Engineered B cells expressing an anti-HIV antibody enable memory retention, isotype switching and clonal expansion

Nat Commun. 2020 Nov 17;11(1):5851. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19649-1.

Abstract

HIV viremia can be controlled by chronic antiretroviral therapy. As a potentially single-shot alternative, B cells engineered by CRISPR/Cas9 to express anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are capable of secreting high antibody titers. Here, we show that, upon immunization of mice, adoptively transferred engineered B cells home to germinal centers (GC) where they predominate over the endogenous response and differentiate into memory and plasma cells while undergoing class switch recombination (CSR). Immunization with a high affinity antigen increases accumulation in GCs and CSR rates. Boost immunization increases the rate of engineered B cells in GCs and antibody secretion, indicating memory retention. Finally, antibody sequences of engineered B cells in the spleen show patterns of clonal selection. Therefore, B cells can be engineered into what could be a living and evolving drug.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / genetics
  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / blood
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • B-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies / blood
  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies / genetics*
  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies / immunology
  • Genetic Engineering / methods
  • HIV Antibodies / blood
  • HIV Antibodies / genetics*
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology
  • Immunization
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes / genetics
  • Immunologic Memory / genetics*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies
  • HIV Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes
  • VRC01 monoclonal antibody