Changes in cell differentiation and proliferation lead to production of abzymes in EAE mice treated with DNA-Histone complexes

EAE of Mice: Enzymatic Cross Site-Specific Hydrolysis of H2A Histone by IgGs against H2A, H1, H2B, H3, and H4 Histones and Myelin Basic Protein

Histones play vital roles in chromatin function and gene transcription; however, they are very harmful in the intercellular space because they stimulate systemic inflammatory and toxic responses. Myelin basic protein (MBP) is the major protein of the axon myelin-proteolipid sheath. Antibodies-abzymes with various catalytic activities are specific features of some autoimmune diseases. IgGs against individual histones (H2A, H1, H2B, H3, and H4) and MBP were isolated from the blood of experimental-autoimmune-encephalomyelitis-prone C57BL/6 mice by several affinity chromatographies. These Abs-abzymes corresponded to various stages of EAE development: spontaneous EAE, MOG, and DNA-histones accelerated the onset, acute, and remission stages. IgGs-abzymes against MBP and five individual histones showed unusual polyreactivity in the complex formation and enzymatic cross-reactivity in the specific hydrolysis of the H2A histone. All the IgGs of 3-month-old mice (zero time) against MBP and individual histones demonstrated from 4 to 35 different H2A hydrolysis sites. The spontaneous development of EAE over 60 days led to a significant change in the type and number of H2A histone hydrolysis sites by IgGs against five histones and MBP. Mice treatment with MOG and the DNA-histone complex changed the type and number of H2A hydrolysis sites compared to zero time. The minimum number (4) of different H2A hydrolysis sites was found for IgGs against H2A (zero time), while the maximum (35) for anti-H2B IgGs (60 days after mice treatment with DNA-histone complex). Overall, it was first demonstrated that at different stages of EAE evolution, IgGs-abzymes against individual histones and MBP could significantly differ in the number and type of specific sites of H2A hydrolysis. The possible reasons for the catalytic cross-reactivity and great differences in the number and type of histone H2A cleavage sites were analyzed.

The Influence of Antipsychotic Treatment on the Activity of Abzymes Targeting Myelin and Levels of Inflammation Markers in Patients with Schizophrenia

Catalytic antibodies, or abzymes, are capable of not only binding but also hydrolyzing various proteins. Previously, an increase in the level of myelin basic protein (MBP)-hydrolyzing activity of antibodies was shown in patients with a number of neurological and mental disorders, including schizophrenia. Furthermore, antipsychotic therapy is known to induce a change in cytokine levels in patients with schizophrenia, which affects regulation of the immune response and inflammatory status. This study investigated the influence of typical and atypical antipsychotics on catalytic antibody activity and the 10 major pro- and anti-inflammatory serum cytokine levels. The study included 40 patients with schizophrenia: 15 treated with first-generation antipsychotics and 25 treated with atypical antipsychotics for 6 weeks. It was found that treatment with atypical antipsychotics changed the levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines. Antipsychotic therapy also caused a significant decrease in MBP-hydrolyzing activity in patients with schizophrenia (p = 0.0002), and associations of catalytic activity with interleukins were observed.

EAE of Mice: Enzymatic Cross Site-Specific Hydrolysis of H2B Histone by IgGs against H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 Histones and Myelin Basic Protein

Histones have vital roles in chromatin functioning and gene transcription. At the same time, they are pernicious in intercellular space because they stimulate systemic inflammatory and toxic responses. Myelin basic protein (MBP) is the major protein of the axon myelin–proteolipid sheath. Antibody-abzymes with various catalytic activities are specific features of some autoimmune diseases. IgGs against five individual histones (H2B, H1, H2A, H3, and H4) and MBP were isolated from the blood of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-prone C57BL/6 mice by affinity chromatography. Abzymes corresponding to various stages of EAE development, including spontaneous EAE, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)- and DNA-histone complex-accelerated onset, as well as acute and remission stages, were analyzed. IgG-abzymes against MBP and five individual histones showed unusual polyreactivity in complex formation and enzymatic cross-reactivity in the specific hydrolysis of H2B histone. All IgGs against MBP and individual histones in 3-month-old mice (zero time) demonstrated from 4 to 11 different H2B hydrolysis sites. Spontaneous development of EAE during 60 days led to a significant change in the type and number of H2B hydrolysis sites by IgGs against the five histones and MBP. Mouse treatment with MOG and DNA-histone complex changed the type and number of H2B hydrolysis sites compared to zero time. The minimum number (3) of different H2B hydrolysis sites was found for IgGs against H3 20 days after mouse immunization with DNA-histone complex, whereas the maximum number (33) for anti-H2B IgGs was found 60 days after mouse treatment with DNA-histone complex. Overall, this is the first study to demonstrate that at different stages of EAE evolution, IgG-abzymes against five individual histones and MBP could significantly differ in the specific sites and number of H2B hydrolysis sites. Possible reasons for the catalytic cross-reactivity and significant differences in the number and type of histone H2B cleavage sites were analyzed.

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis of Mice: IgGs from the Sera of Mice Hydrolyze miRNAs

It was shown that the spontaneous development of experimental encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57BL/6 mice occurs due to changes in the profile of bone marrow stem cells differentiation. This leads to the appearance of lymphocytes producing antibodies-abzymes that hydrolyze DNA, myelin basic protein (MBP), and histones. The activity of abzymes in the hydrolysis of these auto-antigens slowly but constantly increases during the spontaneous development of EAE. Treatment of mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) leads to a sharp increase in the activity of these abzymes with their maximum at 20 days (acute phase) after immunization. In this work, we analyzed changes in the activity of IgG-abzymes hydrolyzing (pA)₂₃, (pC)₂₃, (pU)₂₃, and six miRNAs (miR-9-5p, miR-219a-5p, miR-326, miR-155-5p, miR-21-3p, and miR-146a-3p) before and after mice immunization with MOG. Unlike abzymes hydrolyzing DNA, MBP, and histones, the spontaneous development of EAE leads not to an increase but to a permanent decrease of IgGs activity of hydrolysis of RNA-substrates. Treatment of mice with MOG resulted in a sharp but transient increase in the activity of antibodies by day 7 (onset of the disease), followed by a sharp decrease in activity 20-40 days after immunization. A significant difference in the production of abzymes against DNA, MBP, and histones before and after mice immunization with MOG with those against RNAs may be since the expression of many miRNAs decreased with age. This can lead to a decrease in the production of antibodies and abzymes that hydrolyze miRNAs with age mice.

Autoantibody-Abzymes with Catalase Activity in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mice

The exact mechanisms of the evolution of multiple sclerosis are still unknown. At the same time, the development in C57BL/6 mice of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE, simulating human multiple sclerosis) happens as a result of the violation of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell differentiation profiles integrated with the production of toxic auto-antibodies splitting the basic myelin protein, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), histones, and DNA. It has been shown that IgGs from the plasma of healthy humans and autoimmune patients oxidize many different compounds due to their peroxidase (H₂O₂-dependent) and oxidoreductase (H₂O₂-independent) activities. Here, we first analyzed the changes in the relative catalase activity of IgGs from C57BL/6 mice blood plasma over time at different stages of the EAE development (onset, acute, and remission phases). It was shown that the catalase activity of IgGs of 3-month-old mice is, on average, relatively low (k_cat = 40.7 min^-1), but it increases during 60 days of spontaneous development of EAE 57.4-fold (k_cat = 2.3 × 10³ min^-1). The catalase activity of antibodies increases by a factor of 57.4 by 20 days after the immunization of mice with MOG (k_cat = 2.3 × 10³ min^-1), corresponding to the acute phase of EAE development, and 52.7-fold by 60 days after the treatment of mice with a DNA-histone complex (k_cat = 2.1 × 10³ min^-1). It is the acceleration of the EAE development after the treatment of mice with MOG that leads to the increased production of lymphocytes synthesizing antibodies with catalase activity. All data show that the IgGs' catalase activity can play an essential role in reducing the H₂O₂ concentration and protecting mice from oxidative stress.

Antibodies-Abzymes with Antioxidant Activities in Two Th and 2D2 Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mice during the Development of EAE Pathology

The exact mechanisms of multiple sclerosis development are still unknown. However, the development of EAE (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis) in Th and 2D2 mice is associated with the infringement of the differentiation profiles of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells which are bound with the production of compounds that are harmful for human autoantibodies-abzymes that hydrolyze myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, myelin basic protein, and DNA. It showed that autoimmune patients' antioxidant IgG antibodies oxidise some compounds due to their peroxidase (H2O2-dependent) and oxidoreductase (H2O2-independent) activities more effectively than those in healthy humans can. It was interesting to identify whether the redox activities of the antibodies change during the development of autoimmune diseases. Here, we analyzed the change in these redox activities of the IgGs from the blood of Th and 2D2 mice, which corresponded to different stages of the EAE development. The peroxidase activity in the oxidation of ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) in the Th (4-fold) and 2D2 (2-fold) mice IgGs, on average, is higher than the oxidoreductase activity is. The peroxidase activity of the Th (1.9-fold) and 2D2 (3.5-fold) mice IgGs remarkably increased during the 40 days of the spontaneous development of EAE. Forty days after the immunization of the MOG peroxidase activity, the IgGs of the Th and 2D2 mice increased 5.6-6.0 times when they were compared with those that presented no increase (3 months of age). The mice IgGs were oxidized with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (2.4-4.3-fold) and o-phenylenediamine (139-143-fold) less efficiently than they were with ABTS. However, the temper of the change in the IgG activity in the oxidation of these substrates during the spontaneous and MOG-induced development of EAE was close to that which occurred for ABTS. All of the data show that the IgG peroxidase and oxidoreductase activities of EAE mice can play an important role in their protection from toxic compounds and oxidative stress.

Multiple Sclerosis: Enzymatic Cross Site-Specific Recognition and Hydrolysis of H3 Histone by IgGs against H3, H1, H2A, H2B, H4 Histones, Myelin Basic Protein, and DNA

Histones have a specific key role in the remodeling of chromatin and gene transcription. In the blood, free histones are damage-connected proteins. Myelin basic protein (MBP) is the major component of the myelin-proteolipid sheath of axons. Antibodies possessing enzymatic activities (abzymes, ABZs) are the specific features of several autoimmune pathologies. IgGs against five histones, MBP, and DNA were obtained from the sera of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using several affinity chromatographies. The sites of H3 histone splitting by Abs against five individual histones, MBP, and DNA were revealed by MALDI mass spectrometry. It was shown that the number of H3 splitting sites by IgGs against five various histones is different (number of sites): H3 (11), H1 (14), H2A (11), H4 (17), MBP (22), and DNA (29). IgGs against five different histones hydrolyze H3 at different sites, and only a few them coincide. The main reason for the enzymatic cross-reactivity of Abs against H3 and four other histones, as well as MBP, might be the high level of these proteins’ homology. The effective hydrolysis of the H3 histone at 29 sites with IgGs against DNA can be explained by the formation of chimeric abzymes against hybrid antigenic determinants formed by different histones and MBP at the junction of these protein sequences with DNA. The active centers of such abzymes contain structural elements of canonical DNases and proteases. Since free histones are pernicious proteins, antibodies–ABZs against five histones, MBP, and DNA could have a negative role in the pathogenesis of MS and probably other various autoimmune diseases.

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis of Mice: Enzymatic Cross Site-Specific Hydrolysis of H4 Histone by IgGs against Histones and Myelin Basic Protein

Histones play vital roles in chromatin functioning and gene transcription, but in intercellular space, they are harmful due to stimulating systemic inflammatory and toxic responses. Myelin basic protein (MBP) is the most important protein of the axon myelin–proteolipid sheath. Antibodies-abzymes with different catalytic activities are critical and specific features of some autoimmune diseases. Five IgG preparations against histones (H4, H1, H2A, H2B, and H3) and against MBP corresponding to different spontaneous, MOG (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein of mice), and DNA–histones that accelerated onset, acute, and remission stages of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE; model of human multiple sclerosis) development were obtained from EAE-prone C57BL/6 mice by several affinity chromatographies. IgG-abzymes against five histones and MBP possess unusual polyreactivity in complexation and catalytic cross-reactivity in the hydrolysis of histone H4. IgGs against five histones and MBP corresponding to 3 month-old mice (zero time) in comparison with Abs corresponding to spontaneous development of EAE during 60 days differ in type and number of H4 sites for hydrolysis. Immunization of mice with MOG and DNA–histones complex results in an acceleration of EAE development associated with an increase in the activity of antibodies in H4 hydrolysis. Twenty days after mouse immunization with MOG or DNA–histones complex, the IgGs hydrolyze H4 at other additional sites compared to zero time. The maximum number of different sites of H4 hydrolysis was revealed for IgGs against five histones and MBP at 60 days after immunization of mice with MOG and DNA–histones. Overall, it first showed that at different stages of EAE development, abzymes could significantly differ in specific sites of H4 hydrolysis.

