Jump to page content

Publication

Lebedin M, Foglierini M, Khorkova S, Vázquez García C, Ratswohl C, Davydov AN, Turchaninova MA, Daubenberger C, Chudakov DM, Lanzavecchia A, de la Rosa K. Different classes of genomic inserts contribute to human antibody diversity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Sep 6;119(36):e2205470119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2205470119. Epub 2022 Aug 29. PMID: 36037353; PMCID: PMC9457163.

Abstract

Recombination of antibody genes in B cells can involve distant genomic loci and contribute a foreign antigen-binding element to form hybrid antibodies with broad reactivity for Plasmodium falciparum. So far, antibodies containing the extracellular domain of the LAIR1 and LILRB1 receptors represent unique examples of cross-chromosomal antibody diversification. Here, we devise a technique to profile non-VDJ elements from distant genes in antibody transcripts. Independent of the preexposure of donors to malaria parasites, non-VDJ inserts were detected in 80% of individuals at frequencies of 1 in 104 to 105 B cells. We detected insertions in heavy, but not in light chain or T cell receptor transcripts. We classify the insertions into four types depending on the insert origin and destination: 1) mitochondrial and 2) nuclear DNA inserts integrated at VDJ junctions; 3) inserts originating from telomere proximal genes; and 4) fragile sites incorporated between J-to-constant junctions. The latter class of inserts was exclusively found in memory and in in vitro activated B cells, while all other classes were already detected in naïve B cells. More than 10% of inserts preserved the reading frame, including transcripts with signs of antigen-driven affinity maturation. Collectively, our study unravels a mechanism of antibody diversification that is layered on the classical V(D)J and switch recombination.