Abstract
Introduction
Inflammation is now widely recognised as a major player in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
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However, the driving force behind cardiovascular inflammation remains uncertain. Modification of proteins by lipid peroxidation or reactive oxygen species has been shown to associate with the development and progression of atherosclerotic disease.
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,
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Malondialdehyde (MDA) and acetaldehyde (AA), two reactive compounds known to bind covalently to macromolecules, have drawn more attention during recent yr.
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MDA is generated
The oral cavity houses more than 700 bacterial species.
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The majority of oral microbiome are considered to be commensals that co-occur with low abundance of opportunistic pathobionts. Disruption in harmony of the microbiome leads to dysbiosis, an imbalanced status of the bacterial communities, causing a detrimental shift in the individual components or relative abundances of the microbiome.
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Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome could initiate conditions such as periodontal diseases that are highly common polymicrobial infections affecting a large portion of the adult population.10–12 Growing evidence suggests that periodontitis may enhance the risk of several potentially deadly conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
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,
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Compared to healthy controls, patients with severe periodontitis have increased systemic inflammation, whereas treatment of periodontitis reduces systemic inflammation in patients with or without a history of cardiovascular disease.
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The major aetiological agents are
Natural Abs are an essential part of innate immunity. They are produced without external Agic stimulation by B1 B-lymphocytes, marginal zone B cells and other B cell types.22–25 They are present at birth and include all immunoglobulin classes,22–25 predominantly IgM and IgA isotypes.
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The role of natural Abs is to provide a rapid and first-line defence against microbial pathogens and to serve as innate recognition receptors for homeostatic housekeeping functions and removal of altered self-Ags.
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Among natural Abs, IgM has been extensively studied and shown to bind non-specifically to a broad range of Ags.
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,26–28 For decades, not much attention was paid to the physiological role of natural IgG Abs, as they were thought to be non-reactive. A recent study has shown for the first time that natural IgG recognises a spectrum of bacteria via lectins, such as ficolin and mannose binding protein (MBL), dispelling the general perception that natural IgG Abs lack affinity for pathogens.
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In this study, we cloned and characterised mouse natural monoclonal IgG Abs recognising MAA adducts. Cross-reactivity of the Abs to a major periodontal pathogen,
Methods
Bacteria
Cloning of mouse monoclonal IgG
Splenocytes from a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-deficient mouse (LDLR–/–; the Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME) were fused with P3 × 63Ag8.653.1 myeloma cells using a ClonaCell®-HY hybridoma cloning kit (Stemcell Technologies UK Ltd., Cambridge, UK). The cells were maintained in growth medium E included in the cloning kit at 37°C with 5% CO2. After 10–14 d of growth, hybridoma cell culture media were tested against MAA-LDL and mouse IgG subclass by chemiluminescent immunoassays. Monoclonal hybridoma cell lines were established by sorting a single cell per well on 96-well plates using flow cytometry. The positive clones were propagated and stored in solution containing 85% FBS and 15% DMSO in liquid nitrogen. An IgG isotype control, cIgG, was cloned from a C57BL/6J mouse using the standard polyethylene glycol method. 29
Production and purification of mouse IgG mAb
Hybridoma cell culture media were tested for production of IgG against MAA-LDL. Two monoclonal IgG clones (4D5-D5 or HGL+14_111 and 4F11-E2 or HGL+14_110) were selected for this study. The hybridoma cells were grown and expanded in growth medium E. After being washed with PBS, the cells were transferred to PFHM-II (protein-free hybridoma medium; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) and grown for 2 wk. The media were collected and concentrated by Amicon Ultra-15 Centrifugal Filter Units (30 kDa molecular mass cut-off; Millipore, Burlington, MA). Ab purification was carried out with protein G affinity column (Thermo Fisher Scientific), and the purity was checked by SDS-PAGE. The IgG mAbs were isotyped with a Rapid ELISA Mouse mAb Isotyping Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific) according to the manufacturer’s instruction.
Total RNA isolation, cDNA amplification and sequence analysis
Total RNA from the monoclonal IgG hybridoma cells was isolated with an RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) were synthesised with RevertAid Reverse Transcriptase and oligo (dT)18 primers included in the RevertAid First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The cDNAs were amplified by PCR using the following primers: 31
IgG heavy chain pair:
forward: MH1 5′-SARGTNMAGCTGSAGSAGTC-3′
reverse: IgG1 5′-ATAGACAGATGGGGGTGTCGTTTTGGC-3′
IgG2A 5′-CTTGACCAGGCATCCTAGAGTCA-3′
IgG2B 5′-AGGGGCCAGTGGATAGACTGATGG-3′
IgG3 5′-AGGGACCAAGGGATAGACAGATGG-3′
IgG light chain pair:
forward: 5MK 5′-GAYATTGTGMTSACMCARWCTMCA-3′
reverse: 3KC 5′-GGATACAGTTGGTGCAGCATC-3′
The PCR programme for amplification was described previously. 29 The amplified PCR products were purified with a GeneJET PCR purification kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The nucleotide sequences were analysed and aligned to the germline genes with the IMGT/V-QUEST sequence alignment tool (www.imgt.org).
