scholarly journals Antibody repertoire analysis of tumor-infiltrating B cells reveals distinct signatures and distributions across tissues

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ligal Aizik ◽  
Yael Dror ◽  
David Taussig ◽  
Adi Barzel ◽  
Yaron Carmi ◽  
...  

The role of B cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has largely been under-investigated, and data regarding the antibody repertoire encoded by B cells in the TME and the adjacent lymphoid organs are scarce. Here, we utilized B cell receptor high-throughput sequencing (BCR-Seq) to profile the antibody repertoire signature of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte B cells (TIL Bs) in comparison to B cells from three anatomic compartments in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer. We found that TIL-Bs exhibit distinct antibody repertoire measures, including high clonal polarization and elevated somatic hypermutation rates, suggesting a local antigen-driven B-cell response. Importantly, TIL-Bs were highly mutated but non-class switched, suggesting that class-switch recombination may be inhibited in the TME. Tracing the distribution of TIL-B clones across various compartments indicated that they migrate to and from the TME. The data thus suggests that antibody repertoire signatures can serve as indicators for identifying tumor-reactive B cells.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ligal Aizik ◽  
Yael Dror ◽  
David Taussig ◽  
Adi Barzel ◽  
Yaron Carmi ◽  
...  

The role of B cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has largely been under investigated, and data regarding the antibody repertoire encoded by B cells in the TME and the adjacent lymphoid organs are scarce. Here, we utilized B cell receptor high-throughput sequencing (BCR-Seq) to profile the antibody repertoire signature of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte B cells (TIL−Bs) in comparison to B cells from three anatomic compartments in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer. We found that TIL-Bs exhibit distinct antibody repertoire measures, including high clonal polarization and elevated somatic hypermutation rates, suggesting a local antigen-driven B-cell response. Importantly, TIL-Bs were highly mutated but non-class switched, suggesting that class-switch recombination may be inhibited in the TME. Tracing the distribution of TIL-B clones across various compartments indicated that they migrate to and from the TME. The data thus suggests that antibody repertoire signatures can serve as indicators for identifying tumor-reactive B cells.


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (6) ◽  
pp. 1618-1623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armand Garot ◽  
Marie Marquet ◽  
Alexis Saintamand ◽  
Sébastien Bender ◽  
Sandrine Le Noir ◽  
...  

As a master regulator of functional Ig heavy chain (IgH) expression, the IgH 3′ regulatory region (3′RR) controls multiple transcription events at various stages of B-cell ontogeny, from newly formed B cells until the ultimate plasma cell stage. The IgH 3′RR plays a pivotal role in early B-cell receptor expression, germ-line transcription preceding class switch recombination, interactions between targeted switch (S) regions, variable region transcription before somatic hypermutation, and antibody heavy chain production, but the functional ranking of its different elements is still inaccurate, especially that of its evolutionarily conserved quasi-palindromic structure. By comparing relevant previous knockout (KO) mouse models (3′RR KO and hs3b-4 KO) to a novel mutant devoid of the 3′RR quasi-palindromic region (3′PAL KO), we pinpointed common features and differences that specify two distinct regulatory entities acting sequentially during B-cell ontogeny. Independently of exogenous antigens, the 3′RR distal part, including hs4, fine-tuned B-cell receptor expression in newly formed and naïve B-cell subsets. At mature stages, the 3′RR portion including the quasi-palindrome dictated antigen-dependent locus remodeling (global somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination to major isotypes) in activated B cells and antibody production in plasma cells.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1881-1881
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Lowman ◽  
Landon Pastushok ◽  
Karen Mochoruk ◽  
Wayne Hill ◽  
Michelle Toro ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction B cell repertoire analysis by next-generation sequencing (NGS) is at the forefront of leukemia and lymphoma research. Some advantages provided by NGS-based techniques include a lower limit-of-detection and simpler paths to standardization compared to other methods. Importantly, in research of post-germinal B cell disorders, such as multiple myeloma (MM), NGS methods allow for the study of clonal lineage based on somatic hypermuation patterns. Current targeted NGS assays require multiple libraries to survey each B cell receptor chain (IGH, IgK, IgL), and this fact is highlighted when initial clonality detection fails due to mutations under primer binding sites. This issue can be especially true in MM which has a high rate of SHM. To address these issues, we have developed an assay for B cell analysis, based on Ion AmpliSeq™ technology, which enables efficient detection of IGH, IgK, and IgL chain rearrangements in a single reaction. Methods The B cell pan-clonality panel (Oncomine™ BCR Pan-Clonality Assay) targets the framework 3 (FR3) portion of the variable gene and the joining gene region of heavy- and light-chain loci (IGH, IgK, IgL) for all alleles found within the IMGT database, enabling readout of the complementary-determining region 3 (CDR3) sequence of each immunoglobulin chain. To maximize sensitivity, we included primers to amplify IgK loci rearrangements involving Kappa deletion element and the constant region intron. To evaluate assay performance, we conducted reproducibility studies and clonality assessment using gDNA from a total of 45 MM research samples. All MM cases examined in this work were confirmed clonal previously by light chain restriction via flow cytometry or IHC/ISH in tissue sections - 16 of the 45 MM samples were identified as lambda light chain restricted. For comparison, a small cohort of 12 B-ALL samples were also included in the study. Sequencing and repertoire analyses were performed using the Ion GeneStudio S5 System and Ion Reporter 5.16 analysis software. Results Clonality assessment of MM clinical research samples show an 93% overall positive detection rate by an assay which combines the IGH, IgK, and IgL chains in a single reaction using published guidelines for clonality assignment. Thirty-four of 45 samples show positive detection of an IGH rearrangement, while 41 of 45 showed positive detection of at least one light chain receptor. In total, 42 of 45 samples were deemed clonal by the single tube assay based on detection for one or more receptor. Clonality results for this sample set are well correlated with orthogonal data from flow, IHC/ISH, or alternate NGS assays. A clonal lambda light chain was identified in 14 of 16 samples determined to be lambda restricted by flow cytometry. In two of the lambda restricted samples only a clonal lambda rearrangement was identified, showing the benefit of including primers targeting both the kappa and lambda light chains in a pan-clonality NGS assay. Both the MM and B-ALL cohorts were evaluated for biased IGHV gene usage. IGHV3-11 was observed in 5 of 45 MM and 5 of 12 B-ALL samples. IGHV4-34, typically linked to autoreactive antibodies and underrepresented in germinal center and memory B-cells, was nonetheless found in 5 of 45 MM samples surveyed. Estimates of somatic hypermutation rates were calculated using the BCR pan-clonality assay. Most MM samples, as expected, contained some somatic hypermutation with 6 of 45 samples showing greater than 10% mutation rates. Automated lineage analysis, based on somatic hypermuation signatures within each sample, identified 8 of 45 MM samples which contained 5 or more clones in the primary clonal lineage, with one case containing a lineage with 23 clones. Two MM samples showed no somatic hypermutation as measured using the FR3 primers contained in the BCR pan-clonality assay. These samples were also evaluated using an FR1-J targeted NGS assay, which confirmed relatively low mutation rates for these MM samples at 0.44% and 1.3%, respectively. Conclusions These results demonstrate the utility of a novel assay for combined repertoire analysis of B cell receptor heavy and light chains in a single library preparation reaction. We expect this assay to simplify laboratory workflows and including analysis tools such as automated somatic hypermutation rate calculation and clonal lineage identification may open new paths for research in lymphoid cell disorders. For research use only. Disclosures Lowman: Thermo Fisher Scientific: Current Employment. Toro: Thermo Fisher Scientific: Current Employment. Pickle: Thermo Fisher Scientific: Current Employment. Ostresh: Thermo Fisher Scientific: Current Employment. Sarda: Thermo Fisher Scientific: Current Employment. Yang: Thermo Fisher Scientific: Current Employment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Sun ◽  
Hu-Qin Yang ◽  
Kan Zhai ◽  
Zhao-Hui Tong

B cells play vital roles in host defense against Pneumocystis infection. However, the features of the B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire in disease progression remain unclear. Here, we integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell BCR sequencing of immune cells from mouse lungs in an uninfected state and 1–4 weeks post-infection in order to illustrate the dynamic nature of B cell responses during Pneumocystis infection. We identified continuously increased plasma cells and an elevated ratio of (IgA + IgG) to (IgD + IgM) after infection. Moreover, Pneumocystis infection was associated with an increasing naïve B subset characterized by elevated expression of the transcription factor ATF3. The proportion of clonal expanded cells progressively increased, while BCR diversity decreased. Plasma cells exhibited higher levels of somatic hypermutation than naïve B cells. Biased usage of V(D)J genes was observed, and the usage frequency of IGHV9-3 rose. Overall, these results present a detailed atlas of B cell transcriptional changes and BCR repertoire features in the context of Pneumocystis infection, which provides valuable information for finding diagnostic biomarkers and developing potential immunotherapeutic targets.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 375-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Talab ◽  
Victoria Thompson ◽  
John C Allen ◽  
Ke Lin ◽  
Joseph R Slupsky

Abstract Abstract 375 B cell receptor (BCR) signaling promotes survival of the malignant clone in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) through its ability to stimulate NFkB pathway signaling. In lymphoid cells, antigen receptor stimulation of this pathway is achieved by engaging the Carma-1 – Bcl10 – MALT1 (CBM) complex for eventual activation of I-kB kinases (IKKs). In B cells, protein kinase C beta (PKCbeta) is an important mediator of CBM complex activation. However, in CLL cells we found that PKCs do not appear to have a role in BCR-mediated NFkB pathway signaling, despite high expression levels of PKCbeta, because the presence of specific inhibitors of this kinase (LY379196 and bisindolylmaleimide-I) has no effect on the induction of IKK phosphorylation during BCR crosslinking. Examination of CBM complex expression suggests an explanation for this phenomenon; the expression levels of Carma-1 and MALT-1 are largely similar in CLL and normal B cells, but the expression of Bcl10 is much reduced in CLL cells. These findings, taken together with the established role of Bcl10 in the pathway of BCR-induced NFkB activation, suggest that CLL cells may employ a different mechanism to activate this pathway during BCR stimulation. Tyrosine kinases are known to play a role in BCR-induced IKK activation in CLL cells because compounds like dasatinib and PP2 inhibit NFkB pathway activation by BCR. One possible tyrosine kinase is c-Abl because we have shown this protein to be overexpressed in CLL cells, where it plays a role in activation of the NFkB pathway. To investigate the role of c-Abl in BCR-induced IKK activation, we used the inhibitor imatinib and found that the presence of this compound partially inhibited IKK phosphorylation in BCR-stimulated CLL cells. However, imatinib can also inhibit Lck, a T cell-specific src-family tyrosine kinase that is expressed by CLL cells. To differentiate between Lck- and c-Abl-mediated BCR signals we used the specific inhibitor 4-amino-5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[3,2d] pyrimidin-7-yl-cyclopentane (Lck-i). We found that the presence of this compound in CLL cell cultures undergoing BCR stimulation almost completely inhibited the induction of IKK activation. Investigation of Lck-i specificity revealed this compound did not inhibit either c-Abl or Lyn at the concentration used to inhibit Lck in CLL cell cultures. Further investigation of the effects of Lck-i showed that this compound was also effective in inhibiting BCR-induced activation of the Akt and ERK signaling pathways. Taken together, these data suggest a major role for Lck in BCR-mediated signaling in CLL cells, and question the existing paradigm on the importance of Lyn. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 1448-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Rastelli ◽  
Cornelia Hömig-Hölzel ◽  
Jane Seagal ◽  
Werner Müller ◽  
Andrea C. Hermann ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein LMP1 is considered to be a functional homologue of the CD40 receptor. However, in contrast to the latter, LMP1 is a constitutively active signaling molecule. To compare B cell–specific LMP1 and CD40 signaling in an unambiguous manner, we generated transgenic mice conditionally expressing a CD40/LMP1 fusion protein, which retained the LMP1 cytoplasmic tail but has lost the constitutive activity of LMP1 and needs to be activated by the CD40 ligand. We show that LMP1 signaling can completely substitute CD40 signaling in B cells, leading to normal B-cell development, activation, and immune responses including class-switch recombination, germinal center formation, and somatic hypermutation. In addition, the LMP1-signaling domain has a unique property in that it can induce class-switch recombination to IgG1 independent of cytokines. Thus, our data indicate that LMP1 has evolved to imitate T-helper cell function allowing activation, proliferation, and differentiation of EBV-infected B cells independent of T cells.


2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (24) ◽  
pp. 9364-9376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renren Wen ◽  
Yuhong Chen ◽  
Li Bai ◽  
Guoping Fu ◽  
James Schuman ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2) is a critical signaling effector of the B-cell receptor (BCR). Here we show that PLCγ2 deficiency impedes early B-cell development, resulting in an increase of B220+ CD43+ BP-1+ CD24hi pre-BCR+ large pre-B cells. PLCγ2 deficiency impairs pre-BCR-mediated functions, leading to enhanced interleukin-7 (IL-7) signaling and elevated levels of RAGs in the selected large pre-B cells. Consequently, PLCγ2 deficiency renders large pre-B cells susceptible to transformation, resulting in dramatic acceleration of Myc-induced lymphomagenesis. PLCγ2 −/− Eμ-Myc transgenic mice mainly develop lymphomas of B220+ CD43+ BP-1+ CD24hi pre-BCR+ large pre-B-cell origin, which are uncommon in wild-type Eμ-Myc transgenics. Furthermore, lymphomas from PLCγ2 −/− Eμ-Myc transgenic mice exhibited a loss of p27Kip1 and often displayed alterations in Arf or p53. Thus, PLCγ2 plays an important role in pre-BCR-mediated early B-cell development, and its deficiency leads to markedly increased pools of the most at-risk large pre-B cells, which display hyperresponsiveness to IL-7 and express high levels of RAGs, making them prone to secondary mutations and Myc-induced malignancy.


1998 ◽  
Vol 187 (5) ◽  
pp. 753-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conrad C. Bleul ◽  
Joachim L. Schultze ◽  
Timothy A. Springer

Migration of mature B lymphocytes within secondary lymphoid organs and recirculation between these sites are thought to allow B cells to obtain T cell help, to undergo somatic hypermutation, to differentiate into effector cells, and to home to sites of antibody production. The mechanisms that direct migration of B lymphocytes are unknown, but there is evidence that G protein–coupled receptors, and possibly chemokine receptors, may be involved. Stromal cell– derived factor (SDF)-1α is a CXC chemokine previously characterized as an efficacious chemoattractant for T lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood. Here we show with purified tonsillar B cells that SDF-1α also attracts naive and memory, but not germinal center (GC) B lymphocytes. Furthermore, GC B cells could be converted to respond to SDF-1α by in vitro differentiation into memory B lymphocytes. Conversely, the migratory response in naive and memory B cells was significantly reduced after B cell receptor engagement and CD40 signaling. The receptor for SDF-1, CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), was found to be expressed on responsive as well as unresponsive B cell subsets, but was more rapidly downregulated on responsive cells by ligand. Finally, messenger RNA for SDF-1 was detected by in situ hybridization in a layer of cells surrounding the GC. These findings show that responsiveness to the chemoattractant SDF-1α is regulated during B lymphocyte activation, and correlates with positioning of B lymphocytes within a secondary lymphoid organ.


2008 ◽  
Vol 364 (1517) ◽  
pp. 667-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uttiya Basu ◽  
Andrew Franklin ◽  
Frederick W Alt

The assembled immunoglobulin genes in the B cells of mice and humans are altered by distinct processes known as class switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation, leading to diversification of the antibody repertoire. These two DNA modification processes are initiated by the B cell-specific protein factor activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). AID is post-translationally modified by phosphorylation at multiple sites, although functional significance during CSR has been implicated only for phosphorylation at serine-38 (S38). Although multiple laboratories have demonstrated that AID function is regulated via phosphorylation at S38, the precise biological role of S38 phosphorylation has been a topic of debate. Here, we discuss our interpretation of the significance of AID regulation via phosphorylation and also discuss how this form of AID regulation may have evolved in higher organisms.


2003 ◽  
Vol 197 (12) ◽  
pp. 1767-1778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardo Reina-San-Martin ◽  
Simone Difilippantonio ◽  
Leif Hanitsch ◽  
Revati F. Masilamani ◽  
André Nussenzweig ◽  
...  

Changes in chromatin structure induced by posttranslational modifications of histones are important regulators of genomic function. Phosphorylation of histone H2AX promotes DNA repair and helps maintain genomic stability. Although B cells lacking H2AX show impaired class switch recombination (CSR), the precise role of H2AX in CSR and somatic hypermutation (SHM) has not been defined. We show that H2AX is not required for SHM, suggesting that the processing of DNA lesions leading to SHM is fundamentally different from CSR. Impaired CSR in H2AX−/− B cells is not due to alterations in switch region transcription, accessibility, or aberrant joining. In the absence of H2AX, short-range intra-switch region recombination proceeds normally while long-range inter-switch region recombination is impaired. Our results suggest a role for H2AX in regulating the higher order chromatin remodeling that facilitates switch region synapsis.


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