Properties and function of polyreactive antibodies and polyreactive antigen-binding B cells

Spontaneous production of immunoglobulin M in human epithelial cancer cells

It is well known that B-1 B cells are the main cell type that is responsible for the production of natural immunoglobulin M (IgM) and can respond to infection by increasing IgM secretion. However, we unexpectedly found that some epithelial cells also can express rearranged IgM transcript that has natural IgM characteristics, such as germline-encoded and restricted rearrangement patterns. Here we studied IgM expression in human non-B cells and found that IgM was frequently expressed by many human epithelial cancer cells as well as non-cancer epithelial cells. Moreover, CD79A and CD79B, two molecules that are physically linked to membranous IgM on the surface of B cells to form the B cell antigen receptor complex, were also expressed on the cell surface of epithelial cancer cells and co-located with IgM. Like the natural IgM, the epithelial cancer cell-derived IgM recognized a series of microbial antigens, such as single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA, lipopolysaccharide, and the HEp-2 cell antigen. More important, stimulation of the toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), which mimics bacterial infection, substantially increased the secretion of IgM in human epithelial cancer cells. These findings indicate that human epithelial cancer cells as well as non-cancer epithelial cells can spontaneously produce IgM with natural antibody activity.

Human milk sIgA molecules contain various combinations of different antigen-binding sites resulting in a multiple binding specificity of antibodies and enzymatic activities of abzymes

In the classic paradigm, immunoglobulins are monospecific molecules that have stable structures and two or more identical antigen-binding sites. However, we show here for the first time that the sIgA pool of human milk contains, depending on the donor, only 35±5% λ-sIgAs, 48±7% κ-sIgAs, and 17±4% of chimeric λ-κ-sIgAs. sIgA preparations contained no traces of canonical enzymes. However, all sIgA fractions eluted from several specific affinity sorbents under the conditions destroying even strong immune complexes demonstrated high catalytic activities in hydrolysis of ATP, DNA, and oligosaccharides, and phosphorylation of proteins, lipids, and oligosaccharides. Sequential re-chromatographies of the sIgA fractions with high affinity to one affinity sorbents on the second, third and then fourth affinity sorbents bearing other immobilized antigens led to the distribution of Abs and all catalytic activities all over the profiles of these chromatographies; in all cases some fractions eluted from affinity sorbents only under the conditions destroying strong immune complexes. In vitro, only an addition of reduced glutathione and milk plasma containing no Abs to two sIgA fractions with different affinity for DNA-cellulose led to a transition of up to 11–20% of Ab from one fraction to the other. Our data are indicative of the possibility of half-molecule exchange between different IgA and sIgA molecules. In addition, it cannot be excluded that during the penetration of IgAs through the specific milk barrier, the secretory component (S) and the join chain (J) can combine molecules of dimeric H₂L₂ λ-IgAs and κ-IgAs against different antigens forming many different variants of H₄L₄SJ sIgA molecules. Therefore, some chimeric molecules of sIgA can contain from two to four HL-fragments to various antigens interacting with high affinity with different sorbents and catalyzing various chemical reactions. Our data essentially expand the ideas concerning explanation of the phenomenon of polyspecificity and cross-reactivity of Abs.

Human milk IgGs contain various combinations of different antigen-binding sites resulting in multiple variants of their bispecificity

In the classic paradigm, immunoglobulins represent products of clonal B cell populations, each producing antibodies (Abs) recognizing a single antigen. There is a common belief that IgGs in mammalian biological fluids are monovalent molecules having stable structures and two identical antigen-binding sites. However, human milk IgGs to different antigens undergo extensive half-molecule exchange. In the IgGs pool, only 33±5% and 13±5% of Abs contained light chains exclusively of kappa- or lambda-type, respectively, while 54±10% of the IgGs contained both kappa- and lambda- light chains. All Ab preparations contained different amounts of IgGs of all four subclasses. Interestingly, lambda-IgGs contained an increased amount of IgG2 (87%) and only 3–6% of each of IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4, while kappa-IgGs consisted of comparable (17–32%) amounts of all IgG subtypes. Chimeric kappa-lambda-IgGs consisted of ∼74% IgG1, ∼16% IgG2, ∼5% IgG3 and ∼5% IgG4. As the result of the exchange, all IgG fractions eluted from several specific affinity sorbents under the conditions destroying strong immunocomplexes demonstrated high catalytic activities in hydrolysis of ATP, DNA, oligosaccharides, phosphorylation of proteins, lipids, and oligosaccharides. In vitro, an addition of reduced glutathione and milk plasma to two IgG fractions with different affinity for DNA-cellulose led to a transition of 25–60% of Ab of one fraction to the other fraction. Our data are indicative of the possibility of half-molecule exchange between milk IgGs of various subclasses, raised against different antigens (including abzymes), which explains the polyspecificity and cross-reactivity of these IgGs.

