Beta-amyloid(Abeta) immunization as vaccines has now become a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD)after its debut in 1999. Transgenic mouse models of AD that develop age-dependent Abeta deposition, damage to the neuropil, and behavioral deficits have enabled researchers to test if the approach can influence these AD-like pathologic changes in their brains. Active immunization with different forms of A beta and protocols have been shown to decrease brain Abeta deposition and improve cognitive performance in these mice models in the following studies. Although the phase II clinical trials of active immunization with Abeta(AN1792)were halted last year due to the occurrence of CNS inflammation in a small subset of patients, researchers found that strong humoral responses can be induced by the vaccination. Furthermore, the active immunization also brings an almost complete clearance of Abeta from much of the cerebral cortex. Abeta specific antibodies are believed to cross blood-brain barrier by minimal destroy of vascular wall where amyloid depositions exist. Three possible mechanisms on removal of Abeta deposition from brain have also been reviewed. Still some problems should be clarified before this strategy could be applied for clinical therapy. Whether vaccination will improve the cognitive decline in AD patients will depend upon clinical assessments, which was vital to destiny of the approach.
Alzheimer Disease ; immunology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; immunology ; Animals ; Humans ; Vaccines ; immunology

The polyclonal antibodies against VLDL receptor were prepared and identified. Rabbits were immunized with polypeptide fragment of VLDL receptor as antigen. The collected blood serum of the immunized rabbits was analyzed and identified by using ELISA and Western Blot. The results showed that the rabbit against mouse and human VLDL receptor antibodies were obtained with high titer and could recognize the natural VLDL receptors through Western blot. The prepared polyclonal antibodies against VLDL receptor provide a new tool to study the protein of VLDL receptor.
Animals ; Antibodies ; chemistry ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Peptides ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Receptors, LDL ; immunology

The polyclonal antibodies against VLDL receptor were prepared and identified. Rabbits were immunized with polypeptide fragment of VLDL receptor as antigen. The collected blood serum of the immunized rabbits was analyzed and identified by using ELISA and Western Blot. The results showed that the rabbit against mouse and human VLDL receptor antibodies were obtained with high titer and could recognize the natural VLDL receptors through Western blot. The prepared polyclonal antibodies against VLDL receptor provide a new tool to study the protein of VLDL receptor.
Antibodies/chemistry ; Antibodies/*immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Peptides/*immunology ; Receptors, LDL/*immunology

BACKGROUNDSmD1-amino-acid 83-119 peptide (SmD183-119) is the major epitope of Smith (Sm) antigen, which is specific for adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The anti-SmD183-119 antibody has exhibited higher sensitivity and specificity than anti-Sm antibody in diagnosing adult SLE. However, the utility of anti-SmD183-119antibodies remains unclear in children with SLE (cSLE). This study aimed to assess the characteristics of anti-SmD183-119antibody in the diagnosis of cSLE.

METHODSSamples from 242 children with different rheumatological and immunological disorders, including autoimmune diseases (SLE [n = 46] and ankylosing spondylitis [AS, n = 11]), nonautoimmune diseases (Henoch-Schonlein purpura [HSP, n = 60], idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura [n = 27], hematuria [n = 59], and arthralgia [n = 39]) were collected from Shanghai Children's Medical Center from March 6, 2012 to February 27, 2014. Seventy age- and sex-matched patients were enrolled in this study as the negative controls. All the patients' sera were analyzed for the anti-SmD183-119, anti-Sm, anti-U1-nRNP, anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), anti-nucleosome, anti-SSA/Ro60, anti-SSA/Ro52, anti-SSB, anti-Scl-70, and anti-histone antibodies using the immunoblotting assay. The differences in sensitivity and specificity between anti-SmD183-119 and anti-Sm antibodies were compared by Chi-square test. The correlations between anti-SmD183-119and other auto-antibodies were analyzed using the Spearman's correlation analysis. A value of P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSThirty-six out of 46 patients with cSLE were found to be positive for anti-SmD183-119, while 12 patients from the cSLE cohort were found to be positive for anti-Sm. Compared to cSLE, it has been shown that anti-SmD183-119 was only detected in 27.3% of patients with AS and 16.7% of patients with HSP. In comparison with anti-Sm, it has been demonstrated that anti-SmD183-119 had a higher sensitivity (78.3% vs. 26.1%, χ2 = 25.1, P< 0.05) and a lower specificity (90.8% vs. 100%, χ2 = 13.6, P< 0.05) in the diagnosis of cSLE. Further analysis revealed that anti-SmD183-119antibodies were positively correlated with anti-dsDNA, anti-nucleosome, and anti-histone antibodies in cSLE. Moreover, it has been clearly shown that anti-SmD183-119 was more sensitive than anti-Sm in discriminating autoimmune diseases from nonautoimmune disorders in patients with arthralgia or hematuria.

CONCLUSIONSMeasurement of anti-SmD183-119in patients with cSLE has a higher sensitivity and a marginally lower specificity than anti-Sm. It has been suggested that inclusion of anti-SmD183-119testing in the integrated laboratory diagnosis of cSLE may significantly improve the overall sensitivity in child populations.

Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Autoantigens ; immunology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; immunology ; Immunoblotting ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; immunology ; Male ; Peptides ; chemistry ; immunology ; snRNP Core Proteins ; immunology

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*epidemiology/*immunology ; Autoantibodies/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Peptides, Cyclic/*immunology

OBJECTIVETo prepare tumor antigen peptides from HL-60 cells and to induce specific immune response.

METHODSHL-60 antigen peptides were obtained using techniques including freezing and thawing, heat precipitation and acid precipitation. The stimulating effect of the in vitro Hsp70 binding HL-60 peptides on PBMC and the proliferation of stimulated PBMC were observed by T cell activation test. The cytotoxicity of proliferated PBMC is detected by incubating HL-60 cells or K562 cells with PBMC respectively.

RESULTSThe obtained tumor antigen peptides were a peptides mixture. The mixed peptides could activate PBMC and cause PBMC proliferation in vitro after presented by Hsp70. The proliferated PBMC showed specific cytotoxicity to HL-60 cells but not to K562 cells.

CONCLUSIONThe method for preparing of human leukemia tumor antigen peptides used in this paper is simple and easy; the obtained antigen peptides can induce specific immune response in vitro.

Cell Division ; HL-60 Cells ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; immunology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; immunology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; immunology ; Peptides ; immunology

Heat shock protein gp96 is a highly conserved and monomorphic glycoprotein in the endoplasmic reticulum. It functions as molecular chaperone and can associate with a variety of antigenic peptides noncovalently in vivo and in vitro. Recent studies have indicated that gp96 molecules participate in major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted antigen presentation pathway. Immunization of mice with gp96 preparations isolated from cancer cells can elicit a cancer-specific protective T cell immune response that is recallable, which is a prerequisite for gp96 as a therapeutic vaccine against cancers. The immunogenicity of gp96 molecules has been attributed to the antigenic peptides associated with them. These phenomena provide a new pathway for cancer immunotherapy. The mechanism that the gp96-peptide complex induces specific immune response and the explorations for gp96-peptide complex as a therapeutic cancer vaccine are reviewed.
Animals ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Cancer Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Molecular Chaperones ; immunology ; Neoplasms ; immunology ; therapy ; Peptides ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the immune responses of lymphocytes after activated by dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with cytotoxicity T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope based peptide of human alpha-fetoprotein (hAFP, 218-226 LLNQHACAV).

METHODSGet high purity DCs by cultured plastic-adherent monocytes isolated from healthy donor of HLA-A2(+) peripheral blood with granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) for 7 days. Stimulate self-lymphocytes with DCs that loaded with CTL epitope based peptide of hAFP under the culture medium contains interleukin-2 (IL-2) for 7 days. Analyse IL-12 and TNF in culture medium and also the specific lysis activity of lymphocytes against four strains of primary hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

RESULTSAfter stimulated by DC loaded with CTL epitope based peptide derived from hAFP, lymphocytes appeared a good characteristics and the culture medium of activated lymphocytes contained a high level Th1 type cytokines of IL-12 and TNF. Activated lymphocytes not only specifically lysed HLA-A2(+) HepG2 line but also had the cytotoxicity against other three primary hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and T2 target cell loaded with peptide of hAFP.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of this research supply the basic materials for the DC based vaccine with HLA-A2 restricted peptide epitope derived from hAFP against AFP positive primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult ; Animals ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Epitopes ; HLA-A2 Antigen ; immunology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Mice ; Peptides ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; immunology

The elastin metabolism in systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been known to be abnormal. The authors investigated relationship between the clinical manifestations of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and serum levels of soluble elastin-derived peptide (S-EDP) and anti-elastin antibodies. Serum samples were obtained from 79 patients with SSc and 79 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Concentrations of serum S-EDP and anti-elastin antibodies were measured by ELISA. The serum concentrations of S-EDP in SSc patients were significantly higher than in healthy controls (median, 144.44 ng/mL vs 79.59 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Serum EDP concentrations were found to be correlated with disease duration in SSc (P = 0.002) and particularly in diffuse cutaneous SSc (P = 0.005). Levels of anti-elastin antibodies were found to be more elevated in SSc patients than in healthy controls (median, 0.222 U vs 0.191 U, P = 0.049), more increased in diffuse cutaneous SSc than limited cutaneous SSc (median, 0.368 U vs 0.204 U, P = 0.031). In addition, levels of anti-elastin antibodies were also found to be negatively associated with presence of anti-centromere antibody (P = 0.023). The S-EDP levels were not found to be correlated with levels of anti-elastin antibodies. The increased S-EDP and anti-elastin antibody levels and association with clinical and laboratory characteristics may reflect the abnormal metabolism in SSc.
Adult ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/*blood/immunology ; Centromere/immunology ; Elastin/*blood/immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptides/*blood/immunology ; Scleroderma, Systemic/*metabolism/pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antigenicity of the peptide vaccine HDS from Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase and its ability to induce protective immune responses in an experimental rat model of dental caries.

METHODSArtificial antigen HDS-KLH, peptide HDS, glycosyltransferase were injected to immunize rats. Measurement of the specific anti-HDS, GTF IgG or IgA concentration in saliva and serum were undertaken by ELISA among the experimental groups. Gnotobiotic rat model was developed when challenged S. mutans and a caries promoting diet. The jaws of the rats were selected and dyed. The Keyes caries score for each jaw were counted.

RESULTSThe level of serum and salivary specific anti-HDS IgG and IgA in the group immunized by HDS-KLH was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). The Keyes caries score of GTF, HDS and HDS-KLH immunized group were significantly lower than that of control group, especially lower in smooth tooth surface.

CONCLUSIONArtificial antigen HDS-KLH could induce immune response. As a peptide vaccine, HDS-KLH could reduce the caries incidence in experimental rat model.

Animals ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Glucosyltransferases ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Peptides ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptococcal Vaccines ; immunology ; Streptococcus mutans ; enzymology ; genetics ; immunology