Production of recombinant Ig molecules from antigen-selected single B cells and restricted usage of Ig-gene segments by anti-D antibodies

J Immunol Methods. 2005 Mar;298(1-2):9-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2004.12.013.

Abstract

The Ig-genes of the heavy chains in anti-D-specific hybridomas and Fab/scFv-fragments selected from phage-display libraries are restricted to a group of closely related genes (IGHV3s genes). We analyzed the Ig-gene repertoire in anti-D-specific B cells of two hyperimmunized donors using a completely different method. Single B cells were cultured for 10 days in an EL4.B5 culture system. mRNA from anti-D-producing B cells was reverse transcribed into cDNA. Heavy- and light-chain gene rearrangements were amplified by PCR reactions, sequenced and cloned into a pNUT-vector system, thereby allowing the production of complete IgG and IgM. Eleven anti-D-specific B-cell clones were isolated and analyzed. Eight of these clones (including IgM-producing clones) had IGHV3s genes. We demonstrated that functional anti-D-specific IgM (4 clones) and IgG (2 clones) was produced. Using a new method, we analyzed the IGHV gene repertoire of anti-D-specific B cells of hyperimmunized donors and showed that it is indeed restricted. Moreover, we found a high frequency (1:100 and 1:500) of anti-D-specific B cells in the peripheral B cells of hyperimmunized donors. We suggest that this approach could be applied for the selection of human mAbs from immunized donors and for the analysis of Ig-gene repertoires at the single-B cell level.

MeSH terms

  • Antibody Specificity
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Clone Cells
  • DNA Primers
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Hybridomas
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / immunology*
  • Isoantibodies / analysis*
  • Isoantibodies / immunology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rho(D) Immune Globulin

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Isoantibodies
  • RHO(D) antibody
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Rho(D) Immune Globulin