Antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity induced by chimeric mouse-human IgG subclasses and IgG3 antibodies with altered hinge region.

A matched set of chimeric mouse-human NP-antibodies were studied for the capacity to induce cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by normal peripheral blood NK/K cells. The target cells were sheep red blood cells (SRBC) sensitized with the haptens NP or NIP. All four IgG subclasses and several IgG3 variants with altered hinge were tested for ADCC activity. The hierarchy of the ADCC capacity among the subclasses was found to be IgG3 greater than IgG1 greater than IgG4 greater than IgG2. The superiority of IgG3 was only revealed at low effector cell:target cell ratio. The ADCC activity was for the most part unaltered by shortening the hinge region of IgG3 from 62 to 15 amino acids. Also, when the hinge region of IgG3 was mutated to become identical to that of IgG4, the ADCC activity was mainly unchanged. However, an IgG3 variant with deletion of all four hinge exons showed a depressed ADCC activity compared to the wild type. The IgG subclass pattern of complement-mediated lysis (CML) and ADCC is different and the capacity to induce CML and ADCC is changed differently by hinge region modification. Thus CML and ADCC have different structural requirements in the Fc region of IgG.     

抗人黑色素瘤嵌合抗体真核表达载体的构建与表达

目的：构建嵌合型抗人黑色素瘤抗体的真核表达载体，并实现真核表达。方法：从3株杂交瘤细胞中克隆得到鼠源单抗的可变区基因，插入含有抗人Tac抗原信号肽以及人免疫球蛋白κ轻链恒定区基因和γ1重链恒定区基因的真核表达载体pMH-CA中，转染293T细胞，进行嵌合抗体表达，并用RT-PCR、ELISA、Westem blot免疫印迹等对抗体表达鉴定。结果：成功构建了抗人黑色素瘤人，鼠嵌合抗体，并实现其真核表达。RT-PCR证实了该抗体在mRNA水平上的表达，ELISA和Westemblot证实了抗人黑色素瘤人，鼠嵌合抗体的表达。结论：成功表达了抗人黑色素瘤人-鼠嵌合抗体。     

C1q binding to chimeric monoclonal IgG3 antibodies consisting of mouse variable regions and human constant regions with shortened hinge containing 15 to 47 amino acids

We have constructed four different deletion mutants of a chimeric mouse-human IgG3 anti-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl/(5-iodo-4 hydroxy-3 nitrophenyl) acetyl (NP/NIP) antibody lacking one or more of the four exons coding for the hinge region. The mutant variants all retained intact hinge region epitopes since they all reacted with IgG3 hinge-specific antibodies. Surprisingly, all the deletion mutants bound C1q equally well or even better than the wild type. Thus the high C1q binding activity of IgG3 compared to IgG1 is apparently not due to the total length of the IgG3 hinge, which is 62 amino acids, nor is it due to the length of the upper hinge which is the stretch from the end of CH1 to the first inter-heavy chain disulfide bond.     

The binding of human IgG subclasses to human monocytes

The direct binding of human IgG subclasses to human monocytes has been measured by autoradiography using radiolabeled myeloma proteins. Only IgGl and IgG3 were found to bind strongly to the monocyte surface. This binding could be inhibited both by fresh human serum and by soluble immune complexes.     

Distribution of virus antibody activity among human IgG subclasses.

Human IgG subclass antibody activity against viruses was studied by separating the IgG3 fractions from sera exhibiting high titres for rubella, polio types I, II and III, and herpes I viruses. The sera were fractionated on DEAE Affi-Gel Blue and protein A-Sepharose CL-4B columns using specific subclass antisera for identification. All IgG3 fractions exhibited a molecular weight of 164,000 daltons, a pI mean of 8.21 and S20,W1% = 6.2 as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and analytical centrifugation. Quantitative determination of the individual subclass concentrations by nephelometry showed them to be within the biological norm. The concentration and distribution of IgG in the sera and that of the IgGl, -2 and -4 and IgG3 fractions were used as a basis for studying antiviral activity. The IgG3 fractions showed a greater ratio of IgG concentration to antibody titre than the IgGl, -2 and -4 fractions as determined in neutralization and haemagglutination inhibition tests. The IgG3 fraction from anti-rubella serum bound 96.6% 125I-labelled rubella virus (HP 77/DE5). The IgG 3-125I-rubella immune complex was separated over a protein A-Sepharose CL-4B column and confirmed with subclass-specific antisera in radial immunodiffusion plates. Individual Gm allotype analyses showed markers distributed as follows: G3m(5,-6,10,11,13,-16,21,-24) for all the serum donors indicating similar genotypic expression of IgG3s.     

