Long-term culture of primary B cells and in vitro expression of an exogenous gene

Comparison of Two Strategies to Generate Antigen-Specific Human Monoclonal Antibodies: Which Method to Choose for Which Purpose?

Human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are valuable tools to link genetic information with functional features and to provide a platform for conformational epitope mapping. Additionally, combined data on genetic and functional features provide a valuable mosaic for systems immunology approaches. Strategies to generate human mAbs from peripheral blood have been described and used in several studies including single cell sequencing of antigen-binding B cells and the establishment of antigen-specific monoclonal Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). However, direct comparisons of these two strategies are scarce. Hence, we sought to set up these two strategies in our laboratory using peanut 2S albumins (allergens) and the autoantigen anti-Rho guanosine diphosphate dissociation inhibitor 2 (RhoGDI2, alternatively 'ARHGDIB') as antigen targets to directly compare these strategies regarding costs, time expenditure, recovery, throughput and complexity. Regarding single cell sequencing, up to 50% of corresponding V(D)J gene transcripts were successfully amplified of which 54% were successfully cloned into expression vectors used for heterologous expression. Seventy-five percent of heterologously expressed mAbs showed specific binding to peanut 2S albumins resulting in an overall recovery of 20.3%, which may be increased to around 29% by ordering gene sequences commercially for antibody cloning. In comparison, the establishment of monoclonal EBV-LCLs showed a lower overall recovery of around 17.6%. Heterologous expression of a mAb carrying the same variable region as its native counterpart showed comparable concentration-dependent binding abilities. By directly comparing those two strategies, single cell sequencing allows a broad examination of antigen-binding mAbs in a moderate-throughput manner, while the establishment of monoclonal EBV-LCLs is a powerful tool to select a small number of highly reactive mAbs restricted to certain B cell subpopulations. Overall, both strategies, initially set-up for peanut 2S albumins, are suitable to obtain human mAbs and they are easily transferrable to other target antigens as shown for ARHGDIB.

Microbubble array diffusion assay for the detection of cell secreted factors

The therapeutic potential of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) makes them an ideal tool in both clinical and research applications due to their ability to recognize and bind specific epitopes with high affinity and selectivity. While mAbs offer significant therapeutic potential, their utility is overshadowed by the cost associated with their production, which often relies on the ability to identify minor antigen-specific cells out of a heterogeneous population. To address concerns with suboptimal methods for screening cells, we have developed a cell-sorting array composed of nanoliter spherical cell culture compartments termed microbubble (MB) wells. We demonstrate a proof-of-concept system for the detection of cell secreted factors from both immortalized cell lines and primary B cell samples. Exploiting the unique ability of the MB well architecture to accumulate cell secreted factors as well as affinity capture coatings, we demonstrate on-chip detection and recovery of antibody-secreting cells for sequencing of immunoglobin genes. Furthermore, rapid image capture and analysis capabilities were developed for the processing of large MB arrays, thus facilitating the ability to conduct high-throughput screening of heterogeneous cell samples faster and more efficiently than ever before. The proof-of-concept assays presented herein lay the groundwork for the progression of MB well arrays as an advanced on-chip cell sorting technology.

bcl2 and v-abl oncogenes cooperate to immortalize murine B cells that secrete antigen specific antibodies

In this manuscript, a general strategy was designed and used to rapidly test whether any combination(s) of p53, v-abl, bcl2 and ras oncogenes could act cooperatively to immortalize B cells. Here we report that only the combination of v-abl and bcl2 was successful. Splenic B cells from beta galactosidase-immunized mice were stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide and dextran sulphate for 48 h and co-infected with ecotropic A-MuLV (v-abl) and amphotropic pZip-bcl2 (human bcl2) viruses. When inoculated i.p. into naive pristane-primed mice, these B cells generated mesenteric lymphadenopathy, intraperitoneal lymph nodules and ascites in 100% (8/8) of the mice within 36-53 days. The ascites fluid contained 69.5-122 microg/ml IgG and 2.5-13 microg/ml IgM against the immunogen. The ascites cells were passed intraperitoneally up to three times. In all passages, ascites tumors were generated, and the ascites fluid contained beta galactosidase-specific IgG and IgM, indicating that some immunoglobulin secreting B cells had been immortalized. Neither ascites nor tumors were produced when B cells infected with only one of the viruses was injected into the mice. The presence of each oncogene in ascites cells was verified by immunohistochemistry or RT-PCR. This study provides evidence for the cooperativity of an unexpected pair of oncogenes in B cell immortalization.