Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Switch Research Articles

Regulation of switch recombination to the murine gamma 1 gene.

The Immunoglobulin heavy chain switch, in which a variable region gene is rearranged from association with the Cμ gene to association with a C7, Ce, or Cα gene, is mediated by a recombination event between switch (S) regions [reviewed in 1]. Switch regions are 2 to 10 kb segments of simple sequences repeated in tandem and are found upstream of each of the heavy chain C genes, except Cδ [1]. Switch recombination is regulated in a gene-specific way; individual B cells direct recombination to one, or sometimes two, CH genes out of the six possible genes. For example, B cells treated with a mitogen, like lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and moderate amounts of interleukin 4 (IL4) switch almost exclusively to the γ1 gene [2, 3].

Circular DNA resulting from recombination between V-(D)-J joining signals and switch repetitive sequences in mouse thymocytes.

During the course of analyzing circular DNA in mouse thymocytes, novel recombinants were identified with immunoglobulin heavy chain joining gene and switch region probes. These circles represent excision products of recombination between the heptamer-nonamer motif for V-(D)-J joining and a repetitive sequence for class switching. The molecular mechanisms that generate "hybrid circles" are discussed.

Nuclear protein binding to octamer motifs in the immunoglobulin γ1 switch region

Initiation of the immunoglobulin heavy chain switch DNA rearrangement event is thought to involve conversion of the target switch region DNA to an accessible state. Accessibility is likely to be mediated by the binding of regulatory proteins to sequences in or near switch regions. A DNase hypersensitivity assay was used to recognize possible regions of protein binding in the gamma 1 switch region of the B cell hybridoma 470.25. A strong DNase hypersensitive site was identified 5' of the tandemly repeated S gamma 1 sequences. Data from other laboratories suggest that this hypersensitive site is associated with switch recombination to gamma 1. However, the 470.25 cell does hypersensitive sites within the repetitive portion of the gamma 1 switch region was also identified. A gel retardation assay for protein--DNA interaction revealed a sequence present in several copies in the gamma 1 switch region that specifically binds nuclear proteins. This binding sequence, SG1BS, contains the octanucleotide sequence ATGCAAAA, a 7/8 match to the transcriptional enhancer octamer motif found in immunoglobulin promoters and the heavy chain enhancer. Binding competition studies of SG1BS demonstrate that both the octamer and flanking sequences are critical for binding. By size- and tissue-distribution, the factors that bind SG1BS are not distinguishable from the previously identified octamer-binding factors OTF-1 and OTF-2. The ability of proteins to bind the S gamma 1 octamer motif is increased 2.3-fold upon IL-4 induction of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated B cells.

Immunoglobulin heavy chain switch region gene polymorphisms in glomerulonephritis

Much evidence suggests that primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN) are immune complex mediated diseases. Moreover, genetic factors may play an important role in their pathogenesis. Recently, restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the immunoglobulin heavy chain genes have been described which appear to associate with glomerulonephritis. We have studied RFLPs of the switch region of the IgM (S mu) and IgA1 (S alpha 1) heavy chain in MN and IgAN. DNA obtained from British Caucasoids with IgAN (N = 75), MN (N = 43), and normal controls (N = 73), was digested with the restriction enzyme Sac1, and studied using Southern blot techniques and hybridization with a 32P labelled DNA probe homologous to S mu. This probe detects RFLPs at the S mu and S alpha 1 loci. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of the S mu and S alpha 1 alleles in IgAN and MN was similar to normal controls. Caucasoid subjects with IgAN from Northern and Southern Europe (Finland and Italy, respectively) were also studied to determine whether an ethnic variation in genetic susceptibility to IgAN exists. The frequency of the S mu and S alpha 1 alleles was similar between the patient groups and their respective local healthy controls. These results do not support the recent findings of an association with RFLPs of the S mu and S alpha 1 loci in IgAN and MN, and suggest that the immunoglobulin heavy chain switch region genes are not important in conferring disease susceptibility to IgAN or MN.

