Induction of IgG2a class switching in B cells by IL-27

IL-27 is a novel IL-12 family member that plays a role in the early regulation of Th1 initiation. However, its role in B cells remains unexplored. We here show a role for IL-27 in the induction of T-bet expression and regulation of Ig class switching in B cells. Expression of WSX-1, one subunit of IL-27R, was detected at the mRNA level in primary mouse spleen B cells, and stimulation of these B cells by IL-27 rapidly activated STAT1. IL-27 then induced T-bet expression and IgG2a, but not IgG1, class switching in B cells activated with anti-CD40 or LPS. In contrast, IL-27 inhibited IgG1 class switching induced by IL-4 in activated B cells. Similar induction of STAT1 activation, T-bet expression and IgG2a class switching was observed in IFN-gamma-deficient B cells, but not in STAT1-deficient ones. The induction of IgG2a class switching was abolished in T-bet-deficient B cells activated with LPS. These results suggest that primary spleen B cells express functional IL-27R and that the stimulation of these B cells by IL-27 induces T-bet expression and IgG2a, but not IgG1, class switching in a STAT1-dependent but IFN-gamma-independent manner. The IL-27-induced IgG2a class switching is highly dependent on T-bet in response to T-independent stimuli such as LPS. Thus, IL-27 may be a novel attractive candidate as a therapeutic agent against diseases such as allergic disorders by not only regulating Th1 differentiation but also directly acting on B cells and inducing IgG2a class switching.     

On the fragmentation of monoclonal IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b from BALB/c mice

Methods for the production and purification of F(ab')2 fragments from BALB/c monoclonal IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b with pepsin and other proteases were examined. The overall susceptibility to degradation is IgG2b greater than IgG2a greater than IgG1. Stable F(ab')2 can be produced in good yield from IgG1 with pepsin at pH 3.5 to 4.0 and can be made directly by pepsin treatment of ascites fluids or cell culture supernatants containing IgG1. IgG2a is cleaved in two steps by pepsin, first to F(ab')2 and then to Fab'. With carefully chosen conditions, F(ab')2 can be obtained in acceptable yield. The primary cleavage for the IgG2a heavy chain appears to be on the COOH terminal side of the interheavy chain disulfides, and secondary cleavage is on the NH2-terminal side. For IgG2b the reverse is true, and F(ab')2 has not been obtained in useful amounts; however, the primary cleavage of IgG2b appears to be assymetric with respect to the two heavy chains, and Fab/c fragments that have one Fab plus Fc can be made. Digestion with elastase resulted in the best yield of Fab/c. This finding may provide a method for retaining cytotoxicity in monoclonal antibodies against cell surface antigens while eliminating their capacity to modulate. The cleavage patterns of the three classes of IgG are rationalized in terms of the structure of their hinge regions.     

IFN-gamma enhances secretion of IgG2a from IgG2a-committed LPS-stimulated murine B cells: implications for the role of IFN-gamma in class switching

IFN-gamma is a pleiotropic lymphokine that influences the isotypes of immunoglobulin secreted by B cells. IFN-gamma inhibits the secretion of IgG3, IgG2b, IgG1, and IgE, and enhances the secretion of IgG2a. We have examined the mechanism of IFN-gamma-mediated enhancement of IgG2a secretion in sorted populations of B cells and find that IFN-gamma reproducibly stimulates a twofold increase in the precursor frequency of IgG2a-secreting cells in the sIgG2a+ population. Additionally, we find that IFN-gamma does not induce an increase in the clone size of IgG2a-secreting cells. IFN-gamma stimulates a twofold increase in the precursor frequency of IgG2a-secreting cells from sIgG- and unsorted B cells which can be attributed to an increase in IgG2a secretion from IgG2a-committed cells in these populations. Hence, under the culture conditions utilized in these studies. IFN-gamma enhances IgG2a secretion from IgG2a-committed cells and does not induce a class switch.     