Chemiluminescence immunoassay
Ags were immobilised overnight to Nunc Microfluor2 96-well plates (Thermo Fisher Scientific) in PBS at 4°C. The Ags were MAA-LDL, MDA-LDL, CuOx-LDL (copper-oxidised LDL), Carb-LDL (carbamylated LDL), Native LDL, MAA-BSA (MAA-modified bovine serum albumin), MDA-BSA, PC-BSA (phosphocholine-modified BSA), Carb-BSA, BSA, CWPS (
Dot blot and Western blot analysis
Bacterial suspension (20 µg protein/strain/well), MAA-BSA, BSA, MAA-LDL,
Protein identification
Cross-reacting proteins were separated by electrophoresis and identified as reported earlier. 32 Briefly, protein bands were excised from SDS gels, treated with dithiothreitol and iocodacetamide to alkylate cysteine side chains and digested with trypsin. Tryptic peptides were subjected to two different approaches of mass spectrometry. First, identification was achieved in offline mode with a MALDI ToF/ToF mass spectrometry (UltrafleXtreme; Bruker, Billerica, MA) using standard instrument settings and database search parameters. 32 Additionally, the tryptic sample was analysed by LC-MS on a Waters Synapt G2 Q-Tof type mass spectrometer coupled to a nano-Aquity HPLC system with an in-house packed emitter-type column (75 µM×15 cm) eluted with a 80 min gradient of 0.1% formic acid water/0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile from 3% to 40%. Data were collected in MSE mode and processed with PLGS 2.5 Apex 3D (Waters, Milford, MA). Processed data were used to search the Swissprot database allowing a 4% false-positive rate.
Flow cytometry analysis of Ab binding to apoptotic cells
Human umbilical vein endothelial cells, EA.hy926, were cultured at 37°C with 5% CO2 in DMEM (Sigma–Aldrich) supplemented with 10% FBS (Thermo Fisher Scientific), 1×HAT (hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine) media supplement (Sigma–Aldrich), 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin (Sigma–Aldrich). Human Jurkat T cells were grown at 37°C with 5% CO2 in RPMI-1640 (Sigma–Aldrich) supplemented with 10% FBS (Thermo Fisher Scientific), 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 µg/ml streptomycin (Sigma–Aldrich), 10 mM Hepes, 2 mM
Results
Cloning of natural mouse monoclonal IgG Abs binding to MAA adducts
To show the biological presence of germline-encoded natural IgG Abs binding to MAA adducts, we isolated and fused splenocytes from a LDLR–/– mouse with myeloma cells. Hybridoma growth media were screened against MAA-LDL and IgG subclass by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Monoclonal hybridoma cell lines were established by cell sorting using flow cytometry. Twenty-nine clones binding to MAA-LDL were found after the first cell sorting, five out of them being IgG positive (Figure 1a). These IgG clones (2C8, 2C11, 2E3, 4D5 and 4F11) were sorted one more time to ensure the monoclonal property. After the second cell sorting, seven clones (2C8-F2, 2C11-E8, 2E3-C4, 2E3-E7, 4D5-D5, 4D5-F6 and 4F11-E2) were selected and stored (Figure 1b). Direct binding analysis showed that they all bound to MAA-LDL, and six out of seven clones (all except 4D5-F6) had weak background binding to fish gelatin (Figure 1b).

Chemiluminescence immunoassays of mouse hybridoma IgG clones bound to malondialdehyde acetaldehyde (MAA) adducts. Direct binding to malondialdehyde acetaldehyde-modified LDL (MAA-LDL), anti-mouse-IgG, and fish gelatin after the first (a) and second (b) cell sorting. RLU: relative light unit.
