Structural characterization of an (NZB×NZW)F1 mouse-derived IgM monoclonal antibody that binds through V region-dependent interactions to murine IgG anti-DNA antibodies

Among B/W-derived IgM mAb, 12.5H was selected because of its ability to recognize, in solid phase ELISAs, IgG mAb with DNA-binding activity. mAb 12.5H bound preferentially to IgG2a mAb and did not react with B/W- or BALB/c-derived IgG2a mAb with no DNA-binding activity, suggesting V region-mediated interactions. mAb 12.5H also bound to IgG2a isolated from the sera of old B/W mice but did not react with Ig present in the sera of young B/W (< 6 months) or BALB/c mice. Further analysis of IgM/IgG interaction showed that the binding of 12.5H to IgG polyclonal anti-DNA antibodies could be inhibited by DNA and that mAb 12.5H bound to the F(ab')2 fragments of B/W-derived IgG2a anti-DNA mAb, demonstrating that the interaction occurred through the variable regions of the molecules. When the antigen-binding capacity of mAb 12.5H was evaluated, it was demonstrated to bind to self-antigens such as myosin, actin, tubulin and histones, to bind poorly to ssDNA and not to react with dsDNA. mAb 12.5H gave a cytoplasmic staining pattern by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the H and L V genes showed features previously demonstrated to be recurrent in two categories of SLE autoantibodies, i.e. arginine residues in the VHCDR3 and at position 96 on the light chain, both considered to be characteristic of antibodies reacting with dsDNA and acidic amino-acid residues in VHCDR2 reported to be frequent on antihistone antibodies. Taken together, these results show that the B/W mouse repertoire contains IgM autoantibodies: (i) that react in an idiotypic manner with DNA binding antibodies and (ii) that, because of structural characteristics, may constitute the common precursor of different categories of SLE autoantibodies, and the prototype of the idiotypically connected SLE autoantibodies accounting for the production of autoantibodies upon immunization with cognate idiotype and the experimental model of cross-idiotype-induced lupus.