Defective microtubule-dependent podosome organization in osteoclasts leads to increased bone density in Pyk2(-/-) mice

The protein tyrosine kinase Pyk2 is highly expressed in osteoclasts, where it is primarily localized in podosomes. Deletion of Pyk2 in mice leads to mild osteopetrosis due to impairment in osteoclast function. Pyk2-null osteoclasts were unable to transform podosome clusters into a podosome belt at the cell periphery; instead of a sealing zone only small actin rings were formed, resulting in impaired bone resorption. Furthermore, in Pyk2-null osteoclasts, Rho activity was enhanced while microtubule acetylation and stability were significantly reduced. Rescue experiments by ectopic expression of wild-type or a variety of Pyk2 mutants in osteoclasts from Pyk2(-/-) mice have shown that the FAT domain of Pyk2 is essential for podosome belt and sealing zone formation as well as for bone resorption. These experiments underscore an important role of Pyk2 in microtubule-dependent podosome organization, bone resorption, and other osteoclast functions.     

Deletion polymorphisms in the promoter region of Fcgamma receptor IIB is not associated with antigen-specific IgG2a and IgG2b antibody responses in NC/Nga mice

Fcgamma receptor (R) IIB, a low-affinity FcR for IgG, inhibits B cell Ag R (BCR)-mediated activation when these two receptors are cross-linked by Ag and IgG-containing immune complexs (ICs). We found deletion polymorphisms in the promoter region of fcgr2b in NC/Nga mice, a model for human atopic dermatitis. NC/Nga mice produced significantly higher levels of ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgG, IgG2a and IgG2b than did BALB/c mice. Analysis of (BALB/c x NC/Nga)F1 x BALB/c or (BALB/c x NC/Nga) F1 x NC/Nga backcross mice revealed that deletion polymorphisms of fcgr2b in NC/Nga mice does not directly regulate hyper OVA-specific IgG2a and IgG2b Ab responses.     

Defective primary and secondary IgG responses to thymic-dependent antigens in autoimmune PN mice

Palmerston North (PN) mice spontaneously develop autoimmune disease resembling SLE. Because immune responsiveness has not been defined in this strain, a study was designed to assay primary splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses to thymus-dependent (TD) and thymus-independent (TI) Ag. Initial surveys of PN mice inoculated with the TD Ag SRBC showed adequate production of IgM PFC, but small numbers of IgG PFC were developed with polyspecific antiserum. In contrast, H-2-compatible DBA/1 control mice gave the expected responses to SRBC (IgG plaques elevated twofold compared with IgM plaques). PN mice had the usual responses to Ag that are largely TI; both PN and DBA/1 mice had active IgM and modest IgG responses to TNP-LPS and TNP-Ficoll. Additional experiments determined that PN mice had similar patterns of defective IgG responses to several different TD Ag (SRBC, horse RBC, and DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin). In each instance, the usual predominance of IgG1 plaques was absent, and total numbers of plaques developed with antisera specific for IgG isotypes were suppressed. Defective PN IgG production was evident as early as 3 wk of age, was not influenced by aging to 43 wk, and was not corrected by increasing the antigenic challenge 10-fold. PN spleen cells treated with monoclonal anti-Thy-1.2 and C were injected with pools of DBA/1 T cells into 850-rad irradiated (DBA/1 x PN)F1 hybrids. These recipients expressed low IgG1 responses to SRBC, suggesting that the B cell-containing fraction that was not lysed by anti-Thy-1.2 transferred the PN defect. PN mice, which do not respond to TD Ag with active IgG production, contradict the proposal that autoimmunity is associated with hyper-responsiveness to TD and TI Ag.     

Defective ion regulation in a class of membrane-excitation mutants in Paramecium

The “paranoiac” mutants of Paramecium aurelia show prolonged backward swimming in solutions containing Na⁺, unlike wild-type paramecia, which jerk back and forth in Na⁺ solutions. The paranoiac mutants in Na⁺ solutions also show large losses of cellular K⁺ and large influxes of Na⁺. Three different paranoiac mutants all show similar defects in ion regulation but to different degrees. Wild-type Paramecium, in contrast, shows no Na⁺-dependent loss of cellular K⁺ and a much smaller Na⁺ influx. In K⁺-containing solutions, there is no difference between wild-type and paranoiac paramecia with respect to their cellular K⁺ content.The Na⁺ influx, the K⁺ loss, and the duration of backward swimming are all proportional to the extracellular Na⁺ concentration. Electrophysiologically, the backward swimming of the paranoiac mutants corresponds to a prolonged depolarization of the membrane potential, while the backward jerks of wild-type Paramecium correspond to a series of transient depolarizations. We propose that the large Na⁺ influxes and the large K⁺ effluxes in paranoiacs occur during the periods of backward swimming, while the membrane is depolarized.     