IgG clones have high sequence homology with germline genes
To see from which germline gene families these monoclonal IgGs were derived, we analysed sequences of the positive clones by sequencing the PCR products amplified from the cDNAs which were reversely transcribed from the total RNAs isolated from hybridoma cells. The sequences were aligned to germline genes with the IMGT/V-QUEST sequence alignment tool (www.imgt.org). All seven clones originated from the same germline gene family for both heavy and light chains, indicating that they were genetically identical. The V region of heavy chain was derived from IGHV1-74*01F gene (Table 1). There was one random N nucleotide insertion and one P nucleotide insertion (N1: gcga, P: a) upstream of the D region (V-D joining). A random N nucleotide insertion (N2: tcc) was observed downstream of the D region (D-J junction). The length of heavy chain CDR3 (complementarity-determining region 3) was 13 aa (Table 1). The V region of the light chain originated from the IGKV12-44*01F gene (Table 1). The identity to germline genes of VH and VL was about 97% and 91%, respectively, revealing the natural origin of the IgG clones. The monoclonal IgG mAbs were also isotyped. All heavy chains showed positive responses to IgG2b and light chains to kappa (κ) type.
Genes encoding VH and VL from IgG clones against MAA-LDL.
Natural IgG mAbs recognise specifically MAA epitopes
To study if the natural IgG mAbs bound to oxidation-specific epitopes, two clones (4D5-D5 and 4F11-E2) having strong MAA-LDL but little background binding were selected for Ab production. After protein G affinity chromatography purification, the purity of the Abs was examined by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions (Figure 2a). Two major bands of around 50 and 25 kDa, representing heavy and light chains, respectively, were observed from both clones. The purified natural IgG Abs recognised MAA epitopes on MAA-BSA with no or residual recognition of MDA-BSA and PC-BSA on Western blot (Figure 2b). Isotype control Ab (cIgG) and the secondary Ab alone (2ab, goat anti-mouse IgG IRDye 800) did not bind. In a chemiluminescence immunoassay, both IgG Abs demonstrated strong binding to immobilised MAA-LDL but not to any other Ags tested (Figure 3a and c). The binding specificities of the Abs to oxidised lipid and protein epitopes were determined by competitive liquid-phase immunoassays in the presence or absence of various kinds of competitors (Figure 3b and d). The most specific binding was observed for MAA-LDL, whereas MAA-BSA and MDA-LDL demonstrated partial competition for both IgG Abs. The clone 4D5-D5 seemed to be a more specific and stronger binder to MAA adducts than 4F11-E2 in the chemiluminescence immunoassay.

SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis after purification of the natural mouse IgG mAbs. (a) SDS-PAGE after protein G affinity chromatography. Two major bands around 50 and 25 kDa were seen in the 4D5-D5 and 4F11-E2 clones. Precision Plus Protein™ All Blue Prestained Protein Standards (Bio-Rad) was used to indicate molecular mass on the left. (b) Western blot analysis of the natural IgGs. Malondialdehyde acetaldehyde-modified BSA (MAA-BSA), malondialdehyde-modified BSA (MDA-BSA) and phosphocholine-modified BSA (PC-BSA) were loaded into wells (10 µg/lane). A clear band of correct size was visualised from MAA-BSA but not from others after incubation with 4D5-D5 and 4F11-E2 at 1 µg/ml. Goat-anti-mouse-IgG IRDye800 was used as secondary Ab at 0.25 µg/ml. cIgG: IgG isotype control; 2ab: secondary Ab alone.

Chemiluminescence immunoassays of mouse natural IgG mAbs bound to oxidised epitopes. Direct binding assay for 4D5-D5 (a) and 4F11-E2 (c) to different Ags. The Ags included MAA-modified low-density lipoprotein (MAA-LDL), MDA-modified LDL (MDA-LDL), copper-oxidised LDL (CuOx-LDL), carbamylated LDL (carb-LDL), native LDL, MAA-BSA, MDA-BSA, PC-BSA, carbamylated BSA (carb-BSA), BSA,
IgG mAbs bind to Pg strain ATCC33277
To investigate whether the MAA-specific natural IgG Abs have cross-reactivity with pathogenic microbes in periodontitis, the Ab binding to oral bacteria

Dot blot and Western blot analysis of the monoclonal IgG Abs binding to periodontal bacteria. (a) Dot blot: 20 µg whole bacterial protein and 5 µg MAA-BSA, BSA, MAA-LDL,
IgG mAbs do not bind to apoptotic cells
The existence of natural IgG Abs to MAA adduct gave rise to the question of whether they bind to apoptotic cells, behaving similarly to natural IgM Abs. The apoptotic cells were created from human umbilical vein endothelial cells EA.hy926 or from human T lymphocyte Jurkat cells by starving or by UV irradiation. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that neither of the MAA-specific natural IgG Abs bound to any of the apoptotic cells tested. The results from EA.hy926 cells are shown in Figure 5.

