Molecular and cellular requirements for antigen-specific isotype switch of human B cells have been investigated by mimicking signaling occurring in germinal centers. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy seronegative blood donors were first primary immunized in vitro, using a synthetic immunogen containing both a T and B cell epitope, which generated specific IgM-secreting B cells. We used the apex of the V3 loop of gp120 as B cell epitope linked to a promiscuous T helper epitope from tetanus toxin. In parallel, CD4+ T helper cell clones specific for the T epitope of the immunogen were established. In a secondary in vitro stimulation period, we co-cultured the antigen-specific T and B cells on CD32-transfected fibroblasts, together with an anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody. This resulted in isotype switching and human antigen-specific, IgG-secreting B cells were detected. This response was strictly dependent upon the presence of autologous T helper cells and the immunogen. Antigen-specific human B cells derived from this primary and secondary in vitro immunization were subsequently subjected to electrofield-induced somatic cell hybridization and hybridomas secreting human anti-V3 IgG monoclonal antibodies were isolated. One human antibody was further characterized and shown to be specific for the immunizing antigen with an affinity constant of 24 nM. This antibody also effectively neutralized different isolates of HIV-1, achieving a 50% neutralization at 0.46 microgram/ml.

SUMMARYIn vitro antibody responses to a synthetic immunogen, consisting of both a B cell [V3 loop of gp120 from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)] and a T-helper epitope (15 amino acids of tetanus toxoid) was studied. The in vitro activation was performed by primary and secondary in vitro immunizations, using lymphocytes obtained from uninfected, seronegative donors. Analysis of the in vitro immune response demonstrated an antigen-specific isotype switch, which was dependent on the presence of antigen-specific T-helper cells, CD40 ligation and antigen. Antibody libraries were constructed from cells derived directly from the naive donors, or from primary or secondary in vitro immunized B cells. Five libraries were displayed on filamentous phage and selected for anti-V3-specific Fab fragments, using a selection approach that linked recognition and phage replication. A panel of 19 recombinant antigen-specific Fab, representing different phases of the humoral in vitro immune response, were sequenced, expressed and analysed using a biosensor. Recombinant Fab fragments derived from cultures on day 12 exhibited an increase in affinity of close to two orders of magnitude compared to those obtained from cells primary immunized for 7 days. This study provides the first evidence that an antigen-specific in vitro immune response can yield high-affinity immunoglobulinG antibodies.

Tetanus toxoid-specific T cells have been generated from human splenic lymphocytes by an initial 6-day stimulation period with antigen, followed by a proliferation period with recombinant IL-2 and human feeder cells. Proliferating T cells were subsequently cloned by limiting dilution. A human T-cell clone that was functionally characterized showed: (i) a specific proliferative response to tetanus toxoid in the presence of autologous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cells; (ii) a phenotype characteristic for the helper/inducer CD4+/CD8-/CD450R0+ T cells, and (iii) a lymphokine profile, as determined by mRNA analysis, representative of Th0-like human CD4+ T helper cells. This tetanus toxoid-specific T-cell clone which showed antigen-dependent helper activity for antibody production by autologous B cells in vitro could also provide T-cell help to antigen-specific human B cells transplanted into severe combined immunodeficiency (scid/beige) mice.