title: Variable region gene segment utilization in rhesus monkey hybridomas producing human red blood cell-specific antibodies: predominance of the VH4 family but not VH4-21 (V4-34).
abstract: Structural analyses of human immunoglobulin gene segments from monoclonal cell lines provide valuable information regarding the antibody repertoire. This information, in conjunction with a nearly complete knowledge of the human immunoglobulin germline repertoire, now allows further investigation into the underlying molecular basis responsible for some of the observed biases found in the expressed repertoire. One human heavy chain variable region gene segment, V4-34 (VH4-21), is one of the most prevalent gene segments in the expressed repertoire. The overwhelming presence of the V4-34 gene segment suggests that it may play an important role in immune responses. However, there is currently little information regarding its presence and potential importance in nonhuman primates. In order to determine if this gene segment is used by lower primates in a similar manner we determined the molecular structure of the variable region gene segments that are expressed by macaque monoclonal heterohybridomas that are specific for human red blood cell antigens. Eleven of the 12 hybridomas are derived from Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and one is from a cynomologous monkey (Macaca fascicularis), all of which have been immunized with human red blood cells. The predominance of a VH4-like family and the specific absence of a VH4-21 equivalent led us to further characterize the macaque VH4 gene family at the germline level. Therefore, germline gene segments from the macaque equivalent to the human VH4 gene family are also described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Immunology Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75234-9140, U.S.A.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Andris
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roubinet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blancher
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Capra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics*; D000916:Antibody Diversity; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; D015328:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Light Chain; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018076:DNA, Complementary