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Rogers GL, Huang C, Mathur A, Huang X, Chen HY, Stanten K, Morales H, Chang CH, Kezirian EJ, Cannon PM. Reprogramming human B cells with custom heavy-chain antibodies. Nat Biomed Eng 2024:10.1038/s41551-024-01240-4. [PMID: 39039240 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-024-01240-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The immunoglobulin locus of B cells can be reprogrammed by genome editing to produce custom or non-natural antibodies that are not induced by immunization. However, current strategies for antibody reprogramming require complex expression cassettes and do not allow for customization of the constant region of the antibody. Here we show that human B cells can be edited at the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus to express heavy-chain-only antibodies that support alterations to both the fragment crystallizable domain and the antigen-binding domain, which can be based on both antibody and non-antibody components. Using the envelope protein (Env) from the human immunodeficiency virus as a model antigen, we show that B cells edited to express heavy-chain antibodies to Env support the regulated expression of B cell receptors and antibodies through alternative splicing and that the cells respond to the Env antigen in a tonsil organoid model of immunization. This strategy allows for the reprogramming of human B cells to retain the potential for in vivo amplification while producing molecules with flexibility of composition beyond that of standard antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey L Rogers
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chun Huang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Atishay Mathur
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xiaoli Huang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hsu-Yu Chen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kalya Stanten
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Heidy Morales
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chan-Hua Chang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eric J Kezirian
- Department of Otolaryngology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Paula M Cannon
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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2
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Peterson JN, Boackle SA, Taitano SH, Sang A, Lang J, Kelly M, Rahkola JT, Miranda AM, Sheridan RM, Thurman JM, Rao VK, Torres RM, Pelanda R. Elevated Detection of Dual Antibody B Cells Identifies Lupus Patients With B Cell-Reactive VH4-34 Autoantibodies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:795209. [PMID: 35185888 PMCID: PMC8854503 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.795209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
About 5% of B cells in healthy mice and humans are allelically or isotypically included and hence co-express two different antibodies. In mice, dual antibody B cells (B2R) expand with systemic autoimmunity, co-express autoreactive and non-autoreactive antibodies, and participate in immune responses, but this phenomenon is strain dependent. This study was developed with two goals: 1) to establish the contribution of TLR and IFN receptor signaling to the development of germinal center B cells that express two antibodies in MRL/lpr mice; and 2) to determine whether B2R B cells are increased and particularly activated in a subset of adult patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Results from the MRL/lpr studies indicate that the enhanced differentiation of dual-κ B cells into germinal center B cells is due to a heightened response to TLR7 and TLR9 signaling, further fueled by an increased response to type II IFN. To understand the clinical and translational implications of our observations in mouse B2R B cells, cohorts of SLE patients and healthy controls were recruited and evaluated for expression of dual BCRs. Results from flow cytometry and microscopy revealed supraphysiological frequencies of κ+λ+ B2R cells in one fourth of the SLE patients. Abnormal numbers of κ+λ+ B cells correlated with higher frequencies of activated naïve B cells and age-associated B cells, and a lower proportion of "B cells that are naïve IgD+" (BND). However, results from single cell V(D)J sequencing demonstrated that these high κ+λ+ SLE patients harbored normal frequencies of κ+λ+ and other B2R B cells. and we further show that their B cells were instead decorated by κ and λ VH4-34 autoantibodies. Thus, our findings indicate that elevated flow cytometric detection of isotypically-included B cells can identify patients with high titers of B cell-reactive VH4-34 autoantibodies and abnormal distribution of B cell subsets relevant to autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob N. Peterson
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Susan A. Boackle
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Sophina H. Taitano
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Allison Sang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Julie Lang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Margot Kelly
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Jeremy T. Rahkola
- Mucosa and Vaccine Research Program Colorado, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Anjelica M. Miranda
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Ryan M. Sheridan
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Joshua M. Thurman
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - V. Koneti Rao
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Raul M. Torres
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Roberta Pelanda
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, United States
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3
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Innate and adaptive signals enhance differentiation and expansion of dual-antibody autoreactive B cells in lupus. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3973. [PMID: 30266981 PMCID: PMC6162205 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06293-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoreactive B cells have a major function in autoimmunity. A small subset of B cells expressing two distinct B-cell-antigen-receptors (B2R cells) is elevated in many patients with systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in the MRL(/lpr) mouse model of lupus, and is often autoreactive. Here we show, using RNAseq and in vitro and in vivo analyses, signals that are required for promoting B2R cell numbers and effector function in autoimmune mice. Compared with conventional B cells, B2R cells are more responsive to Toll-like receptor 7/9 and type I/II interferon treatment, display higher levels of MHCII and co-receptors, and depend on IL-21 for their homeostasis; moreover they expand better upon T cell-dependent antigen stimulation, and mount a more robust memory response, which are characteristics essential for enhanced (auto)immune responses. Our findings thus provide insights on the stimuli for the expansion of an autoreactive B cell subset that may contribute to the etiology of SLE.
