Lupus IgG VH4. 34 antibodies bind to a 220-kDa glycoform of CD45/B220 on the surface of human B lymphocytes

AJ Cappione, AE Pugh-Bernard… - The Journal of …, 2004 - journals.aai.org
The Journal of Immunology, 2004journals.aai.org
Anti-lymphocyte autoantibodies are a well-recognized component of the autoimmune
repertoire in human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and have been postulated to have
pathogenic consequences. Early studies indicated that IgM anti-lymphocyte autoantibodies
mainly recognized T cells and identified CD45, a protein tyrosine phosphatase of central
significance in the modulation of lymphocyte function, as the main antigenic target on T cells.
However, more recent work indicates that lupus autoantibodies can also recognize B cells …
Abstract
Anti-lymphocyte autoantibodies are a well-recognized component of the autoimmune repertoire in human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and have been postulated to have pathogenic consequences. Early studies indicated that IgM anti-lymphocyte autoantibodies mainly recognized T cells and identified CD45, a protein tyrosine phosphatase of central significance in the modulation of lymphocyte function, as the main antigenic target on T cells. However, more recent work indicates that lupus autoantibodies can also recognize B cells and that CD45 may also represent their antigenic target. In particular, IgM Abs encoded by V H 4.34 appear to have special tropism for B cells, and strong, but indirect evidence suggests that they may recognize a B cell-specific CD45 isoform. Because V H 4.34 Abs are greatly expanded in SLE, in the present study we investigated the antigenic reactivity of lupus sera V H 4.34 IgG Abs and addressed their contribution to the anti-lymphocyte autoantibody repertoire in this disease. Our biochemical studies conclusively demonstrate that lupus IgG V H 4.34 Abs target a developmentally regulated B220-specific glycoform of CD45, and more specifically, an N-linked N-acetyllactosamine determinant preferentially expressed on naive B cells that is sterically masked by sialic acid on B220-positive memory B cells. Strikingly, our data also indicate that this reactivity in SLE sera is restricted to V H 4.34 Abs and can be eliminated by depleting these Abs. Overall, our data indicate that V H 4.34 Abs represent a major component of the lupus IgG autoantibody repertoire and suggest that the carbohydrate moiety they recognize may act as a selecting Ag in SLE.
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