Hyperacute rejection by anti-Gal IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b is dependent on complement and Fc-gamma receptors

We have previously reported that anti-Gal-alpha1,3Gal (Gal) IgG3 mAbs mediate a classical complement-dependent hyperacute rejection (HAR), while anti-Gal IgG1 mAbs mediate HAR that is dependent on complement, the Fc-gamma receptors FcgammaRII/III (CD32/CD16), and NK cells. IgG2a and IgG2b subclasses can activate complement and have FcgammaR binding properties in vitro. Whether these IgG subclasses can mediate HAR in vivo and the mechanisms by which they would do so are not known. In this study, we isolated spontaneous IgG switch mutants from an anti-Gal IgG1 hybridoma. In vitro complement-mediated hemolytic assays with mouse complement indicate that both anti-Gal IgG2a and IgG2b mAbs were more potent compared with the parent anti-Gal IgG1. In vivo administration of anti-Gal IgG2a and IgG2b mAbs into Gal-/- mice induced HAR of rat cardiac xenografts. HAR induced by anti-Gal IgG2a and IgG2b was dependent on complement activation and the presence of NK cells. Using FcgammaRIII-deficient (Gal-/-CD16-/-) recipients, we observed that HAR mediated by different anti-Gal IgG subclasses was variably dependent on FcgammaRIII, with IgG1>IgG2b>IgG2a=IgG3. Using FcgammaRI-deficient (Gal-/-CD64-/-) recipients, we observed that HAR mediated by anti-Gal IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b, but not by anti-Gal IgG3, was dependent on FcgammaRI. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the necessity and sufficiency of complement in IgG3-mediated HAR and the necessity of both complement and FcgammaR, especially FcgammaRI, in IgG1-, IgG2a-, and IgG2b-mediated HAR.     

Robust expansion of human hepatocytes in Fah-/-/Rag2-/-/Il2rg-/- mice

Mice that could be highly repopulated with human hepatocytes would have many potential uses in drug development and research applications. The best available model of liver humanization, the uroplasminogen-activator transgenic model, has major practical limitations. To provide a broadly useful hepatic xenorepopulation system, we generated severely immunodeficient, fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (Fah)-deficient mice. After pretreatment with a urokinase-expressing adenovirus, these animals could be highly engrafted (up to 90%) with human hepatocytes from multiple sources, including liver biopsies. Furthermore, human cells could be serially transplanted from primary donors and repopulate the liver for at least four sequential rounds. The expanded cells displayed typical human drug metabolism. This system provides a robust platform to produce high-quality human hepatocytes for tissue culture. It may also be useful for testing the toxicity of drug metabolites and for evaluating pathogens dependent on human liver cells for replication.     

Defective prodynorphin processing in mice lacking prohormone convertase PC2

Prodynorphin, a multifunctional precursor of several important opioid peptides, is expressed widely in the CNS. It is processed at specific single and paired basic sites to generate various biologically active products. Among the prohormone convertases (PCs), PC1 and PC2 are expressed widely in neuroendocrine tissues and have been proposed to be the major convertases involved in the biosynthesis of hormonal and neural peptides. In this study we have examined the physiological involvement of PC2 in the generation of dynorphin (Dyn) peptides in mice lacking active PC2 as a result of gene disruption. Enzymological and immunological assays were used to confirm the absence of active PC2 in these mice. The processing profiles of Dyn peptides extracted from brains of these mice reveal a complete lack of Dyn A-8 and a substantial reduction in the levels of Dyn A-17 and Dyn B-13. Thus, PC2 appears to be involved in monobasic processing, leading to the generation of Dyn A-8, Dyn A-17, and Dyn B-13 from prodynorphin under physiological conditions. Brains of heterozygous mice exhibit only half the PC2 activity of wild-type mice; however, the levels of Dyn peptides in these mice are similar to those of wild-type mice, suggesting that a 50% reduction in PC2 activity is not sufficient to significantly reduce prodynorphin processing. The disruption of the PC2 gene does not lead to compensatory up-regulation in the levels of other convertases with similar substrate specificity because we find no significant changes in the levels of PC1, PC5/PC6, or furin in these mice as compared with wild-type mice. Taken together, these results support a critical role for PC2 in the generation of Dyn peptides.     