Expansion of polyreactive B cells cross-reactive to HLA and self in the blood of a patient with kidney graft rejection

Antibody rejection is often accompanied by nondonor HLA specific antibodies (NDSA) and self-reactive antibodies that develop alongside donor-specific antibodies (DSA). To determine the source of these antibodies, we immortalized 107 B-cell clones from a kidney transplant recipient with humoral rejection. Two of these clones reacted to HLA class I or MICA. Both clones were also reactive to self-antigens and a lysate of a kidney cell line, hence revealing a pattern of polyreactivity. Monoclonality was verified by the identification of a single rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (VH) sequence for each clone. By tracking their unique CDR3 sequence, we found that one such polyreactive clone was highly expanded in the patient blood, representing ~0.2% of circulating B cells. The VH sequence of this clone showed evidence of somatic mutations that were consistent with its memory phenotype and its expansion. Lastly, the reactivity of the expanded polyreactive B-cell clone was found in the patient serum at time of rejection. In conclusion, we provide here proof of principle at the clonal level that human antibodies can cross-react to HLA and self. Our findings strongly suggest that polyreactive antibodies contribute to DSA, NDSA as well as autoantibodies, in transplant recipients.

High-affinity binding of remyelinating natural autoantibodies to myelin-mimicking lipid bilayers revealed by nanohole surface plasmon resonance

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive neurological disorder that results in the degradation of myelin sheaths that insulate axons in the central nervous system. Therefore promotion of myelin repair is a major thrust of multiple sclerosis treatment research. Two mouse monoclonal natural autoantibodies, O1 and O4, promote myelin repair in several mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Natural autoantibodies are generally polyreactive and predominantly of the IgM isotype. The prevailing paradigm is that because they are polyreactive, these antibodies bind antigens with low affinities. Despite their wide use in neuroscience and glial cell research, however, the affinities and kinetic constants of O1 and O4 antibodies have not been measured to date. In this work, we developed a membrane biosensing platform based on surface plasmon resonance in gold nanohole arrays with a series of surface modification techniques to form myelin-mimicking lipid bilayer membranes to measure both the association and dissociation rate constants for O1 and O4 antibodies binding to their myelin lipid antigens. The ratio of rate constants shows that O1 and O4 bind to galactocerebroside and sulfated galactocerebroside, respectively, with unusually small apparent dissociation constants (K(D) ≈ 0.9 nM) for natural autoantibodies. This is approximately one to 2 orders of magnitude lower than typically observed for the highest affinity natural autoantibodies. We propose that the unusually high affinity of O1 and O4 to their targets in myelin contributes to the mechanism by which they signal oligodendrocytes and induce central nervous system repair.

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection breaks tolerance and drives polyclonal expansion of autoreactive B cells

Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been linked with B cell lymphoproliferative disorders and several autoimmune-related diseases. The mechanisms of how chronic viral infection affects B cell development and predisposes the patients to autoimmune manifestations are poorly understood. In this study, we established an experimental system to probe the B cell responses and characterize the antibodies from chronic-HCV-infected individuals. We identified an unusual polyclonal expansion of the IgM memory B cell subset in some patients. This B cell subset is known to be tightly regulated, and autoreactive cells are eliminated by tolerance mechanisms. Genetic analysis of the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain variable gene (V(H)) sequences of the expanded cell population showed that the levels of somatic hypermutation (SHM) correlate with the extent of cell expansion in the patients and that the V(H) genes exhibit signs of antigen-mediated selection. Functional analysis of the cloned B cell receptors demonstrated autoreactivity in some of the expanded IgM memory B cells in the patients which is not found in healthy donors. In summary, this study demonstrated that, in some patients, chronic HCV infection disrupts the tolerance mechanism that normally deletes autoreactive B cells, therefore increasing the risk of developing autoimmune antibodies. Long-term follow-up of this expanded B cell subset within the infected individuals will help determine whether these cells are predictors of more-serious clinical manifestations.

Polyreactive antibodies in adaptive immune responses to viruses

B cells express immunoglobulins on their surface where they serve as antigen receptors. When secreted as antibodies, the same molecules are key elements of the humoral immune response against pathogens such as viruses. Although most antibodies are restricted to binding a specific antigen, some are polyreactive and have the ability to bind to several different ligands, usually with low affinity. Highly polyreactive antibodies are removed from the repertoire during B-cell development by physiologic tolerance mechanisms including deletion and receptor editing. However, a low level of antibody polyreactivity is tolerated and can confer additional binding properties to pathogen-specific antibodies. For example, high-affinity human antibodies to HIV are frequently polyreactive. Here we review the evidence suggesting that in the case of some pathogens like HIV, polyreactivity may confer a selective advantage to pathogen-specific antibodies.

A novel molecular analysis of genes encoding catalytic antibodies

Among the numerous questions remaining opened about catalytic antibodies (abzymes), the understanding of the origin of the genes encoding them is of vital significance. An original statistical analysis of genes encoding abzymes is described in the present report. Results suggested that these genes display a high conservation degree with their germline counterpart and a limited number of amino acid changes. Hence, on the contrary with high-affinity antibodies, maturation process by accumulation of somatic hypermutations is not required for the catalytic function. We demonstrated that despite a weak somatic mutation rate, the physicochemical properties of mutated amino acid (AA) are predominantly dissimilar with that of the germline AA. Further, we developed a novel approach in order to analyze the nature of genes encoding catalytic antibodies. For the first time, an unexpected and significant high level expression of rare gene subgroups was noticed and emphasized. The data described in this paper would lay the foundation for future studies about origin of genes encoding catalytic antibodies.

