N-glycosylation influences epitope expression and receptor binding structures in human IgE

Abstract Although human IgE is relatively rich in carbohydrates, there are few studies concerning their structural and functional importance. The low serum concentration of IgE has limited carbohydrate characterisation to a few IgE myeloma proteins. Four to six of the seven potential N -glycosylation sites in the constant region of the epsilon chain seem occupied together with some residual microheterogeneity. We have used a panel of 28 anti-C ϵ 2, 7 anti-C ϵ 3 and 18 anti-C ϵ 4 domain-specific anti-IgE mAbs, and rFc ϵ RI α to examine the effect of N -glycosylation on epitope expression of human IgE. Myeloma proteins IgE(DES)- κ , IgE(ND)- λ and IgE(UD)- κ as well as polyclonal IgE were deglycosylated with PNGF and/or sialidase and tested in different ELISA. In all ELISA approaches, the reactivity of most domain-specific anti-IgE mAbs was independent of the glycosylation state of IgE(DES), except for one-third of the anti-C ϵ 2 mAbs. These mAbs reacted better with deglycosylated IgE(DES) in the order of treatment PNGF/sialidase>PNGF≥sialidase>buffer control. In sharp contrast, the reactivity of IgE(DES) with rFc ϵ RI α was not influenced by sialidase but markedly reduced following PNGF or PNGF/sialidase treatment. These findings were neither myeloma restricted nor caused by aggregation, since monomeric IgE demonstrated the same reactivity pattern. Thus, N -glycosylation seems to influence both structure and function of human IgE. The oligosaccharides modulate epitope expression, mainly in the C ϵ 2-domain, as revealed by a subset of mAbs. They also promote subtle changes in the C ϵ 3-domain, leading to a reduced Fc ϵ RI α binding. These findings suggest physiological implications of carbohydrates in human IgE.