title: Identification of human plasma cells with a lamprey monoclonal antibody.
abstract: Ab-producing plasma cells (PCs) serve as key participants in countering pathogenic challenges as well as being contributors to autoimmune and malignant disorders. Thus far, only a limited number of PC-specific markers have been identified. The characterization of the unique variable lymphocyte receptor (VLR) Abs that are made by evolutionarily distant jawless vertebrates prompted us to investigate whether VLR Abs could detect novel PC antigens that have not been recognized by conventional Abs. Here, we describe a monoclonal lamprey Ab, VLRB MM3, that was raised against primary multiple myeloma cells. VLRB MM3 recognizes a unique epitope of the CD38 ectoenzyme that is present on plasmablasts and PCs from healthy individuals and on most, but not all, multiple myelomas. Binding by the VLRB MM3 Ab coincides with CD38 dimerization and NAD glycohydrolase activity. Our data demonstrate that the lamprey VLRB MM3 Ab is a unique reagent for the identification of plasmablasts and PCs, with potential applications in the diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of PC or autoimmune disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory Vaccine Center and the Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Cuiling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Justin Tze Ho
authors.initials: JTH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jiefei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mengyao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Dariush
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davani
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Srijit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Shuya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyu
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Allergy and.
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grunebaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Evan J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Propst
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory Vaccine Center and the Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Jaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trudel
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ostrowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory Vaccine Center and the Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Brantley R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Herrin
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: F Eun-Hyung
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Lowance Center, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory Vaccine Center and the Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Max D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Götz Ra
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ehrhardt