Defective intestinal amino acid absorption in Ace2 null mice

Mutations in the main intestinal and kidney luminal neutral amino acid transporter B(0)AT1 (Slc6a19) lead to Hartnup disorder, a condition that is characterized by neutral aminoaciduria and in some cases pellagra-like symptoms. These latter symptoms caused by low-niacin are thought to result from defective intestinal absorption of its precursor l-tryptophan. Since Ace2 is necessary for intestinal B(0)AT1 expression, we tested the impact of intestinal B(0)AT1 absence in ace2 null mice. Their weight gain following weaning was decreased, and Na(+)-dependent uptake of B(0)AT1 substrates measured in everted intestinal rings was defective. Additionally, high-affinity Na(+)-dependent transport of l-proline, presumably via SIT1 (Slc6a20), was absent, whereas glucose uptake via SGLT1 (Slc5a1) was not affected. Measurements of small intestine luminal amino acid content following gavage showed that more l-tryptophan than other B(0)AT1 substrates reach the ileum in wild-type mice, which is in line with its known lower apparent affinity. In ace2 null mice, the absorption defect was confirmed by a severalfold increase of l-tryptophan and of other neutral amino acids reaching the ileum lumen. Furthermore, plasma and muscle levels of glycine and l-tryptophan were significantly decreased in ace2 null mice, with other neutral amino acids displaying a similar trend. A low-protein/low-niacin diet challenge led to differential changes in plasma amino acid levels in both wild-type and ace2 null mice, but only in ace2 null mice to a stop in weight gain. Despite the combination of low-niacin with a low-protein diet, plasma niacin concentrations remained normal in ace2 null mice and no pellagra symptoms, such as photosensitive skin rash or ataxia, were observed. In summary, mice lacking Ace2-dependent intestinal amino acid transport display no total niacin deficiency nor clear pellagra symptoms, even under a low-protein and low-niacin diet, despite gross amino acid homeostasis alterations.     

Cell-Extrinsic Defective Lymphocyte Development in Lmna-/- Mice

Background

Mutations in the LMNA gene, which encodes all A-type lamins, result in a variety of human diseases termed laminopathies. Lmna^-/- mice appear normal at birth but become runted as early as 2 weeks of age and develop multiple tissue defects that mimic some aspects of human laminopathies. Lmna^-/- mice also display smaller spleens and thymuses. In this study, we investigated whether altered lymphoid organ sizes are correlated with specific defects in lymphocyte development.

Principal Findings

Lmna^-/- mice displayed severe age-dependent defects in T and B cell development which coincided with runting. Lmna^-/- bone marrow reconstituted normal T and B cell development in irradiated wild-type recipients, driving generation of functional and self-MHC restricted CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. Transplantation of Lmna^-/- neonatal thymus lobes into syngeneic wild-type recipients resulted in good engraftment of thymic tissue and normal thymocyte development.

Conclusions

Collectively, these data demonstrate that the severe defects in lymphocyte development that characterize Lmna^-/- mice do not result directly from the loss of A-type lamin function in lymphocytes or thymic stroma. Instead, the immune defects in Lmna ^-/- mice likely reflect indirect damage, perhaps resulting from prolonged stress due to the striated muscle dystrophies that occur in these mice.     

