Towards middle-up analysis of polyclonal antibodies: subclass-specific N-glycosylation profiling of murine immunoglobulin G (IgG) by means of HPLC-MS

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 22;10(1):18080. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75045-1.

Abstract

In recent years, advanced HPLC-MS strategies based on intact protein ("top-down") or protein subunit ("middle-up/middle-down") analysis have been implemented for the characterization of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Here, we assess feasibility of middle-up/middle-down analysis for polyclonal IgGs exhibiting extensive sequence variability. Specifically, we addressed IgGs from mouse, representing an important model system in immunological investigations. To obtain Fc/2 portions as conserved subunits of IgGs, we made use of the bacterial protease SpeB. For this purpose, we initially determined SpeB cleavage sites in murine IgGs. The resulting Fc/2 portions characteristic of different subclasses were subsequently analysed by ion-pair reversed-phase HPLC hyphenated to high-resolution mass spectrometry. This enabled simultaneous relative quantification of IgG subclasses and their N-glycosylation variants, both of which influence IgG effector functions. To assess method capabilities in an immunological context, we applied the analytical workflow to polyclonal antibodies obtained from BALB/c mice immunized with the grass pollen allergen Phl p 6. The study revealed a shift in IgG subclasses and Fc-glycosylation patterns in total and antigen-specific IgGs from different mouse cohorts, respectively. Eventually, Fc/2 characterization may reveal other protein modifications including oxidation, amino acid exchanges, and C-terminal lysine, and may thus be implemented for quality control of functional antibodies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology*
  • Antigens, Plant / immunology*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Female
  • Glycosylation
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin G / classification*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Antibodies
  • Antigens, Plant
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin G