Anna M. Davies

Conformational changes in IgE contribute to its uniquely slow dissociation rate from receptor FcɛRI

Among antibody classes, IgE has a uniquely slow dissociation rate from, and high affinity for, its cell surface receptor FcɛRI. We show the structural basis for these key determinants of the ability of IgE to mediate allergic hypersensitivity through the 3.4-Å-resolution crystal structure of human IgE-Fc (consisting of the Cɛ2, Cɛ3 and Cɛ4 domains) bound to the extracellular domains of the FcɛRI α chain. Comparison with the structure of free IgE-Fc (reported here at a resolution of 1.9 Å) shows that the antibody, which has a compact, bent structure before receptor engagement, becomes even more acutely bent in the complex. Thermodynamic analysis indicates that the interaction is entropically driven, which explains how the noncontacting Cɛ2 domains, in place of the flexible hinge region of IgG antibodies, contribute together with the conformational changes to the unique binding properties of IgE.

Structural determinants of unique properties of human IgG4-Fc.

Human IgG4, normally the least abundant of the four subclasses of IgG in serum, displays a number of unique biological properties. It can undergo heavy-chain exchange, also known as Fab-arm exchange, leading to the formation of monovalent but bispecific antibodies, and it interacts poorly with FcγRII and FcγRIII, and complement. These properties render IgG4 relatively “non-inflammatory” and have made it a suitable format for therapeutic monoclonal antibody production. However, IgG4 is also known to undergo Fc-mediated aggregation and has been implicated in auto-immune disease pathology. We report here the high-resolution crystal structures, at 1.9 and 2.35 Å, respectively, of human recombinant and serum-derived IgG4-Fc. These structures reveal conformational variability at the CH3–CH3 interface that may promote Fab-arm exchange, and a unique conformation for the FG loop in the CH2 domain that would explain the poor FcγRII, FcγRIII and C1q binding properties of IgG4 compared with IgG1 and -3. In contrast to other IgG subclasses, this unique conformation folds the FG loop away from the CH2 domain, precluding any interaction with the lower hinge region, which may further facilitate Fab-arm exchange by destabilisation of the hinge. The crystals of IgG4-Fc also display Fc–Fc packing contacts with very extensive interaction surfaces, involving both a consensus binding site in IgG-Fc at the CH2–CH3 interface and known hydrophobic aggregation motifs. These Fc–Fc interactions are compatible with intact IgG4 molecules and may provide a model for the formation of aggregates of IgG4 that can cause disease pathology in the absence of antigen.

Dynamics of Inter-heavy Chain Interactions in Human Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Subclasses Studied by Kinetic Fab Arm Exchange

Background: Fab arm exchange requires weak interactions between CH3 domains, such as in human IgG4. Results: CH3-CH3 interactions differ >1,000,000-fold between human subclasses and allotypes due to variations Lys/Asn-392, Val/Met-397, and Lys/Arg-409. Conclusion: For IgG2 and IgG3, but not IgG1, hinge disulfide bonds are essential to prevent half-molecule dissociation. Significance: Subclass/allotype variation in the CH3 domain can alter antibody stability and functionality. Interdomain interactions between the CH3 domains of antibody heavy chains are the first step in antibody assembly and are of prime importance for maintaining the native structure of IgG. For human IgG4 it was shown that CH3-CH3 interactions are weak, resulting in the potential for half-molecule exchange (“Fab arm exchange”). Here we systematically investigated non-covalent interchain interactions for CH3 domains in the other human subclasses, including polymorphisms (allotypes), using real-time monitoring of Fab arm exchange with a FRET-based kinetic assay. We identified structural variation between human IgG subclasses and allotypes at three amino acid positions (Lys/Asn-392, Val/Met-397, Lys/Arg-409) to alter the strength of inter-domain interactions by >6 orders of magnitude. Each substitution affected the interactions independent from the other substitutions in terms of affinity, but the enthalpic and entropic contributions were non-additive, suggesting a complex interplay. Allotypic variation in IgG3 resulted in widely different CH3 interaction strengths that were even weaker for IgG3 than for IgG4 in the case of allotype G3m(c3c5*/6,24*), whereas G3m(s*/15*) was equally stable to IgG1. These interactions are sufficiently strong to maintain the structural integrity of IgG1 during its normal life span; for IgG2 and IgG3 the inter-heavy chain disulfide bonds are essential to prevent half-molecule dissociation, whereas the labile hinge disulfide bonds favor half-molecule exchange in vivo for IgG4.

Crystal Structure of the Human Igg4 C(H)3 Dimer Reveals the Role of Arg409 in the Mechanism of Fab-Arm Exchange.

Antibodies of the human IgG4 subclass uniquely undergo a process of Fab-arm exchange in which the heavy-chains of antibodies of different specificities can dissociate and then recombine. The mechanism by which the resulting functionally monovalent but bi-specific antibodies are formed is not only key to understanding their biological role, but is also important for the design of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Both the hinge region and the C(H)3 domain interface are known to be involved, and of the residues that differ between human IgG1 and IgG4 in C(H)3, residue 409, the only difference at the interface itself, has been implicated. We report the high resolution (1.8Å) structure of the C(H)3 domain dimer of IgG4, and find that Arg409 in IgG4, when compared with Lys409 observed in high resolution IgG1 structures, disrupts a network of water-mediated hydrogen bonding that is conserved in IgG1. Other conformational differences were detected that are a consequence of the presence of Arg409, such as a widening of the separation between residues Asn390 in one domain and Ser 400 in the other, which opens up a groove at the edge of the interface in IgG4 compared with IgG1. The effect of all these differences on the C(H)3 interface, doubled as a result of the interfaces two-fold symmetry, is weakening of the inter-domain interaction in IgG4 compared with IgG1. This suggests a mechanism by which Arg409 weakens the C(H)3 interface in IgG4, predisposing this human antibody subclass to Fab-arm exchange.

Human IgG4: a structural perspective

IgG4, the least represented human IgG subclass in serum, is an intriguing antibody with unique biological properties, such as the ability to undergo Fab‐arm exchange and limit immune complex formation. The lack of effector functions, such as antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity and complement‐dependent cytotoxicity, is desirable for therapeutic purposes. IgG4 plays a protective role in allergy by acting as a blocking antibody, and inhibiting mast cell degranulation, but a deleterious role in malignant melanoma, by impeding IgG1‐mediated anti‐tumor immunity. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the interaction between IgG4 and Fcγ receptors. Despite a wealth of structural information for the IgG1 subclass, including complexes with Fcγ receptors, and structures for intact antibodies, high‐resolution crystal structures were not reported for IgG4‐Fc until recently. Here, we highlight some of the biological properties of human IgG4, and review the recent crystal structures of IgG4‐Fc. We discuss the unexpected conformations adopted by functionally important Cγ2 domain loops, and speculate about potential implications for the interaction between IgG4 and FcγRs.

Structure and dynamics of IgE-receptor interactions: FcεRI and CD23/FcεRII

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is well known for its role in allergic disease, the manifestations of which are mediated through its two Fc receptors, FcεRI and CD23 (FcεRII). IgE and its interactions with these receptors are therefore potential targets for therapeutic intervention, and exciting progress has been made in this direction. Furthermore, recent structural studies of IgE‐Fc, the two receptors, and of their complexes, have revealed a remarkable degree of plasticity at the IgE–CD23 interface and an even more remarkable degree of dynamic flexibility within the IgE molecule. Indeed, there is allosteric communication between the two receptor‐binding sites, which we now know are located at some distance from each other in IgE‐Fc (at opposite ends of the Cε3 domain). The conformational changes associated with FcεRI and CD23 binding to IgE‐Fc ensure that their interactions are mutually incompatible, and it may be that this functional imperative has driven IgE to evolve such a dynamic structure. Appreciation of these new structural data has revised our view of IgE structure, shed light on the co‐evolution of antibodies and their receptors, and may open up new therapeutic opportunities.

Crystal Structure of Deglycosylated Human Igg4-Fc

Graphical abstract

Human IgE against the major allergen Bet v 1 – defining an epitope with limited cross‐reactivity between different PR‐10 family proteins

The interaction between IgE and allergen is a key event at the initiation of an allergic response, and its characteristics have substantial effects on the clinical manifestation. Despite this, the molecular details of the interaction between human IgE and the major birch allergen Bet v 1, one of the most potent tree allergens, still remain poorly investigated.

IgG4 Characteristics and Functions in Cancer Immunity

IgG4 is the least abundant subclass of IgG in normal human serum, but elevated IgG4 levels are triggered in response to a chronic antigenic stimulus and inflammation. Since the immune system is exposed to tumor-associated antigens over a relatively long period of time, and tumors notoriously promote inflammation, it is unsurprising that IgG4 has been implicated in certain tumor types. Despite differing from other IgG subclasses by only a few amino acids, IgG4 possesses unique structural characteristics that may be responsible for its poor effector function potency and immunomodulatory properties. We describe the unique attributes of IgG4 that may be responsible for these regulatory functions, particularly in the cancer context. We discuss the inflammatory conditions in tumors that support IgG4, the emerging and proposed mechanisms by which IgG4 may contribute to tumor-associated escape from immune surveillance and implications for cancer immunotherapy.

Allosteric mechanism of action of the therapeutic anti-IgE antibody omalizumab.

Immunoglobulin E and its interactions with receptors FcϵRI and CD23 play a central role in allergic disease. Omalizumab, a clinically approved therapeutic antibody, inhibits the interaction between IgE and FcϵRI, preventing mast cell and basophil activation, and blocks IgE binding to CD23 on B cells and antigen-presenting cells. We solved the crystal structure of the complex between an omalizumab-derived Fab and IgE-Fc, with one Fab bound to each Cϵ3 domain. Free IgE-Fc adopts an acutely bent structure, but in the complex it is only partially bent, with large-scale conformational changes in the Cϵ3 domains that inhibit the interaction with FcϵRI. CD23 binding is inhibited sterically due to overlapping binding sites on each Cϵ3 domain. Studies of omalizumab Fab binding in solution demonstrate the allosteric basis for FcϵRI inhibition and, together with the structure, reveal how omalizumab may accelerate dissociation of receptor-bound IgE from FcϵRI, exploiting the intrinsic flexibility and allosteric potential of IgE.