Rapid blood clearance of injected mouse IgG2a in SCID mice

SCID mice were found to have rapid blood clearance of injected mouse IgG2a antibodies (Ab), while IgG1 Ab were cleared normally. This effect varied depending on the strain of SCID mice, being very rapid in most Taconic ICR mice and slower in C.B-17 mice. A similar effect was previously described in nude mice, and shown to be due to the very low concentrations of endogenous IgG2a and IgG2b in these mice. Therefore, IgG2a and IgG2b concentrations were assayed in sera from 30 SCID mice: the concentrations were very low, with one exception. Rapid blood clearance in all strains could be strongly inhibited by injection of large amounts of irrelevant IgG2a. Therefore, the low endogenous IgG2a and IgG2b concentrations are responsible for the rapid blood clearance rate of injected IgG2a in these mice, as in nude mice. However, the relatively slow blood clearance of injected IgG2a in certain SCID mice (C.B-17 mice and rare Taconic ICR mice), was not generally due to higher levels of IgG2a or IgG2b, but rather to some other factor that has not been identified. F(ab')(2) Ab fragments were not cleared rapidly, which supports other evidence that clearance is via the CD64 Fcgamma receptor. This rapid clearance of IgG2a affects the ability of such Ab to target tumors, and was also shown to affect the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of radiolabeled IgG2a Ab, labeled with either (125)I or (111)In. Mice with faster blood clearance had a lower MTD, probably due to the fact that Ab uptake was in the bone as well as the spleen. This effect must be taken into consideration in experiments in which SCID mice are injected with IgG2a or IgG2b Ab.     

Somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination in Msh6(-/-)Ung(-/-) double-knockout mice

Somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR) are initiated by activation-induced cytosine deaminase (AID). The uracil, and potentially neighboring bases, are processed by error-prone base excision repair and mismatch repair. Deficiencies in Ung, Msh2, or Msh6 affect SHM and CSR. To determine whether Msh2/Msh6 complexes which recognize single-base mismatches and loops were the only mismatch-recognition complexes required for SHM and CSR, we analyzed these processes in Msh6(-/-)Ung(-/-) mice. SHM and CSR were affected in the same degree and fashion as in Msh2(-/-)Ung(-/-) mice; mutations were mostly C,G transitions and CSR was greatly reduced, making Msh2/Msh3 contributions unlikely. Inactivating Ung alone reduced mutations from A and T, suggesting that, depending on the DNA sequence, varying proportions of A,T mutations arise by error-prone long-patch base excision repair. Further, in Msh6(-/-)Ung(-/-) mice the 5' end and the 3' region of Ig genes was spared from mutations as in wild-type mice, confirming that AID does not act in these regions. Finally, because in the absence of both Ung and Msh6, transition mutations from C and G likely are "footprints" of AID, the data show that the activity of AID is restricted drastically in vivo compared with AID in cell-free assays.     

Separate Fc-receptors for immunoglogulins IgG2a and IgG2b on an established cell line of mouse macrophages.

The specificity of Fe-receptors on IC-21 cells, an established line of mouse peritoneal macrophages with antibody-dependent effector cell activity has been examined. Only IgG2a and IgG2b myeloma proteins bound readily to IC-21 Fc-receptors, the former in nonaggregated as well as aggregated form, the latter only as aggregated complexes. Thus, IgG2a bound in a manner characteristic of classically defined cytophilic antibody, whereas the binding of IgG2b appeared to be mediated by Fc-receptors for antigen-antibody complexes. Evidence is presented in support of the view that IC-21 macrophages possess separate and distinct Fc-receptor sites for these two immunoglobulins.     

Defective resistance to Plasmodium yoelii in CBA/N mice.

The role of B lymphocytes in resistance to malaria was studied in defective and normal F1 mice derived from CBA/N mice, a strain with an X-linked B cell defect. When infected with normally nonlethal Plasmodium yoelii, immune defective F1 male mice had higher parasitemias and more prolonged infections than normal F1 mice, as well as a 50% mortality rate. Before infection the plasma levels of IgM and IgG were lower in defective F1 males than normal F1 mice. The polyclonal IgM and IgG responses of infected abnormal F1 mice were delayed and lower in absolute magnitude than those of normal F1 mice. Furthermore, specific IgM and IgG anti-plasmodial antibody titers, as determined by radioimmunoassay, were depressed on day 12 in the defective F1 males. Although IgG titers approached those of the normal F1 mice on day 19, defective F1 male IgM titers remained depressed. These data demonstrate that an X-linked gene that affects B cell function influences malarial resistance in mice, presumably via a decreased specific IgM response, and the slow development of a specific IgG response to P. yoelii infection.