Plasmodium riboprotein PfP0 induces a deviant humoral immune response in Balb/c mice

Passive immunization with antibodies to recombinant Plasmodium falciparum P0 riboprotein (rPfP0, 61–316 amino acids) provides protection against malaria. Carboxy-terminal 16 amino acids of the protein (PfP0C0) are conserved and show 69% identity to human and mouse P0. Antibodies to this domain are found in 10–15% of systemic lupus erythematosus patients. We probed the nature of humoral response to PfP0C0 by repeatedly immunizing mice with rPfP0. We failed to raise stable anti-PfP0C0 hybridomas from any of the 21 mice. The average serum anti-PfP0C0 titer remained low (5.1 ± 1.3 × 10⁴). Pathological changes were observed in the mice after seven boosts. Adsorption with dinitrophenyl hapten revealed that the anti-PfP0C0 response was largely polyreactive. This polyreactivity was distributed across all isotypes. Similar polyreactive responses to PfP0 and PfP0C0 were observed in sera from malaria patients. Our data suggests that PfP0 induces a deviant humoral response, and this may contribute to immune evasion mechanisms of the parasite.

IgM and its receptors: structural and functional aspects

This review combines the data obtained before the beginning of the 1990s with results published during the last two decades. The predominant form of the IgM molecule is a closed ring composed of five 7S subunits and a J chain. The new model of spatial structure of the pentamer postulates nonplanar mushroom-shaped form of the molecule with the plane formed by a radially-directed Fab regions and central protruding portion consisting of Cµ4 domains. Up to the year 2000 the only known Fc-receptor for IgM was pIgR. Interaction of IgM with pIgR results in secretory IgM formation, whose functions are poorly studied. The receptor designated as Fcα/µR is able to bind IgM and IgA. It is expressed on lymphocytes, follicular dendritic cells, and macrophages. A receptor binding IgM only named FcµR has also been described. It is expressed on T- and B-lymphocytes. The discovery of new Fc-receptors for IgM requires revision of notions that interactions between humoral reactions involving IgM and the cells of the immune system are mediated exclusively by complement receptors. In the whole organism, apart from IgM induced by immunization, natural antibodies (NA) are present and comprise in adults a considerable part of the circulating IgM. NA are polyreactive, germ-line-encoded, and emerge during embryogenesis without apparent antigenic stimuli. They demonstrate a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity and serve as first line of defense against microbial and viral infections. NA may be regarded as a transitional molecular form from invariable receptors of innate immunity to highly diverse receptors of adaptive immunity. By means of interaction with autoantigens, NA participate in maintenance of immunological tolerance and in clearance of dying cells. At the same time, NA may act as a pathogenic factor in atherosclerotic lesion formation and in development of tissue damage due to ischemia/reperfusion.

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma with VH1-02 gene rearrangement expresses poly- and self-reactive antibodies with similar reactivity

One-third of all splenic marginal zone lymphomas (SMZL) use the IgH VH1-02 gene. These cases are usually not associated with hepatitis C virus infection. Of interest, the rearranged VH1-02 genes display similar complementarity determining regions 3, a finding confirmed by our study. The latter suggests that these SMZL may produce antibodies with similar reactivity. We produced recombinant antibodies from 5 SMZL cases with VH1-02 gene rearrangement to study the binding reactivity of these antibodies. Surprisingly, the recombinant antibodies demonstrated poly- and self-reactivity as demonstrated by their reactivity with nuclear, cytoplasmic, as well as membranous antigens expressed by human cells and by reactivity with human serum. This polyreactivity was specific as demonstrated by ELISA. The antibodies did not react with proteins on the cell surface that are induced by apoptosis as shown for antibodies produced by chronic lymphatic leukemia with VH1-02 gene rearrangement. The results indicate that a common subset of SMZL arises from polyreactive B cells, a subset of marginal zone B cells that are important in the immunologic defense against infection.

Antigen-specific enhancement of natural human IgG antibodies to phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate, cholesterol, and lipid A by a liposomal vaccine containing lipid A

Natural IgG antibodies (NA) to lipids are ubiquitously distributed in sera of healthy humans and are believed to serve beneficial functions. Although NA to lipids generally exhibit germ line or near germ line binding specificities, the antibodies commonly increase transiently in the acute phases of most, if not all, infectious diseases and may serve as a first line of defense. In order to determine whether similar anti-lipid antibodies can be induced by a vaccine in humans, we examined stored sera obtained from volunteers who had previously received a candidate vaccine to Plasmodium falciparum. The vaccine had consisted of liposomes that contained both the recombinant protein antigen and also contained monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) as an adjuvant. All of the pre-immune sera contained NA to one or more of the liposomal lipids in the vaccine: dimyristol phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG), cholesterol, and MPLA. After initial immunization, followed by a boost, increased levels of IgG antibodies to all of the liposomal lipids, especially DMPG and MPLA, were observed by ELISA. Antibodies to phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP) above the normal pre-immune NA to PIP were also observed. Although PIP was not present in the immunizing liposomes, based on the adsorption of anti-PIP antibodies by DMPG the anti-PIP antibodies were thought to represent cross-reacting anti-DMPG antibodies. The immune response was apparently antigen-specific in that NA to unrelated lipids, other than PIP, that were not present in the liposomes, galactosyl ceramide and ganglioside GM1, were not increased by the immunization. We conclude that antibodies to DMPC, DMPG, PIP, cholesterol, and MPLA can be induced in humans by immunization with liposomes containing MPLA.

