The specific aim of this study was to characterize human anti-Rh monoclonal antibodies cross-reacting with self-antigens. We studied supernatants from man-mouse hybridomas and from lymphoblastoid cell lines. Man-mouse hybridomas were established by fusion of peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy individuals recently immunized against Rh alloantigens, with mouse myeloma (or man-mouse heteromyeloma) cell lines. Lymphoblastoid cell lines were produced by Epstein-Barr virus induction of lymphocytes from identical sources. Of the 55 monoclonal alloantibodies studied, 11 also reacted with intracellular self-antigens as demonstrated by immunofluorescence assay on cryostat sections of human tissues. This cross-reactivity was mainly a property of monoclonal alloantibodies belonging to the IgM isotype (among the 11 cross-reacting mAbs 10 were IgM). The cross-reactivities of these monoclonal antibodies were ascertained by absorption of alloreacting antibodies with red blood cells. Similar results were obtained on a panel of purified cellular antigens by ELISA. The results confirm that during an immune response against a foreign antigen (alloantigen), B cells that produce polyreactive antibodies are not excluded from the pool of responding cells. Therefore, polyreactive autoantibodies present in sera from healthy individuals may be the result of an immune response against foreign antigens.
SUMMARY We have previously observed that aged lupus-prone (NZB/NZW)Fl (BWF1) mice when infected with Plasmodium chabaudi show an improvement in their clinical lupus-like symptoms. In order to study the mechanisms involved in the long-lasting protective effect of the P. chabaudi infection in lupus-prone mice we analysed specific aspects of the cellular response, namely the profiles of cytokine mRNA expression and cytokine secretion levels in old BWF1 mice, in comparison with uninfected age-matched BWF1 mice and infected or uninfected BALB/c mice. Two months after infection, cells from BWF1 mice were stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) and demonstrated a recovery of T cell responsiveness that reached the levels obtained with BALB/c cells. Old BWF1 mice showed high levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-5 production and correspondingly low levels of IL-2 and IL-4 secretion before infection with P. chabaudi. Infection did not modify the IFN-γ levels of BWF1 T cells, whereas it considerably increased the secretion of the Th2-related cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10. In addition, only BWF1 T cells showed increased mRNA expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). This counter-regulatory cytokine network of infected BWF1 mice may be involved in the improvement of their lupus symptoms. The results of our investigations using the complex model of P. chabaudi infection can be extended and, by using more restricted approaches, it may be possible to explain the multiple regulatory defects of lupus-prone mice.
We recently reported that translocating murine polyreactive anti-DNA antibodies can be used as vectors for the transfer of macromolecules into cells growing in culture. We show here that two such monoclonal antibodies (J20.8 and F4.1) conjugated to polylysine with a high (93) but not a low (19) number of lysine residues can transfer genes in the presence of serum. A 30 amino acid long peptide, VAYISRGGVSTYYSDTVKGRFTRQKYNKRA (peptide P3), corresponding to joined heavy-chain complementary-determining regions 2 and 3 of F4.1 antibody and carrying 19 lysine residues at its N-terminal, was found to be an efficient vector for the transfection of the luciferase gene into 3T3 and CCL39 cells in the presence of serum. Addition of 0.23 M glycerol during transfection considerably enhanced gene delivery. These results show that conjugation of a short polylysine tail converted a spontaneously internalizing peptide into a potent nontoxic plasmid vector.
Two monoclonal IgM natural autoantibodies (E7 and D23) obtained from the fusion of normal, nonimmunized, BALB/c mouse spleen cells and nonsecreting myeloma cells were selected on the basis of their polyreactivity with auto- and xenoantigens and chemical haptens. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the variable and constant regions of the heavy and light chains showed the following. (i) The antibodies arise from different genetic elements with very low or no homology--E7 from a heavy-chain variable region (VH) of family 36-60 and kappa light-chain variable region (V kappa) from a group 19--whereas D23 derives from a VH of family Q52 and V kappa derives from group 8. (ii) E7 and D23 are probably of germ-line origin, as suggested by high homology with VH genes from the unrearranged genome. Compared with the germ-line VH 1210.7 gene, E7 has a single nucleotide difference leading to a silent mutation at position 15, whereas D23 seems to be encoded by germ-line VH 101 with one nucleotide difference causing replacement of Ser-84 by Ala. (iii) The genetic V kappa and VH elements for E7 and D23 also give rise to different responses to phenyloxazolone, dinitrophenyl, 5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl, arsonate, phosphocholine, and influenza virus hemagglutinin. Antibodies from normal and autoimmune mice with rheumatoid factor-like activity are also homologous to E7 and D23. These results indicate that polyreactive autoantibodies are encoded by germ-line genes and that, starting with the preimmune poly- and autoreactive repertoire, mutated forms of antibodies recognizing exogenous antigens can be obtained and selected.
