Expression pattern of the most J[sub H]-proximal human V[sub H] gene segment (V[sub H]6) in the B cell and antibody repertoire suggests a role of V[sub H]6-encoded IgM antibodies in early ontogeny

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Immunology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6792357

Van Es, J H; Tol, M J.D. van; Gmelig Meyling, F H.J.; Logtenberg, T ^[1]; Raaphorst, F M ^[2]

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1. University Hospital, Utrecht (Netherlands)
2. University Hospital, Leiden (Netherlands)

The authors have developed a mAb (JE-6) that recognizes an Id encoded by the most J[sub H]-proximal human V[sub H] gene segment (V[sub H]6) in or near germ-line configuration. This mAb was used to determine the frequency of Id JE6[sup +] B cells in large collections of monoclonal EBV-transformed and short term B cell lines derived from fetal, neonatal, and adult lymphoid tissues. Moreover, they investigated the presence of Id JE-6[sup +] lg in sera from neonates and adults and determined the (auto)antigen binding properties of V[sub H]6-encoded IgM mAb. They detected a fivefold overrepresentation of V[sub H]6-expression IgM producing B cells in fetal tissues, cord blood, and adult bone marrow relative to adult blood. In cord blood, but not in adult blood sera, germ-line V[sub H]6-encoded IgM molecules were readily detectable. IgM secreted by V[sub H]6-expressing B cell clones displayed highly conserved and virtually identical autoantigen binding properties, independent of the length and composition of the IgH chain CDR3 region and L chain isotype. Collectively, these results suggest that the V[sub H]6 gene and the antibodies it encodes play an important role in early human ontogeny. 31 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6792357
• Journal Information: Journal of Immunology; (United States), Vol. 150:1; ISSN 0022-1767
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANTIBODIES
ONTOGENESIS
LYMPHOCYTES
GENE REGULATION
GENES
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
GLOBULINS
LEUKOCYTES
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
SOMATIC CELLS
550300* - Cytology
550200 - Biochemistry
550400 - Genetics