Although the concept of VH replacement has a lengthy history, the natural occurrence and molecular basis of VH replacement in human B cells have just been realized from our recent studies. VH replacement occurs through RAG-mediated secondary recombination involving the cryptic RSS (cRSS) within the rearranged VHDJH region and the 23 bp RSS from an upstream VH gene. VH replacement occurs in bone marrow immature B cells during human B cell development and contributes to about 5% of the periphery B cell repertoire in humans. Our recent studies showed that the frequencies of VH replacement products are significantly elevated in autoimmune diseases and in IgH genes encoding anti-viral antibodies, suggesting an unrealized important function of VH replacement. The current proposal focuses on the molecular regulation of VH replacement in human immature B cells. We found that crosslinking BCR strongly induces VH replacement in the EU12 STATEMENT: VH replacement occurs through RAG-mediated secondary recombination involving the cryptic recombination signal sequence (cRSS) within the rearranged VH gene and a 23 bp RSS of an upstream VH gene. Although the concept of VH replacement has a length history, the molecular basis and natural occurrence of VH replacement in human B lineage cells have just been realized from our recent studies. Normally, VH replacement contributes to about 5% of the IgH repertoire in the periphery B cells of healthy donors. Strikingly, the frequencies of VH replacement products are significantly elevated in IgH genes derived from different autoimmune diseases and in IgH genes encoding various anti-viral antibodies. The current proposal focuses on the molecular regulation of VH replacement in human immature B cells. We found that crosslinking B cell antigen receptor (BCR) strongly induces VH replacement in human immature B cells. Understanding the molecular regulation of VH replacement will have important clinical implications, because the frequencies of VH replacement products are significantly elevated in autoimmune diseases and anti-viral responses.Public Health Relevance
