| First Author | Jacobson BA | Year | 1994 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 152 |
| Issue | 9 | Pages | 4489-99 |
| PubMed ID | 8157964 | Mgi Jnum | J:17704 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:65735 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.152.9.4489 |
| Citation | Jacobson BA, et al. (1994) An isotype switched and somatically mutated rheumatoid factor clone isolated from a MRL-lpr/lpr mouse exhibits limited intraclonal affinity maturation. J Immunol 152(9):4489-99 |
| abstractText | Employing site-directed mutagenesis we have reconstructed and expressed the germ-line precursor of an expanded rheumatoid factor (RF) clone. This RF clone, designated clone F, was isolated from an autoimmune MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr mouse. Most of the clone members were extensively mutated and isotyped-switched. The predominant isotype of clone F was gamma 3. The RF bound specifically to the MRL gamma 2 a allotype (Igh-1j) but not to the B6 gamma 2a allotype (Igh-1b). The germ-line antibody was also found to bind gamma 2a in an RF assay. The affinities of the germ-line RF and representative members of the clone were measured in an ELISA-based equilibrium binding assay. The dissociation constant (Kd) of the germ-line RF was 2.5 x 10(-6) M. All of the expressed clone members had affinities within a two- to sixfold range of the germ line, indicating that the mechanisms of somatic hypermutation and selection resulted in only limited affinity maturation of this autoantibody clone. |