The distribution of microsomal and thyroglobulin antibody activity among the IgG subclasses

The IgG subclass distribution of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (TgAb) and thyroid microsomes (MicAb) in 13 Hashimoto's sera has been investigated using an ELISA technique based on monoclonal anti-subclass antibodies. Considerable subclass restriction was observed with TgAb predominantly but not exclusively associated with IgG4 (mean %TgAb activity associated with IgG4 = 60%) and MicAb predominantly associated with IgG 1 (mean = 49%) and IgG4 (mean = 38%). The tendency for TgAb to be associated with IgG4 accorded with the weak complement fixing properties of this antibody whereas the association of MicAb with IgG1 was consistent with its complement fixing and cytotoxic properties.     

Biological activity of a mouse-human chimeric immunoglobulin G2 antibody to Cryptococcus neoformans polysaccharide.

The variable regions of the heavy and light chains of the protective murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2H1 (m2H1) were expressed with the human constant region genes for immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) and kappa, respectively, to construct a chimeric antibody (ch2H1). ch2H1 retains the specificity of the parent MAb, exhibits biological activity, and lacks the toxicity of the parent murine IgG1 in chronically infected mice.     

Specific IgG antibody subclasses to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in patients with angiostrongyliasis

Total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA and IgM specific antibodies against Angiostrongylus cantonensis somatic antigen were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sera from proven human angiostrongyliasis (PA) cases, clinically suspected angiostrongyliasis cases with eosinophilic meningitis (EM) and healthy control (HC). The specific IgA antibody in each of the patient groups was significantly higher than those of the HC group (p < 0.05). The mean ELISA value of the specific IgM in the PA group was not significantly different from that of the HC group (p > 0.05). However, the mean specific IgM ELISA value in the EM group was significantly higher than that of the HC group (p < 0.05). The levels of the specific IgG and IgG subclasses in both patient groups were significantly higher than in the healthy control (HC) group (p < 0.001). Major differences were evident in the distribution of the IgG subclass antibodies between the patient groups. The IgG1 antibody demonstrated the highest sensitivity and specificity while the IgM and IgA responses were generally poor in both patient groups. The levels of the specific IgG antibody subclasses possibly explain immune responses to the parasite.     

人-鼠嵌合抗血小板单抗SZ-2 Fab片段基因的构建和表达研究

目的：降低鼠源性抗血小板单克隆抗体SZ-2的免疫原性。为其进一步研究，应用奠定基础。方法：用Trizol试剂从SZ-2杂交瘤细胞抽提RNA，应用RT-PCR技术，扩增出SZ-2重链，轻链可变区基因，克隆入载体pUCm-T，测序分析，应用基因重组技术，将SZ-2轻，重链可变区基因与人免疫球蛋白γ1重链CH1和к轻链恒区基因进行拼接，构建人-鼠嵌合Fab片段基因表达质粒pSW1-2Fab/Hu，并导入大肠杆菌XL1-blue诱导表达，以ELISA，Western blot和瑞斯托霉素诱导血小板聚集抑制试验。对表达产物进行检测，验证。结果：克隆的基因序列符合小鼠轻，重链可变区基因的特征；表达质粒pSW1-2Fab/Hu拼接正确；在大肠杆菌中的表达量约为180μg/L；表达产物具有与血小板GPIb结合的特性并可抑制瑞斯托霉素诱导血小板聚集。结论：成功地克隆了SZ-2可变区基因；并表达了可溶性人-鼠嵌合Fab基因工程抗体。     

IgG1 and IgG2 are the predominant subclasses of antiphospholipid antibody in women with the lupus anticoagulant

We studied the sera of 36 patients with lupus anticoagulant and IgG antibodies against both phosphatidylserine and cardiolipin. Most sera also had IgG antibodies against other phospholipids: 97% against phosphatidylinositol, 91% against phosphatidylglycerol, and 82% against phosphatidylethanolamine. IgG2 was the predominant subclass against cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine; 35 of 36 patients (98%) had IgG2 against both phospholipids. Most patients also had the IgG1 subclass; 32 of 36 (89%) against cardiolipin and 25 of 36 (69%) against phosphatidylserine. IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses were present at very low concentrations and in only a minority of the sera. The antibody response against phosphatidylserine was characterized by significantly less IgG1 than was the response against cardiolipin (P less than 0.01), although the IgG2 responses against each phospholipid were not different. IgG subclasses were unrelated to any other aspect of the patients' history, including a history of thrombocytopenia or thrombosis, a positive antinuclear antibody test, or a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.     

Plasma anti-pneumococcal antibody activity of the IgG class and subclasses in otitis prone children

Plasma anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody activity (serotypes 3, 6a and 23) was determined in samples from 15 otitis prone children, at 30 months of age, and compared with age matched control children and adults. A recently developed enzyme immunoassay, using IgG subclass specific monoclonal antibodies for analysis of pneumococcal antibody activity of different IgG subclasses was employed. Adult sera always contained the highest antibody concentrations, almost exclusively of the IgG2 subclass. Children, on the other hand, had higher amounts of IgG1, significantly exceeding those of the adults, healthy children having higher IgG1, as well as IgG2 values than otitis prone children. The most significant differences were seen with type 6a, less so with type 23 antibodies. No differences in IgG1 anti-type 3 pneumococcal activity were observed between the children and the adults. These findings support the concept that pneumococcal antibody activity is confined to IgG2 and, in addition, it was found that sera from children contain antibodies of both IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses.     

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody IgG subclasses in Wegener's granulomatosis: a possible pathogenic role for the IgG4 subclass

A characteristic feature of Wegener's granulomatosis is the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA) to proteinase 3 (PR3). In vitro, ANCA activate neutrophils by co-ligating PR3 and FcgammaRIIa/IIIb receptors. ANCA are predominantly of the IgG isotype, and IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses are particularly represented. To address the pathogenic role of individual ANCA-IgG subclass antibodies, patients' sera were screened using indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and subclass PR3-ELISA to identify patients with high titres of PR3-ANCA within the IgG1, IgG3 or IgG4 subclasses. Unfractionated ANCA-IgG and subclass fractions were isolated by affinity chromatography and compared for their capacities to stimulate superoxide production by primed human neutrophils. Donor neutrophils were analysed for constitutive and induced FcgammaRI expression by flow cytometry. The IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 subclass fractions, isolated from three different ANCA sera, each stimulated superoxide production from neutrophils derived from multiple donors. Subsequently, IgG4 subclass fractions isolated from a further four ANCA positive sera demonstrated varying abilities to stimulate release of superoxide; unrelated to PR3-ANCA titre, neutrophil donor, or neutrophil FcgammaRI expression. The stimulation of superoxide release by IgG1- and IgG3-ANCA subclass fractions is consistent with the proposed mechanism of co-ligation of PR3 antigen and FcgammaRIIa/IIIb receptors. However, the demonstration of similar activity for the IgG4-ANCA subclass fractions isolated from some sera was unexpected. This activity was independent of neutrophil donor and expression of FcgammaRI, suggesting it was capable of activating neutrophils via constitutively expressed FcgammaRIIa/IIIb or co-ligation of other, unidentified, cell surface molecules.     

Investigation of the binding site of mouse IgG subclasses to homologous peritoneal macrophages.

The binding of mouse myeloma IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG1 Fc, IgG2b Fc and a pepsin produced C-terminal subfragment of IgG1 Fc and IgG2b Fc (provisionally identified as pFc') to mouse peritoneal macrophages was investigated. The high affinity cytophilic antibodies belonged to IgG2 subclasses and the binding site of these antibodies was located in the CH3 homology region.     

Human thyroglobulin autoantibodies of subclasses IgG2 and IgG4 bind to different epitopes on thyroglobulin

IgG autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (Tg) in the serum of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease only recognize a very limited number of epitopes, probably between four and six (Nye, Pontes De Carvalho & Roitt, 1980) on the large Tg molecule (660,000 MW), but attempts to characterize the epitopes have been unsuccessful so far (Male et al., 1985). The distribution of Tg autoantibodies between the IgG subclasses also tends to be restricted and individual patients possess characteristic 'fingerprints' of high affinity IgG1 and/or IgG4 Tg antibodies with smaller amounts of IgG2 Tg antibody (McLachlan et al., 1987, 1988). We have therefore investigated the possibility that Tg autoantibodies of different IgG subclasses interact with different epitopes on Tg.     

Expression of human IgG subclasses

Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) can be divided into four subclasses that are selectively expressed. For instance, carbohydrate antigens preferentially elicit IgG2 antibodies, whereas protein antigens usually elicit IgG1 and IgG3. Elucidating the biological basis of the selective expression of these IgG subclasses is important to our understanding immunodeficiencies and B lymphocyte development. To investigate clinical importance of IgG subclass deficiencies, a sensitive and specific assay has been developed for IgG subclasses using particle concentration fluorescence immunoassay. Preliminary clinical studies have already shown that infection-prone individuals often have selective IgG2 subclass deficiency. Normal levels of IgG2, however, do not rule out an immunodeficiency in the infection-prone individuals because some individuals have normal levels of IgG subclasses and are poorly responsive to antigens of bacteria. Based on animal studies, two contrasting models of B cell development have been advanced. One model of B cell development proposes a single lineage and proposes that a B cell can successively switch and produce any IgG subclass. The other model proposes multiple lineages and proposes that a B cell can express only some IgG subclasses. It has been found by us that anti-PC antibodies are mostly IgG2 with some IgG1, and that the V region of IgG1 anti-PC antibody is different from that of IgG2 antibody. Our finding, therefore, suggests that B cells producing anti-PC antibodies are progeny of not one ancestral B cell that has successively switched, but two independent ancestral B cells. Cellular studies using polyclonal activators also suggest that regulatory mechanisms for IgG1 and IgG3 are different from those of IgG2 and IgG4. Taken together, we favor the multi-lineage model better than the single lineage model of human B cell development.     

Interleukin-12 profoundly up-regulates the synthesis of antigen-specific complement-fixing IgG2a,IgG2b and IgG3 antibody subclasses in vivo

The influence of the cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12) on humoral immune responses was studied in vivo. CBA/J mice immunized with protein antigens (keyhole limpet hemocyanin, phospholipase A₂) adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide (Alum) develop a Th2-like immune response characterized by the production of large amounts of IgG1 as well as some IgE but little IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 antibodies. IL-12 is a cytokine that promotes the development and the activation of Th1 cells. Th1 cells are involved in the induction of cellular immunity, which is characterized by low or absent antibody production. On the other hand, some Th1-like immune responses are associated with a strong antibody production of the IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 subclasses. Thus, we investigated whether treatment with IL-12 would down-regulate the humoral immune response or stimulate antibody production of the IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 subclasses. We observed that: 1) administration of IL-12 to mice together with protein antigens adsorbed to Alum strongly enhanced the humoral immune response by increasing the synthesis of antigen-specific antibodies of the IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 subclasses 10- to 1000-fold. The synthesis of IgG1 was not or only slightly (2–5-fold) enhanced, whereas that of the IgE isotype was suppressed. 2) These effects of IL-12 were observed when high (10 μg, 100 μg) or low doses (0.1 μg) of antigen were used for immunization. 3) Titration of IL-12 in vitro revealed that IgG2a is strongly up-regulated over a wide dose range of IL-12 (10 to 1000 ng/day). 4) The effects of IL-12 in vivo are at least partially interferon (IFN)-γ-dependent because an anti-IFN-γ mAb in combination with IL-12 prevented most of the enhanced IgG2a production. 5) Mice receiving IL-12 showed a strong up-regulation of IFN-γ but no inhibition of IL-5 synthesis by spleen cells activated ex vivo with antigen. These results suggest that IL-12 is a potent adjuvant for enhancing humoral immunity to protein antigens adsorbed to Alum, primarily by inducing the synthesis of the complement-fixing IgG subclasses 2a, 2b and 3.     

