Distinct patterns of heavy chain variable region subgroup use by human monoclonal autoantibodies of different specificity.
Using a panel of antibodies specific for H and L chain variable region subgroups, a panel of human monoclonal cold agglutinin (CA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) autoantibodies were analyzed. The vast majority of the two types of autoantibodies utilized VkIII L chains, many of which probably derive from the Humkv325 gene. However, while most RFs (77%) utilized VHI H chains, all the CAs used VHII subgroup H chains. These results are consistent with a model of autoantibody generation, wherein binding specificity is H chain defined in a set of antibodies that use a multipotential L chain.
D000373:Agglutinins / Q000235:genetics*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000235:genetics*
D000373:Agglutinins; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor