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Heavy chain variable gene usage by human B-1 lymphocytes and polyreactive autoantibodies
N M Bhat1, M M Bieber, N N Teng
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford Medical Center, CA, USA.
Human Antibodies
|January 1, 1997
Summary
The immunoglobulin heavy chain variable-gene usage in B-1 cells does not determine polyreactive autoantibody function. Polyreactive IgM antibodies from fetal and adult B-1 cells show similar variable region gene family representation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- B-1 cells are crucial in the early immune repertoire.
- Polyreactive autoantibodies can target self-antigens.
- Understanding immunoglobulin gene usage is key to immune repertoire development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of B-1 cells and polyreactive autoantibodies in adult immune repertoire development.
- To analyze the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable-gene (VH) usage in human polyreactive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs).
Main Methods:
- Screening of 28 human polyreactive MAbs derived from fetal and adult splenic B lymphocytes.
- Analysis of VH-region gene usage in these MAbs.
Main Results:
- Polyreactivity of IgM antibodies from B-1 cells is not linked to specific VH gene families.
- All six VH families are represented proportionally to their size in polyreactive MAbs.
- VH family representation is similar in polyreactive MAbs from both fetal and adult lymphocytes.
Conclusions:
- The polyreactivity of B-1 cell-derived IgM antibodies is independent of specific VH gene family expression.
- The immune repertoire development in adults involves similar VH gene usage patterns for polyreactive antibodies as observed in fetuses.