Identification of human plasma cells with a lamprey monoclonal antibody

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Cuiling Yu, Emory University Hospital; Yanling Liu, University of Toronto; Justin Tze Ho Chan, University of Toronto; Jiefei Tong, Hospital for Sick Children; Zhihua Li, University Health Network; Brantley Herrin, Emory University; Frances Lee, Emory University; Ignacio Sanz, Emory University; Max Cooper, Emory University; David Jaye, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2016-03-17
• Publisher: American Society for Clinical Investigation
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2016, American Society for Clinical Investigation
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.84738
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JCI Insight
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 3
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported by Canadian Cancer Society grant 2012-701054 (to G.R.A. Ehrhardt); NIH grant U19 AI096187 (to G.R.A. Ehrhardt and M.D. Cooper); and NIH grant R01 AI072435 (to M.D. Cooper).; D.L. Jaye is supported by the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University Cancer Center Support Grant P30CA138292, and the Electron Microscopy Core (Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA) is supported by by NIH grant S10RR025679.
• Keywords: B-CELLS; VARIABLE LYMPHOCYTE RECEPTORS; ADP-RIBOSYL CYCLASE; MULTIPLE-MYELOMA; BLOOD; Medicine, Research & Experimental; EXPRESSION; BONE-MARROW; Science & Technology; Research & Experimental Medicine; IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES; NAD GLYCOHYDROLASE; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; SURFACE ANTIGEN CD38
• Research Categories: Biology, Microbiology

Abstract

Ab-producing plasma cells (PCs) serve as key participants in countering pathogenic challenges as well as being contributors to autoimmune and malignant disorders. Thus far, only a limited number of PC-specific markers have been identified. The characterization of the unique variable lymphocyte receptor (VLR) Abs that are made by evolutionarily distant jawless vertebrates prompted us to investigate whether VLR Abs could detect novel PC antigens that have not been recognized by conventional Abs. Here, we describe a monoclonal lamprey Ab, VLRB MM3, that was raised against primary multiple myeloma cells. VLRB MM3 recognizes a unique epitope of the CD38 ectoenzyme that is present on plasmablasts and PCs from healthy individuals and on most, but not all, multiple myelomas. Binding by the VLRB MM3 Ab coincides with CD38 dimerization and NAD glycohydrolase activity. Our data demonstrate that the lamprey VLRB MM3 Ab is a unique reagent for the identification of plasmablasts and PCs, with potential applications in the diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of PC or autoimmune disorders.