title: Immunoglobulin variable region gene expression in response to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide.
abstract: The mechanism(s) responsible for the ontogenic patterns of acquisition of the antibody repertoire is unknown. The immune response to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) capsular polysaccharide provides an excellent model system in which to examine the ontogeny of immunoglobulin variable region expression. A panel of hybridomas secreting human antibodies specific for Hib capsular polysaccharide was developed using peripheral blood lymphocytes from donors immunized with Hib vaccines. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the heavy chain V regions expressed by four of these hybridomas suggests selective use of members of the VHIII gene family in combination with different D and J segments. The nucleotide sequences were highly homologous to two candidate germline gene sequences. Others have reported that these particular germline sequences are expressed in fetal liver, suggesting that the inability of young children to produce antibody to the Hib capsular polysaccharide is not due to failure to express these VH regions early in ontogeny.
authors.affiliation: Program in Human Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Adderson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Shackelford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; C052180:Haemophilus influenzae type b-polysaccharide vaccine-diphtheria toxoid conjugate; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial