Immunoglobulin variable-region gene mutational lineage tree analysis: application to autoimmune diseases

Steiman-Shimony, A., Edelman, H., Barak, M., Shahaf, G., Dunn-Walters, D., Stott, D.I., Abraham, R.S. and Mehr, R. (2006) Immunoglobulin variable-region gene mutational lineage tree analysis: application to autoimmune diseases. Autoimmunity Reviews, 5(4), pp. 242-251. (doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2005.07.008)

Abstract

Lineage trees have frequently been drawn to illustrate diversification, via somatic hypermutation (SHM), of immunoglobulin variable-region (IGV) genes. In order to extract more information from IGV sequences, we developed a novel mathematical method for analyzing the graphical properties of IgV gene lineage trees, allowing quantification of the differences between the dynamics of SHM and antigen-driven selection in different lymphoid tissues, species, and disease situations. Here, we investigated trees generated from published IGV sequence data from B cell clones participating in autoimmune responses in patients with Myasthenia Gravis (MG), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Sjögren's Syndrome (SS). At present, as no standards exist for cell sampling and sequence extraction methods, data obtained by different research groups from two studies of the same disease often vary considerably. Nevertheless, based on comparisons of data groups within individual studies, we show here that lineage trees from different individual patients are often similar and can be grouped together, as can trees from two different tissues in the same patient, and even from IgG- and IgA-expressing B cell clones. Additionally, lineage trees from most studies reflect the chronic character of autoimmune diseases.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: B lymphocyte, somatic hypermutation, lineage tree, autoimmune disease, bioinformatics.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Stott I, Professor David
• Authors: Steiman-Shimony, A., Edelman, H., Barak, M., Shahaf, G., Dunn-Walters, D., Stott, D.I., Abraham, R.S., and Mehr, R.
• Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR180 Immunology
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Autoimmunity Reviews
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1568-9972
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2006 Elsevier
• First Published: First published in Autoimmunity Reviews 5(4):242-251
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.