Contribution of serotype-specific IgG concentration, IgG subclasses and relative antibody avidity to opsonophagocytic activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae

The contribution of serotype-specific IgG concentration, subclasses, and avidity to opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) against Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pnc) was evaluated in sera of adults and infants immunized with different pneumococcal vaccines. Antibody concentrations and avidities were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and OPAs by killing assay of Pnc. The most important factor contributing positively to OPA was the specific IgG level. In infants, a tendency to negative correlation was found between the concentration needed for killing of bacteria and avidity, suggesting that less antibodies of high rather than low avidity were required for killing. No such correlation was seen in adults. However, in adults the avidity was high already before vaccination and the variation was narrow. Thus, avidity was probably not a limiting factor influencing OPA. The effect of IgG2/IgG1 ratio on OPA was mostly negative but insignificant.     

A nonhuman primate model for the selective elimination of CD8+ lymphocytes using a mouse-human chimeric monoclonal antibody.

Nonhuman primates provide valuable animal models for human diseases. However, studies assessing the role of cell-mediated immune responses have been difficult to perform in nonhuman primates. We have shown that CD8+ lymphocyte-mediated immunity in rhesus monkeys can be selectively eliminated using the mouse-human chimeric anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody cM-T807. In vitro, this antibody completely blocked antigen-specific expansion of cytotoxic T cells and decreased major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted, antigen-specific lysis of target cells but did not mediate complement-dependent cell lysis. In vivo administration of cM-T807 in rhesus monkeys resulted in near total depletion of CD8+ T cells from the blood and lymph nodes for up to 6 weeks. This depletion was not solely complement-dependent and persisted longer in adults than in juveniles. Preservation of B cell and CD4+ T cell function in monkeys depleted of CD8+ lymphocytes was demonstrated by their ability to develop humoral immune responses to the administered chimeric monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, during CD8+ lymphocyte depletion, monkeys developed delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions comprised only of CD4+ T cells but not CD8+ T cells. This CD8+ lymphocyte depletion model should prove useful in defining the role of cell-mediated immune responses in controlling infectious diseases in nonhuman primates.     

Acetylcholine receptor antibody in myasthenia gravis: predominance of IgG subclasses 1 and 3

The concentrations of IgG subclass antibodies (Ab) to acetylcholine receptor (AchR) were quantified in 36 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) treated with pyridostigmine only, and in eight patients who underwent thymectomy, using an IgG subclass-specific immunoprecipitation assay. IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 subclass Ab to AchR were present in 100%, 33%, 64% and 39% of the pyridostigmine-treated patients, respectively. The concentration of IgG1 Ab increased significantly with disease severity as graded by the Osserman-Genkins classification (rs = 0.37, P less than 0.05). IgG1 and IgG3 subclass protein concentrations were significantly higher (P less than 0.0003) in the 36 pyridostigmine-treated MG patients than in 44 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Thymectomy induced an appreciable reduction in anti-AchR IgG1 concentration in two patients, whereas six patients showed no changes in Ab to AchR. The results support the hypothesis that binding of anti-AchR IgG1 and IgG3 on AchR in the neuromuscular junction followed by complement-mediated cell lysis or phagocytosis, may play a role in the pathogenesis of MG.