Flow cytometry analysis of the natural mouse IgG mAbs binding to apoptotic EA.hy926 cells. (a) Apoptotic cells were created by starving in FBS-free DMEM for 48 h and were populated by DNA staining. G1: apoptotic cells; G2: non-apoptotic cells. (b) Binding of 4D5-D5 and 4F11-E2 to apoptotic cells. (c) Binding of 4D5-D5 and 4F11-E2 to non-apoptotic cells. Cells: the background of cells alone; 2ab: the background of secondary Ab (goat-anti-mouse IgG (H+L), Alexa Fluor 488), 0.25 µg/ml; 4D5-D5: 5 µg/ml; 4F11-E2: 5 µg/ml. Samples were measured in triplicate.
Discussion
IgG is the predominant Ab class present in mouse and human serum. The knowledge of the existence and physiological role of natural IgGs in immunoregulation and homeostasis is very limited.
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,
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Currently, no natural IgG Abs to oxidation-specific epitopes have been cloned from human or mouse. Here, we report the cloning and characterisation of natural mouse monoclonal IgGs to MAA adducts and their cross-reaction with the key periodontal pathogen
MAA adduction exists in many tissues and seems to represent a universal example of an inefficient clearance of oxidative stress. MAA is one of the terminal and stable adducts of MDA
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which functions biologically as a potent immuno-enhancing factor.
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Both MDA- and MAA-modified LDL particles have been found in atherosclerotic lesions and have been shown to contain immunogenic epitopes recognised by the humoral immune system.
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,
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MAA-modified proteins are strongly associated with early atherosclerosis, vascular inflammation, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and sudden cardiac death after AMI.
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MAA adducts are important targets for human natural IgM Abs in neonates and preterm newborns.
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,
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We have previously cloned MAA-specific human Fab Abs and a mouse natural IgM mAb cross-reacting with
IgG Abs are generated through isotype switching and make up the majority of circulating Ab having generally higher affinity than the primary IgM Abs. Human IgGs are divided into four subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4),
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and mouse IgGs into IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3, with IgG2c being the equivalent of IgG2a in some mouse strains such as C57BL/6 mice.
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Both species share > 95% homology in the aa sequences of the Fc regions (constant regions) but show major differences in the aa composition and structure of the hinge region. All subclasses mediate effector functions, such as Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), slightly differently due to variable specificity and affinity for the different IgG binding partners. IgG2a and IgG2b are the most potent IgG subclasses binding to activating Fc receptors (FcγRI, FcγRIII and FcγRIV) and inhibitory FcγRIIB with different affinities.
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,
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In ADCC, the Fc region of an Ab binds to FcγRs on the surface of immune effector cells such as NK and macrophages, leading to the phagocytosis or lysis of the targeted cells. In CDC, the Abs kill the targeted cells by triggering the complement cascade at the cell surface. The exact role of natural IgGs in immunoregulation and homeostasis remains elusive. Recent studies have revealed that natural IgGs recognise and opsonise invading pathogens quickly and effectively, suggesting an essential and immediate protective role in innate immunity.
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A DNA-delivered IgG mAb has been shown to protect against
The gingipains (RgpA/B and Kgp) of
There is limited information about the role of IgA Abs in periodontitis and in atherosclerosis. Our lab has previously reported that saliva contains IgA and IgG binding to MAA-LDL, which cross-react with
Human periodontitis is affected by the onset of aging. Many factors contribute. However, the age-related remodelling of the immune system, namely immunosenescence, plays a key role. 60 , 61 The Abs of elderly population seem to be less effective in clearing bacteria. The protective capacity of serum natural IgM generated by B-1a cells decreases considerably with age. Sequence analysis of natural IgM from all B-1a cells demonstrates changes with age by increased N-addition. 62 It has also been observed that not only the percentage of B-1 cells but also their ability to secrete IgM decreased with age. 63 In addition, there have been studies showing that some healthy people do not experience changes in the natural IgM levels, even when they are > 25 yr old, but the natural IgG levels in their circulation rise. 64 There has been a gap in our knowledge about whether aging has an impact on the protective role of B-1 cell–derived natural Abs and how increasing age affects the existing natural repertoire. Understanding how natural Abs change with age may have potential application in the future.
We showed in the study that the cloned natural monoclonal MAA-specific IgG Abs recognise the most important gingipain Kgp of
Supplemental Material
sj-pdf-1-ini-10.1177_1753425920981133 - Supplemental material for Existence of natural mouse IgG mAbs recognising epitopes shared by malondialdehyde acetaldehyde adducts and Porphyromonas gingivalis
Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-ini-10.1177_1753425920981133 for Existence of natural mouse IgG mAbs recognising epitopes shared by malondialdehyde acetaldehyde adducts and
Footnotes
Acknowledgements
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References
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