Multiple Sclerosis: Enzymatic Cross Site-Specific Recognition and Hydrolysis of H2A Histone by IgGs against H2A, H1, H2B, H3 Histones, Myelin Basic Protein, and DNA

Histones have a paramount role in chromatin remodeling and gene transcription. Free histones are damage-associated molecules in the blood; administration of histones to animals drives systemic inflammatory and toxic effects. Myelin basic protein (MBP) is the most crucial component of the axon myelin-proteolipid sheath. Antibodies-abzymes with different enzymatic activities are very toxic and an essential feature of some autoimmune diseases. Electrophoretically homogeneous IgGs against H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4, MBP, and DNA were derived from sera of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by several affinity chromatographies. Using MALDI-TOFF mass spectrometry, it was shown that IgGs against H2A split H2A at 12 sites; the number of H2A hydrolysis sites by antibodies against other antigens is different: H1 (19), H2B (11), H3 (15), H4 (9), MBP (10), and DNA (23), and they only partly match. Thus, the complex formation polyreactivity and the enzymatic cross-activity of pernicious humans IgGs against five histones, MBP, and DNA have been shown for the first time. The data obtained indicate that the formation of such polyspecific-polyreactive abzymes, whose single active center can recognize and hydrolyze different substrates, can occur due to the formation of antibodies against hybrid antigenic determinants consisting of several histone protein sequences. IgGs with high affinity for DNA with DNase and protease activities may be antibodies against DNA-histone complex antigenic determinants, including protein and DNA sequences. Polyreactive IgGs-abzymes against MBP, five histones, and DNA with extended cytotoxicity can play a very negative role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and probably other different diseases.

Essential Protective Role of Catalytically Active Antibodies (Abzymes) with Redox Antioxidant Functions in Animals and Humans

During the life of aerobic organisms, the oxygen resulting from numerous reactions is converted into reactive oxygen species (ROS). Many ROS are dangerous due to their high reactivity; they are strong oxidants, and react with various cell components, leading to their damage. To protect against ROS overproduction, enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems are evolved in aerobic cells. Several known non-enzymatic antioxidants have a relatively low specific antioxidant activity. Superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, thioredoxin, and the peroxiredoxin families are the most important enzyme antioxidants. Artificial antibodies catalyzing redox reactions using different approaches have been created. During the past several decades, it has been shown that the blood and various biological fluids of humans and animals contain natural antibodies that catalyze different redox reactions, such as classical enzymes. This review, for the first time, summarizes data on existing non-enzymatic antioxidants, canonical enzymes, and artificial or natural antibodies (abzymes) with redox functions. Comparing abzymes with superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxide-dependent peroxidase, and H₂O₂-independent oxidoreductase activities with the same activities as classical enzymes was carried out. The features of abzymes with the redox activities are described, including their exceptional diversity in the optimal pH values, dependency and independence on various metal ions, and the reaction rate constants for healthy donors and patients with different autoimmune diseases. The entire body of evidence indicates that abzymes with redox antioxidant activities existing in the blood for a long time compared to enzymes are an essential part of the protection system of humans and animals from oxidative stress.

Cell Differentiation and Proliferation in the Bone Marrow and Other Organs of 2D2 Mice during Spontaneous Development of EAE Leading to the Production of Abzymes

The exact cellular and molecular mechanisms of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases have not been established. Autoimmune pathologies are known to be associated with faults in the immune system and changes in the differentiation profiles of bone marrow stem cells. This study analyzed various characteristics of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in 2D2 mice. Differentiation profiles of six hematopoietic stem cells of bone marrow were found to significantly differ in 2D2 male and female mice during the spontaneous development of EAE. In addition, we found various properties of B and T cells, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in blood and several organs (bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes) of 2D2 male and female mice to be considerably different. These changes in hematopoietic stem cells differentiation profiles and level of lymphocyte proliferation in various organs of 2D2 mice were found to induce the production of IgGs against DNA, myelin basic protein, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, increasing the number of autoantibodies hydrolyzing these substrates. We compared the changes of these immunological and biochemical parameters in 2D2 mice with those of mice of two other lines (Th and C57BL/6), also prone to spontaneous development of EAE. Some noticeable and even extreme variations were found in the time-related development of parameters between male and female mice of 2D2, Th, and C57BL/6 lines. Despite some differences, mice of all three lines demonstrated the changes in hematopoietic stem cells profiles, lymphocyte content, and production of catalytic autoantibodies. Given that these changes are harmful to mice, we believe them to cause the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Secretory immunoglobulin A from human milk hydrolyzes 5 histones and myelin basic protein