Antibodies reactive to non-HLA antigens in transplant glomerulopathy

Although T and B cell alloimmunity contribute to transplant injury, autoimmunity directed at kidney-expressed, non-HLA antigens may also participate. Because the specificity, prevalence, and importance of antibodies to non-HLA antigens in late allograft injury are poorly characterized, we used a protein microarray to compare antibody repertoires in pre- and post-transplant sera from several cohorts of patients with and without transplant glomerulopathy. Transplantation routinely induced changes in antibody repertoires, but we did not identify any de novo non-HLA antibodies common to patients with transplant glomerulopathy. The screening studies identified three reactivities present before transplantation that persisted after transplant and strongly associated with transplant glomerulopathy. ELISA confirmed that reactivity against peroxisomal-trans-2-enoyl-coA-reductase strongly associated with the development of transplant glomerulopathy in independent validation sets. In addition to providing insight into effects of transplantation on non-HLA antibody repertoires, these results suggest that pretransplant serum antibodies to peroxisomal-trans-2-enoyl-coA-reductase may predict prognosis in kidney transplantation.

Identification of mono- or poly-specific monoclonal antibody to Porphyromonas gingivalis heat-shock protein 60

Purpose

The aim of this study was to define the immunoreactive specificity of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) heat shock protein (HSP) 60 in periodontitis and atherosclerosis.

Methods

In an attempt to define the cross-reactive bacterial heat-shock protein with human self-antigen at molecular level, we have introduced a novel strategy for cloning hybridoma producing anti-P. gingivalis HSP 60 which is polyreactive to bacterial HSPs or to the human homolog.

Results

Five cross-reactive clones were obtained which recognized the #19 peptide (TLVVNRLRGSLKICAVKAPG) among 37 synthetic peptides (20-mer, 5 amino acids overlapping) spanning the whole molecule of P. gingivalis HSP 60. We have also established three anti-P. gingivalis HSP 60 monoclonal antibodies demonstrating mono-specificity. These clones recognized the #29 peptide (TVPGGGTTYIRAIAALEGLK).

Conclusions

Peptide #19 and #29 of P. gingivalis HSP 60 might be important immunoreactive epitopes in the immunopathogenic mechanism of bacterial antigen-triggered autoimmune diseases.

Wide prevalence of heterosubtypic broadly neutralizing human anti-influenza A antibodies

BACKGROUND

Lack of life-long immunity against influenza viruses represents a major global health care problem with profound medical and economic consequences. A greater understanding of the broad-spectrum "heterosubtypic" neutralizing human antibody (BnAb) response to influenza should bring us closer toward a universal influenza vaccine.

METHODS

Serum samples obtained from 77 volunteers in an H5N1 vaccine study were analyzed for cross-reactive antibodies (Abs) against both subtype hemagglutinins (HAs) and a highly conserved pocket on the HA stem of Group 1 viruses. Cross-reactive Abs in commercial intravenous immunoglobulin were affinity purified using H5-coupled beads followed by step-wise monoclonal antibody competition or acid elution. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to quantify cross-binding, and neutralization activity was determined with HA-pseudotyped viruses.

RESULTS

Prevaccination serum samples have detectable levels of heterosubtypic HA binding activity to both Group 1 and 2 influenza A viruses, including subtypes H5 and H7, respectively, to which study subjects had not been vaccinated. Two different populations of Broadly neutralizing Abs (BnAbs) were purified from intravenous immunoglobulin by H5 beads: ~0.01% of total immunoglobulin G can bind to HAs from both Group 1 and 2 and neutralize H1N1 and H5N1 viruses; ~0.001% is F10-like Abs directed against the HA stem pocket on Group 1 viruses.

CONCLUSION

These data--to our knowledge, for the first time--quantitatively show the presence, albeit at low levels, of two populations of heterosubtypic BnAbs against influenza A in human serum. These observations warrant further investigation to determine their origin, host polymorphism(s) that may affect their expression levels and how to boost these BnAb responses by vaccination to reach sustainable protective levels.

Identification of immunoreactive epitopes of the Porphyromonas gingivalis heat shock protein in periodontitis and atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, might be a trigger molecule linking infectious periodontitis and autoimmune atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to identify the peptide specificity of anti-P. gingivalis HSP60 monoclonal antibodies and their cross-reactivity with bacterial and human HSPs. Their specific immunoreactivity to periodontal or atherosclerotic lesions was also investigated.

METHODS

Twenty patients with chronic periodontitis and 20 atherosclerosis patients who had undergone surgical intervention for atheromatous plaques with evidence of ongoing periodontal disease, were selected. Synthetic peptide 19 ((TLVVNRLRGSLKICAVKAPG)-specific T-cell lines were established from inflamed gingiva and atheromatous plaque and the phenotypes and cytokine profiles were characterized.

RESULTS

Thirty per cent of periodontitis patients and 100% of atherosclerosis patients reacted positively to cross-reactive peptide 19 from both P. gingivalis and human HSP60. The peptide 19-specific T-cell lines demonstrated the phenotype characteristic of helper T cells (CD4(+)) but did not express CD25 or FOXP3. The interleukin-10 levels were elevated significantly in the peptide 19 T-cell line.

