title: Different pattern of immunoglobulin gene usage by HIV-1 compared to non-HIV-1 antibodies derived from the same infected subject.
abstract: A biased usage of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes is observed in human anti-HIV-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) resulting probably from compensation to reduced usage of the VH3 family genes, while the other alternative suggests that this bias usage is due to antigen requirements. If the antigen structure is responsible for the preferential usage of particular Ig genes, it may have certain implications for HIV vaccine development by the targeting of particular Ig gene-encoded B cell receptors to induce neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibodies. To address this issue, we have produced HIV-1 specific and non-HIV-1 mAbs from an infected individual and analyzed the Ig gene usage. Green-fluorescence labeled virus-like particles (VLP) expressing HIV-1 envelope (Env) proteins of JRFL and BaL and control VLPs (without Env) were used to select single B cells for the production of 68 recombinant mAbs. Ten of these mAbs were HIV-1 Env specific with neutralizing activity against V3 and the CD4 binding site, as well as non-neutralizing mAbs to gp41. The remaining 58 mAbs were non-HIV-1 Env mAbs with undefined specificities. Analysis revealed that biased usage of Ig genes was restricted only to anti-HIV-1 but not to non-HIV-1 mAbs. The VH1 family genes were dominantly used, followed by VH3, VH4, and VH5 among anti-HIV-1 mAbs, while non-HIV-1 specific mAbs preferentially used VH3 family genes, followed by VH4, VH1 and VH5 families in a pattern identical to Abs derived from healthy individuals. This observation suggests that the biased usage of Ig genes by anti-HIV-1 mAbs is driven by structural requirements of the virus antigens rather than by compensation to any depletion of VH3 B cells due to autoreactive mechanisms, according to the gp120 superantigen hypothesis.
authors: Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors: Liuzhe
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Xiao-Hong
authors: XH
authors: Wang
authors: Sagarika
authors: S
authors: Banerjee
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Volsky
authors: Constance
authors: C
authors: Williams
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Virland
authors: Arthur
authors: A
authors: Nadas
authors: Michael S
authors: MS
authors: Seaman
authors: Xuemin
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Spearman
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Zolla-Pazner
authors: Miroslaw K
authors: MK
authors: Gorny
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D007074:Immunoglobulin G