1. Antibody Isotypes, Idiotypes, and Allotypes
W. Robert Fleischmann, Ph.D.
Department of Urologic Surgery
University of Minnesota Medical School
(612)

2. Objectives
Understand the terms isotypes, idiotypes, and allotypes of antibodies
Understand the major characteristics of each isotype and their biologic functions
Understand the biological and medical significance of idiotype and anti-idiotype antibodies

3. What thoughts do you have about Billy?
Billy Daniels, age 8 months, is brought to the clinic by his parents for testing. While he is healthy at this moment, for the past 3 months, Billy has had a series of bouts of pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae (type b). He has contracted these infections despite the fact that he has had the recommended vaccinations that have included vaccinations with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (Hib) at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months.
What thoughts do you have about Billy?
He has contracted these infections despite being vaccinated. It is likely that he has an impaired immune response.

4. The physician suspects that Billy has an immunodeficiency.
Blood test results:
Total WBC: 7,400/µl (4,100-10,900/µl)
Differential WBCs:
Neutrophils 55% (35-80%)
Lymphocytes 35% (20-50%)
Macrophages 8% (2-12%)
Eosinophils 1% (0-7%)
Basophils 1% (0-2%)
All other blood test results are normal.
What thoughts do you have about Billy?
What additional tests might you wish to run?
He has normal total WBC and normal differential. So, not likely to be T cell deficiency.
Do T cell function/B cell function tests. Monitor for antibody levels.

5. Isotypes have different heavy chains
Isotypes have different heavy chains. They are represent classes of antibody.
Allotypes have the same constant regions with minor, but immunologic differences. Different individuals have different allotypes.
Idiotypes are antibodies that recognize different specific epitopes. Each idiotype is composed of several idiotopes or combining sites.

6. Antibody Isotypes

7. Antibody Isotypes (Classes)
Five major classes of antibody
IgM
IgD
IgG
Subclasses: IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4
IgE
IgA
Subclasses: IgA1, IgA2

8. Characteristics of the Antibody Isotypes
Light Chains
Heavy Chains
Other Chains
IgM
Kappa Chain
Lambda Chain
Mu Chain
J Chain
IgD
Delta Chain
IgG
Gamma1 Chain
Gamma2 Chain
Gamma3 Chain
Gamma4 Chain
IgE
Epsilon Chain
IgA
Alpha1 Chain
Alpha2 Chain
Secretory Component

9. Structures of Different Isotypes (Classes) of Antibodies
The different antibody
isotypes (classes) differ in
Number of subunits
Number of domains,
Number and location of carbohydrate chains,
Presence or absence of hinge region,
Number and location of disulfide bridges.

10. Antibody Isotypes in the Serum
IgM
IgD
IgG
IgE
IgA
No. of monomers 5 1
1-3
Molecular Weight
900 kD
150 kD
190 kD
450 kD
600 kD
Serum Conc (mg/ml)
1.5
0.03
13.5
0.0003
3.5
Serum Half-life (days) 3
8-23
2.5 6
Placental Transfer No
Yes

11. Biological Activity of Antibody Isotypes
IgM
IgD
IgG
IgE
IgA
Complement Fixation
++++ - +
Mast Cell/Basophil Degranulation
Bacterial Lysis
+++
Antiviral Activity
Toxin Neutralization

12. Concentrations of Serum Immunoglobulins
Serum electrophoresis showing the mobility and relative amounts of the five classes of immunoglobulin. IgG is found in the  region while most of IgM is found in the  region.

13. IgM
Monomeric IgM is expressed on the surface of B cells where it serves the role of antigen recognition.
Pentameric IgM is expressed in the serum (5-10% of total serum Ab).
Pentameric IgM is secreted into mucosal secretions.

14. IgM Structure
The pentameric structure of IgM is stabilized by a J chain (joining chain) and by disulfide bonds.
Secretory IgM has a secretory component that assists in transport across the epithelial membrane.
Note that for IgM, the pentameric structure is shown as a flat molecule (like a hand flat on a surface). In reality, the disulfide bonds would all be the same length. In its binding form, the molecule would look more like a hand poised on a surface with only its fingertips touching the surface. This allows for multiple interactions with repeated epitopes on a given antigen.

15. Biological Functions of IgM
Good at virus neutralization
Poor at toxin neutralization
Excellent at bactericidal activity
Excellent at causing agglutination of antigens
Excellent at causing precipitation of antigens
Excellent at complement fixation
Does not bind to M Fc receptors
As a monomer, it serves as surface receptor for antigens on B cells

16. Medical Considerations of IgM
Elevated levels indicate a recent infection or other exposure to antigen
Does not cross placenta
Not useful for protecting immunocompromised individuals (short half-life and lower specificity than IgG)
Not useful as blocking antibody to block TNF production
Not useful as blocking antibody to block allergens
Not present in interstitial fluids (too big)
Can be present in bodily secretions

17. IgD
Monomeric IgD is expressed on the surface of B cells where it serves the role of antigen recognition.
IgD is a very minor component of serum Ig (0.2%)
Biological Functions: no biological effector function has been determined for IgD.
Medical Consideration: some multiple myeloma patients over-express IgD.

18. IgG
IgG is the predominant antibody synthesized during a secondary immune response (anamnestic response)
IgG is the most abundant class in serum, constituting 80% of serum Abs.
Although it cannot be transported across the epithelium, it is produced in the distal pulmonary tract and is important in pulmonary secretions.
There are four subclasses of IgG.

19. Four Subclasses of IgG
Note the much longer
Gamma chain on IgG3

20. IgG Subclasses IgG1 IgG2 IgG3 IgG4 Longer gamma chain
Serum Conc (mg/ml)
900
300
100 50
Serum Half-life (days) 23 8
Complement Fixation +
+/- ++ -
Crosses Placenta
Binds to M Fc Receptors
Longer gamma chain

21. Biological Functions of IgG
Good at virus neutralization
Excellent at toxin neutralization
Good at bactericidal activity
Good at causing agglutination of antigens
Good at causing precipitation of antigens
Good at complement fixation
Binds to M Fc receptors

22. Medical Considerations of IgG
Crosses placenta providing protection to the fetus.
Can mediate hemolytic disease of the newborn (blue baby syndrome, Rh mismatch).
Can be used to protect immunocompromised (gamma globulin).
Can be used as blocking antibody to block TNF production (rheumatoid arthritis).
Can be used as blocking antibody to block allergens (desensitization to hypersensitivity)
Not present in most bodily secretions
Present in interstitial fluids

23. IgA IgA is the predominant Ig in bodily secretions.
IgA in blood can be monomeric, dimeric, or trimeric. When multimeric, the J chain stabilizes the interactions of the two or three monomers.
IgA in bodily secretions is dimeric and combined with the J chain and with secretory component.

24. Secretion of IgA
Dimeric IgA molecules, stabilized as a dimer by the J chain is secreted into the blood by a plasma cell.
The dimeric IgA binds to the Poly-Ig receptor on the basolateral membrane of an epithelial cell.
The dimeric IgA, bound to the Poly-Ig receptor is internalized in an endocytic vesicle.
The Poly-Ig receptor is cleaved, with the larger peptide remaining associated with the dimeric IgA as secretory component.
The dimeric IgA, with secretory component, is released on the luminal side of the epithelial cell.
Secretory component protects IgA from enzymatic degradation.

25. Biological Functions of IgA
Excellent at virus neutralization
Excellent at toxin neutralization
Good at bactericidal activity
Good at causing agglutination of antigens
Good at causing precipitation of antigens
Does not bind to M Fc receptors

26. Medical Considerations of IgA
Daily production of IgA is greater than any other Ig.
B cells that will produce IgA migrate to subepithelial tissue of most mucosal epithelia and of glandular epithelia.
Present in bodily secretions.
Present at very high levels in colostrum and present in breast milk. Provides an excellent level of protection of newborns against respiratory and intestinal infections.

27. IgE There is very little IgE in the blood (0.02% of Ig).
Most of the IgE is bound to Fc receptors on mast cells in the epithelial tissue and on basophils in the blood.

28. Biological Functions of IgE
Cross-linking of IgE molecules on the surface of a mast cell or basophil causes the release of histamine; the synthesis of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and other chemokines; the production of various cytokines.
IgE plays a major role in combating parasitic infections.
IgE plays a role in combating pulmonary fungal infections.

29. IgE-Mediated Release of Histamine
The epitope of an antigen binds to an IgE paratope.
If another epitope of the antigen binds to the paratope of another IgE molecules, this causes cross-linking.
The cross-linking changes the character of the binding of the Fc receptors to the mast cell, initiating a trans-membrane signal.
The mast cell degranulates.

30. Medical Considerations of IgE
Individuals who express allergies to certain antigens over-produce IgE to those antigens.
This causes a high level of expression of IgE with the same paratopes (recognize same epitope on antigen) on given mast cells. This makes it easier to cross-link two IgE antibodies.
When antigen is present, many mast cells are degranulated, resulting in an over-stimulation of the immune system that is manifested as an allergic reaction (Type 1 hypersensitivity).
IgE plays an important role in asthma, too.

31. Events
Associated
With Mast Cell
Degranulation

32. Billy Daniels Antibody levels in the blood:
Serum IgG <1.0 mg/100 ml mg/100 ml
Serum IgA <1.0 mg/100 ml mg/100 ml
Serum IgM <1.0 mg/100 ml mg/100 ml
How do you interpret these results?
What additional tests would you wish to run?
He makes no antibodies. He has an immunodeficiency.
See if he has any B cell function and any T cell function to determine the nature of his immunodeficiency.

33. Billy Daniels Lymphocyte stimulation test:
Phytohemaglutinin
Concanavalin A
Pokeweed mitogen
CD19* positive cells: undetectable
How do you interpret these results?
* A marker for B cells.
PHA and ConA are T cell mitogens; Pokeweed is a B cell mitogen. He appears to have no B cell function.
CD19 test indicates that he has no B cells at all.
He has X-linked agammaglobulinemia (Bruton’s agammaglobulinemia.

34. Billy Daniels
Billy is diagnosed with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (Bruton’s agammaglobulinemia). This type of agammaglobulinemia is caused by a mutation in Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk). Btk is needed for proliferation and differentiation of B cells. Btk mutatiions have variable severity from individual to individual, indicating that different mutations to Btk cause variable expressivity.
He is given an intramuscular injection of IgG and will continue receiving these injections every 3-4 weeks for the rest of his life.
In addition, Billy must be promptly given antibiotics any time he has a bacterial infection.
PHA and ConA are T cell mitogens; Pokeweed is a B cell mitogen. He appears to have no B cell function.
CD19 test indicates that he has no B cells at all.
He has X-linked agammaglobulinemia (Bruton’s agammaglobulinemia.