Characterization of C3dg binding to a recess formed between short consensus repeats 1 and 2 of complement receptor type 2 (CR2; CD21).

To allow for a better characterization of the ligand binding structures of human complement receptor type 2 (CR2; CD21), we have established an IgG1 kappa mouse mAb, FE8, that interferes efficiently with binding of C3dg and EBV to CR2. In contrast to mAb OKB7, the only well-characterized mAb with similar specificity, mAb FE8 blocked binding of soluble C3dg or particles carrying multiple copies of surface-bound C3dg to CR2 or induced complete removal of these ligands from the receptor. In vitro EBV infection of B lymphocytes, on the other hand, was abrogated by mAbs FE8 and OKB7 with similar dose-response characteristics. As FE8 was shown to recognize a discontinuous epitope, a series of overlapping peptides derived from SCR1 and -2 and immobilized on cellulose was screened with FE8. The results suggest that up to five discontinuous sequences contributed to the epitope. The sequence 63-EYFNKYS-69, located between the two SCR units, reacted most intensively. Two other sequences, 16-YYSTPI-21 and 105-NGNKSVWCQANN-116, are located between Cys1 and Cys2 of SCR1 and around Cys3 of SCR2, respectively. Based on the solution structure for two factor H SCRs, a three-dimensional model of SCR1 and -2 was generated. The FE8 binding peptide sequences were located in relative proximity to each other, bounding the recess formed between SCR1 and -2. This potential of mAb FE8 is currently unique and may be exploited for interfering with conditions of unwanted recognition of C3dg-coated structures by the immune system.