MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF A SOMATICALLY MUTATED ANTI-DNA ANTIBODY BEARING 2 SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS-RELATED IDIOTYPES

We report the molecular characterization of 2A4, an IgG, DNA-binding antibody bearing the 31 and F4 idiotypes which are associated with anti-DNA antibodies in serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The antibody is produced by an EBV-transformed B cell line derived from a patient with multiple myeloma whose myeloma protein is also an IgG, 3I-reactive, F4-reactive, DNA-binding immunoglobulin, although the 2A4 antibody does not itself represent the myeloma protein. The 2A4 heavy chain is encoded by a VH4 gene, a D-D gene fusion and the JH6 gene; the light chain is derived from a Vk1 gene and the Jk2 gene. This is the first human antibody shown to have a CDR3 encoded by a D-D fusion. DNA sequence analysis of the 2A4 VH gene together with a Southern blot of genomic DNA probed with a 2A4 VH-specific oligonucleotide strongly suggest it to be somatically mutated. The data provide evidence that human autoantibodies can be products of somatically mutated genes and suggest that the 2A4 antibody may reflect the selective pressure of antigen.