Molecular characterization of a somatically mutated anti-DNA antibody bearing two systemic lupus erythematosus-related idiotypes.
We report the molecular characterization of 2A4, an IgG, DNA-binding antibody bearing the 3I and F4 idiotypes which are associated with anti-DNA antibodies in serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The antibody is produced by an EBV-transformed B cell line derived from a patient with multiple myeloma whose myeloma protein is also an IgG, 3I-reactive, F4-reactive, DNA-binding immunoglobulin, although the 2A4 antibody does not itself represent the myeloma protein. The 2A4 heavy chain is encoded by a VH4 gene, a D-D gene fusion and the JH6 gene; the light chain is derived from a Vk1 gene and the Jk2 gene. This is the first human antibody shown to have a CDR3 encoded by a D-D fusion. DNA sequence analysis of the 2A4 VH gene together with a Southern blot of genomic DNA probed with a 2A4 VH-specific oligonucleotide strongly suggest it to be somatically mutated. The data provide evidence that human autoantibodies can be products of somatically mutated genes and suggest that the 2A4 antibody may reflect the selective pressure of antigen.
Davidson
A
A
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461.
Manheimer-Lory
A
A
Aranow
C
C
Peterson
R
R
Hannigan
N
N
Diamond
B
B
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000235:genetics*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000235:genetics; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D004247:DNA