LOCALIZATION OF ANTIBODIES IN GROUP I AND GROUP II GAMMA-GLOBULINS

STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN ERYTHROCYTE AUTOANTIBODIES. I. L CHAIN TYPES AND ELECTROPHORETIC DISPERSION

The 7S gamma-globulins causing erythrocyte autosensitization in 20 patients were isolated by elution and examined for homogeneity or heterogeneity of their L chain types and electrophoretic dispersion. The isolated erythrocyte autoantibodies from 12 patients contained only 1 detectable L chain type. Two of these "monotypic" populations showed appreciable restriction of electrophoretic dispersion, while 2 others more nearly resembled the electrophoretic heterogeneity of normal gamma-globulins. The autoantibodies from the other 8 patients exhibited L chains of both types. The single "bitypic" population so tested was relatively polydisperse electrophoretically. As a comparison, anti-Rh(o) isoantibodies from 5 of 6 donors without known hematologic disease showed bitypic reactions, and 2 of these isoantibody populations were relatively polydisperse electrophoretically. One Rh isoantibody is described which contained only 1 demonstrable L chain type. The structural similarities to "paraproteins" observed in a significant proportion of these erythrocyte autoantibodies raise the possibility of their origin from a restricted population of antibody forming cells, and may have implications concerning the pathogenesis of erythrocyte autosensitization.

STUDIES ON HUMAN ANTIBODIES. II. DISTRIBUTION OF GENETIC FACTORS

Human antibodies against dextran, teichoic acid, blood group A substance, levan, tetanus toxoid, and nuclei were isolated and analyzed for their content of Gm(a), Gm(b), and Inv(a) γ-globulin genetic factors. The majority of these antibodies contained all the genetic factors determined in the donor's whole γ-globulin, but in many antibodies at very different concentrations. In a few instances specific factors could not be detected despite their presence in the individual's whole γ-globulin. Different antibodies isolated from the serum of the same individual showed different relative concentrations of genetic factors. The distribution of genetic factors seen in certain isolated human antibodies appeared to approach the selective occurrence of these factors in myeloma proteins.

Light chain heterogeneity of 19S and 7S anti-gamma-globulins in rheumatoid arthritis and subacute bacterial endocarditis

Both 19S and 7S anti-gamma-globulins in rheumatoid arthritis sera are enriched in kappa light chain bearing antibody molecules when compared to total 19S and 7S globulins from the same individuals. In patients with subacute bacterial endocarditis 19S anti-gamma-globulins are also, to a degree, enriched in kappa light chains, whereas the 7S anti-gamma-globulins have kappa to lambda light chain ratios indistinguishable from total 7S globulin.

Determination of k/l immunoglobulin light chain ratios in CSF from patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases

Using antisera against Bence-Jones protein, the concentration of light chains type k and l can be determined in CSF. The calculation of the ratio of type k to type I light chains in CSF represents a sensitive measure for the evaluation of immunological processes involving the CNS. Our results demonstrate that an increase k/l ratio is encountered in 48% of CSF specimen from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, but also in 50% from patients with other inflammatory diseases involving the CNS, in contrast to only 18% from other neurological diseases. In none of the MS or inflammatory cases is the altered k/l ratio the only indicator of a CNS inflammation, most commonly it is accompanied by an overproportional CSF-IgG elevation (increased QG ratio), an increased cell count or both. For these reasons determination of CSF k/l ratios is helpful in the differentiation of MS and other neurological diseases, but not for the differentiation of other inflammatory CNS diseases from MS.

Rabbit immunoglobulin allotypes: structure, immunology, and genetics

Over a 6-month period, 157 patients, 89 of whom had central nervous system tumors, were examined on a prototype 0.12 T resistive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging unit. All of the patients had computed tomography (CT), which was used as a standard to which the NMR findings were compared. Studies were done primarily by saturation-recovery technique with short repetition times. The signal intensity with saturation-recovery technique did not allow differentiation among most tumor types. Location, extent, and morphology helped to some extent in attempts at differentiation. In the multiplanar mode, NMR compared favorably to CT with regard to lesion detection. Limited early experience suggests that NMR also may detect some lesions when the CT is negative and may detect additional lesions when one or more are present. The NMR examination was well tolerated by selected patients.

Monoclonal immunoglobulins in congenital toxoplasmosis

Monoclonal immunoglobulins in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were found in newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis. The M-components were of IgG-class and of both κ and λ type. The monoclonal proteins were found in the serum of newborns but not in the serum of their mothers. The monoclonal immunoglobulins were therefore selectively transferred or synthesized by the newborn. There was a local production or selective local accumulation of immunoglobulins in the cerebrospinal fluid. The M-components disappeared and the IgM level in serum and cerebrospinal fluid decreased after therapy. IgA was found to be elevated between 2–4 months of age. CRP was elevated in the first weeks after birth but afterwards returned to normal. The Dye test localized antibody activity to the site of the M-components in the electrophoresis of both serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The Dye test antibodies of mothers' sera also showed restricted heterogeneity with about the same electrophoretic localization as in the children's sera. Rheumatoid factors were found in serum and CSF of newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis, but not in serum of their mothers.

Imbalances of gamma globulin subgroups and gene defects in patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia

Analysis of immunoglobulin classes, gammaG subgroups, and Gm genetic markers from 59 patients with various types of immune deficiencies was undertaken to assess the function of the several cistrons concerned with synthesis of gamma globulins. 13 patients including two sibling pairs were found to have gammaG subgroup imbalances. All of these patients had non sex-linked disease. 11 of the 13 had preponderance of the gammaG3 subgroup. In most instances of gammaG3 preponderance it was the Gm(b) type of gammaG3 that was selectively retained; the Gm(g) type, controlled by the allelic gene was markedly depressed but not absent in the cases where it could be studied. Other imbalances, either seen concomitantly with gammaG3 preponderance or independently, included predominance of the gammaG2 subgroup and selective absence of single gammaG subgroups.One family was encountered with probable structural gene abnormalities in the autosomal Gm loci. Both parents had different abnormal gene complexes detectable by absence of specific Gm markers and the propositus received both types from the parents. Similar gene complexes have been seen previously in rare instances through population screening but only in the heterozygous state and were not associated with clinically evident hypogammaglobulinemia. Of several other families of patients with subgroup imbalance, two were informative in that structural gene defects could be excluded. Studies on 22 first degree relatives of patients with subgroup imbalances indicated that the most common abnormality detected was in gammaA which was absent in 3 and markedly decreased in 2 others; other abnormalities included decreased levels of specific genetic types of gammaG globulin. It is concluded that gammaG subgroup imbalances are frequently found in non sex-linked immunoglobulin deficiency disorders and in some instances may be associated with family abnormalities suggesting either regulator or structural gene defects.

Electrophoretic distribution of kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chain determinants in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis

The electrophoretic distribution of Kappa and Lambda light chain antigenic determinants were studied in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum from cases with abnormal Immunoglobulin G patterns on agar gel electrophoresis of CSF. Electrophoretically homogeneous immunoglobulin fractions containing an excess of either Kappa or Lambda determinants were found in CSF but not in serum. The findings indicate the production of monoclonal immunoglobulins within the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis.

Kappa:lambda light chain ratio in IgG eluted from rheumatoid arthritis synovium

The light chain ratio in IgG eluted from rheumatoid arthritis synovial membrane was studied using quantitative immunodiffusion. The ratio obtained in synovial IgG was different from that of IgG in peripheral blood. In several instances a marked domination of one type light chain was noted in the eluted IgG, which also showed a limited electrophoretic dispersion on immunoelectrophoresis. This suggests that synovial IgG in rheumatoid arthritis is antibody, and not derived non-specifically from the immunoglobulin pool. Lambda type light chains dominated over kappa type in most eluates, suggesting preferential involvement of cells producing lambda type molecules.

Multiple sclerosis: disturbed kappa: lambda chain ratio of immunoglobulin G in cerebrospinal fluid

Abnormal kappa: lambda chain ratios were found in cerebrospinal fluid from some patients with multiple sclerosis, but not in a variety of other neurological disorders. The increase in ratio was a property of immunoglobulin G.

Allotype exclusion in uniform rabbit antibody to streptococcal carbohydrate

Rabbit antibodies to streptococcal polysaccharide are described which show selectivity of expression of the allotypic specificities on both the heavy (H) and light (L) chains. One of these antibodies binds weakly to Sephadex. A purification method based on this binding has yielded antibody completely lacking any group a allotypic marker on its H chains.

Light chain types in plasma cells that produce IgD

The IgD-immunoglobulin producing plasma cells of six human spleens have been localized with specific antisera and the type of the light chains present in each of them has been determined by sequential staining with anti-K and anti-L antisera. About 87 per cent of IgD cells have L-type light chains. This is in accord with the prevalence of L-type light chains in IgD myeloma proteins.

Studies on human antibodies. VI. Selective variations in subgroup composition and genetic markers

The composition of various isolated antibodies was determined by quantitative analyses for heavy chain subgroups and light chain types. Certain antibodies such as anti-tetanus toxoid and anti-A isoagglutinins were predominantly of the major gammaG1-type. However, a high preponderance of molecules of the minor gammaG2-subgroup was found for antibodies to dextran, levan, and teichoic acid. These findings explain some unusual features previously noted for anti-dextrans such as weak PCA reactions and lack of Gm antigens. Studies of several isolated antibodies from single heterozygous individuals showed a selective absence of genetic markers in certain antibodies and their presence in others. The "allelic exclusion" principle was clearly evident in the isolated antibodies of two different individuals. Large differences in the ratio of kappa to lambda light chains were observed for the same type of antibody from different individuals. Subfractionation of dextran antibodies by affinity for specific glycosidic linkage or combining site size produced marked changes in the ratios. The isomaltohexaose eluates of the dextran antibodies from two subjects were primarily kappa and the isomaltotriose eluates were predominantly lambda. The one anti-levan antibody studied was uniquely homogeneous, consisting exclusively of gammaG2-heavy chains and kappa light chains. By these criteria as well as others, it closely resembled myeloma proteins.

Antihapten antibody specificity and L chain type

Two types of light polypeptide chain (kappa and lambda) are present in guinea pig immunoglobulins. The ratios of K/L molecules in anti-hapten antibodies differ sometimes markedly from that found in normal serum. Anti-DNP antibodies and anti-pipsyl antibodies have, respectively, a higher and a lower than normal K/L ratio. The possibility that the L chain type affects the range of configurations which the antibody-combining site may assume was investigated. Fractional precipitation of anti-DNP antibodies from serum of guinea pigs immunized with DNP(44)-BSA was performed using limiting amounts of antigen. Antibody fractions were purified from each precipitate, their affinities for epsilon-DNP-L-lysine measured by fluorescence quenching (K(0)) and the K/L ratio estimated by precipitation with specific antisera. Increasing concentrations of L molecules were found in fractions with decreasing K(0). In other experiments, fractional precipitation and purification of antibodies which cross-react with DNP was performed in serum of animals immunized with pipsyl-BGG. The K/L ratio in antibodies isolated from these fractions was much higher than in fractions which do not cross-react with DNP. These results show that K molecules are better adapted to react with the DNP hapten than L molecules. The K/L ratio in anti-DNP antibody was shown to increase in the course of immunization, at the same time that the K(0) is increasing. This rise in K(0) is markedly delayed when larger doses of antigen are employed.

Studies on human antibodies. V. Amino acid composition of antidextrans of the same and of differing specificities from several individuals

Human dextran-antidextran-specific precipitates from individuals immunized with dextrans containing either one or two antigenic determinants, were analyzed for their content of various amino acids. Large differences in certain amino acids were found among alpha-(1 --> 6)-specific antidextrans. Wide variations were also observed in antidextran fractions from a given individual specific for alpha-(1 --> 6)- and alpha-(1 --> 2)-linked glucose residues.

The immunologic character of acquired inhibitors of antihemophilic globulin (factor 8) and the kinetics of their interaction with factor 8

Investigations were undertaken of the chemical nature and kinetics of interaction of three acquired inhibitors of Factor VIII. The inhibition was stoichiometric, one molecule of inhibitor (or one site on a molecule) being required to inactivate one molecule of Factor VIII. All three inhibitors were found to be monotypic antibodies of class IgG, Type K (gamma(2) kappa(2)). This appears to be the second syndrome due to the production of monotypic antibody, and the first instance involving IgG immunoglobulins.

Light chain distribution in immune deposits on glomeruli of kidneys in human renal disease

The gammaG-immunoglobulin (IgG) deposited on glomeruli of 32 percutaneous renal biopsies from 30 patients with various forms of renal disease was examined by fluorescent techniques to determine its light chain composition. Serum kappa: lambda light chain ratios were determined on 17 serum samples from 16 of the 30 patients. Glomerular IgG staining with only antikappa antiserum, only antilambda antiserum, and with both antisera was demonstrated. No correlation of serum kappa: lambda light chain ratios with the type or types of light chains demonstrable on the glomeruli was observed. We concluded that the IgG deposited on glomeruli of patients with various forms of renal disease is not a nonspecific sample of the circulating immunoglobulin pool but may well reflect more specific selection, as in the deposition of specific antibody formed against exogenous or endogenous antigens during the development of the renal lesion.

Quantitative variations in L chain types in guinea pig antihapten antibodies

In guinea pig purified antihapten antibodies, the proportion of molecules bearing the kappa- or lambda-type of L chains (K or L molecules) may diverge markedly from that found in normal gamma(2)-globulins. This has been evaluated by precipitation of I(131)-labeled antibody preparations using a specific anti-lambda-chain antiserum. Anti-DNP antibodies isolated 3 wk after immunization of guinea pigs with DNP(65)-BGG antibodies, contain less than 1% of L molecules, while in pipsyl antibodies, isolated from the sera of animals immunized with pipsyl-BGG, the proportion of L molecules is significantly greater than in normal gamma(2)-globulins. Anti-DNP antibodies produced against conjugates of this hapten with carriers other than BGG (BSA, OVA, or poly-L-lysine) or with BGG with a small number of DNP groups (DNP(10)-BGG) contained a greater proportion of lambda-chain bearing molecules than anti-DNP antibodies isolated from late sera of guinea pigs immunized with highly conjugated DNP(65)-BGG. An increased percentage of L molecules was detected in preparations of anti-DNP(65)-BGG antibodies isolated early (10 days), when compared to those isolated later during the course of immunization. However, the level of L molecules in all these anti-DNP antibody preparations was always considerably below that present in normal gamma(2)-globulin. The relative amounts of L molecules in distinct immunoglobulin families (gamma(1) and gamma(2)) in antibody preparations isolated from individual animals was remarkably similar.

Light-chain heterogeneity of cold agglutinins

Cold agglutinins with specificity to I or to i antigens of humanadult or cord-blood erythrocytes produced during the course of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and infectious mononucleosis contain light chains of K and L types. However, cold agglutinin isolated from the serums of patients with chronic cold-agglutinin hemolytic anemia contains only type K light chains. The experimental evidence suggests that some cold agglutinins contain both types of light chains in the same molecule.

Studies on human antibodies. IV. Purification and properties of anti-A and anti-B obtained by absorption and elution from insoluble blood group substances

Insoluble blood group substances prepared by copolymerization of soluble blood group substances with N-carboxy-L-leucine anhydride were used to absorb blood group antibodies from two human, high-titered anti-A sera. After the absorbants were washed free of nonspecific serum proteins, blood group antibodies were eluted either with pH 3.62 acetate buffer, or at neutral pH with monosaccharide haptens of the A or B antigenic determinants (N-acetyl-D-galactosamine or D-galactose respectively). The purified anti-A antibodies were characterized, immunoelectrophoretically, as gammaM-, gammaA-, and gammaG-immunoglobulins. These were further separated into gammaM- and gammaG-fractions by gel filtration or density gradient centrifugation. Both gammaM- and one of the two gammaG-antibody fractions contained K and L light chain determinants; the remaining gammaG-fraction was comprised, almost totally, of type K molecules. Precipitability of the purified anti-A immunoglobulins by blood group A substance varied from 43 to 89%. The agglutinating activity per unit N of the isolated gammaG-anti-A was found to equal, in one case, and to exceed, in the second, that of the gammaM-antibodies from the same individuals. The marked differences between gammaM- and gammaG-antibody fractions in quantitative hapten inhibition studies were interpreted to mean that the antibody-combining site of the isolated eluted gammaG-anti-A was significantly larger than that of the eluted gammaM-anti-A. Whether these data connote differences in combining site size between entire immunoglobulin classes in an individual serum or simply reflect the properties of highly selected antibody populations cannot be stated at present.

Specificity of recombination of H and L chains from human gamma-G-myeloma proteins

Dissociated H and L chains of human gammaG-myeloma proteins were recombined by removal of conditions interrupting non-covalent interactions. In the process of recombination 7S molecules were formed. It was demonstrated that the H chains from individual gammaG-myeloma proteins recombine with their own L chains but also with L chains derived from other myeloma proteins. In some instances, however, the L chains from other myeloma proteins did not recombine as avidly with the H chains as the autologous L chains. The specificity of the non-covalent interactions of H and L chains was particularly well brought out by competitive recombination experiments where an individual H chain had a choice of recombining with its own L chain or with the L chain obtained from another myeloma protein. In this manner a spectrum of affinities between individual H chains and several L chains was demonstrated. In the vast majority of recombinations there was a clearcut preference for recombination to take place between the H and L chains derived from the same protein. It is postulated that this specificity is related to differences in the primary structure, which cause differences in configuration of these homogeneous H and L chains and that these configurations then dictate on thermodynamic grounds the pairing of H chains with particular L chains.

Antibody Activity in Six Classes of Human Immunoglobulins

Antibody activity to thyroglobulin was identified in six classes of immunoglobulins in man, that is, in type I and type II, 6.6S gamma-globulins; in type I and type II, beta(2A)-globulins; and in type I and type II, gamma(1)-macroglobulins. These observations indicate that antibody-activity sites are separate from the part of the H chains of immunoglobulin molecules responsible for specific properties of 6.6S gamma-globulin, beta(2A)-globulin, or gamma(1M)-globulin, and, also, are separate from the part of L chains responsible for type I or type II characteristics of immunoglobulin molecules.