Joachim Malotka

Matching of oligoclonal immunoglobulin transcriptomes and proteomes of cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis

We describe a method for correlating the immunoglobulin (Ig) proteomes with the B cell transcriptomes in human fluid and tissue samples, using multiple sclerosis as a paradigm. Oligoclonal Ig bands and elevated numbers of clonally expanded B cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are diagnostic hallmarks of multiple sclerosis. Here we compared the Ig transcriptomes of B cells with the corresponding Ig proteomes in CSF samples from four subjects with multiple sclerosis. We created individual Ig transcriptome databases that contained the subject-specific mutations introduced by V(D)J recombination and somatic hypermutation and then searched the CSF for corresponding characteristic peptides by mass spectrometry. In each sample, the Ig transcriptomes and proteomes strongly overlapped, showing that CSF B cells indeed produce the oligoclonal Ig bands. This approach can be applied to other organ-specific diagnostic fluid or tissue samples to compare the Ig transcripts of local B cells with the corresponding antibody proteomes of individual subjects.

Neurofascin as a target for autoantibodies in peripheral neuropathies

ABSTRACT Objectives: We asked whether autoantibodies against neurofascin (NF)186 or NF155, both localized at the nodes of Ranvier, are present in serum of patients with inflammatory neuropathy, and whether NF-specific monoclonal antibodies are pathogenic in vivo. Methods: We cloned human NF155 and NF186, and developed an ELISA and cell-based assay to screen for antibodies to human NF in a total of 434 donors including 294 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome variants acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), acute motor axonal neuropathy, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). We characterized reactive samples by isotyping, tissue section staining, and epitope mapping. We also injected NF-specific monoclonal antibodies IV into rats with experimental autoimmune neuritis. Results: We detected autoantibodies to NF by ELISA in 4% of patients with AIDP and CIDP, but not in controls. Most positive samples contained immunoglobulin G (IgG)1, IgG3, or IgG4 antibodies directed to only one isoform of NF. Two patients with CIDP showed particularly high (1:10,000 dilution) NF155-specific reactivity in both assays and stained paranodes. Two other patients with CIDP who benefited from plasma exchange exhibited antibodies to NF155 by ELISA, and upon affinity purification, antibodies to both isoforms were observed by both assays. Anti-NF monoclonal antibodies enhanced and prolonged induced neuritis in rats. Conclusions: Autoantibodies to NF are detected in a very small proportion of patients with AIDP and patients with CIDP, but may nevertheless be pathogenic in these cases.

Reconstitution of paired T cell receptor alpha- and beta-chains from microdissected single cells of human inflammatory tissues.

We describe a strategy to “revive” putatively pathogenic T cells from frozen specimens of human inflammatory target organs. To distinguish pathogenic from irrelevant bystander T cells, we focused on cells that were (i) clonally expanded and (ii) in direct morphological contact with a target cell. Using CDR3 spectratyping, we identified clonally expanded T cell receptor (TCR) β-chains in muscle sections of patients with inflammatory muscle diseases. By immunohistochemistry, we identified those Vβ-positive T cells that fulfilled the morphological criteria of myocytotoxicity and isolated them by laser microdissection. Next, we identified coexpressed pairs of TCR α- and β-chains by a multiplex PCR protocol, which allows the concomitant amplification of both chains from single cells. This concomitant amplification had not been achieved previously in histological sections, mainly because of the paucity of available anti-α-chain antibodies and the great heterogeneity of the α-chain genes. From muscle tissue of a patient with polymyositis, we isolated 64 T cells that expressed an expanded Vβ1 chain. In 23 of these cells, we identified the corresponding α-chain. Twenty of these 23 α-chains were identical, suggesting antigen-driven selection. After functional reconstitution of the αβ-pairs, their antigen-recognition properties could be studied. Our results open avenues for combined analysis of the full TCR α- and β-chain repertoire in human inflammatory tissues.

Phylogenetic examination of vertebrate central nervous system myelin proteins by electro-immunoblotting

Central nervous system (CNS) myelin proteins from vertebrate classes were examined by immunoblotting with antisera against mammalian CNS myelin proteins. Higher vertebrates possessed proteolipid (PLP), DM-20 and Wolfgram (WP) proteins, except that DM-20 was missing in amphibia. Fish CNS myelins contained neither PLP nor WP; instead they bound antisera to mammalian peripheral nervous system P0 protein. All classes carried myelin basic protein, but only mammals exhibited a component equivalent to rat 21.5K (21,500 dalton). These phylogenetic data are consistent with major changes in CNS myelin protein composition at the transition from fishes to higher vertebrates.

Unbiased identification of target antigens of CD8+ T cells with combinatorial libraries coding for short peptides

Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells recognize the antigenic peptides presented by class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. These T cells have key roles in infectious diseases, autoimmunity and tumor immunology, but there is currently no unbiased method for the reliable identification of their target antigens. This is because of the low affinities of antigen-specific T cell receptors (TCR) to their target MHC-peptide complexes, the polyspecificity of these TCRs and the requirement that these TCRs recognize protein antigens that have been processed by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Here we describe a technology for the unbiased identification of the antigenic peptides presented by MHC class I molecules. The technology uses plasmid-encoded combinatorial peptide libraries and a single-cell detection system. We validated this approach using a well-characterized influenza-virus–specific TCR, MHC and peptide combination. Single APCs carrying antigenic peptides can be detected among several million APCs that carry irrelevant peptides. The identified peptide sequences showed a converging pattern of mimotopes that revealed the parent influenza antigen. This technique should be generally applicable to the identification of disease-relevant T cell antigens.

An autoreactive gamma delta TCR derived from a polymyositis lesion

To investigate the role of γδ T cells in human autoimmune disease we expressed and characterized a γδ TCR from an autoimmune tissue lesion. The TCR was first identified in a rare form of polymyositis characterized by a monoclonal infiltrate of γδ T cells which invaded and destroyed skeletal muscle fibers. The Vγ1.3-Jγ1-Cγ1/Vδ2-Jδ3 TCR cDNA of the original muscle invasive γδ T cell clone was reconstructed from unrelated cDNA and transfected into the mouse hybridoma BW58α−β−. Appropriate anti-human γδ TCR Abs stimulated the TCR transfectants to produce IL-2, thus demonstrating that the human γδ TCR functionally interacted with murine signaling components. The transfected Vγ1.3/Vδ2 TCR recognized a cytosolic protein expressed in cultured human myoblasts and TE671 rhabdomyosarcoma cells. The Ag was recognized in the absence of presenting cells. Using a panel of control γδ TCR transfectants with defined exchanges in different positions of both TCR chains, we showed that the γδ TCR recognized its Ag in a TCR complementarity-determining region 3-dependent way. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a molecularly defined γδ TCR directly derived from an autoimmune tissue lesion. The strategy used in this study may be applicable to other autoimmune diseases.

Target specificity of an autoreactive pathogenic human γδ-T cell receptor in myositis.

Background: In a rare case of human autoimmune myositis, muscle fibers are attacked by γδ-T cells. Results: We identified several antigens recognized by the γδ-T cell receptor. Conclusion: The γδ-T cell receptor recognized human tRNA synthetases known as antigens of autoantibodies in myositis. Significance: This is the first report of an antigen recognized by human γδ-T cells in an autoimmune disease. In polymyositis and inclusion body myositis, muscle fibers are surrounded and invaded by CD8-positive cytotoxic T cells expressing the αβ-T cell receptor (αβ-TCR) for antigen. In a rare variant of myositis, muscle fibers are similarly attacked by CD8-negative T cells expressing the γδ-TCR (γδ-T cell-mediated myositis). We investigated the antigen specificity of a human γδ-TCR previously identified in an autoimmune tissue lesion of γδ-T cell-mediated myositis. We show that this Vγ1.3Vδ2-TCR, termed M88, recognizes various proteins from different species. Several of these proteins belong to the translational apparatus, including some bacterial and human aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AA-RS). Specifically, M88 recognizes histidyl-tRNA synthetase, an antigen known to be also targeted by autoantibodies called anti-Jo-1. The M88 target epitope is strictly conformational, independent of post-translational modification, and exposed on the surface of the respective antigenic protein. Extensive mutagenesis of the translation initiation factor-1 from Escherichia coli (EcIF1), which served as a paradigm antigen with known structure, showed that a short α-helical loop around amino acids 39 to 42 of EcIF1 is a major part of the M88 epitope. Mutagenesis of M88 showed that the complementarity determining regions 3 of both γδ-TCR chains contribute to antigen recognition. M88 is the only known example of a molecularly characterized γδ-TCR expressed by autoaggressive T cells in tissue. The observation that AA-RS are targeted by a γδ-T cell and by autoantibodies reveals an unexpected link between T cell and antibody responses in autoimmune myositis.

Target specificity of an autoreactive human γδ-T cell receptor in myositis

Background: In a rare case of human autoimmune myositis, muscle fibers are attacked by γδ-T cells. Results: We identified several antigens recognized by the γδ-T cell receptor. Conclusion: The γδ-T cell receptor recognized human tRNA synthetases known as antigens of autoantibodies in myositis. Significance: This is the first report of an antigen recognized by human γδ-T cells in an autoimmune disease. In polymyositis and inclusion body myositis, muscle fibers are surrounded and invaded by CD8-positive cytotoxic T cells expressing the αβ-T cell receptor (αβ-TCR) for antigen. In a rare variant of myositis, muscle fibers are similarly attacked by CD8-negative T cells expressing the γδ-TCR (γδ-T cell-mediated myositis). We investigated the antigen specificity of a human γδ-TCR previously identified in an autoimmune tissue lesion of γδ-T cell-mediated myositis. We show that this Vγ1.3Vδ2-TCR, termed M88, recognizes various proteins from different species. Several of these proteins belong to the translational apparatus, including some bacterial and human aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AA-RS). Specifically, M88 recognizes histidyl-tRNA synthetase, an antigen known to be also targeted by autoantibodies called anti-Jo-1. The M88 target epitope is strictly conformational, independent of post-translational modification, and exposed on the surface of the respective antigenic protein. Extensive mutagenesis of the translation initiation factor-1 from Escherichia coli (EcIF1), which served as a paradigm antigen with known structure, showed that a short α-helical loop around amino acids 39 to 42 of EcIF1 is a major part of the M88 epitope. Mutagenesis of M88 showed that the complementarity determining regions 3 of both γδ-TCR chains contribute to antigen recognition. M88 is the only known example of a molecularly characterized γδ-TCR expressed by autoaggressive T cells in tissue. The observation that AA-RS are targeted by a γδ-T cell and by autoantibodies reveals an unexpected link between T cell and antibody responses in autoimmune myositis.

A glycosylated proteolipid protein is common to CNS myelin of recent lungfish (Ceratodiae, Lepidosirenidae)

1. Myelin proteins from the CNS of recent lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa, Protopterus dolloi, Neoceratodus forsteri) were separated and analysed by staining and immunoblotting. 2. All species showed a glycosylated component (g-PLP) that cross-reacted with antibodies against tetrapod proteolipid protein (PLP), indicating phylogenetic relationships with amphibia. 3. Actinopterygian IP or teleostean 36k components were not detectable in lungfish CNS myelin. 4. The identical size of g-PLPs from Lepidosiren and Protopterus (Mr = 29,000) underlines the close relationship of the Lepidosirenidae. The smaller size of g-PLP from the ceratodidan Neoceratodus forsteri (Mr = 27,500) pointed to an earlier diversion.

Central nervous system myelin proteins of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae: phylogenetic implications

Myelin was isolated from the brain of a coelacanth. Its protein components were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS-PAGE). A protein component of 25000 Dalton was predominant; it was not glycosylated but reacted moderately with anti-mammalian CNS myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) antibodies and weakly with anti-lungfish CNS myelin glycosylated proteolipid protein (gPLP) antibodies. A component equivalent to mammalian DM-20 was not detectable. Presumably due to autolysis myelin basic protein (MBP) was not discernible by protein staining but showed up as a single band of 17000 Dalton with anti-mammalian MBP antibodies. Wolfgram protein (WP) was not present upon immunoblotting and the values for the myelin-specific 2′, 3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) were extremely low. These results question a chondrichthyan association of the coelacanth but are strongly in favor of an Actinistia-Tetrapoda sister group relationship, with Dipnoi being most closely related to that combined group.