Abstract Mice were given injections in their hind footpads of peroxidase emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. Kinetics of cells producing antibodies and cells producing immunoglobulins without detectable antibody function were monitored in the draining popliteal lymph nodes by using enzyme-immunocytochemical procedures, a local hemolysis plaque assay, and immune cytoadherence tests. These last two techniques were performed with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) coated with either peroxidase or anti-mouse Ig antibody. The kinetics observed with the immunocytochemical and plaque assay procedures were comparable although at each interval tested a higher number of positive cells was scored with the first procedure. With these two techniques, the following observations were made: 1) After antigen administration, the first detectable antibody- (Ab+) producing cells appeared on day 7 or 8. They were preceded 4 days earlier by the appearance of cells producing immunoglobulins without detectable antibody function (Ig+Ab-). The peak response of Ab+-producing cells occurred on day 14, 4 days after the maximum response of Ig+Ab--producing cells. 2) The vast majority of these Ig+Ab--producing cells was related to the injection of peroxidase and not to the complete Freund's adjuvant. Ig+Ab--secreting cells were found not to represent cells secreting antibodies directed against SRBC, DNP determinants, or bromelain-treated mouse red cells. 3) After a second injection, Ab+ and Ig+Ab--producing cells appeared rapidly and simultaneously in approximately equal numbers; the peak number of Ab+-producing cells was seen on days 5 to 7 whereas the Ig+Ab--producing cells disappeared 3 days after challenge. 4) The ratio of secreting versus synthetizing cells remained constant throughout the response, around 2:10 for Ab+ cell population and 5:10 for Ig+Ab- cell population. With the immune cytoadherence test, cells forming rosettes with peroxidase-coated SRBC were not found in lymph nodes of unstimulated mice although they appeared 4 days after antigen injection. Their number increased exponentially until day 8 and then more slowly until day 14. Although after a secondary injection the number of rosette-forming cells was increased, the peak value attained only 20% of the peak value observed during the primary response. The above results indicate that after injection of mice with peroxidase in complete Freund's adjuvant, the following sequence occurs: a) appearance of an immunocyte population bearing peroxidase receptors, b) appearance of an immunocyte population either synthesizing and secreting, or not, immunoglobulins without detectable antibody function, d) appearance of an immunocyte population either synthetizing and secreting, or not, antibody.
A previously described, non radioactive method for the measure of in vitro mouse lymphocyte proliferation was applied to human lymphocyte proliferation assays. It involved incorporation into DNA, during cell multiplication, of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BUdR), a thymidine analogue. BUdR-DNA was then assayed by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay (BUdR-EIA) using an anti-BUdR monoclonal antibody (McAb 76-7). BUdR-DNA from crude cell extracts was first immobilized on microtitration plates coated with McAb 76-7. In a second step BUdR-DNA was reacted again with McAb 76-7 conjugated to horse radish peroxydase. The quantity of peroxydase in microtitration wells was then measured by the coloration of o-phenylenediamine (492 nm). Titration curves obtained with dilutions of crude extracts were compared to the curve obtained with a purified BUdR-DNA reference solution. Results were expressed as equivalent ng BUdR-DNA/ml. BUdR-EIA was compared to 3H-thymidine incorporating assay for the measure of lymphocyte proliferation induced by PHA mitogen, candidine and tuberculine antigens and mixed lymphocyte culture. Excellent correlation between both assays was observed for each experiments (r = 0.953 to 0.999). Overall correlation coefficient for the 5 experiments was 0.785, indicating greater variation of BUdR than 3H-thymidine incorporation, according to the mitogen or antigen used and the culture conditions. This could be due to that fact that BUdR-EIA measured only BUdR incorporated into DNA, while 3H-thymidine incorporation assay measured 3H-thymidine both incorporated into DNA, and stocked into the cell before DNA incorporation. BUdR-EIA would thus reflect cell proliferation more exactly than 3H-thymidine incorporation assay. The sensitivities of both techniques were comparable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
