Tolerance induction with T cell-dependent protein antigens induces regulatory sialylated IgGs

Carolin M. Oefner, André Winkler, Constanze Hess, Alexandra K. Lorenz, Vivien Holecska, Melanie Huxdorf, Tim Schommartz, Dominique Petzold, Josephine Bitterling, Anna Lena Schoen, Alexander D. Stoehr, Dana Vu Van, Yasemin Darcan-Nikolaisen, Véronique Blanchard, Inken Schmudde, Yves Laumonnier, Heike A. Ströver, Ahmed N. Hegazy, Susanne Eiglmeier, Carolin T. SchoenMaria M.M. Mertes, Christoph Loddenkemper, Max Löhning, Peter König, Arnd Petersen, Elke O. Luger, Mattias Collin, Jörg Köhl, Andreas Hutloff, Eckard Hamelmann, Markus Berger, Hedda Wardemann, Marc Ehlers*

*Corresponding author for this work
53 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Under inflammatory conditions, T cell-dependent (TD) protein antigens induce proinflammatory T- and B-cell responses. In contrast, tolerance induction by TD antigens without costimulation triggers the development of regulatory T cells. Under both conditions, IgG antibodies are generated, but whether they have different immunoregulatory functions remains elusive. Objective: It was shown recently that proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory effector functions of IgG molecules are determined by different Fc N-linked glycosylation patterns. We sought to examine the Fc glycosylation and anti-inflammatory quality of IgG molecules formed on TD tolerance induction. Methods: We administered chicken ovalbumin (OVA) with or without costimulus to mice and analyzed OVA-reactive IgG Fc glycosylation. The anti-inflammatory function of differentially glycosylated anti-OVA IgGs was further investigated in studies with dendritic cell cultures and in an in vivo model of allergic airway disease. Additionally, we analyzed the Fc glycosylation pattern of birch pollen-reactive serum IgGs after successful allergen-specific immunotherapy in patients. Results: Stimulation with TD antigens under inflammatory conditions induces plasma cells expressing low levels of α2,6-sialyltransferase and producing desialylated IgGs. In contrast, plasma cells induced on tolerance induction did not downregulate α2,6-sialyltransferase expression and secreted immunosuppressive sialylated IgGs that were sufficient to block antigen-specific T- and B-cell responses, dendritic cell maturation, and allergic airway inflammation. Importantly, successful specific immunotherapy in allergic patients also induced sialylated allergen-specific IgGs. Conclusions: Our data show a novel antigen-specific immunoregulatory mechanism mediated by anti-inflammatory sialylated IgGs that are formed on TD tolerance induction. These findings might help to develop novel antigen-specific therapies for the treatment of allergy and autoimmunity.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume129
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)1647-1655
Number of pages9
ISSN0091-6749
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.06.2012

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