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

Acetaldehyde ; metabolism ; Alcoholics ; Alcoholism ; blood ; immunology ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin M ; immunology ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational

OBJECTIVETo study the regulation of Fc receptor expression by immune complexes (ICs) on neutrophils and U937 cells.

METHODSIgA ICs, IgG1 ICs, IgG2 ICs, IgG3 ICs, IgG4 ICs, and IgM ICs were incubated with neutrophils or U937 cells for 1 h. Then their surface Fc receptors were stained by anti-Fc gammaR I, anti-Fc gammaR II , anti-Fc gammaR III, and anti-Fc alphaR I monoclonal antibodies and analyzed by fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS).

RESULTSIgG1 ICs and IgG3 ICs up-regulated Fc gammaR II and Fc gammaR III on U937 cells, Fc gammaR I and Fc alphaR I on neutrophils. Almost all ICs down-regulated Fc gammaR II on neutrophils.

CONCLUSIONSICs can regulate Fc receptor expression on neutrophils and U937 cells, among which IgG1 ICs and IgG3 ICs are most effective.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; immunology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; immunology ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; classification ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; chemistry ; classification ; immunology ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; Receptors, Fc ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, IgG ; immunology ; U937 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVE: To construct a eukaryotic expression vector encoding human nasopharyngeal carcinoma anti-idiotype antibody single chain fragment (ScFv) gene G22, and to identify its expression in rectal cancer cells (CMT-93). METHODS: The G22 gene was ligated into the sites of EcoRI and NotI of eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+). After the identification and DNA sequencing, the recombinant plasmid pc DNA3.1(+)-G22 was stably transfected into CMT-93 cells, and the expression of G22 was detected by Western blot, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing showed that the recombinant plasmid contained the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma anti-idiotype antibody ScFv gene G22. Transfection experiment verified that G22 gene could be expressed in CMT-93 cells in the right way. CONCLUSION The eukaryotic expression vector containing the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma anti-idiotype antibody ScFv gene G22 is successfully constructed and expressed, which is the basis for further study of its DNA vaccine.
Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; genetics ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; genetics ; immunology ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

BACKGROUND: Detection methods for ABO antibody (Ab) titers vary across laboratories, and the results are different depending on the method used. We aimed to compare titer values using different detection methods for the measurement of ABO Ab titers. METHODS: For ABO Ab detection, pooled group A or B red blood cells (RBCs) were reacted with each of 20 sera from blood groups A, B, or O without dithiothreitol treatment. The room-temperature (RT) incubation technique and the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) were used in the tube test and gel card test. Flow cytometry (FCM) was performed by using anti-IgM and anti-IgG Abs. RESULTS: Regardless of the blood groups tested, the FCM assay with anti-IgM showed the highest titer compared to the tube test and gel card test with RT incubation in both. The tube test with IAT showed a higher titer than the gel card test with IAT (Gel-IAT) or FCM with anti-IgG in blood group A and B, while Gel-IAT showed the highest titer relative to the other tests, only for the anti-A Ab in blood group O. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in the titers depending on the detection method used, and each method showed a different detection capacity for each ABO Ab depending on the ABO blood group tested. Therefore, caution should be exercised in interpreting ABO Ab titer results, taking into consideration the detection method used and the blood group.
ABO Blood-Group System/*immunology ; Adult ; Aged ; Agglutination Tests/instrumentation/*standards ; Antibodies/*analysis ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/analysis ; Erythrocytes/chemistry/metabolism ; Female ; *Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Temperature

In recent years, the prevention and cure of infectious bursal disease (IBD) have become more and more difficult due to the emergence of very virulent strains of infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) and the variant strains of IBDV. In this research, the hybridoma cell lines which secretes anti-idiotypic antibodies against anti-IBDV IgG were established. According to the Jerne's theory of immune network, the use of the anti-idiotypic antibodies as a vaccine will be a new method for the prevention of IBD. In this study, the SPF chickens were inoculated with the IBDV- SD strain, and the bursal was obtained from the died chickens. The bursal was then homogenized and frozen-thawed 3 cycles, and the virus samples were prepared by cane sugar density gradient centrifugation and dialysis. Typical IBDV particles were observed under an electron microscope, and the concentration of the virus protein measured by ultraviolet absorbance spectrophotometry was 10.8 mg/mL. SPF chickens were immunized with the virus and the highly immunized sera were prepared and purified by Sulfuric acid ammonia salt out and Sephadex G-25 chromatography. Then, Balb/C mice of six or eight weeks old were immunized interapertoneally(I. P.) with purified antibodies to IBDV at regular intervals. SP2/0 myeloma cells were fused with the spleencytes from the immunized mice at a ratio of 10:1, in 50% polyethylene glycol (1540) and were then cultured in HAT until all the SP2/0 cells died. The hybridoma cells were selected by ELISA and the highly positive holes were cloned 3 times with the method of limited dilution. Two strains (2B6 strain,5F4 strain) of hybridoma cells were obtained, which were shown by ELISA to steadily secrete anti-IBDV idiotypic antibodies. The chromosome number of the two hybridoma cells were about 88 - 106, 95 in average, and the antibodies secreted belonged to the types of IgG1 and Kappa. Balb/c mice of 3 months old were inoculated I.P. with about 10(7) hybridoma cells per capita, and the ascites were collected 12 days later and the titre of anti-IBDV idiotypic antibodies measured by ELISA was 1 :25600 (for 2B6) and 1:12800 (for 5F4) . The ascites containing the anti-IBDV idiotypic antibodies were emulsified with complete or incomplete Freund's adjuvants, and the anti-IBDV idiotypic antibody vaccine was obtained. SPF and common Jingbai chickens were immunized with the vaccine obtained. The immunized chickens with the vaccine were inoculated with IBDV-SD strain at a dose of 2000 ELD50 after twoimmunizations. All the 10 SPF chickens in the non-immunized group were sick, and 8 of them died; and 5 out of the 50 SPF chickens immunized group got sick and 2 died. All the 10 common Jingbai chickens in the control group were sick, and 6 died; 7 of the 30 immunized common Jingbai chickens got sick and only 1 died. Chi2 analysis showed that the difference between the immunized and the non-immunized groups in both the SPF and the common Jingbai chickens were significant (P < 0.01). Our result indicated that the anti-IBDV idiotypic antibody vaccine well protected chickens and had a great potential in both research and clinical application.
Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Birnaviridae Infections ; immunology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chickens ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hybridomas ; immunology ; metabolism ; Infectious bursal disease virus ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spleen ; cytology ; Viral Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; immunology

Human transferrin receptor (TfR) was isolated from homogenates of placental tissues by affinity chromatography on transferrin-Sepharose, and then used to screen human scFv against it from a fully-synthesized phage scFv library. After verifying the specificity, gene fragment of one of the selected scFv was inserted into the plasmid pET22b(+) and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) . Expression of scFv in transformant was induced with 0.5mmol/L IPTG. ELISA assay on HeLa cells showed that scFv protein could recognize and bind to TfR on the surface of HeLa cells. The scFv was purified by one-step affinity chromatography with Ni+ -NTA agarose, and injected into Kunming mouse via tail veins. This scFv was detected in brain tissues 1h later by capillary depletion method, which indicates that scFv protein can permeate through the blood brain barrier by mediation of the TfR receptor. Our works lay the foundation for the treatment of tumors and central nervous system diseases.
Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Receptors, Transferrin ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transferrin ; metabolism

The V(H) and V(L) gene fragments of anti-CD28 mAb were combined to form anti-CD28 ScFv gene by using TP-PCR method. Sequence analysis showed that 6 x His tag was added to it for the ease of purification and the V(H), and V(L) gene fragments were connected by a linker containing 15 amino acids which are biased by the baculovirus promoter, ph. Then ScFv gene fragment was inserted into baculovirus transfer vector pBacPAK8. The recombinant transfer vector, pBacPAK8/CD28-ScFv was constructed successfully. The pBacPAK8/CD28-ScFv and the linear Bm-BacPAK6 were co-transfected into the cell line of Bombyx mori (BmN) with the help of Lipofectin,then the product was purified by plaque assay and identified by PCR method. The recombinant virus, Bm-BacPAK6 CD28-ScFv, was obtained successfully. The BmN cells and the larvae of Bombyx mori were infected by the recombinant baculovirus and harvested every 24h postinfection. SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting analysis confirmed the expression of ScFv with the molecular weight of about 28 kD. The expression in BmN cells was detected 24h post infection and it peaked at 72 h, while in the larvae of Bombyx mori, the expression was detected 48 h post infection and it peaked at 120 h.
Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bombyx ; cytology ; genetics ; metabolism ; CD28 Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; immunology ; Larva ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

