergistic effect involving both the GM1 binding of the B subunit and adenylate cyclase activation by the A subunit.     

Sensitivity of receptors for IgA on T560, a murine B lymphoma,to phorbol myristate acetate and to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C

A GALT-derived B lymphoma, T560, that bears IgAR is described. T560 is IgG2a kappa +, Ia+, B220+, J11d+, Thy-1-, CD3-, CD4-, CD5-, Mac 1-, Mac 2-, nonspecific esterase negative and binds bromelain-treated mouse RBC but not SRBC or ORBC. It presents antigen, secretes IL-1, IL-4 and IL-6 but not IL-2, IL-5 or TGF beta and appears to be related to the Lyt 1+(CD5) lineage of B cells though it lacks Lyt 1. T560 bears IgAR that, on the cell surface, are completely cross-inhibited by low concentrations of IgM and by high concentrations of IgG2a and IgG2b. They do not appear to represent a cell-surface form of galactosyl transferase. They are inducible by high concentrations of IgA, sensitive to trypsin and insensitive to neuraminidase. They are down-regulated by activation of PKC with PMA, but their recovery is not inhibited by cycloheximide, indicating that they are not degraded or shed. They may either lose their affinity for IgA or be internalized without degradation. Seventy percent of IgA receptor activity is lost when T560 is treated with PI-PLC; part of this loss of activity is due to activation of PKC and is inhibited by staurosporine, but approximately 30% of it is not protected by staurosporine indicating that some, or all, of the IgA receptor of T560 is connected to the cell membrane via a GPI linker. The T560 IgA receptor could be related to the poly-Ig or M cell receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Systematic design and testing of nested (RT-)PCR primers for specific amplification of mouse rearranged/expressed immunoglobulin variable region genes from small number of B cells

The aim of this study was to develop a highly specific and sensitive (RT-)PCR capable of potentially amplifying the rearranged/expressed VH and VL gene belonging to any mouse immunoglobulin V gene family from a single or a small number of B cells. A database of germline immunoglobulin sequences was used to design 112 primers for a nested (RT-)PCR based strategy to cover all VH, VL, JH, JL, CH and CL gene families/genes from C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. 93.7% of the primers had 4-fold or less, while 71.4% had no degeneracy. The proportions of germline V genes to which the primers bind with no, up to 1 and up to 2 mismatches are 59.7%, 84.1% and 94.9%, respectively. Most but not all V gene family specific primers designed allow amplification of full-length V genes. The nested primers permit PCR amplification of rearranged V genes belonging to all VH and VL gene families from splenocyte genomic DNA. The V gene family-specific nature of the primers was experimentally confirmed for randomly selected 6 VH and 6 Vkappa families, and all Vlambda genes. The broad V gene family coverage of our primer set was experimentally validated by amplifying the rearranged/expressed VH and VL genes from splenocytes and a panel of 38 hybridomas under conditions where primer mixes and genomic DNA or total RNA was used as starting template. We observed no or low-level cross-family priming. Pooled constant region specific primers allowed efficient RT-PCR amplification of H and L chain isotypes. The expressed VH and VL genes belonging to different V gene families RT-PCR amplified from a mixture of hybridomas in a representative manner. We successfully amplified the expressed VH and Vkappa gene from a single hybridoma cell by RT-PCR and from 10-15 microdissected B cells by genomic PCR. This, first of its kind, comprehensive set of highly sensitive and specific nested primers that provide broad V gene family coverage will open up new avenues and opportunities to study various aspects of mouse B cell biology.     

Complete sequence of the genes encoding the VH and VL regions of low- and high-affinity monoclonal IgM and IgA1 rheumatoid factors produced by CD5+ B cells from a rheumatoid arthritis patient.

