Novel anti-carbohydrate antibodies reveal the cooperative function of sulfated N- and O-glycans in lymphocyte homing

J Biol Chem. 2010 Dec 24;285(52):40864-78. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.167296. Epub 2010 Oct 7.

Abstract

Cell surface glycans play pivotal roles in immune cell trafficking and immunity. Here we present an efficient method for generating anti-carbohydrate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using gene-targeted mice and describe critical glycans in lymphocyte homing. We immunized sulfotransferase GlcNAc6ST-1 and GlcNAc6ST-2 doubly deficient mice with sulfotransferase-overexpressing Chinese hamster ovary cells and generated two mAbs, termed S1 and S2. Both S1 and S2 bound high endothelial venules (HEVs) in the lymphoid organs of humans and wild-type mice, but not in those of doubly deficient mice. Glycan array analysis indicated that both S1 and S2 specifically bound 6-sulfo sialyl Lewis X and its defucosylated structure. Interestingly, S2 inhibited lymphocyte homing to peripheral lymph nodes by 95%, whereas S1 inhibited it by only 25%. S2 also significantly inhibited contact hypersensitivity responses and L-selectin-dependent leukocyte adhesion to HEVs. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses indicated that S1 preferentially bound sulfated O-glycans, whereas S2 bound both sulfated N- and O-glycans in HEVs. Furthermore, S2 strongly inhibited the N-glycan-dependent residual lymphocyte homing in mutant mice lacking sulfated O-glycans, indicating the importance of both sulfated N- and O-glycans in lymphocyte homing. Thus, the two mAbs generated by a novel method revealed the cooperative function of sulfated N- and O-glycans in lymphocyte homing and immune surveillance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Adhesion / immunology
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Surveillance / drug effects
  • Immunologic Surveillance / immunology
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens
  • Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Oligosaccharides / biosynthesis
  • Oligosaccharides / genetics
  • Oligosaccharides / immunology*
  • Sulfotransferases / biosynthesis
  • Sulfotransferases / genetics
  • Sulfotransferases / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Glycoproteins
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens
  • Lewis a oligosaccharide
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Sulfotransferases