Nonspecific Binding of Clostridium difficile Toxin A to Murine Immunoglobulins Occurs via the Fab Component

Clostridium difficile toxin A binds nonspecifically to a mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) immunoglobulin G3 λ chain [IgG3(λ)], through the Fab component. This binding, which is retained even after boiling the MAb, is temperature dependent, with more toxin bound at 4 than 37°C (P = 0.0024). The nonspecific binding was decreased by incubation of the IgG3 λ MAb with α- or β-galactosidase (P = 0.0001 and 0.029, respectively), indicating that toxin A binds to a carbohydrate moiety on the Fab. However, binding was not blocked by the Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin BS-1, indicating that a terminal α-galactose may not be involved. Binding was also not affected by competitive assays with Lewis X antigen. The dependence on carbohydrate moieties in nonspecific binding was also shown for two other MAbs, IgA(κ) and IgM(λ), with demonstration of a significant reduction in binding with α-galactosidase (P = 0.0001 and 0.0002, respectively) but not β-galactosidase (P = 0.27 and 0.25, respectively).