Cationic antigens as mediators of inflammationBATSFORD, STEPHEN R.
doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb05110.xpmid: 1993113
Electrical charge is an important determinant of antigen deposition in tissue. Cationic antigens can bind to anionic sites found in many organs. The major focus of interest has been the renal glomerulus and the articular joint. Experimental models of immune complex glomerulonephritis and allergic arthritis were established with chemically cationized proteins. More recently the concept has been extended to natural cationic proteins and human disease. The histones were shown to be potent initiators of experimental immune complex nephritis and convincing evidence for their participation in both murine and human lupus nephritis was obtained. Evidence is also presented that cationic proteins from Borrelia burgdorferi and Yersinia enterocolitica may participate in the reactive arthritis associated with these bacteria. Eucaryotic and prokaryotic nucleic acid binding proteins were identified as prime candidates for causing both immune complex glomerulonephritis and antigen‐induced allergic arthritis.
Oxidative metabolic response of peripheral blood monocytes of monkeys during primary and chronic Plasmodium knowlesi infectionJAYSHREE, R.S.; GANGULY, N.K.; ANJU, KALRA; SETHI, A.; MAHAJAN, R.C.
doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb05111.xpmid: N/A
The oxygen free radical generation (as determined by cytochrome c reduction) and respiratory burst enzyme activities were measured in the peripheral blood monocytes before infecting normal animals, during primary Plasmodium knowlesi infection, after treatment of primary infection with chloroquine, after administration of various subcurative doses following reinfection and after establishment of chronicity. For all the parameters of the oxidative response, no significant difference was observed during primary infection and after curing of primary infection. However, the response was significantly increased in the reinfected monkeys given subcurative therapy; this was followed by a sharp decline after the 4th subcurative dose, after which the response continued to be low until the attainment of chronicity. The results of the present study exclude the possibility of the increase in oxidative metabolism being the effect of the drug (i.e. chloroquine), since no significant difference was observed during primary infection and after its cure. The sustained low grade parasitaemia in the chronic stage, in spite of the sharp decrease in the oxidative response, suggests that some nonoxidant parasitic killing mechanism might be playing a role in the regulation of parasitaemia.
Expression of p21 RAS in odontogenic tumorsSANDROS, JENS; HEIKINHEIMO, KRISTIINA; HAPPONEN, RISTO‐PEKKA; STENMAN, GÖRAN
doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb05112.xpmid: N/A
Using an immunohistochemical assay 10 benign odontogenic tumors were evaluated for expression of the HRAS‐ and KRAS‐encoded gene products p21RAS. Overexpression of p21RAS was found in ameloblastomas, ameloblastic fibromas and odontogenic myxomas compared with normal human developing teeth. The highest expression was noted in a recurrent plexiform ameloblastoma in which almost 100% of the tumor cells were brightly reactive. In general, p21RAS was preferentially expressed in ectodermal cells of odontogenic tumors, consistent with the findings in the tooth germs. The significance of p21RAS expression is considered in relation to the biological behavior of ameloblastomas.
Isolation and characterization of a soluble antigen complex of Plasmodium falciparum with pyrogenic propertiesJAKOBSEN, P. H.; HVIID, L.; THEANDER, T. G.; RILEY, E. M.; GRELLIER, P.; BRUUN, L. S.; DALSGAARD, K.; SCHREVEL, J.; JEPSEN, S.
doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb05113.xpmid: N/A
A soluble antigen complex, previously designated antigen no. 7 (Ag7) on the basis of the pattern obtained by crossed immunoelectrophoresis of culture supernatants of P. falciparum, was isolated by affinity chromatography. It was shown to be synthesized at the schizont stage of the parasite growth cycle and to be located on the surface of the schizonts. Antibodies to Ag7 did not inhibit the growth of the parasite in vitro. Ag7 is recognized by immune human sera from many parts of the world and it stimulated the production of specific antibody in mice when incorporated into immune‐stimulating complex (ISCOM) structures. It also specifically stimulated in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes from clinically immune adults. That it induced the secretion of interleukin 1 by human monocytes and was pyrogenic in rabbits was of particular interest. Thus Ag7 has endotoxin‐like properties which make it a possible candidate for an antitoxic malaria vaccine.
Study of transcription in measles virus‐infected Vero cells using cDNA probes prepared from poly(A)RNA from uninfected and infected cellsKALLAND, KARL‐H.; KALVENES, MAY BRITT; ØYAN, ANNE MARGRETE; HAUKENES, GUNNAR
doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb05115.xpmid: 1671552
From af primary plasmid cDNA library prepared from measles virus‐infected Vero cell poly(A)RNA, 435 clones selected at random were used to examine the sensitivity and specificity of cDNA probes derived from total poly(A)RNA from uninfected and infected Vero cells. The correlation between the abundance level of a particular species in the cDNA probe and the hybridization signal strength generated by the corresponding cDNA clone on a filter was reliably determined only when at least three independently prepared filters were examined. Variation in the amount of target plasmid was the most important cause of spurious signals. Variation in cDNA insert length did not disturb the signal strength within certain limits. cDNA species with abundance levels down to 0.08–0.01% were able to produce a hybridization signal above background. Unspecific cross‐hybridization was shown to define the sensitivity limit of mixed cDNA probes. Despite the many false signals present at different stages, cDNA probes provided valuable information: the cDNA probes were used to monitor relative RNA expression levels and to clone five different measles virus transcripts and 2 host cell transcripts more abundantly expressed in infected cells. The abundance levels of the measles virus nucleocapsid, phosphoprotein, matrix, fusion protein and haemagglutinin genes were 1.5%, 1.5%, 1%, 0.75% and 0.5%, respectively, of the total cDNA library.