CONCLUSION

Synthetic peptide 19 of P. gingivalis HSP60 is an immunoreactive epitope in the periodontitis-atherosclerosis axis.

Autoantibodies: Focus on anti-DNA antibodies

Ever since the days of Ehrlich and the birth of humoral immunity, self-reactivity or 'horror autotoxicus' as referred to by Paul Ehrlich, has been of great concern. For instance, in patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), anti-nuclear and anti-DNA antibodies have been recognized for many years. Despite this, the exact mechanism as to how the immune system fails to protect the individual and allows these autoantibodies to develop in this and other systemic autoimmune diseases remains uncertain. So how can we explain their presence? Evidence suggests that B cells expressing autoreactive antibodies do not normally arise but rather undergo negative selection as they develop. In light of this, it might seem contradictory that not all autoreactive B cell clones are eliminated, although this may not even be the intention since autoantibodies are also found in healthy individuals and may even protect from autoimmunity. Here, we will discuss autoantibodies, in particular those recognizing DNA, with regard to their reactivity and their potentially pathogenic or protective properties.

Interferon-beta increases systemic BAFF levels in multiple sclerosis without increasing autoantibody production

BACKGROUND

Treatment with interferon-beta (IFN-beta) increases B-cell activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) expression in multiple sclerosis (MS), raising the concern that treatment of MS patients with IFN-beta may activate autoimmune B cells and stimulate the production of MS-associated autoantibodies.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether BAFF levels are associated with disease severity/activity in untreated MS patients, and to assess the effect of IFN-beta therapy on circulating BAFF and anti-myelin basic protein (MBP) autoantibody levels.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) were followed longitudinally from initiation of IFN-beta therapy. Their blood levels of BAFF correlated positively at baseline with the expanded disability status scale (p<0.009) and MS severity score (p<0.05), but not with disease activity as determined by the number of gadolinium-enhanced lesions. The patients were followed for up to 26 months, during which the BAFF levels remained elevated without association to increased disease activity. IFN-beta therapy caused an increase in plasma BAFF levels after both 3 and 6 months of therapy (p<0.002). However, an 11% decrease in IgM and a 33% decrease in IgG anti-MBP autoantibodies (p<0.09 and p<0.009, respectively) was observed after 6 months.

CONCLUSION

Pre-treatment BAFF levels correlate with high disability scores in MS, suggesting that high BAFF expression is a negative prognostic marker. Despite its known beneficial effects, IFN-beta therapy causes a sustained increase in plasma BAFF levels, which does not translate into increased levels of anti-MBP autoantibodies.

Exploring antibody recognition of sequence space through random-sequence peptide microarrays

A universal platform for efficiently mapping antibody epitopes would be of great use for many applications, ranging from antibody therapeutic development to vaccine design. Here we tested the feasibility of using a random peptide microarray to map antibody epitopes. Although peptide microarrays are physically constrained to ∼10(4) peptides per array, compared with 10(8) permitted in library panning approaches such as phage display, they enable a much more high though put and direct measure of binding. Long (20 mer) random sequence peptides were chosen for this study to look at an unbiased sampling of sequence space. This sampling of sequence space is sparse, as an exact epitope sequence is unlikely to appear. Commercial monoclonal antibodies with known linear epitopes or polyclonal antibodies raised against engineered 20-mer peptides were used to evaluate this array as an epitope mapping platform. Remarkably, peptides with the most sequence similarity to known epitopes were only slightly more likely to be recognized by the antibody than other random peptides. We explored the ability of two methods singly and in combination to predict the actual epitope from the random sequence peptides bound. Though the epitopes were not directly evident, subtle motifs were found among the top binding peptides for each antibody. These motifs did have some predictive ability in searching for the known epitopes among a set of decoy sequences. The second approach using a windowing alignment strategy, was able to score known epitopes of monoclonal antibodies well within the test dataset, but did not perform as well on polyclonals. Random peptide microarrays of even limited diversity may serve as a useful tool to prioritize candidates for epitope mapping or antigen identification.

Older adults have a low capacity to opsonize pneumococci due to low IgM antibody response to pneumococcal vaccinations

Since the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) is less effective for older adults than for young adults, it is important to investigate the immunologic basis for the reduced efficacy of PPV23 among older adults. We determined the effectiveness of PPV23 among young (n = 55) and older (n = 44) adults by measuring the serum IgG, IgM, and IgA concentrations and opsonic capacities against serotypes 14, 18C, and 23F. While young and older adults showed no difference in levels of IgG antibodies against pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPS), older adults had lower IgA and IgM antibody levels than young adults for all three serotypes. In both age groups, anti-PPS IgA or IgM antibody levels were much lower than anti-PPS IgG antibody levels. Young adults showed higher opsonic capacities than older adults for serotypes 14 and 23F. In order to determine the effects of anti-PPS IgA or IgM antibodies on the functional difference between young and older adults, anti-PPS IgA or IgM antibodies were removed from immune sera by affinity chromatography. The difference in opsonic capacity between young and older adults disappeared for serotypes 14 and 23F (but not for serotype 18C) when IgM antibody was removed. However, there was no significant difference between the two age groups when IgA antibody was removed. In conclusion, even though anti-PPS IgG antibody levels are high compared with anti-PPS IgM antibody levels, the low levels of anti-PPS IgM antibody alone can explain the functional difference observed between young and older adults immunized with PPV23 with regard to some pneumococcal serotypes.

Idiotype, anti-idiotype network of autoantibodies: pathogenetic considerations and clinical application

A common serologic finding in autoimmune diseases is the presence of autoantibodies against intracellular autoantigens. Recent data suggest that an anti-idiotypic network exists in these diseases, regulating the production of autoantibodies (idiotypic response). The anti-idiotypic antibodies can be monitored using complementary epitopes, designed according to the “molecular recognition” theory. The role of antiidiotypic antibodies in neonatal lupus and type 1 diabetes are discussed. In neonatal lupus, mothers with high anti-idiotypic antibody activity against anti-La autoantibodies are at lower risk of giving birth to an un-healthy child, as compared with mothers without anti-idiotypic antibodies. Similarly,the lack of particular anti-idiotypic antibodies against anti-GAD65 autoantibodies predispose in type 1 diabetes. These findings imply that antiidiotypic antibodies may confer protection from the harmful effect of autoantibodies in certain autoimmune diseases [corrected].

Gastric MALT lymphoma B cells express polyreactive, somatically mutated immunoglobulins

Gastric B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) arises against a background of chronic inflammation caused by persistent Helicobacter pylori infection. The clinical and histopathologic features of the human tumor can be reproduced by Helicobacter infection of BALB/c mice. In this study, we have analyzed the antibody sequences and antigen specificity of a panel of murine and human MALT lymphoma-derived antibodies. We find that a majority of tumors in patients as well as experimentally infected mice are monoclonal. The tumor immunoglobulin heavy chain genes have undergone somatic hypermutation, and approximately half of all tumors show evidence of intraclonal variation and positive and/or negative selective pressure. Recombinantly expressed MALT lymphoma antibodies bind with intermediate affinity to various unrelated self- and foreign antigens, including Helicobacter sonicate, immunoglobulin G (IgG), DNA, and stomach extract; antigen binding is blocked in a dose-dependent manner in competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. A strong bias toward the use of V(H) gene segments previously linked to autoantibodies and/or polyreactive antibodies in B-cell malignancies or autoimmune pathologies supports the experimental finding of polyreactivity. Our results suggest that MALT lymphoma development may be facilitated by an array of local self- and foreign antigens, providing direct antigenic stimulation of the tumor cells via their B-cell receptor.

B-1 cells and naturally occurring antibodies: influencing the immunogenicity of recombinant human therapeutic proteins?

Recombinant human therapeutic proteins are increasingly being used to treat serious and life-threatening diseases like multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. An important side effect of these proteins is the development of antidrug antibodies, which can be neutralizing and thus interfere with the efficacy and safety of the drug. Some biophysical properties, for example, aggregation, also can initiate the immunogenic response to human therapeutics. Many other factors including patients' characteristics may influence this response. Besides induced antibodies, autoantibodies (i.e. naturally occurring antibodies [NAs]) against therapeutic relevant proteins in naïve patients are increasingly being identified. The role of autoreactive B cells and their escape from deletion, production of NAs and their pivotal function in the immune system, the dualistic role of B-1 cells in autoimmunity, and the influence of NAs on disease outcome and their possible impact on the efficacy of human therapeutics will be presented and discussed.

Polyreactive antibodies in multidonor-derived immunoglobulin G: theory and conclusions drawn from experiments

Multidonor-derived (md) preparations of IgG antibodies, agents of therapeutic potential, contain molecules interacting at clonal concentrations (concns) and with affinities recently estimated to cover a considerable range. Here we demonstrate that polyreactivity of the monomeric molecules represents the essential driving force of formation of the main reaction product, the IgG-dimers. This conclusion is obtained by applying the principles of the law of mass action to dimer formation by polyreactive monomeric reactants. In addition, general interrelationships involving the mean number of reactants per reactor, the experimental dimer portion (w/w) and the mean concentrations of monomers in a polyreactive and monoreactive antibody system are derived. These interrelationships, together with quantitative results obtained from simplified computational kinetic models of polyreactive antibodies, allow to estimate a remarkably high value for the mean number of reactants per reactor, exceeding 60 for the underlying IgG preparation obtained from pooled human plasma units of 5000 donors. Moreover, the potential origin and other consequences of polyreactivity are outlined.

Covalent binding antibodies suppress advanced glycation: on the innate tier of adaptive immunity

Non-enzymatic protein glycation is a source of metabolic stress that contributes to cytotoxicity and tissue damage. Hyperglycemia has been linked to elevation of advanced glycation endproducts, which mediate much of the vascular pathology leading to diabetic complications. Enhanced glycation of immunoglobulins and their accelerated vascular clearance is proposed as a natural mechanism to intercept alternative advanced glycation endproducts, thereby mitigating microvascular disease. We reported that antibodies against the glycoprotein KLH have elevated reactivity for glycopeptides from diabetic serum. These reactions are mediated by covalent binding between antibody light chains and carbonyl groups of glycated peptides. Diabetic animals that were immunized to induce reactive antibodies had attenuated diabetic nephropathy, which correlated with reduced levels of circulating and kidney-bound glycation products. Molecular analysis of antibody glycation revealed the preferential modification of light chains bearing germline-encoded lambda V regions. We previously noted that antibody fragments carrying V regions in the germline configuration are selected from a human Fv library by covalent binding to a reactive organophosphorus ester. These Fv fragments were specifically modified at light chain V region residues, which map to the combining site at the interface between light and heavy chains. These findings suggest that covalent binding is an innate property of antibodies, which may be encoded in the genome for specific physiological purposes. This hypothesis is discussed in context with current knowledge of the natural antibodies that recognize altered self molecules and the catalytic autoantibodies found in autoimmune disease.

IgM in microbial infections: taken for granted?

Much has been learned about the structure, function, and production of IgM, since the antibody's initial characterization. It is widely accepted that IgM provides a first line of defense during microbial infections, prior to the generation of adaptive, high-affinity IgG responses that are important for long-lived immunity and immunological memory. Although IgM responses are commonly used as a measure of exposure to infectious diseases, it is perhaps surprising that the role of and requirement for IgM in many microbial infections has not been well explored in vivo. This is in part due to the lack of capabilities, until relatively recently, to evaluate the requirement for IgM in the absence of coincident IgG responses. Such evaluations are now possible, using gene-targeted mouse strains that produce only IgM, or isotype-switched IgG. A number of studies have revealed that IgM, produced either innately, or in response to antigen challenge, plays an important and perhaps under appreciated role in many microbial infections. Moreover, the characterization of the roles of various B cell subsets, in the production of IgM, and in host defense, has revealed important and divergent roles for B-1a and B-1b cells. This review will highlight studies in which IgM, in its own right, has been found to play an important role, not only in early immunity, but also in long-term protection, against a variety of microbial pathogens. Observations that long-lived IgM responses can be generated in vivo suggest that it may be feasible to target IgM production as part of vaccination strategies.

Infections and the antiphospholipid syndrome

Currently, the origin of autoimmune diseases is considered to be multifactorial. Genetic predisposition, immune system malfunction or even backfire, hormonal regulation, and environmental factors, i.e. infections, all play important roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). New drugs and strategies aimed at preventing infections could further improve the outcome of APS and other autoimmune diseases.

Changes of circulating antibody levels induced by ABO antibody adsorption for ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation

ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation using immunoadsorption to remove anti-A/B antibodies has become a successful clinical practice. Since the data on the specificity of the ABO columns are controversial, the present study assessed the efficiency and specificity of the ABO immunoadsorption, the effect on total immunoglobulins and antibodies previously induced by vaccination. Anti-A/B antibodies were measured by agglutination and ABO flow cytometry, total IgG/IgM, carbohydrate- and protein-specific antibodies by nephelometry and ELISA. The first immunoadsorption not only efficiently reduced donor-specific anti-A/B IgM (81%) and IgG (56%) but also reduced compatible anti-A/B IgM (59%) and IgG (34%). The measurements of antidonor A/B antibodies by direct agglutination (IgM) or flow cytometry better represented the effective antibody levels than the indirect agglutination test (IgG). The median reduction of total IgM and total IgG levels after a single immunoadsorption was 34% and 18%, respectively. Antibodies against pneumococcus and haemophilus polysaccharide antigens were significantly reduced, whereas antitetanus and antidiphtheria protein antibodies were not affected. Intravenous immunoglobulin administration restored the protective anticarbohydrate antibody levels. In summary, immunoadsorption efficiently removed antidonor A/B antibodies, but was not specific for A/B antigens. Anti-A/B antibody levels as determined by ABO flow cytometry are useful to establish the minimal number of immunoadsorptions needed for successful ABO-incompatible transplantation.

Polyreactive autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus have pathogenic potential

The present study was undertaken to determine whether germline encoded and polyreactive antibodies might be pathogenic and whether the breach of early tolerance checkpoints in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) might lead to a population of B cells expressing germline encoded antibodies that become pathogenic merely by class switching to IgG in a pro-inflammatory milieu. We demonstrate here that IgM, DNA-reactive antibodies obtained from lupus patients that are unmutated and display polyreactivity can bind to isolated glomeruli and exhibit neurotoxic potential. Thus, the IgM polyreactive repertoire in SLE includes antibodies that may acquire pathogenic function merely by undergoing class-switch recombination to become IgG antibodies.

Crosstalk of liver, bile ducts and the gut

A complex interplay of liver, bile ducts, and the gut critically determines functioning of these organs in health and disease. Biochemical and physiological aspects of their interaction and the role of inflammatory cells, cytokines, bile acids, visceral hormones, neuropeptides and other messengers in the pathogenesis of model immune-mediated hepatobiliary disorders are discussed in the actual issue of Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology. Potential molecular targets for future therapeutic approaches are also addressed.

[Targeting B cells in multiple sclerosis. Current concepts and strategies]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating autoimmune disease of the CNS and a leading cause of lasting neurological disability in younger adults. In the last decade our knowledge of its immunopathogenesis expanded vastly. It is now widely appreciated that B cells are key players in the autoreactive immune network. They exert far more functions than merely being the precursors of antibody-producing plasma cells. B cells act as efficient antigen-presenting cells and may stimulate an autoreactive immune response through secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. It is thus only logical to test therapeutic strategies targeting B cells in MS. Rituximab is a depleting chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against CD20 and expressed on developing, naïve, and memory B cells but not stem or plasma cells. Several smaller studies have been conducted that led to a placebo controlled, double blind phase II study on efficacy which was reported recently. The results are very promising, meeting not only the primary endpoint of reduction of the surrogate MRI marker of contrast-enhancing lesions but also showing a reduction in clinical relapse rate of patients treated with rituximab. This review discusses the role of autoreactive B cells in the context of MS, analyzes the B-cell-depleting treatment studies reported, and provides information on planned and future B-cell-directed therapeutic strategies in MS.

Clearance of adenovirus by Kupffer cells is mediated by scavenger receptors, natural antibodies, and complement

Kupffer cells (KCs) rapidly remove intravenously injected adenovirus (Ad) vectors from the circulation. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved could suggest strategies to improve Ad gene delivery by suppressing or evading KC uptake. We recently showed that clearance of Ad type 5 vectors by KCs does not involve the interaction of Ad with the well-established Ad receptors, namely, integrins or the coxsackievirus and Ad receptor (J. S. Smith, Z. Xu, J. Tian, S. C. Stevenson, and A. P. Byrnes, Hum. Gene Ther. 19:547-554, 2008). In the current study, we systematically quantified the contributions of various receptors and plasma proteins to the clearance of Ad by KCs. We found that scavenger receptors are a predominant mechanism for the clearance of Ad by KCs. In addition, we found that Ad is opsonized by natural immunoglobulin M antibodies and complement and that these opsonins play a contributory role in the clearance of Ad by KCs. We also examined additional mechanisms that have been postulated to be involved in the clearance of Ad, including the binding of Ad to platelets and vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors, but we found that neither of these were required for the clearance of Ad by KCs.

Animal models of primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is well known as a disease that predominantly affects women and has been hitherto only described in humans. The absence of an animal model has significantly impaired research into both etiology and treatment. However, in the past 2 years, several spontaneous and two induced models of PBC were described. This article reviews the data on these animal models and places it in the perspective of human PBC and generic autoimmunity.

The immunoglobulin constant region contributes to affinity and specificity

A central dogma in immunology is that antibody specificity is solely the result of variable (V)-region interactions with an antigen. However, this view is not tenable in light of numerous reports that constant heavy (C(H)) domains can affect binding affinity and specificity and V-region structure. Kinetic and thermodynamic proof for the occurrence of this phenomenon is now available. C(H)-region effects on affinity and specificity suggest new mechanisms for generating antibody diversity and polyreactivity (multispecificity) that impact current views on idiotype regulation, autoimmunity, and B cell selection and change our understanding of vaccine responses.

Naturally occurring B-cell autoreactivity: A critical overview

In over one century of research in immunology marked progress in the scientific knowledge and the implications derived from it has been made. At the same time several contradictory and seemingly opposing results have been obtained. The term autoimmunity is still conceived by many as a term directly related to an immunopathological state. However, strong evidence exist that not only the immune system is able to recognize self-constituents, but it appears also that this property is essential for homeostasis. Direct or indirect alterations of such self-recognition properties of the immune system may contribute to pathology. In this review, the most recent advances in the field of naturally occurring B-cell autoreactivity in health as well as in disease are presented and discussed.

Biomarkers, self-antigens and the immunological homunculus

The notion of the immunological homunculus arose from the observations (1) that the healthy adaptive immune system is inclined to respond (T cell reactivity and autoantibodies) to particular sets of body molecules (self-antigens) and (2) that autoimmune diseases are characterized by sets of autoimmune reactivity to some of the very same self-antigens recognized by healthy subjects - with an obvious difference in outcome. I termed this natural autoimmune structuring of the immune system, the immunological homunculus - the immune system's representation of the body. What might be the selective advantage of an immune system expressing patterns of built-in autoimmunity to particular sets of self-molecules? To better characterize the homunculus, we have used informatic tools to study patterns of antibodies to many hundreds of self-molecules arrayed on glass slides - an antigen chip of our design. Results using the antigen chip suggest that the particular self-reactivities comprising the homunculus could serve as a set of biomarkers that help the immune system initiate and regulate the inflammatory processes that maintain the body.

Death, adaptation and regulation: The three pillars of immune tolerance restrict the risk of autoimmune disease caused by molecular mimicry

Extensive cross-reactivity in T cell receptor (TCR) recognition of peptide-MHC (pMHC) complexes seems to be essential to give sufficient immune surveillance against invading pathogens. This carries with it an inherent risk that T cells activated during a response to clear an infection can, perhaps years later, respond to a self pMHC of sufficient similarity. This lies at the heart of the molecular mimicry theory. Here we discuss our studies on the disease-causing potential of altered peptide ligands (APL) based on the sequence of a single autoantigenic epitope, the Ac1-9 peptide of myelin basic protein that induces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice. These show that the window of similarity to self for induction of disease by cross-reactive non-self peptides is actually quite restricted. We show that each of the three pillars of immune tolerance (death, anergy/adaptation and regulation) has a role in limiting the risk of molecular mimicry by maintaining a threshold for harm.