Sialylation of IgG Fc domain impairs complement-dependent cytotoxicity.

Abstract

IgG molecules exert both pro- and antiinflammatory effector functions based on the composition of the fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain glycan. Sialylated IgG Fc domains have antiinflammatory properties that are attributed to their ability to increase the activation threshold of innate effector cells to immune complexes by stimulating the upregulation of the inhibitory Fcγ receptor IIB (FcγRIIB). Here, we report that IgG Fc sialylation of human monoclonal IgG1 molecules impairs their efficacy to induce complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CDC). Fc sialylation of a CD20-targeting antibody had no impact on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and did not change the affinity of the antibody for activating Fcγ receptors. In contrast, the presence of sialic acid abrogated the increased binding of C1q to Fc-galactosylated IgG1 and resulted in decreased levels of C3b deposition on the cell surface. Similar to monoclonal antibodies, sialic acid inhibited the increased C1q binding to galactosylated Fc fragments in human polyclonal IgG. In sera derived from patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, an autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system in which humoral immune responses mediate tissue damage, induction of IgG Fc sialylation was associated with clinical disease remission. Thus, impairment of CDC represents an FcγR-independent mechanism by which Fc-sialylated glycovariants might limit proinflammatory IgG effector functions.

• Authors: Isaak Quast, Christian W Keller, Michael A Maurer, John P Giddens, Björn Tackenberg, Lai-Xi Wang, Christian Münz, Falk Nimmerjahn, Marinos C Dalakas, Jan D Lünemann
• Journal: The Journal of clinical investigation (J Clin Invest) Vol. 125 Issue 11 Pg. 4160-70 (Nov 02 2015) ISSN: 1558-8238 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26436649 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD20
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
• Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
• Receptors, IgG
• Rituximab
• Complement C1q
• Complement System Proteins
• N-Acetylneuraminic Acid

Topics

• Animals
• Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
• Antigens, CD20 (immunology)
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Burkitt Lymphoma (pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Complement C1q (immunology, metabolism)
• Complement Pathway, Classical
• Complement System Proteins (immunology)
• Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
• Glycosylation
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (chemistry, immunology)
• Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains (chemistry, immunology)
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous (therapeutic use)
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology)
• Lymphocyte Depletion
• Mice
• Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (immunology)
• N-Acetylneuraminic Acid (chemistry)
• Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating (immunology, therapy)
• Protein Processing, Post-Translational
• Receptors, IgG (immunology)
• Rituximab (chemistry, immunology)