Mother's milk provides newborns with various nutrients (e.g., enzymes, proteins, peptides, hormones, antibodies) that help babies grow and protect them from bacterial and viral infections. The functions of many components of breast milk can be very different from their corresponding functions in body fluids of healthy adults. Catalytic antibodies (abzymes) that hydrolyze peptides, proteins, DNA, RNA, and oligosaccharides were detected not only in human milk, but also in the blood sera of autoimmune patients. However, abzymes with unexpected synthetic activities (lipids, oligosaccharides, and protein kinase activities) were revealed in milk that were not found in the blood of autoimmune patients. The nutrition of infants with fresh milk has a very specific role; newborns are well protected by antibodies of mother's milk (passive immunity). Protease abzymes were found in the blood sera of autoimmune patients, whereas healthy humans usually do not contain such autoantibodies. Here, we present the first evidence that the milk of healthy mothers contains secretory (s)IgA that effectively hydrolyze 5 histones (e.g., H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4) and myelin basic protein (MBP). Several rigid criteria were applied to show that protease activity is an intrinsic property of sIgA. Milk abzymes against 5 histones cannot hydrolyze different control proteins except histones and MBP, whereas autoantibodies against MBP split this protein and 5 histones. Antibodies against histones and MBP exhibit complexation polyreactivity as well as specific and unusual catalytic cross-reactivity. With some exceptions, the specific sites of hydrolysis of H1, H2A, and H2B by sIgA against histones do not coincide with the sites of hydrolysis by abzymes against MBP. On the whole, fresh human milk is a very specific source of many of the most unusual antibodies and abzymes.

Multiple Sclerosis: Enzymatic Cross Site-Specific Hydrolysis of H1 Histone by IgGs against H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4 Histones, and Myelin Basic Protein

Histones play a key role in chromatin remodeling and gene transcription. Further, free histones in the blood act as damage-associated molecules. Administration of histones to animals results in systemic inflammatory and toxic effects. Myelin basic protein is the principal constituent element of the myelin-proteolipid sheath of axons. Abzymes (antibodies with catalytic activities) are the original features of some autoimmune diseases. In this study, electrophoretically homogeneous IgGs against H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histones and myelin basic protein (MBP) were isolated from the blood sera of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by several affinity chromatographies. Using MALDI mass spectrometry, the sites of H1 histone cleavage by IgGs against H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4, and MBP were determined. It was shown that IgGs against H1 split H1 at 12 sites, while the number of cleavage sites by abzymes against other histones was lower: H2A (9), H2B (7), H3 (3), and H4 (3). The minimum rate of H1 hydrolysis was observed for antibodies against H3 and H4. A high rate of hydrolysis and the maximum number of H1 hydrolysis sites (17) were found for antibodies against MBP. Only a few sites of H1 hydrolysis by anti-H1 antibodies coincided with those for IgGs against H2A, H2B, H3, H4, and MBP. Thus, the polyreactivity of complexation and the enzymatic cross-activity of antibodies against H1, four other histones, and MBP have first been shown. Since histones act as damage molecules, abzymes against histones and MBP can play a negative role in the pathogenesis of MS and probably other different diseases as well.

Increase in Autoantibodies-Abzymes with Peroxidase and Oxidoreductase Activities in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mice during the Development of EAE Pathology

The exact mechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS) development are still unknown, but the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57BL/6 mice is associated with the violation of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiation profiles associated with the production of harmful for human’s autoantibodies hydrolyzing myelin basic protein, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG_35–55), and DNA. It was shown that IgGs from the sera of healthy humans and autoimmune patients oxidize many different compounds due to their H₂O₂-dependent peroxidase and oxidoreductase activity in the absence of H₂O₂. Here we first analyzed the change in the relative redox activities of IgGs antibodies from the blood of C57BL/6 mice over time at different stages of the EAE development. It was shown that the peroxidase activity of mice IgGs in the oxidation of ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) is on average 6.9-fold higher than the oxidoreductase activity. The peroxidase activity of IgGs increased during the spontaneous development of EAE during 40 days, 1.4-fold. After EAE development acceleration due to mice immunization with MOG_35–55 (5.3-fold), complexes of bovine DNA with methylated bovine serum albumin (DNA-metBSA; 3.5-fold), or with histones (2.6-fold), the activity was increased much faster. The increase in peroxidase activity after mice immunization with MOG_35–55 and DNA-metBSA up to 40 days of experiments was relatively gradual, while for DNA-histones complex was observed its sharp increase at the acute phase of EAE (14–20 days). All data show that IgGs’ redox activities can play an important role in the protection of mice from toxic compounds and oxidative stress.

Six catalytic activities and cytotoxicity of immunoglobulin G and secretory immunoglobulin A from human milk

In the milk of healthy women, antibodies were found with different catalytic activities (abzymes), which are absent in the sera of other healthy people. Moreover, it was previously shown that DNase antibodies-abzymes of patients with autoimmune diseases are cytotoxic to cancer cells. In this work, it was first shown that IgG and secretory IgA (sIgA) do not possess embryotoxicity; they practically do not affect the development of fertilized eggs of sea urchins but demonstrate sperm toxicity. After addition to the eggs of sperm preincubated with IgG and sIgA, the number of unfertilized eggs was increased, in the case of sIgA 1.6-fold higher than that for IgG. The suppression of the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by sIgA was 2.2 times more effective than with IgG antibodies. The relative enzymatic activity of milk sIgA was higher than IgG (-fold): 1.9 (DNase), 4.6 (amylase), 1.7 (peroxidase), 1.3 (protease), 3.7 [hydrolysis of poly(C)], 3.3 [hydrolysis of poly(U)], and 1.7 (oxidation of 3,3'-diaminobenzidine). One of the possible reasons for the observed difference between sIgA and IgG could be that all 6 catalytic activities of sIgA were, on average, 2.6 times higher than that for IgG. Correlation coefficients between all the relative 6 enzymatic activities of IgG and sIgA and their toxicity to sea urchin sperm and to cancer cells were calculated. Maximum correlation coefficients were observed for DNase (+0.71), protease (+0.64) activities for sIgA, as well as protease (+0.59) and RNase (+0.77) of IgG with their toxicity toward sperm. The correlation coefficients were also high between peroxidase activity (+0.85) of sIgA and poly(U) hydrolysis by IgG (+0.58) with their suppression of tumor cell growth. It has been suggested that the catalytic activities of abzymes may be important in the manifestation of their sperm toxicity and inhibition of cancer cell growth.

Catalytic antibodies in the bone marrow and other organs of Th mice during spontaneous development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis associated with cell differentiation

Exact mechanisms of autoimmune disease development are still yet unknown. However, it is known that the development of autoimmune diseases is associated with defects in the immune system, namely, the violation of the bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiation profiles. Different characteristics of autoimmune reaction development in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) prone Th mice characterizing T-lymphocytes response were analyzed using standard approaches. Profiles of several HSCs differentiation of bone marrow (BFU-E, CFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-GEMM, T- and B-lymphocytes) of Th male and female mice during spontaneous development of EAE were noticeably different. Patterns of total lymphocytes, B- and T-cells proliferation in several different organs (bone marrow, blood, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes) were also remarkably different. In addition, there were in time noticeable differences in their changes for some organs of male and female mice. Characters of changes in the profiles of CD4 and CD8 cells proliferation in some organs not always coincide with those for total T lymphocytes. The changes in the differentiation profiles of HSCs and the level of lymphocytes proliferation in the bone marrow and other organs were associated with the increase in the concentration of antibodies against DNA, myelin basic protein, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, and catalytic antibodies hydrolyzing these substrates. Despite some differences in changes in the analyzed parameters, in general, the spontaneous development of EAE in male and female mice occurs to some extent in a comparable way.

The association between EAE development in mice and the production of autoantibodies and abzymes after immunization of mice with different antigens

We have previously shown that immunization of C57BL/6 mice, prone to spontaneous development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), with three antigens (MOG_35-55 , DNA-histone complex or DNA-methylated BSA complex), alters the differentiation profiles of bone marrow haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These are associated with the production of autoantibodies (auto-Abs) against these antigens and the formation of abzymes hydrolysing DNA, MOG, myelin basic protein (MBP) and histones. Immunization of mice with antigens accelerates the development of EAE. This work is the first to analyse the ratio of auto-Abs without and with catalytic activities at different stages of EAE development (onset, acute and remission phases) after immunization of mice with the three specific antigens. Prior to immunization and during spontaneous in-time development of EAE, the concentration of auto-Abs against MBP, MOG, histones and DNA and activities of IgG antibodies in the hydrolysis of substrates increased in parallel; correlation coefficients = +0.69-0.94. After immunization with MOG, DNA-histone complex or DNA-met-BSA complex, both positive (from +0.13 to +0.98) and negative correlations (from -0.09 to -0.69) were found between these values. Our study is the first showing that depending on the antigen, the relative amount of harmful auto-Abs without and abzymes with low or high catalytic activities may be produced only at onset and in acute or remission phases of EAE. The antigen governs the EAE development rate, whereby the ratio of auto-Abs without catalytic activity and with enzymatic activities of harmful abzymes hydrolysing MBP, MOG, histones and DNA varies strongly between different disease phases.

HIV-Infected Patients: Cross Site-Specific Hydrolysis of H3 and H4 Histones and Myelin Basic Protein with Antibodies against These Three Proteins

Histones play important roles in chromatin functioning and gene transcription, but in the intercellular space, they are harmful since they stimulate systemic inflammatory and toxic responses. Electrophoretically homogeneous IgGs against myelin basic protein (MBP), as well as H3 and H4 histones, were isolated from sera of HIV-infected patients. In contrast to known classical proteases, these IgGs split exclusively only histones and MBP but no other control proteins. Among 13 sites of hydrolysis of H3 by IgGs against H3 and 14 sites for anti-MBP IgGs, only two sites of the hydrolysis were the same. Between seven cleavage sites of H4 with IgGs against H4 and 9 sites of this histone hydrolysis by antibodies against MBP, only three sites were the same. The sites of hydrolysis of H3 (and H4) with abzymes against these histones and against MBP were different, but several expended protein clusters containing hydrolysis sites are partially overlapped. The existence of enzymatic cross-reactivity of abzymes against H3 and H4 and MBP represents a great menace to humans since due to cell apoptosis, histones constantly occur in human blood. They can hydrolyze MBP of the myelin sheath of axons and play a negative role in the pathogenesis of HIV-infected patients.

Natural Catalytic IgGs Hydrolyzing Histones in Schizophrenia: Are They the Link between Humoral Immunity and Inflammation?

Schizophrenia is known to be accompanied not only with an imbalance in the neurotransmitter systems but also with immune system dysregulation and chronic low-grade inflammation. Extracellular histones and nucleosomes as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) trigger systemic inflammatory and toxic reactions by activating Toll-like receptors. In this work, we obtained the first evidence that polyclonal IgGs of patients with schizophrenia effectively hydrolyze five histones (H1, H2a, H2b, H3, and H4). Several strict criteria were used to demonstrate that histone-hydrolyzing activity is a property of the analyzed IgGs. The IgGs histone-hydrolyzing activity level, depending on the type of histone (H1–H4), was statistically significantly 6.1–20.2 times higher than that of conditionally healthy donors. The investigated biochemical properties (pH and metal ion dependences, kinetic characteristics) of these natural catalytic IgGs differed markedly from canonical proteases. It was previously established that the generation of natural catalytic antibodies is an early and clear sign of impaired humoral immunity. One cannot, however, exclude that histone-hydrolyzing antibodies may play a positive role in schizophrenia pathogenesis because histone removal from circulation or the inflamed area minimizes the inflammatory responses. Thus, it can be assumed that histone-hydrolyzing antibodies are a link between humoral immunity and inflammatory responses in schizophrenia.

Immunoglobulins with Non-Canonical Functions in Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disease States

Immunoglobulins are known to combine various effector mechanisms of the adaptive and the innate immune system. Classical immunoglobulin functions are associated with antigen recognition and the initiation of innate immune responses. However, in addition to classical functions, antibodies exhibit a variety of non-canonical functions related to the destruction of various pathogens due to catalytic activity and cofactor effects, the action of antibodies as agonists/antagonists of various receptors, the control of bacterial diversity of the intestine, etc. Canonical and non-canonical functions reflect the extreme human antibody repertoire and the variety of antibody types generated in the organism: antigen-specific, natural, polyreactive, broadly neutralizing, homophilic, bispecific and catalytic. The therapeutic effects of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) are associated with both the canonical and non-canonical functions of antibodies. In this review, catalytic antibodies will be considered in more detail, since their formation is associated with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We will systematically summarize the diversity of catalytic antibodies in normal and pathological conditions. Translational perspectives of knowledge about natural antibodies for IVIg therapy will be also discussed.

Extreme Diversity of IgGs Against Histones, DNA, and Myelin Basic Protein in the Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

It was recently shown that IgGs from sera of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are active in the hydrolysis of DNA and myelin basic protein (MBP). We first analyzed the relative concentration of antibodies against five histones (H1, H2a, H2b, H3, and H4) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of patients with MS. The relative concentrations of blood and CSF IgGs against histones and their activity in the hydrolysis of five histones varied greatly from patient to patient. However, all 28 IgG preparations were hydrolyzed from one to five histones. Relative activities and correlation coefficients among the activities of IgGs from serum and CSF in the hydrolysis of five histones (H1, H2a, H2b, H3, and H4), DNA, and MBP were calculated. It was shown that auto-IgGs from CSF and sera of MS patients are extremely heterogeneous in their affinity to histones, MBP, and DNA. The heterogeneity of IgG-abzymes hydrolyzing DNA, MBP, and histones from CSF and sera was also demonstrated using their isoelectrofocusing. The isofocusing profiles DNase, MBP-, and histone-hydrolyzing activities of IgGs may be very different for various individuals, but the total IgG subfractions with all their activities are distributed from pH 3 to 10.

Production of Abzymes in Th, CBA, and C57BL/6 Mice before and after MOG Treatment: Comparing Changes in Cell Differentiation and Proliferation

Till yet there is no data concerning mechanisms of autoimmune diseases development. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) prone C57BL/6 (T- and B-lymphocyte response), non-autoimmune CBA, and Th mice with T cell response were immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG_35–55) to compare different characteristics of autoimmune reaction development. Bone marrow differentiation profiles of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), lymphocyte proliferation in various organs associated with the production of antibodies against DNA, myelin basic protein (MBP), and MOG, as well as abzymes hydrolyzing these antigens, were analyzed before and after immunization. Profiles of HSC differentiation [BFU-E (erythroid burst-forming unit (early erythroid colonies), CFU-E (erythroid burst-forming unit (late erythroid colonies), CFU-GM (granulocytic-macrophagic colony-forming unit), and CFU-GEMM granulocytic-erythroid-megakaryocytic-macrophagic colony-forming unit] and patterns of lymphocyte proliferation in different organs (brain, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes) were very different for C57BL/6, CBA, and Th mice. We conclude that only C57BL/6 mice were predisposed to spontaneous and MOG-induced acceleration of EAE development. CBA mice are not prone to the development of autoimmune reactions. After immunization, Th mice demonstrate changes in several parameters similar to C57BL/6 and other to CBA mice; Th mice are more prone to developing autoimmune reactions than CBA mice. Our data may be important for understanding the combined presence in mice lymphocytes with T and B cell responses for spontaneous and induced autoimmune diseases.

Antibodies from the Sera of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Efficiently Hydrolyze Five Histones

It is known that intranuclear histones can be pernicious after entering to the extracellular space. In addition, the immunization of animals with exogenous histones leads to systemic inflammatory and toxic reactions. Abzymes—autoantibodies with enzymatic activities—are the distinctive feature of autoimmune diseases and they can be especially dangerous to humans. Here, electrophoretically homogeneous IgGs were isolated from sera of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by chromatography on several affinity sorbents. We present evidence that sera of all MS patients contain autoantibodies against histones and 73% of IgGs purified from the sera of 59 MS patients efficiently hydrolyze from one to five histones: H1, H2a, H2b, H3, and H4. The relative average efficiency of the histones hydrolysis was ~3.9-fold higher than that for healthy donors. The relative average activity of IgGs depends on the type of MS and decreased approximately in the following order: debut of MS, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, remitting multiple sclerosis, remittent progressive multiple sclerosis. Similar to proteolytic abzymes of patients with several autoimmune diseases, histone-hydrolyzing IgGs from MS patients were inhibited in the presence of specific inhibitors of serine and of metal-dependent proteases, but an unexpected significant inhibition of the activity by inhibitors of thiol-like and especially acidic proteases was observed. Since IgGs can efficiently hydrolyze histones, a negative role of abzymes in the development of MS cannot be excluded.

Changes in cell differentiation and proliferation lead to production of abzymes in EAE mice treated with DNA-Histone complexes

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-prone C57BL/6 mice are used as a model of human multiple sclerosis. We immunize mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), DNA-histone and DNA-methylated bovine serum albumin (met-BSA) complexes to reveal different characteristics of EAE development including bone marrow lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation profiles of hematopoietic stem cells. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with MOG35-55 results in the acceleration of EAE development. Anti-DNA antibodies are usually directed against DNA-histone complexes resulting from cell apoptosis. During the acute EAE phase (7-20 days after immunization), catalytic antibodies efficiently hydrolysing myelin basic protein (MBP), MOG and DNA are produced with parallel suppression of antibodies hydrolysing histones. We could show that in contrast to MOG, immunization with histone-DNA results in a reduction of proteinuria, a significant increase in anti-DNA, anti-MBP and anti-MOG antibody titres, as well as an increase in their catalytic activities for antigen hydrolysis, but slightly changes the concentration of cytokines. Contrary to MOG, DNA-histone and DNA-met-BSA only stimulated the formation of anti-DNA antibodies hydrolysing DNA with a long delay (15-20 days after immunization). Our data indicate that for C57BL/6 mice immunization with DNA-met-BSA and DNA-histone complexes may have opposing effects compared to MOG. DNA-histone stimulates the appearance of histone-hydrolysing abzymes in the acute EAE phase, while abzymes with DNase activity appear at significantly later time-points. We conclude that MOG, DNA-histone and DNA-met-BSA have different effects on numerous bone marrow, cellular, immunological and biochemical parameters of immunized mice, but all antigens finally significantly stimulate the development of the EAE.