A second B cell-specific enhancer 3' of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus

The expression of immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) genes is generally thought to be regulated by the combination of the VH promoter with the enhancer element which is located in the JH-CH intron. This is probably an oversimplification: there are cell lines that transcribe IgH genes despite the deletion of the intron-enhancer. These findings could imply that other enhancer element(s) exist in the IgH locus. Here we show that a strong B-cell-specific enhancer is indeed located at the 3'-end of the rat IgH locus, 25 kilobases downstream of C alpha. This enhancer should be retained downstream of all rearranged IgH genes, regardless of the VH or CH segment used. Taken together with analogous findings for the mouse kappa locus, the results prompt a re-evaluation of the mechanism of regulation of immunoglobulin gene transcription. Furthermore, unlike the intron-enhancer, the IgH 3' enhancer would become linked to a c-myc that rearranges into an IgH switch region. The IgH 3' enhancer could therefore play a part in the activation of the translocated c-myc genes in rat immunocytomas, mouse plasmacytomas and Burkitt lymphomas.

Copy choice mechanism of immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch recombination.

The immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch is mediated by a recombination event between DNA switch regions associated with donor and recipient constant-region genes. We have determined that the mutations which can be found in some switch regions after recombination appear to arise on only one strand of DNA. This result suggests that switch recombination involves error-prone synthesis of one DNA strand and ligation of the other strand from preexisting DNA.

Copy Choice Mechanism of Immunoglobulin Heavy-Chain Switch Recombination

The immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch is mediated by a recombination event between DNA switch regions associated with donor and recipient constant-region genes. We have determined that the mutations which can be found in some switch regions after recombination appear to arise on only one strand of DNA. This result suggests that switch recombination involves error-prone synthesis of one DNA strand and ligation of the other strand from preexisting DNA.

A B-Cell-Specific Nuclear Protein That Binds to DNA Sites 5′ to Immunoglobulin Sα Tandem Repeats Is Regulated during Differentiation

Immunoglobulin heavy-chain switching is effected by recombination events between sites associated with tandemly repeated switch sequences located 5' to immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes. Using the band mobility shift assay, we have identified two distinct sites 5' to the alpha heavy-chain switch sequence with affinity for a single B-cell-specific DNA-binding protein, S alpha-BP. S alpha-BP was present in nuclear extracts from pre-B and B cells but was not detected in extracts from plasmacytomas, B-cell hybridomas, T-cell lymphomas, or a macrophage cell line. It was also not detectable in other nonlymphoid cells tested. Evidence suggests there are S alpha-BP-binding sites near other immunoglobulin switch sequences. As with the S alpha sites, these sites appear to be distinct from the consensus tandem repeats characteristic of immunoglobulin switch sequences. The possible functions of S alpha-BP on contacting its binding sites are discussed in the context of immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch recombination.

A B-cell-specific nuclear protein that binds to DNA sites 5' to immunoglobulin S alpha tandem repeats is regulated during differentiation.

Immunoglobulin heavy-chain switching is effected by recombination events between sites associated with tandemly repeated switch sequences located 5' to immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes. Using the band mobility shift assay, we have identified two distinct sites 5' to the alpha heavy-chain switch sequence with affinity for a single B-cell-specific DNA-binding protein, S alpha-BP. S alpha-BP was present in nuclear extracts from pre-B and B cells but was not detected in extracts from plasmacytomas, B-cell hybridomas, T-cell lymphomas, or a macrophage cell line. It was also not detectable in other nonlymphoid cells tested. Evidence suggests there are S alpha-BP-binding sites near other immunoglobulin switch sequences. As with the S alpha sites, these sites appear to be distinct from the consensus tandem repeats characteristic of immunoglobulin switch sequences. The possible functions of S alpha-BP on contacting its binding sites are discussed in the context of immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch recombination.

Mutations, duplication, and deletion of recombined switch regions suggest a role for DNA replication in the immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch.

The heavy-chain switch from immunoglobulin M (IgM) expression to IgA expression is mediated by a recombination event between segments of DNA called switch regions. The switch regions lie two to six kilobases upstream of the mu and alpha constant region coding segments. Switch recombination to IgA expression results in a recombinant mu-alpha switch region upstream of the expressed alpha constant region gene. We have characterized the products of switch recombination by a lymphoma cell line, I.29. Two sets of molecular clones represent the expected products of simple mu to alpha switches. Five members of a third set of molecular clones share the same recombination site in both the mu and the alpha switch regions, implying that the five molecular clones were derived from a single switch recombination event. Surprisingly, the five clones fall into two sets of sequences, which differ from each other by several point mutations and small deletions. Duplication of switch region sequences are also found in these five molecular clones. An explanation for these data is that switch recombination involves DNA synthesis, which results in nucleotide substitutions, small deletions, and duplications.

Mutations, duplication, and deletion of recombined switch regions suggest a role for DNA replication in the immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch.

The heavy-chain switch from immunoglobulin M (IgM) expression to IgA expression is mediated by a recombination event between segments of DNA called switch regions. The switch regions lie two to six kilobases upstream of the mu and alpha constant region coding segments. Switch recombination to IgA expression results in a recombinant mu-alpha switch region upstream of the expressed alpha constant region gene. We have characterized the products of switch recombination by a lymphoma cell line, I.29. Two sets of molecular clones represent the expected products of simple mu to alpha switches. Five members of a third set of molecular clones share the same recombination site in both the mu and the alpha switch regions, implying that the five molecular clones were derived from a single switch recombination event. Surprisingly, the five clones fall into two sets of sequences, which differ from each other by several point mutations and small deletions. Duplication of switch region sequences are also found in these five molecular clones. An explanation for these data is that switch recombination involves DNA synthesis, which results in nucleotide substitutions, small deletions, and duplications.

Molecular requirements for immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region gene switch recombination revealed with switch substrate retroviruses

We have employed a retroviral vector, ZN(Smu/S gamma 2b)tk1, as a means of introducing immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) switch (S) region sequences into B cell lines to directly measure their switch-recombinase activities. In an earlier study, we demonstrated that retrovector Smu-S gamma 2b recombination events occurred in two thymidine kinase (tk)-negative murine pre-B cell lines (18-8 and 38B9) upon selection in bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) media for the loss of an Htk gene inserted in between the vector's Smu and S gamma 2b sequences. Here we have used this assay system to show that the 300-18 murine pre-B cell line possesses a very high level of switch-recombinase activity (greater than 1 event in 2500 cells/generation) while a terminally differentiated, antibody-secreting hybridoma line (A39R 1.1) has no detectable recombinase activity. Both S mu and S gamma 2b segments are required for switch region-mediated deletions. Retrovectors harboring only an Smu segment or an Smu segment and a portion of the murine c-myc gene in place of S gamma 2b sequences were both non-recombinagenic in this assay system. Nucleotide sequence analysis of six retrovector S segment recombinants, recovered from ZN(Smu/S gamma 2b) tk1-infected 18-8 and 39B9 pre-B lines, did not reveal homology at their sites of recombination. We conclude that: (1) S segment repetitive sequences play an essential but indirect role in IgCH gene switch-recombination, which occurs by an illegitimate, non-homologous mechanism; (2) the c-myc gene is not a significant target for switch-recombination; and (3) since endogenous Smu and S gamma 2b rearrangements were not observed in populations and clones of pre-B cells expressing a high level of switch-recombinase activity, multiple factors (presumably contributed in part by the degree of S segment accessibility) in addition to S recombinase activity are required for CH class switching.

Immunoglobulin heavy-chain switching may be directed by prior induction of transcripts from constant-region genes.

Immunoglobulin heavy-chain switching is effected by a DNA recombination event that replaces the C mu gene with one of the other heavy-chain constant-region (CH) genes located 3' to the C mu gene. How the specificity of this event is controlled is unknown. However, it has been shown that IgM+ cells capable of switching to specific isotypes have the corresponding unrearranged CH genes in an accessible or active chromatin state, as demonstrated by the fact that these specific CH genes are hypomethylated and are transcriptionally active. We now report that the RNAs transcribed from specific unrearranged CH genes are induced prior to switching under conditions that promote switching to these specific CH genes. For example, we find that bacterial lipopolysaccharide, which induces the IgM+ cell line I.29 mu to switch to IgA, induces transcripts from the germ-line C alpha gene(s) in I.29 mu cells prior to switch recombination. Two preparations of T-cell lymphokines (recombinant interleukin 4 and supernatant from the T-cell line 2.19, which contains interleukins 4 and 5) that promote switching to specific isotypes by lipopolysaccharide-treated spleen cells induce transcripts from the corresponding germ-line CH genes prior to expression of the new isotypes. For example, interleukin 4, which appears to be necessary for switching to IgE in vitro and in vivo, induces within 2 days large increases in germ-line C epsilon transcripts in lipopolysaccharide-treated spleen cells and in I.29 mu cells. The most straightforward interpretation of our data is that these lymphokines direct switching to specific isotypes by activating specific CH genes, making them accessible to the putative switch recombinase.

Immunoglobulin heavy chain switch region polymorphisms are not associated with type 1 diabetes.

In order to ascertain whether the immunoglobulin heavy chain genes are important in the aetiology of Type 1 diabetes, we have used restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of genomic DNA to study 148 Caucasoid subjects with Type 1 diabetes and 146 normal Caucasoid subjects. A DNA probe homologous to the switch regions for the IgM (S mu) and IgA1 (S alpha 1) genes when used in conjunction with the restriction endonuclease Sst I detects RFLPs at both these loci. There were no significant differences in phenotype or gene frequencies for the alleles of S mu or S alpha 1 in the patients when compared with control subjects; nor were there significant associations of S mu or S alpha 1 with HLA-DR type or gender.

Autoreactive T cell hybridoma-derived B cell stimulatory factor(s) governing IgA isotype immunoglobulin production by murine Peyer's patch B cells.

In the present study we investigated whether autoreactive T cells derived from murine Peyer's patches (PP) have the capacity to regulate mucosal B cell differentiation to IgA-producing plasma cells in vitro. We also examined whether B cell development is mediated by lymphokines from immunoregulatory T cells - that is, B cell stimulatory factors (BSF) and cofactors (coBSF) - which include B cell growth factor (BCGF), putative alpha B cell immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain switch factor (BSWF alpha), and B cell differentiation factor (BCDF), as well as interleukin-2 (IL-2). To this purpose we developed in vitro a variety of BSF (especially putative BSWF alpha)-producing autoreactive (self-class II molecules responsive) T cell hybridoma cell clones from murine PP, and studied the functional activity of the BSF, especially a putative alpha Ig heavy chain switch (mu----alpha) factors(s). These T hybridome cell lines possessed the surface phenotypes of Thy 1.2, CD4+, CD5+ and CD8- and produced a variety of BSF, including two kinds of BCGF (IL-5, and a BCGF that did not require additional costimulators to induce proliferation of preactivated B cells), putative BSWF alpha/gamma, BCDF, and/or IL-2. The results strongly support the view that the autologous T cell plays an important role not only in B cell proliferation and terminal maturation, but also in alpha heavy chain switching in PP. This T-B cell interation is mediated at least in part through BSF lymphokines elaborated by the autoreactive T cell, probably activated in situ in the lymphoid tissue microenvironment.

Inhibition, by vinca alkaloids and colchicine, of antigenic modulation induced by anti-CD19 monoclonal antibodies

Several clinical trials have been reported in which monoclonal antibodies (McAb) were used for therapy of lymphoid malignancies. Such trials have shown that infusion of McAb recognizing lymphoid antigens, is well-tolerated, and leads to the coating of tumor cells and tumor regression in some patients. However, the tumoricidal capacity of a McAb is hampered by the presence of circulating free antigen, antigenic modulation, development of human anti-mouse antibodies, emergence of antigen-negative variants of tumor cells and the inadequacy of host-effector cell mechanisms. We have studied the antigenic modulation induced by immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain switch variants of anti-CD19 McAb. Modulation of CD19 molecules was not related to the IgG subclass of the McAb. Immunofluorescence studies on the Burkitt tumor cell line Daudi showed that CD19 molecules are internalized after incubation by anti-CD19 McAb. Next, the effect of cytoskeleton inhibitors on antigenic modulation was studied. We found that antigenic modulation on Daudi cells and on an Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line was completely inhibited by vinca alkaloids (VA) or by colchicine. Interestingly, antigenic modulation of tumor cells from a VA-resistant patient, was not inhibited by VA or colchicine. These findings provide information for the rational design of more effective clinical trials with McAb.

Interruption of two immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch regions in murine plasmacytoma P3.26Bu4 by insertion of retroviruslike element ETn.