We have characterized the VH and VL genes of three low-affinity polyreactive and two high-affinity monoreactive IgM and IgA1 rheumatoid factor (RF) mAb generated using circulating CD5+ B cells from a single rheumatoid arthritis patient. We found that four and one RF mAb utilized genes of the VHIV and VHIII families, respectively. The VHIV gene usage by these RF mAb differs from the preferential VHIII, VHI, and, to a lesser extent, VHII gene usage by the IgM with RF activity found in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, and other monoclonal gammopathies. In addition, in contrast to the preponderant kappa L chain usage by the RF in these patients, a lambda L chain was utilized by all RF mAb from our rheumatoid arthritis patient. Two RF mAbs utilized V lambda I, two V lambda IV, and one V lambda III L chains. The VH genes of the two low-affinity polyreactive IgM RF mAb were in germline configuration. When compared with the deduced amino acid sequence of the putatively corresponding genomic segment, the VH gene of the high-affinity monoreactive IgM RF mAb displayed five amino acid differences, all of which are in the complementarity determining regions (CDR), possibly the result of a process of somatic point mutation and clonal selection driven by Ag. The unavailability of the corresponding genomic VH segment sequences made it impossible to infer whether the VH genes utilized by the two IgA1 RF were in a germline or somatically mutated configuration. Sequencing of the genes encoding the H chain CDR3 (D segments) revealed that all three low-affinity polyreactive RF mAb displayed a much longer D segment (36-45 bases) than their high-affinity monoreactive counterparts (15-24 bases), raising the possibility that a long D segment may be one of the factors involved in antibody polyreactivity.     

Human antibody responses to bacterial antigens: studies of a model conventional antigen and a proposed model B cell superantigen.

We have investigated the human antibody repertoires that bind to two different classes of bacterial antigens. Immunization with the conventional antigen, type b capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae Hib PS, uniformly induces IgA and IgG responses dominated by clones that use heavy chains structurally related to two subsets of VH3 genes, while in a minority of subjects antibodies from the VH1 or VH4 families are co-induced. In contrast, the "alternative binding site" of Staphylococcal Protein A (SPA) represents an unconventional determinant, because; (i) SPA is bound by a large proportion of non-immune IgM, IgA and IgG F(ab')2, (ii) SPA is bound only to Fab from the VH3 family, which can be encoded by at least four different germline genes, (iii) SPA binding is independent of VL usage, (iv) by flow cytometry SPA is bound by > 15% of tonsilar B cells, but not to T cells. (v) In vitro stimulation with an SPA containing mitogen induces the preferentially production of Ig bearing a VH3 marker. Taken together, these studies characterize a VH family restricted binding interaction that is distinct from the properties associated with conventional antigens such as Hib PS. Based on these data we propose that SPA represents a prototype for a B cell superantigen.     

VH gene usage and CDR3 analysis of B cell receptor in the peripheral blood of patients with PBC

We have analyzed the IgM, IgG and IgA BCR repertoire in PBC patients by means of quantitative RT-PCR and CDR3-spectratyping with immunoscope technology. PBMC from 35 PBC patients and 18 normal controls were analyzed. Quantitative B cell repertoire analysis of IgM from healthy donors showed the preferential usage of VH3a, VH3b and VH4 families. Very similar VH family usage was observed in IgM B cells from PBC patients. CDR3 spectratyping of IgM BCR rearrangements showed a Gaussian distribution for dominant VH families in control donors, and similar diversity was found for the VH3b family in PBC patients. In contrast, VH3a and VH4 families showed oligoclonal expansions in some patients. Quantitative B cell repertoire analysis of IgG and IgA did not reveal any difference in VH chain distribution in PBC patients as compared to the control donors. Immunoscope profiles of CDR3 length distribution showed several peak expansions in B cells from control donors, particularly for the VH3a and VH4 families. CDR3 length distribution profiles of IgG and IgA from PBC patients were oligoclonal too, with expansions throughout the various VH chains. However, no common expansions within the CDR3 region were found intraindividually between IgG, IgA and IgM, and between patients. In conclusion, immunoscope technology does provide, for the first time, a sensitive and rapid method for detailed immunoglobulin gene usage analysis in peripheral B cells from PBC patients. This study failed to demonstrate preferential B cell rearrangements in the blood of patients with PBC, but this technology may be more successful if applied to the analysis of compartmental B cells (i.e. liver infiltrating B cells).     

A new germline VH36-60 gene is used in the neonatal primary and adult memory response to (T,G)-A--L.