Viral RNA species in cell lines persistently and lytically infected with measles virusKALLAND, KARL‐H.; KALVENES, MAY BRITT; HAUKENES, GUNNAR
doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb05116.xpmid: 1993115
Identical measles viral mRNA species were present in similar amounts in the persistently infected cell lines LU106, HEpPi and MaSSPE, and in lytically infected cells as determined from Northern blots. The attenuation of transcription with the gene order did not vary significantly between different infected systems. A previously described selective restriction of F protein production in Lu 106 cells could not be explained by defective transcription of F mRNA. RNA synthesis also continued unimpeded at restrictive temperatures for the temperature‐sensitive viruses in Lu106 and HEpPi cells. Northern blotting revealed a prominent band in HEpPi RNA and a weak band in Lu106 RNA with the characteristics of incomplete genomes. In all infected cells, previously unrecognized small RNA species, hybridizing with the F‐ and H‐specific probes, were discovered.
A conserved domain on enterobacterial porin protein analysed by monoclonal antibodyHENRIKSEN, ARNE Z.; MÆLAND, JOHAN A.
doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb05117.xpmid: 1847063
Broadly cross‐reactive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against enterobacterial outer membrane (OM) porin (Po) protein were isolated after immunization of BALB/c mice with whole cells of E. coli 055:B5. MAbs (n=6) of the IgG class but of four different isotypes were studied. Based on a competition ELISA, all of the MAbs were directed against one and the same Po protein domain (PoI). The MAbs cross‐reacted with 72 of 74 strains from 10 different genera of the Enterobacteriaceae. One Morganella and one Salmonella strain showed no cross‐reactivity. Also, nine strains of various Neisseria spp. cross‐reacted while 21 strains of various other nonenteric Gram‐negative bacteria showed no cross‐reactivity. The Po I sites were inaccessible in intact homologous bacteria but partially accessible in the OM. Digestion of OM with lysozyme or lysostaphin affected the accessibility of the Po I sites in OMs of various enterobacteria. Lysostaphin strongly enhancefd the immunoaccessibility, whereas lysozyme had lesser effects. The enzymes also affected the binding by Neisseria OMs of the anti‐Po I MAb. The Po I site was immunogenic both in humans and rabbits. The data indicate that Po I is an important Po protein domain, and that the effects of peptidoglycan‐degrading enzymes must be considered in studies of Po protein domains.
Interleukin‐6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha are expressed by keratinocytes but not by Langerhans cellsOXHOLM, ANNEMETTE; DIAMANT, MARCUS; OXHOLM, PETER; BENDTZEN, KLAUS
doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb05118.xpmid: 1704242
The presence of human cytokines was examined in parallel skin biopsies and epidermal single cell preparations obtained from normal individuals. Using biotin‐avidin‐peroxidase and immunofluorescence techniques and antibodies against recombinant cytokines, a granular intercellular/membrane‐associated staining for interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), but not IL‐1 alpha or beta, was observed. An epidermal cytoplasmic staining pattern was also detected, which was most pronounced using the anti‐rIL‐6 antiserum. In the epidermal single cell preprations, membrane‐associated staining was detected for both IL‐6 and TNF alpha. Double staining revealed that CD1‐positive Langerhans cells (LC) failed to express any of the examined cytokines. In vitro binding of rIL‐6 or rTNF alpha to skin sections and epidermal single cell preparations indicated that the cell surface‐associated IL‐6 and TNF alpha originally demonstrated on keratinocytes were truly membrane‐bound. Finally, co‐cultivation of epidermal cells with an IL‐6 responsive cell line, B9, and testing of epidermal cell supernatants in this assay, indicated that the in vivo membrane‐bound IL‐6 had biological activity.
Hypersensitivity of delayed type in hypertensive patientsOLSEN, FINN
doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1991.tb05119.xpmid: 1993116
The agarose migration technique was used for demonstration of delayed‐type hypersensitivity to arterial vessel wall antigens in patients suffering from chronic essential hypertension. By means of this technique, it was demonstrated that the migration indices from the hypertensive patients differed significantly from the normotensive control persons, P < 0.005. The significant difference was abolished when anti‐LIF was added to the migration tests. This means that a hypersensitivity of the delayed type had developed in the hypertensive patients and the results indicated that the hypersensitivity was an autoimmunity to arterial vessel wall antigens.