IgG4 and IgE transcripts in childhood allergic asthma reflect divergent antigen-driven selection.
The physiologic function of the "odd" Ab IgG4 remains enigmatic. IgG4 mediates immunotolerance, as, for example, during specific immunotherapy of allergies, but it mediates tissue damage in autoimmune pemphigus vulgaris and "IgG4-related disease." Approximately half of the circulating IgG4 molecules are bispecific owing to their unique ability to exchange half-molecules. Better understanding of the interrelation between IgG4 and IgE repertoires may yield insight into the pathogenesis of allergies and into potential novel therapies that modulate IgG4 responses. We aimed to compare the selective forces that forge the IgG4 and IgE repertoires in allergic asthma. Using an IgG4-specific RT-PCR, we amplified, cloned, and sequenced IgG4 H chain transcripts of PBMCs from 10 children with allergic asthma. We obtained 558 functional IgG4 sequences, of which 286 were unique. Compared with previously published unique IgE transcripts from the same blood samples, the somatic mutation rate was significantly enhanced in IgG4 transcripts (62 versus 83%; p < 0.001), whereas fewer IgG4 sequences displayed statistical evidence of Ag-driven selection (p < 0.001). On average, the hypervariable CDRH3 region was four nucleotides shorter in IgG4 than in IgE transcripts (p < 0.001). IgG4 transcripts in the circulation of children with allergic asthma reflect some characteristics of classical Ag-driven B2 immune responses but display less indication of Ag selection than do IgE transcripts. Although allergen-specific IgG4 can block IgE-mediated allergen presentation and degranulation of mast cells, key factors that influence the Ag-binding properties of the Ab differ between the overall repertoires of circulating IgG4- and IgE-expressing cells.
Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35033 Marburg, Germany;
Tobias
T
Rogosch
Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg, St. Hedwig Campus, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; and.
Sebastian
S
Kerzel
Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35033 Marburg, Germany;
Friederike
F
Dey
Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35033 Marburg, Germany;
Johanna-Josophina
JJ
Wagner
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198.
Zhixin
Z
Zhang
Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35033 Marburg, Germany;
Rolf F
RF
Maier
Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35033 Marburg, Germany; zemlin@med.uni-marburg.de.
Michael
M
Zemlin
D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D059645:Mutation Rate; D010802:Phylogeny; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000485:Allergens; D000941:Antigens; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains; D007073:Immunoglobulin E