Our previous studies of the neonatal primary response to (T,G)-A--L showed that the majority of anti-(T,G)-A--L antibodies bind the copolymer L-Glu:L-Tyr (GT), share idiotypy (Id), and use the H10 germline VH gene from the VHJ558 family and a V kappa 1 gene. We also identified two hybridomas from different neonatal donors that produced GT+, Id+ antibodies using a V kappa 1 gene with a VH gene from the VH36-60 family. In the study reported here, we show that both neonatal hybridomas use the same germline VH gene from the VH36-60 gene family. However, the VH gene sequence is different from previously identified germline genes of the VH36-60 gene family. To determine whether the expressed heavy chain gene had undergone somatic mutation, we isolated the corresponding germline gene from kidney DNA. Sequence analysis of this gene shows that it is a new member of the VH36-60 family which is not mutated in the neonatal antibodies. Furthermore, the deduced amino acid sequences of the two neonatal antibodies are identical not only in the VH region but also in the VH-D-JH joins, suggesting that there is a strong selection for CDRIII among neonatal anti-(T,G)-A--L antibodies using this germline gene (designated here as VH3A1) with a V kappa 1 gene. Also, the VH gene from the VH36-60 family that we showed previously was used by an adult memory B cell clone specific for (T,G)-A--L, can now be identified as a rearrangement of the VH3A1 germline gene. Elucidation of the germline variable region genes that are used in the antigen-specific neonatal response will help us understand the mechanisms that shape the preimmune B cell repertoire during B cell development.     

Involvement of antigen-presenting cells in the enhancement of the in vitro antibody responses by cholera toxin B subunit.

The enhancing effect of cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) on primary antibody responses to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) and the cellular basis of the effect were investigated, using in vitro cultures of mouse spleen cells. CTB (1-100 ng/ml) enhanced anti-KLH IgM, IgG and IgA antibody responses in a dose-dependent manner, when added to the cultures with KLH. This immunoenhancement was antigen specific, but not due to either polyclonal activation of the spleen cells or antigenic cross-reactivity between CTB and KLH. CTB did not affect the kinetics of the anti-KLH antibody responses. Early (Days 0-1) addition of CTB to the cultures enhanced the anti-KLH antibody production, whereas late (Days 5-7) addition of CTB did not. Addition of CTB with KLH to splenic adherent cells (SAC) resulted in a dose-dependent enhancement of the anti-KLH antibody responses, when the SAC were reconstituted with unimmunized non-adherent cells. Moreover, CTB enhanced IL-1 secretion from SAC incubated with KLH. These results suggest that CTB enhances the primary anti-KLH antibody responses in vitro by acting on early events in the responses, and that antigen-presenting cells play a major role in the enhancement.     

Nucleotide sequence of the VH, VL regions of an anti-idiotopic antibody reacting with a private idiotope of the anti-lysozyme D1.3 antibody

Antibody E225 reacts with a private idiotope of the anti-lysozyme antibody D1.3. A complex between the Fab fragments from these BALB/c monoclonal antibodies has been crystallized and the determination of the three-dimensional structure of this idiotope-anti-idiotope complex is under way. The nucleotide VH and VL sequences of E225 presented here have been determined to provide the amino acid sequence information necessary for the interpretation of the high resolution electron density maps of the complex, obtained by X-ray crystallography. The cDNAs synthesized from the Vkappa and VH mRNAs were cloned in E. coli. Both cDNA strands were sequenced by the dideoxy termination method. The translated amino acid sequence shows that Vkappa, VH correspond to groups five (V) and II(b) of mouse immunoglobulin light and heavy chains, respectively. Sequence alignments between the complementarity determining regions of E225 and the antigenic determinant of lysozyme recognized by D1.3 do not indicate whether or not the anti-idiotopic antibody structurally mimics the external antigen.     

Cellular events in tolerance. IV. The effect of a graft-versus-host reaction and endotoxin on hapten- and carrier-specific tolerance

The induction of hapten-specific and carrier-specific unresponsiveness has been used as a model of B and T cell unresponsiveness, respectively. Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) and a graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction were then evaluated for their ability to interfere with the induction of B and T cell tolerance in vivo. It was found that LPS, but not a GVH reaction had adjuvant activity in that LPS could convert a B cell tolerogenic signal into an immunogenic one. However, both treatments could partially prevent B cell tolerance induction with trinitrophenyl-isologous IgG. Under conditions in which the GVH-induced immunosuppression was minimal, carrier (T cell) tolerance was also reduced by the GVH reaction. LPS did not directly interfere with carrier unresponsiveness. We conclude that LPS can block the induction of unresponsiveness in B cells, whereas a GVH reaction can partially affect both T and B cell tolerance induction.