Inhibition of cell adhesion by antibodies to Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) in normal immunoglobulin for therapeutic use (intravenous immunoglobulin, IVIg).

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy is associated with a broad range of immunomodulatory activities. Several of the postulated mechanisms of IVIg action relate to the presence of antibodies to molecules relevant for regulation of the immune response. This article reports that IVIg contains antibodies to the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence, and the attachment site of a number of adhesive extracellular matrix proteins, including ligands for beta1, beta3, and beta5 integrins. Anti-RGD antibodies were identified in IVIg by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by using the BIAcore (BIAcore, Uppsala, Sweden) technology. The affinity of anti-RGD antibodies to a synthetic RGD-containing peptide and to fibronectin (Fn) was found to be in the micromolar range. F(ab')2 fragments specific for RGD were purified from IVIg by affinity chromatography. Anti-RGD F(ab')2 antibodies inhibited adenosine diphosphate induced alphaIIb/beta3 integrin-mediated platelet aggregation and the adhesion of activated alpha4beta1 integrin-expressing B cells to Fn. Adhesion of unstimulated platelets to fibrinogen (Fg) involving both the gamma-chain dodecapeptide sequence and the RGD sequence was inhibited by anti-RGD antibodies. In addition, adhesion of thrombin-stimulated platelets to von Willebrand factor or Fg was completely inhibited by affinity-purified anti-RGD antibodies. Our results suggest that the presence of natural IgG antibodies to the RGD motif may contribute to the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of therapeutic preparations of normal IgG.

Differential adhesion pattern of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells.

Binding of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells to other cells and to extracellular matrices influences the pathophysiology and the clinical presentation of the B-CLL disease. It is still unknown which adhesion pathways regulate the traffic of B-CLL cells within distinct histologic compartments of lymphoid organs. In addition, it is not yet clarified which mechanisms mediate the intercellular adhesion of B-CLL cells. The present study sought to identify the mechanisms that are involved in the binding of B-CLL cells to secondary lymphoid organs in situ and in the homotypic aggregation of these cells. B-CLL cells specifically bound to germinal centers of normal human tonsils via the adhesion pair integrin alpha4beta1/vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Among a large panel of antibodies tested only mAbs against CD19 induced homotypic adhesion of B-CLL cells via the adhesion molecules integrin alphaL (leukocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1)), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and CD21. Anti-CD19-induced aggregation required protein synthesis. We hypothesize that the observed heterotypic and homotypic adhesion of B-CLL cells reflects the ability of these leukemic cells to migrate in vivo.

Human T lymphocytes bind to germinal centers of human tonsils via integrin alpha4/VCAM-1 and LFA-1/ICAM-1 and -2.

Binding of T lymphocytes within the different compartments of the secondary lymphoid organs is crucial for the function of the cellular and the humoral immune response. It is still not known which adhesion molecules guide T cells to the distinct areas of the lymphoid microenvironment. In the current study an in situ adhesion assay was used to define the receptors for binding of T cells to human tonsils. The T cell lines Jurkat and MOLT-4 and normal, activated T cells were found to bind exclusively to germinal centers. Jurkat cells used the receptor pair integrin-alpha4 (VLA-4alpha)/VCAM-1, whereas activated MOLT-4 cells and normal T cells bound via both adhesion pathways, namely via integrin-alpha4/VCAM-1 and LFA-1/ICAM-1 and -2. It is suggested that these adhesion mechanisms are involved in the migration of T cells into the germinal centers of secondary lymphoid organs and that they influence the selection of B cells by apoptosis.