Affiliations: Academic Transfusion Medicine Unit, Department of
Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland,
UK
Note: [] Academic Transfusion Medicine Unit, Regional Transfusion Centre,
Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZW, Scotland, UK. Tel.: +44 1224 685685; Fax: +44
1224 695351; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Our 11 anti-RhD's in conjunction with 37 previously published RhD
antibodies, produced by hybridoma technology were analysed for germline gene
usage and restriction in V_{\rm H} and V_{\rm
L} pairings. The 17 V_{\rm H}germline genes used
by the hybridoma anti-RhD IgG were derived from 4 VH families (VH1, VH2, VH3
and VH4). Eighteen kappa chains were restricted to only 5 germline genes from
only 2 V\kappafamilies (V\kappa1 and
\kappa3). However, the 13 lambda chains were not as
restricted, using 10 V_{\lambda} germline genes from 4
families (V\lambda1, V\lambda2,
V\lambda3 and V\lambda8). Fifty six
unique Fab/phage anti-RhD were also analysed. In all cases the Fab/phage
V_{\rm H} germline genes were derived from the VH3 family
(41/41). The 29 kappa chains were restricted to 4 germline genes primarily from
V\kappa1 (97%) germline genes from 5 families
(V\lambda1, V\lambda2,
V\lambda3, V\lambda4 and
V\lambda7). The V_{\rm H} germline genes
of the Fab/phage were restricted to 4 of the 17 used by the hybridoma anti-RhD
IgG (DP46, DP49, DP50 and DP77). Ninety percent of the Fab/phage were
restricted to 1 of the 5 V_{\kappa}germline genes used by
the IgG (DPK9). However, the repertoire of the
V_{\lambda}germline genes used in these two systems is
different, with analysis showing greater diversity in
V_{\lambda} gene usage with 8 unique germline genes used by
76% Fab/phage compared to 4 unique genes used by 46% hybriboma anti-RhD.