A number of moderately reiterated murine genetic elements have been shown to have structures like those of retroviral proviruses. These elements are thought to be transposons, although little evidence of their transposability exists. Two members of one of these families of reiterated elements, the ETn family, have inserted into separate immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch regions in the plasmacytoma P3.26Bu4. Switch regions are those DNA segments associated with each immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene in which the somatic recombinations that accompany the heavy-chain switch occur. This role in somatic recombination may be relevant to the ETn insertions into the switch regions in P3.26Bu4 DNA. P3.26Bu4 and a number of other B-lineage cells contain ETn transcripts.

Interruption of two immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch regions in murine plasmacytoma P3.26Bu4 by insertion of retroviruslike element ETn.

A number of moderately reiterated murine genetic elements have been shown to have structures like those of retroviral proviruses. These elements are thought to be transposons, although little evidence of their transposability exists. Two members of one of these families of reiterated elements, the ETn family, have inserted into separate immunoglobulin heavy-chain switch regions in the plasmacytoma P3.26Bu4. Switch regions are those DNA segments associated with each immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene in which the somatic recombinations that accompany the heavy-chain switch occur. This role in somatic recombination may be relevant to the ETn insertions into the switch regions in P3.26Bu4 DNA. P3.26Bu4 and a number of other B-lineage cells contain ETn transcripts.

The immunoglobulin heavy chain switch: structural features of gamma 1 recombinant switch regions.

The immunoglobulin heavy chain isotype switch is mediated by a DNA rearrangement involving specific genomic segments referred to as switch regions. Switch regions are composed of tandemly repeated simple sequences. The role of the tandemly repeated structure of switch regions in the switch recombination process is not understood. We mapped eight recombination sites--six in the gamma 1 and two in the gamma 3 tandem arrays. In addition, we obtained molecular clones representing three of the six gamma 1 rearrangements, and determined the nucleotide sequences of the recombination sites in each. In general, the rearrangements are confined to the tandem repeat units, and are not clustered in a particular portion of either the gamma 3 or gamma 1 switch region. Nucleotide sequence analysis of one of the recombinant clones, gamma M35, reveals evidence for a successive switch event wherein a recombination between S mu and S gamma 3 was followed by recombination 57 bp downstream with S gamma 1. gamma 1 sequence data from the molecular clones we obtained, together with similar data from other investigators regarding the gamma 1, gamma 2b, and gamma 2a switch regions, reveals that recombinations tend to occur at homologous positions of the respective gamma-unit repeats, adjacent to the elements AGCT and GGGG found in each. This finding suggests that the cutting and religation step of the recombination process is mediated by a recombinase common to the four gamma-isotypes.

Immunoglobulin heavy chain switch region recombination within a retroviral vector in murine pre-B cells.

We have employed a retroviral vector, ZN(Smu/S gamma 2b)tk1, as a substrate for detecting the presence of immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region (CH) gene switch (S) recombination activity in murine pre-B cells. ZN(Smu/S gamma 2b)tk1 contains a neomycin (neo) resistance gene in addition to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Htk) gene which is positioned between murine Smu and S gamma 2b sequences. Stable acquisition of the ZN(Smu/S gamma 2b)tk1 vector was selected in G-418 and switch region recombination within these proviruses was selected by resistance to the drug bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR). Fluctuation analyses of ZN(Smu/S gamma 2b)tk1 infected 18-8tk- and 38B9tk- pre-B lines revealed Htk gene inactivations with apparent frequencies of 5 X 10(-5) and 1 X 10(-5) events/cell/generation, respectively, while G-418 resistant Ltk- fibroblasts lost the HTK phenotype at an apparent rate of 4 X 10(-8). Southern blot analysis demonstrated that switch recombination caused the deletion of the Htk gene in all pre-B clones examined while the loss of Htk in Ltk- clones was not mediated by S region recombination. In 21 out of 24 pre-B clones, the recombinations involved the tandemly repetitive portions of the Smu and S gamma 2b sequences. These results demonstrate that the CH gene S region segments inserted into ZN(Smu/S gamma 2b)tk1 are sufficient for B-cell-specific recombination/deletion within the S region tandem repeats.