Aptamers are synthetic, relatively short (e.g., 20-80 bases) RNA or ssDNA oligonucleotides that can bind targets with high affinity and specificity, similar to antibodies, because they can fold into unique, three-dimensional shapes. For use in various assays and experiments, aptamers have been conjugated with biotin or digoxigenin to form complexes with avidin or anti-digoxigenin antibodies, respectively. In this study, we developed a method to label the 5' ends of aptamers with cotinine, which allows formation of a stable complex with anti-cotinine antibodies for the purpose of providing another affinity unit for the application in biological assays using aptamers. To demonstrate the functionality of this affinity unit in biological assays, we utilized two well-known aptamers: AS1411, which binds nucleolin, and pegaptanib, which binds vascular endothelial growth factor. Cotinine-conjugated AS1411/anti-cotinine antibody complexes were successfully applied to immunoblot, immunoprecipitation, and flow cytometric analyses, and cotinine-conjugated pegaptanib/anti-cotinine antibody complexes were used successfully in enzyme immunoassays. Our results show that cotinine-conjugated aptamer/anti-cotinine antibody complexes are an effective alternative and complementary technique for aptamer use in multiple assays and experiments.
Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/immunology/metabolism ; *Aptamers, Nucleotide/chemistry/immunology ; Biological Assay ; *Cotinine/administration & dosage/chemistry ; Flow Cytometry ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Phosphoproteins/*chemistry/immunology ; Protein Binding ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*chemistry/immunology ; *Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/chemistry/immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathogenesis of the damage to peripheral nerves induced by Campylobacter jejuni exotoxin (CJT).

METHODS(1) Animal models: (1) The CJT was extracted from PEN 19-CJ and injected perineurally and intravenously to Wistar rats. (2) The sera and the supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), taken from the rats immunized with the CJT, were injected perineurally at sciatic nerves of experimental rats and intravenously, respectively. (2) Histopathologic study of sciatic nerves: the animals were sacrificed and their sciatic nerves were examined for tease fibers, transverse section with toluidine blues staining and electron microscopy. (3) Immunohistochemistry: sections of sciatic nerves of either normal rats or human which were incubated with CJT and the sciatic nerves with pathological changes induced by CJT were obtained for observation of the binding capability of CJT with peripheral nerves by SABC and FITC-immunofluorescence methods, and nucleic acid hybridization techniques for detection of TNF-alpha mRNA expression in pathological sciatic nerves samples.

RESULTS(1) Remarkable peripheral neuropathies with axon degeneration and/or demyelination were found in the nerves induced by both CJT injection perineurally and intravenously. The axon degeneration was more obvious. Pathological changes were identified in 76.8% (2,763/3,600) of teasing fibers after perineural injection, but only 9.6% (230/2,400) of fibers were damaged in control group (P < 0.01). The peak severity of fiber damage was found on the 3rd day after CJT intravenous injection with the incidence of abnormal fibers was 19.5% (390/2,000), and abnormalities of 15.5% (310/2000) on the 14th day. However, no abnormal changes were demonstrated in control group (P < 0.01). So was in the groups injected with anti-CJT sera and the supernatants of PBMCs compared with control (P > 0.05). (2) Binding of CJT to the nerve was found dominant in the sciatic nerves taken from normal rats or human either incubated with CJT or in the pathological sciatic nerves induced by CJT to various degrees. The binding of CJT to all these nerves was determined. (3) After intravenous injection with CJT, no histopathologic change could be found in the other viscera of the rats, with the exception of remarkable pathological change in peripheral nerves.

CONCLUSIONS(1) CJT could remarkably damage the peripheral nerves in rats. Specific pathogenicity of CJT to peripheral nerves was well shown, because no histopathologic abnormalities could be found in the other viscera, such as brain, liver and kidney etc. although there was remarkable pathological change along the peripheral nerve in the animals. (2) No immunological pathogenicity of CJT could be demonstrated in the nerves of rats after immunization with CJT.

Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; blood ; Bacterial Toxins ; immunology ; toxicity ; Campylobacter jejuni ; immunology ; Exotoxins ; immunology ; toxicity ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Peripheral Nerves ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics