The Fc receptor model of membrane cytoplasmic signalling

Effect of human IgG1 peptides on the antigen-specific antibody response of mice in vivo

The effect of synthetic peptides--corresponding to the amino acid sequences 289-301 (Y48) and 293-301 (Y91) within the CH-2 domain in the human IgG1 was studied on the oxazolone-specific primary and secondary antibody response isotype distribution and on the sheep erythrocyte (SRBC)-specific primary IgM response. High responder (Balb/c) and low responder (C57Bl/6) mice to oxazolone hapten were treated intraperitoneally with various doses of peptides simultaneously with the first and second contact sensitization. The relative levels of oxazolone-specific IgM, IgG3, IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies were determined by a solid phase radioimmunoassay. Y48 and Y91 peptides in a dose range of 10(-5) - 10(-8) M/animal enhanced the oxazolone-specific antibody response. This effect was more striking under suboptimal conditions: using smaller antigen dose for sensitization, cyclophosphamide pretreatment or using genetically low responder mice. SRBC-specific primary IgM response was enhanced by Y91 peptide, Y48 was ineffective.

Expression of the VEP13 antigen (CD16) on native human alveolar macrophages and cultured blood monocytes

Human alveolar macrophages (AM phi) from thirteen patients, who were suffering from various lung diseases were harvested by bronchoalveolar lavage. Peripheral blood monocytes from eight healthy donors were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation and adherence to plastic surface. To detect the VEP13 antigen (CD16) on these cells, a rosette assay employing ox erythrocytes coated by the CrCl3 method with purified VEP13 monoclonal antibody (Eo-VEP13) was used. A mean of 31.3% of freshly isolated AM phi and 3.9% of blood monocytes formed Eo-VEP13 rosettes. Monocytes cultured for 3 or 6 days in the presence of a supernatant from mouse L929 cells, which had been shown previously to improve long-term viability of human monocytes in culture, showed 12.5% and 25.3% Eo-VEP13 rosettes, respectively. No significant increase in VEP13 antigen expression was noted by culturing monocytes without L929 cell supernatant. The factor in L929 supernatant that induces VEP13 antigen expression has not been identified. Tunicamycin at 10 micrograms/ml inhibited significantly VEP13 antigen expression on monocytes. In contrast, IgG rosette formation was not reduced by tunicamycin. Our data show that subpopulations of native human AM phi and peripheral blood monocytes cultured in presence of a supernatant of L929 fibroblasts containing mainly murine CSF may express the CD16 antigen, which is normally found on large granular lymphocytes (LGL). Suppression by tunicamycin indicates that Fc receptor glycosylation takes place during a later differentiation step of mononuclear phagocytes.

Natural killer and T-cell potentiation by monoclonal IgG against natural killer cell FcR(IgG) or the T3 complex

Treatment of human natural killer (NK) cells with monoclonal antibodies of the IgG isotype against NK cell-FcR(IgG) increased lysis of most haematopoietic target cell lines with high or intermediate background NK susceptibility. Treatment of normal non-adherent lymphocytes with an IgG anti-T3 monoclonal antibody also increased lysis against the same target cells. Potentiating anti-FcR antibodies rapidly modulated FcR activity and the capacity of the cells to act as antibody-dependent killers, although such antibodies were demonstrable for a long time at the cell surface. Anti-FcR treatment did not influence concanavalin A (Con A)-dependent killing, in contrast to anti-T3 treatment, which suppressed lectin-dependent lysis but did not influence antibody-dependent killing. The data is compatible with a 'pro-receptor' theory for FcR in NK killing, stating that such receptors may function in the same way as the T3 complex interacts with specific T cell receptors.

Mapping the functional topography of Fc gamma with monoclonal antibodies: localization of epitopes interacting with the binding sites of Fc receptor on human K cells

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for the C gamma 2, C gamma 3 or inter C gamma 2/C gamma 3 domain epitopes was tested for inhibition of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) specific for anti-D IgG-coated erythrocytes. Significant inhibition of ADCC was demonstrable for some antibodies having specificity for C gamma 2 or C gamma 3 domain epitopes, while others gave no inhibition. Fab fragments of a representative C gamma 2-specific antibody (A55) and C gamma 3-specific antibody (x3a8) retained their inhibitory capacity in lymphocyte-mediated ADCC, but only A55 Fab inhibited monocyte-mediated lysis. Furthermore, the Fab portion of A55 completely abolished the complement-dependent enhancement of ADCC mediated by concanavalin A-stimulated cells, while x3a8 Fab had no effect in this system. On the other hand, x3a8 Fab inhibited the binding of anti-D IgG-sensitized erythrocytes to lymphocytes while A55 Fab did not influence this latter interaction. The results suggest that C gamma 2 domain-FcR interaction is essential for the triggering of lytic process both in lymphocyte and in monocyte-mediated ADCC, while C gamma 3 domain has no role in the latter but is responsible for the appropriate contact between effector lymphocytes and target cells. A site in the region of Lys274 appears to be critical for triggering of both lymphocyte and monocyte-mediated ADCC.

Ligand inhibition studies on the role of Fc receptors in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Subjection of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to a temp shift from 4 to 37 degrees C resulted in a shedding of Fc receptors (termed FcRI) from 40-50% of FcR-positive cells followed by their re-expression within 4 hr; a phenomenon which had no effect on the cells' antibody-dependent killing capacity. Removal of lymphocytes having an immobile form of the Fc receptor resistant to the effects of the temp shift (termed FcRII), or removal of lymphocytes bearing both FcRI and FcRII, resulted in a similar amount of reduction in ADCC activity. This was attributed, therefore, to the loss of FcRII-positive cells. The influence of isolated (shedded) FcRI and Clq on ADCC activity was investigated. Soluble FcRI was shown to inhibit ADCC mediated through the immobile Fc receptors (FcRII), despite its lack of an ability to block EA rosette formation through these receptors. Clq also had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on ADCC. These observations are consistent with earlier findings that FcRII possesses two active binding sites; and suggest that a prerequisite for killing in ADCC is the interaction of these with the C gamma 2 and C gamma 3 domains. The ability of synthetic peptides representative of human gamma 1-chain sequences to inhibit ADCC was determined, in an attempt to locate those sites within the IgG antibody Fc region involved in interaction with two FcR binding sites. Preliminary evidence was obtained to suggest that one of these is situated within the C gamma 2 domain, in the region of residues 274 (Lys)-294 (Glu).

Guinea-pig peritoneal macrophage receptor for IgG--II. Purification of the receptor and its partial characterization

The Fc gamma receptor of guinea-pig peritoneal macrophages was purified by affinity chromatography by using rabbit IgG or guinea-pig IgG2 coupled to Sepharose. Lysates prepared by treatment of 125I-labeled macrophages with NP-40 were first applied to BSA-Sepharose and then to IgG-Sepharose and eluted with 0.5 M acetic acid containing 1% NP-40. The specific binding was determined by interaction of the 125I-labeled receptor with IgG-Sepharose in the presence and absence of soluble IgG. The specific binding of the purified receptor was 42-82%. Interactions of the purified receptor with IgG-Sepharose were equally well inhibited by soluble rabbit IgG or guinea-pig IgG2, but not by F(ab')2 fragments. Inclusion of NP-40 in the buffer used in the assay reduced nonspecific binding of the receptor to the affinity gels. The purified receptor can be stored for 20 days at 4 degrees C without a significant loss of the specific binding activity. Analysis of the receptor by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, under nonreducing and reducing conditions, revealed two major peaks of radioactivity corresponding to mol. wts of about 50,000 and 25,000, and one very minor peak corresponding to a mol. wt of about 30,000. The results obtained suggest that the protein of the second major peak is a product of the dissociation of the protein of the first major peak rather than a product of its reduction by 2-mercaptoethanol.

Effect of Fc receptor blocking on human natural and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against adherent HEp-2 cells

The effect of Fc receptor (FcR) blocking by aggregated human gamma-globulin (AGG) was studied on natural (NCMC) and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC) against adherent HEp-2 human epipharynx carcinoma target cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by detachment from the monolayer of [3H]TdR-prelabelled HEp-2 cells. LDCC was evaluated in a 24 h assay at 50:1 effector-target cell ratio in the presence of 25 micrograms/ml concanavalin A (Con A). Under these conditions but without Con A considerable NCMC was not elicited by normal lymphocytes. FcR blocking by AGG treatment of effector cells resulted in a significant NCMC activity to HEp-2 targets. In contrast, AGG treatment profoundly depressed LDCC. Monocyte depletion of effector cells had no major influence on the effect of AGG on NCMC and LDCC activities. An interference of FcR blocking by AGG and LDCC in response to Con A is suggested.

IgG-Fc receptors differ in sensitivity to primary amines

The effect of 12 different amines was tested on the IgG-Fc receptor (IgG-FcR) function of human peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PMBCs). While histamine and to a lesser extent dopamine resulted in a higher ratio of EA-rosette forming cells, a group of amines, like methylamine, dansylcadaverine, hydroxylamine and some others inhibited the EA-rosette formation. Neither the enhancement nor the inhibition was found to be mediated through direct interaction of amines with the Fc portion of the IgG molecule or the IgG-FcR. Only a portion of IgG-FcRs are sensitive to the amine-mediated inhibition and the results suggest that amines inhibit the cluster formation of IgG-FcRs.

Recognition of autologous and allogeneic lymphocytes and tumor cells by human natural killer cells

The shedding of the mobile Fc receptor (FcR1) and the depletion of the immobile Fc receptor (FcR11) bearing human lymphocytes revealed that human natural killer cells belong to the FcR11-bearing population. Anti-beta-2-microglobulin treatment of the effector cells decreased natural cytotoxicity against some target cells and the detectability of HLA antigens, indicating that histocompatibility antigens or related structures may be involved in natural cytotoxicity. Using a panel of 29 autologous and allogenic PHA-stimulated target cells and peripheral lymphocytes from the same donors as the effector cells, distinct cytotoxic responses against allogeneic and autologous target cells were observed. A computer analysis of selective natural cytotoxicity distinguished seven different groups of target cells that may represent common structures for NK recognition.