Nucleotide sequence of a human monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody specific for a rabies virus-neutralizing monoclonal idiotypic antibody reveals extensive somatic variability suggestive of an antigen-driven immune response.
We previously described the isolation and characterization of a human monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab2) isolated from EBV-transformed human PBL after immunization with rabies vaccine. The present study concerns the molecular characteristics of the Ab2 and the germ-line elements that gave rise to it. The H chain of this antibody derives from the small VHV family of human V region gene segments. Parallel studies on the germ-line VHV gene isolated from the same individual revealed that the expressed molecule contains 19 nucleotide differences in the VH gene segment. The D segment of Ab2 could have arisen by a D to D fusion; the J segment is a JH6. Extensive somatic variation evident in the H chain variable region of this naturally arising monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody suggests that this Ab2, the product of a CD5+ B cells, was the consequence of an Ag-driven immune response.
van der Heijden
R W
RW
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Center, Dallas 75235.
Bunschoten
H
H
Pascual
V
V
Uytdehaag
F G
FG
Osterhaus
D M
DM
Capra
J D
JD
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000235:genetics*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region