Comparison of Two Strategies to Generate Antigen-Specific Human Monoclonal Antibodies: Which Method to Choose for Which Purpose? 2021

Anna M Ehlers, and Constance F den Hartog Jager, and Tineke Kardol-Hoefnagel, and Miriam M D Katsburg, and André C Knulst, and Henny G Otten
Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are valuable tools to link genetic information with functional features and to provide a platform for conformational epitope mapping. Additionally, combined data on genetic and functional features provide a valuable mosaic for systems immunology approaches. Strategies to generate human mAbs from peripheral blood have been described and used in several studies including single cell sequencing of antigen-binding B cells and the establishment of antigen-specific monoclonal Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). However, direct comparisons of these two strategies are scarce. Hence, we sought to set up these two strategies in our laboratory using peanut 2S albumins (allergens) and the autoantigen anti-Rho guanosine diphosphate dissociation inhibitor 2 (RhoGDI2, alternatively 'ARHGDIB') as antigen targets to directly compare these strategies regarding costs, time expenditure, recovery, throughput and complexity. Regarding single cell sequencing, up to 50% of corresponding V(D)J gene transcripts were successfully amplified of which 54% were successfully cloned into expression vectors used for heterologous expression. Seventy-five percent of heterologously expressed mAbs showed specific binding to peanut 2S albumins resulting in an overall recovery of 20.3%, which may be increased to around 29% by ordering gene sequences commercially for antibody cloning. In comparison, the establishment of monoclonal EBV-LCLs showed a lower overall recovery of around 17.6%. Heterologous expression of a mAb carrying the same variable region as its native counterpart showed comparable concentration-dependent binding abilities. By directly comparing those two strategies, single cell sequencing allows a broad examination of antigen-binding mAbs in a moderate-throughput manner, while the establishment of monoclonal EBV-LCLs is a powerful tool to select a small number of highly reactive mAbs restricted to certain B cell subpopulations. Overall, both strategies, initially set-up for peanut 2S albumins, are suitable to obtain human mAbs and they are easily transferrable to other target antigens as shown for ARHGDIB.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010367 Arachis A plant genus of the family FABACEAE that includes peanuts. Arachis hypogaea,Peanuts,Peanut
D011947 Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell IMMUNOGLOBULINS on the surface of B-LYMPHOCYTES. Their MESSENGER RNA contains an EXON with a membrane spanning sequence, producing immunoglobulins in the form of type I transmembrane proteins as opposed to secreted immunoglobulins (ANTIBODIES) which do not contain the membrane spanning segment. Antigen Receptors, B-Cell,B-Cell Antigen Receptor,B-Cell Antigen Receptors,Surface Immunoglobulin,Immunoglobulins, Membrane-Bound,Immunoglobulins, Surface,Membrane Bound Immunoglobulin,Membrane-Bound Immunoglobulins,Receptors, Antigen, B Cell,Surface Immunoglobulins,Antigen Receptor, B-Cell,Antigen Receptors, B Cell,B Cell Antigen Receptor,B Cell Antigen Receptors,Bound Immunoglobulin, Membrane,Immunoglobulin, Membrane Bound,Immunoglobulin, Surface,Immunoglobulins, Membrane Bound,Membrane Bound Immunoglobulins,Receptor, B-Cell Antigen,Receptors, B-Cell Antigen
D002478 Cells, Cultured Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others. Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004854 Herpesvirus 4, Human The type species of LYMPHOCRYPTOVIRUS, subfamily GAMMAHERPESVIRINAE, infecting B-cells in humans. It is thought to be the causative agent of INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS and is strongly associated with oral hairy leukoplakia (LEUKOPLAKIA, HAIRY;), BURKITT LYMPHOMA; and other malignancies. Burkitt Herpesvirus,Burkitt Lymphoma Virus,E-B Virus,EBV,Epstein-Barr Virus,Human Herpesvirus 4,Infectious Mononucleosis Virus,Burkitt's Lymphoma Virus,HHV-4,Herpesvirus 4 (gamma), Human,Burkitts Lymphoma Virus,E B Virus,E-B Viruses,Epstein Barr Virus,Herpesvirus, Burkitt,Infectious Mononucleosis Viruses,Lymphoma Virus, Burkitt,Mononucleosis Virus, Infectious,Mononucleosis Viruses, Infectious
D005784 Gene Amplification A selective increase in the number of copies of a gene coding for a specific protein without a proportional increase in other genes. It occurs naturally via the excision of a copy of the repeating sequence from the chromosome and its extrachromosomal replication in a plasmid, or via the production of an RNA transcript of the entire repeating sequence of ribosomal RNA followed by the reverse transcription of the molecule to produce an additional copy of the original DNA sequence. Laboratory techniques have been introduced for inducing disproportional replication by unequal crossing over, uptake of DNA from lysed cells, or generation of extrachromosomal sequences from rolling circle replication. Amplification, Gene
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000485 Allergens Antigen-type substances that produce immediate hypersensitivity (HYPERSENSITIVITY, IMMEDIATE). Allergen
D000911 Antibodies, Monoclonal Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells. Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
D000918 Antibody Specificity The property of antibodies which enables them to react with some ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS and not with others. Specificity is dependent on chemical composition, physical forces, and molecular structure at the binding site. Antibody Specificities,Specificities, Antibody,Specificity, Antibody
D000941 Antigens Substances that are recognized by the immune system and induce an immune reaction. Antigen

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