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Broadly neutralizing Abs against HIV protect from infection, but their routine elicitation by vaccination has not been achieved. To generate small animal models to test vaccine candidates, we have generated targeted transgenic ("knock-in") mice expressing, in the physiological Ig H and L chain loci, two well-studied broadly neutralizing Abs: 4E10, which interacts with the membrane proximal external region of gp41, and b12, which binds to the CD4 binding site on gp120. 4E10HL mice are described in the companion article (Doyle-Cooper et al., J. Immunol. 191: 3186-3191). In this article, we describe b12 mice. B cells in b12HL mice, in contrast to the case in 4E10 mice, were abundant and essentially monoclonal, retaining the b12 specificity. In cell culture, b12HL B cells responded avidly to HIV envelope gp140 trimers and to BCR ligands. Upon transfer to wild-type recipients, b12HL B cells responded robustly to vaccination with gp140 trimers. Vaccinated b12H mice, although generating abundant precursors and Abs with affinity for Env, were unable to rapidly generate neutralizing Abs, highlighting the importance of developing Ag forms that better focus responses to neutralizing epitopes. The b12HL and b12H mice should be useful in optimizing HIV vaccine candidates to elicit a neutralizing response while avoiding nonprotective specificities.

Previous estimates of the diversity of the mouse Ab repertoire have been based on fragmentary data as a result of many technical limitations, in particular, the many samples necessary to provide adequate coverage. In this study, we used 5'-coding end amplification of Igκ mRNAs from bone marrow, splenic, and lymph node B cells of C57BL/6 mice combined with amplicon pyrosequencing to assess the functional and nonfunctional Vκ repertoire. To evaluate the potential effects of receptor editing, we also compared V/J associations and usage in bone marrows of mouse mutants under constitutive negative selection or an altered ability to undergo secondary recombination. To focus on preimmune B cells, our cell sorting strategy excluded memory B cells and plasma cells. Analysis of ~90 Mbp, representing >250,000 individual transcripts from 59 mice, revealed that 101 distinct functional Vκ genes are used but at frequencies ranging from ~0.001 to ~10%. Usage of seven Vκ genes made up >40% of the repertoire. A small class of transcripts from apparently nonfunctional Vκ genes was found, as were occasional transcripts from several apparently functional genes that carry aberrant recombination signals. Of 404 potential V-J combinations (101 Vκs × 4 Jκs), 398 (98.5%) were found at least once in our sample. For most Vκ transcripts, all Jκs were used, but V-J association biases were common. Usage patterns were remarkably stable in different selective conditions. Overall, the primary κ repertoire is highly skewed by preferred rearrangements, limiting Ab diversity, but potentially facilitating receptor editing.

To analyze B lymphocyte central tolerance in a polyclonal immune system, mice were engineered to express a superantigen reactive to IgM of allotype b (IgM(b)). IgM(b/b) mice carrying superantigen were severely B cell lymphopenic, but small numbers of B cells matured. Their sera contained low levels of IgG and occasionally high levels of IgA. In bone marrow, immature B cells were normal in number, but internalized IgM and had a unique gene expression profile, compared with those expressing high levels of surface IgM, including elevated recombinase activator gene expression. A comparable B cell population was defined in wild-type bone marrows, with an abundance suggesting that at steady state ∼20% of normal developing B cells are constantly encountering autoantigens in situ. In superantigen-expressing mice, as well as in mice carrying the 3H9 anti-DNA IgH transgene, or 3H9 H along with mutation in the murine κ-deleting element RS, IgM internalization was correlated with CD19 downmodulation. CD19(low) bone marrow cells from 3H9;RS(-/-) mice were enriched in L chains that promote DNA binding. Our results suggest that central tolerance and attendant L chain receptor editing affect a large fraction of normal developing B cells. IgH(a/b) mice carrying the superantigen had a ∼50% loss in follicular B cell numbers, suggesting that escape from central tolerance by receptor editing from one IgH allele to another was not a major mechanism. IgM(b) superantigen hosts reconstituted with experimental bone marrow were demonstrated to be useful in revealing pathways involved in central tolerance.

Transitional B cells turn over rapidly in vivo and are sensitive to apoptosis upon BCR ligation in vitro. However, little direct evidence addresses their tolerance sensitivity in vivo. A key marker used to distinguish these cells is IgD, which, through alternative RNA splicing of H chain transcripts, begins to be coexpressed with IgM at this stage. IgD is also expressed at high levels on naive follicular (B-2) and at lower levels on marginal zone and B-1 B cells. In this study, mice were generated to ubiquitously express a membrane-bound IgD-superantigen. These mice supported virtually no B-2 development, a greatly reduced marginal zone B cell population, but a relatively normal B-1 compartment. B cell development in the spleen abruptly halted at the transitional B cell population 1 to 2 stage, a block that could not be rescued by either Bcl-2 or BAFF overexpression. The developmentally arrested B cells appeared less mature and turned over more rapidly than nontransgenic T2 cells, exhibiting neither conventional features of anergy nor appreciable receptor editing. Paradoxically, type-2 T-independent responses were more robust in the transgenic mice, although T-dependent responses were reduced and had skewed IgL and IgH isotype usages. Nevertheless, an augmented memory response to secondary challenge was evident. The transgenic mice also had increased serum IgM, but diminished IgG, levels mirrored by the increased numbers of IgM(+) plasma cells. This model should facilitate studies of peripheral B cell tolerance, with the advantages of allowing analysis of polyclonal populations, and of B cells naturally lacking IgD.

IgE plays a pivotal role in allergic reactions and asthma through its ability to bind to the mast cell FcR for IgE (FcepsilonRI). Current therapies to suppress such reactions include passive treatment with neutralizing Abs to IgE that block its binding to FcepsilonRI. In theory, induction of immune tolerance in the B lymphocytes that carry IgE Ag receptors and give rise to IgE-secreting cells should provide longer term efficacy. However, recent data have suggested that such memory cells may lack cell surface IgE. Using a gene therapy approach, we show that a recombinant single-chain neutralizing anti-IgE could not only neutralize circulating IgE, but also reduce IgE(+) B cell numbers and H chain transcripts. Therapeutic anti-IgE stimulated a calcium response in primary B cells or in a B cell line expressing membrane IgE and suppressed IgE secretion in vitro, suggesting that active signaling through membrane IgE likely promoted tolerance. Interestingly, upon subsequent challenge of anti-IgE-treated mice with an IgE cross-linking reagent capable of inducing activation of IgE-decorated mast cells, an anaphylaxis reaction was induced, apparently via a FcgammaRIII pathway involving recognition of anti-IgE Ab itself. These studies have important implications for the optimal design of safe and effective anti-IgE therapies and suggest that the IgE memory B cells may be targeted by such genetic Ab therapies.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease caused by IgG autoantibodies against desmoglein 3 (Dsg3). We have recently developed an active disease mouse model for PV by adoptive transfer of splenocytes from Dsg3(-/-) mice. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of CD40/CD154 interaction in the pathogenic antibody production and development of the disease in PV model mice. When anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was administered to recipient mice prior to adoptive transfer, anti-CD154 mAb almost completely blocked the anti-Dsg3 IgG production and prevented blister formation. The blockade of CD40/CD154 interaction induced tolerance against Dsg3 as the suppression of antibody production was observed through day 70, and it was maintained even after challenge by immunization with recombinant mouse Dsg3 or by adoptive transfer of immunized Dsg3(-/-) splenocytes. Furthermore, the tolerance to Dsg3 was transferable because cotransfer of splenocytes from anti-CD154 mAb-treated mice and naïve Dsg3(-/-) splenocytes significantly suppressed anti-Dsg3 IgG production in recipient mice. In contrast, when anti-CD154 mAb was injected after the mice had developed the PV phenotype, no significant suppression of the production of anti-Dsg3 IgG was observed. These findings indicate that the CD40/CD154 interaction is essential for the induction of pathogenic anti-Dsg3 IgG antibodies and that antigen-specific immune-regulatory cells induced by anti-CD154 mAb would hold a therapeutic option for autoimmune diseases.

To examine the mechanism of B cell tolerance against natural peripheral self-antigen, we generated transgenic mice expressing IgM specific for desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) from AK7 monoclonal antibody which itself does not induce blisters. Dsg3 is mainly expressed on stratified squamous epithelium and is the target antigen of an autoimmune bullous disease, pemphigus vulgaris. Transgenic B cells reactive to Dsg3 were observed in the spleen and lymph node. Although these B cells are autoreactive, they did not develop into B1 B cells. These B cells were functionally competent and anti-Dsg3 IgM was detected in the serum and on the keratinocyte cell surface. These results indicate that auto-reactive B cells against peripheral antigen (Dsg3) are able to develop in the presence of Dsg3 but are ignored by the immune system.

Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a blistering skin disease caused by IgG autoantibodies against desmoglein 3 (Dsg3). We have recently developed an active disease mouse model for PV by adoptive transfer of splenocytes from immunized or naive Dsg3-/- mice into Rag2-/- recipient mice., Objective: In this study, we characterized the conformational epitopes of anti-Dsg3 IgG antibodies and their pathogenic activities in the PV model mice., Methods: The binding regions of anti-Dsg3 IgG antibodies were assessed by competition ELISAs with domain-swapped mouse Dsg1/Dsg3 molecules in PV model mice receiving immunized (n = 53) or naive (n = 56) splenocytes. To compare the pathogenic activity of antibodies against N-terminal versus C-terminal extracellular domains, Dsg3-/- mice were immunized with the residues 1-162 or the residues 403-565 of mouse Dsg3, and the splenocytes were adoptively transferred into Rag2-/- mice., Results: The middle to C-terminal extracellular domains of Dsg3 (residues 195-565) showed >50% competition in 51/53 (96.2%) and 45/56 (80.4%) while the N-terminal domain (residues 1-162) showed >50% competition only in 3/53 (5.7%) and 8/56 (14.3%) in mice receiving immunized and naive splenocytes, respectively. The mice receiving Dsg3-/- splenocytes immunized with the residues 403-565 developed the PV phenotype as early as and as severely as the mice receiving splenocytes immunized with the residues 1-162., Conclusions: In PV model mice the antibodies were dominantly raised against the middle to C-terminal extracellular domains of mouse Dsg3 where amino acid sequences are less conserved among desmoglein isoforms and that those antibodies may also be involved in the blister formation.