B cell receptor light chain repertoires show signs of selection with differences between groups of healthy individuals and SLE patients.

Abstract

We have developed a microarray to study the expression of L-chain V genes (V(L) genes) in healthy and SLE patient peripheral κ- and λ-sorted B cells. In all repertoires tested, one V(L) gene accounts for over 10% of all gene V(L) expression, consistent with positive selection acting on L-chains. While a few V(L) genes were highly expressed in all individuals, most V(L) genes were expressed at different levels. Some V(L) genes (5 out of a total of 78) were not detected. We attribute their absence from the repertoire to negative selection. Positive selection and negative selection were also found in SLE repertoires, but expression of V(L) genes was different; the differences point to less regulation of V(L) gene repertoires in SLE. Our data shows that V(L) gene expression is variable and supports a model where the L-chain repertoire is generated by both positive and negative selection on L-chains.