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Fraser LD, Zhao Y, Lutalo PMK, D'Cruz DP, Cason J, Silva JS, Dunn‐Walters DK, Nayar S, Cope AP, Spencer J. Immunoglobulin light chain allelic inclusion in systemic lupus erythematosus. Eur J Immunol 2015; 45:2409-19. [PMID: 26036683 PMCID: PMC5102633 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The principles of allelic exclusion state that each B cell expresses a single light and heavy chain pair. Here, we show that B cells with both kappa and lambda light chains (Igκ and Igλ) are enriched in some patients with the systemic autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but not in the systemic autoimmune disease control granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Detection of dual Igκ and Igλ expression by flow cytometry could not be abolished by acid washing or by DNAse treatment to remove any bound polyclonal antibody or complexes, and was retained after two days in culture. Both surface and intracytoplasmic dual light chain expression was evident by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. We observed reduced frequency of rearrangements of the kappa-deleting element (KDE) in SLE and an inverse correlation between the frequency of KDE rearrangement and the frequency of dual light chain expressing B cells. We propose that dual expression of Igκ and Igλ by a single B cell may occur in some patients with SLE when this may be a consequence of reduced activity of the KDE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise D. Fraser
- Programme in Infection and ImmunobiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Programme in Infection and ImmunobiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - David P. D'Cruz
- Louise Coote Lupus Unit Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS TrustLondonUK
| | - John Cason
- Programme in Infection and ImmunobiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Joselli S. Silva
- Programme in Infection and ImmunobiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Saba Nayar
- Programme in Infection and ImmunobiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Andrew P. Cope
- Academic Department of RheumatologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jo Spencer
- Programme in Infection and ImmunobiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
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Detanico T, Guo W, Wysocki LJ. Predominant role for activation-induced cytidine deaminase in generating IgG anti-nucleosomal antibodies of murine SLE. J Autoimmun 2015; 58:67-77. [PMID: 25634361 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 01/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Serum IgG anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) directed to complexes of DNA and histones are a hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and reflect a failure in lymphocyte self-tolerance. A prior study utilizing spontaneously autoimmune B6.Nba2 mice deficient in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and with heterozygous deficiencies in Jh and Igk loci underscored the importance of somatic hypermutation (SHM) as a major generator of SLE-associated ANA. This interpretation had to be qualified because of severely limited opportunities for receptor editing and restricted VHCDR3 diversity. Therefore, we performed the converse study using mice that carried functional Tdt genes and wild type Jh and Igk loci but that could not undergo SHM. Analyses of ANA and ANA-producing hybridomas from B6.Nba2 Aicda(-/-) mice revealed that few animals produced high titers of the prototypical ANA directed to complexes of histones and DNA, that this response was delayed and that those cells that did produce such antibody exhibited limited clonal expansion, unusual Jk use and only infrequent dual receptor expression. This, together with the additional finding of an intrinsic propensity for SHM to generate Arg codons selectively in CDRs, reinforce the view that most IgG autoimmune clones producing prototypical anti-nucleosome antibodies in wild type mice are created by SHM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Detanico
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Wenzhong Guo
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Lawrence J Wysocki
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA.
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Pelanda R. Dual immunoglobulin light chain B cells: Trojan horses of autoimmunity? Curr Opin Immunol 2014; 27:53-9. [PMID: 24549093 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2014.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Revised: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Receptor editing, a major mechanism of B cell tolerance, can also lead to allelic inclusion at the immunoglobulin light chain loci and the development of B cells that coexpress two different immunoglobulin light chains and, therefore, two antibody specificities. Most allelically included B cells express two κ chains, although rare dual-λ cells are also observed. Moreover, these cells typically coexpress an autoreactive and a nonautoreactive antibody. Thus, allelically included B cells could operate like 'Trojan horses': expression and function of the nonautoreactive antigen receptors might promote their maturation, activation, and terminal differentiation into effector cells that also express and secrete autoantibodies. Indeed, dual-κ B cells are greatly expanded into effector B cell subsets in some autoimmune mice, thus indicating they might play an important role in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Pelanda
- Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
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7
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Peng C, Eckhardt LA. Role of the Igh intronic enhancer Eμ in clonal selection at the pre-B to immature B cell transition. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2013; 191:4399-411. [PMID: 24058175 PMCID: PMC3810302 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We previously described a checkpoint for allelic exclusion that occurs at the pre-B cell to immature B cell transition and is dependent upon the IgH intronic enhancer, Eμ. We now provide evidence that the breach in allelic exclusion associated with Eμ deletion results from decreased Igμ levels that make it difficult for emerging BCRs to reach the signaling threshold required for positive selection into the immature B cell compartment. We show that this compartment is smaller in mice carrying an Eμ-deficient, but functional, IgH allele (VHΔ(a)). Pre-B cells in such mice produce ≈ 50% wild-type levels of Igμ (mRNA and protein), and this is associated with diminished signals, as measured by phosphorylation of pre-BCR/BCR downstream signaling proteins. Providing Eμ-deficient mice with a preassembled VL gene led not only to a larger immature B cell compartment but also to a decrease in "double-producers," suggesting that H chain/L chain combinations with superior signaling properties can overcome the signaling defect associated with low Igμ-chain and can eliminate the selective advantage of "double-producers" that achieve higher Igμ-chain levels through expression of a second IgH allele. Finally, we found that "double-producers" in Eμ-deficient mice include a subpopulation with autoreactive BCRs. We infer that BCRs with IgH chain from the Eμ-deficient allele are ignored during negative selection owing to their comparatively low density. In summary, these studies show that Eμ's effect on IgH levels at the pre-B cell to immature B cell transition strongly influences allelic exclusion, the breadth of the mature BCR repertoire, and the emergence of autoimmune B cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation
- Cells, Cultured
- Clonal Selection, Antigen-Mediated
- Enhancer Elements, Genetic
- Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain
- Immunoglobulin Fragments/genetics
- Immunoglobulin Fragments/immunology
- Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/genetics
- Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Phosphorylation
- Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/metabolism
- Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Peng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College and The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065
| | - Laurel A. Eckhardt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College and The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10065
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