The goal of this project is to examine V(H) gene usage in rabbit VDJ gene rearrangements. These studies are important for understanding basic mechanisms of the immune system of mammals. Previous studies showed that rabbit B cells preferentially utilize the 3'-most germline VH gene, VH1 in their VDJ gene rearrangements.
The specific aims of this proposal are to 1) determine if the preferential usage of VH1 reflects preferential rearrangement of this germline gene or antigen selection of B cells that have utilized VH1, 2) search for a """"""""recombination enhancer"""""""" flanking VH1, 3) determine V(H) gene usage in various B cell populations including B cells that produce antibodies of defined specificity, V(H)a- B cells of mutant Alicia rabbits, V(H)a- cells of suppressed rabbits, and CD5+ B cells, 4) develop rabbit B cell lines, 5) determine the order of V(H), D(H), and J(H) gene rearrange- ments, and 6) construct a linear map of the V(H) chromosomal region. The methods used to achieve these goals include construction of recombinant phage libraries from various B cell populations, and the cloning and characterization of VDJ genes from these libraries. Vectors will be developed for use in determining if particular germline V(H) genes are preferentially rearranged and in identifying cis acting elements responsible for the rearrangement. Experiments using rabbit X mouse hybridomas and rabbit B cell lines are described, the goal being to test the hypothesis that the order of VDJ gene rearrangement in rabbit is V to D followed by VD to J, unlike other mammals that rearrange D to J, followed by V to DJ.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI016611-15
Application #
2060377
Study Section
Allergy and Immunology Study Section (ALY)
Project Start
1989-01-01
Project End
1997-12-31
Budget Start
1994-01-01
Budget End
1994-12-31
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Loyola University Chicago
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
791277940
City
Maywood
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60153
Lanning, D; Sethupathi, P; Rhee, K J et al. (2000) Intestinal microflora and diversification of the rabbit antibody repertoire. J Immunol 165:2012-9
Barrington, R A; Fasullo, M; Knight, K L (1999) A role for RAD51 in the generation of immunoglobulin gene diversity in rabbits. J Immunol 162:911-9
Winstead, C R; Zhai, S K; Sethupathi, P et al. (1999) Antigen-induced somatic diversification of rabbit IgH genes: gene conversion and point mutation. J Immunol 162:6602-12
Zhu, X; Boonthum, A; Zhai, S K et al. (1999) B lymphocyte selection and age-related changes in VH gene usage in mutant Alicia rabbits. J Immunol 163:3313-20
Vajdy, M; Sethupathi, P; Knight, K L (1998) Dependence of antibody somatic diversification on gut-associated lymphoid tissue in rabbits. J Immunol 160:2725-9
Kingzette, M; Spieker-Polet, H; Yam, P C et al. (1998) Trans-chromosomal recombination within the Ig heavy chain switch region in B lymphocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:11840-5
Knight, K L; Barrington, R A (1998) Somatic diversification of IgH genes in rabbit. Immunol Rev 162:37-47
Tunyaplin, C; Knight, K L (1997) IgH gene rearrangements on the unexpressed allele in rabbit B cells. J Immunol 158:4805-11
Lanning, D K; Knight, K L (1997) Somatic hypermutation: mutations 3' of rabbit VDJ H-chain genes. J Immunol 159:4403-7
Crane, M A; Kingzette, M; Knight, K L (1996) Evidence for limited B-lymphopoiesis in adult rabbits. J Exp Med 183:2119-21

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