Analysis of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of innate CD4+ T cells selected by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-dependent thymocyte-thymocyte (T-T) interaction (T-T CD4+ T cells) is essential for predicting the characteristics of the antigens that bind to these T cells and for distinguishing T-T CD4+ T cells from other types of innate T cells. Using the TCRmini Tg mouse model, we show that the repertoire of TCRalpha chains in T-T CD4+ T cells was extremely diverse, in contrast to the repertoires previously described for other types of innate T cells. The TCRalpha chain sequences significantly overlapped between T-T CD4+ T cells and conventional CD4+ T cells in the thymus and spleen. However, the diversity of the TCRalpha repertoire of T-T CD4+ T cells seemed to be restricted compared with that of conventional CD4+ T cells. Interestingly, the frequency of the parental OT-II TCRalpha chains was significantly reduced in the process of T-T interaction. This diverse and shifted repertoire in T-T CD4+ T cells has biological relevance in terms of defense against diverse pathogens and a possible regulatory role during peripheral T-T interaction.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antigens, Surface/metabolism ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology/*immunology/*metabolism ; Cell Communication ; Cell Differentiation/genetics/immunology ; Clonal Evolution ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/*immunology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Immunophenotyping ; Lymphocyte Count ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Transgenic ; Peptide Fragments/chemistry ; Phenotype ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/chemistry/genetics ; Spleen/cytology ; Thymocytes/cytology/immunology/metabolism

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To study activation of dendritic cells (DC) isolated from peripheral blood monocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis B after stimulation with HBsAg or HBcAg.

<b>METHODSb>DCs were isolated from peripheral blood monocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis B. DCs were impulsed with HBsAg and HBcAg separately before their maturation. The expression levels of DC surface molecule were analyzed by using flow cytometry and the ability of DC to induce T lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated by a liquid scintillation counter and the amount of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in mixed lymphocytic (IL-12) in mixed lymphocytic reaction (MLR) was measured by using ELISA.

<b>RESULTSb>The expression rate of CD86 significantly increased to (29.20 +/- 5.18)% on DC after loading with HBcAg as compared with those after loading with HBsAg (76.19 +/- 3.90)% and controls (62.37 +/- 4.24)%, P>0.01. The ability of DC after loading with HBcAg to induce T lymphocyte proliferation (34,326 +/- 3088 cpm) was significantly higher than that of DC after loading with HBsAg (20,306 +/- 2897 cpm) and controls (3454 +/- 409 cpm), P greater than 0.01. The amount of IL-12 in MLR of DC after loading with HBcAg was (348 +/- 42.8) ng/L, which was significantly higher than those of DC after loading with HBsAg (226 +/- 30.6) ng/L and controls (116 +/- 15.6) ng/L, P greater than 0.01.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>Human dendritic cell stimulated with HBcAg could more efficiently present antigen and induce specific T cell immune response.

Adult ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; virology ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Young Adult

Currently, the cell surface antigen A,B,O(H) is thought to be an important indicator of malignant potential in bladder carcinoma. Herein, we performed SRCA test in 54 bladder carcinoma for detection of such an isoantigen, comparing the SRCA result to its tumor grade and stage. Also, various significances including the clinical application of SRCA test for the management of the bladder carcinoma were discussed. The results were as follows: 1. Of 54 patients, 34 patients were low stage(0-A) and low grade(1-2). 2. There is a significant correlation between tumor grade and SRCA test: Of 38 patients with low grade. 19 patients were SRCA positive, but of 16 patients with high grade. all were SRCA negative. 3. There is a significant correlation between tumor stage and SRCA test: Of 36 patients with low stage, 18 patients were SRCA positive, but of 18 patients with high stage(above B1), only one patient was SRCA positive. 4. There is a high possibility of false-negative results in detecting O(H) isoantigen: Of 36 patients with low stage, 6 patients were blood group 0 who were all SRCA negative. but 30 patients with other blood groups showed variable SRCA results. 5. There is a considerable correlation between tumor recurrence and SRCA result: Of 20 patients who were followed more than one year after initial TUR, 8 patients were SRCA positive, of these 4 patients were recurred, but 9 patients of 12 patients with SRCA negative were recurred.
Antigens, Surface* ; Blood Group Antigens ; Humans ; Isoantigens ; Recurrence ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Antigens, Surface*

BACKGROUND: Today, blood group antigens are a strong barrier of safe transfusion. We evaluated the change of agglutinability of antibody to RBC surface antigen before and after activated methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) modification. METHODS: We collected blood from healthy volunteers and the blood were treated by activated mPEG (MW 5,000, Sigma, USA). Agglutinability of RBC was measured using anti-sera (Green Cross, Korea) in ABO and Rh(D) groups, and compared the agglutinability changes before and after mPEG treatment. RESULTS: The agglutinability of Rh(D) surface antigen (n=20) was disappeared after mPEG treatment. However, ABO antigens showed variable agglutinability against antisera, some of which showed no change at all. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of Rh(D) antigen, it would be useful to apply mPEG treated RBCs for clinical use, if the safety problem were solved. But in the case of ABO antigen, the more evaluation of the condition of reaction and the concentration of mPEG should be needed.
Antigens, Surface* ; Blood Group Antigens ; Blood Substitutes ; Healthy Volunteers ; Immune Sera ; Polyethylene Glycols* ; Polyethylene*

The major blood group antigens A, B or O (H) are present on normal bladder, epithelium. Several recent studies have suggested that the loss of cell surface antigens may be a precursor of subsequent invasion of the bladder by tumor. Because the specific and cell adherence test demonstrates the presence or absence of these antigens the test may have an important prognostic and screening value. We have examined cells in the morning urines or bladder washing specimens for 7 cages of bladder tumors and 5 cases of normal controls for specific red cell adherence. Even if we have studied insufficient cases, our results suggest that a correlation exists between absence of the cell surface antigen and histopathologic dedifferentiation. And seen is a progressive logs of cell surface antigen as malignant potential increase as measured by clinical staging.
Antigens, Surface* ; Blood Group Antigens ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Diagnosis ; Epithelium ; Mass Screening ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

BACKGROUND: Preoperative autologous blood donation is utilized to reduce the risk of transfusion associated infections and transfusion reactions using homologous blood. We analyzed our experiences of autologous blood donations in Kyung Hee University Hospital. METHODS: From Jan. 1996 to Feb. 1997, we analyzed 213 patients who visited the blood donation room for autologous blood donation. RESULTS: Among 213 patients, 32 patients(15%) were rejected because of unfittedness with donor criteria. The majority of donor were orthopedic patients(95.4%). 14 patients(8%) could not finish the donation during the blood collection period because of donor reaction. The major cause was anemia(6 cases, 43%). During the donation period, mean of hemoglobin level was decreased by 1.3g/dL. Less than 1.5g/dL of hemoglobin reduction was observed in 117 patients(64.6%). In the use of donated blood, 43% used only autologous blood, 40.5% used autologous blood and additional homologous blood, and 16.5% were diacarded. The seropositive rates of HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV, and VDRL were 7%, 0.6%, 0%, and 0.6%, respectively. Simultaneously seropositive rate of HBsAg & anti-HCV was 0.6%. CONCLUSION: Autologous blood donation can be a good transfusion practice for elective surgery. Physician education programs are needed to avoid necessary homologous blood and unnececessary autologous blood donation.
Blood Donors* ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Education ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Orthopedics ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibilily of screening and identifying the red blood cell type alloantibodies by means of surface plasman resonance(SPR) technique so as to provide a new method for detecting the transfusion compatibility of red blood cells. METHODS: The RBC antigens for screening the alloantibody were fixed on the SPR chip surface by means of amino coupling method; the analysis conditions of SPR chip were optimized and then the control serum with RBC blood group antibody positive was detected; the performance of SPR chip for detection of serum was analysed; the consistance of rusults detected by SPR technique and microcolum agglutination for clinieal samples of 129 thalasstmia patients with history of lone-term blood transfusion were compared; at the same time, the blood group amtibodies in 7 patients with blood group antibody positive were identified before blood transfusion by using SPR chip so as to select the RBC antigen compatible blood for transfusion; and the efficacy of RBC transfusion was followed up and evaluated. RESULTS: The repeatability, sensitivity and specificity of SPR chip technique for detecting the blood group alloantibodies all were better. The SPR technique and microcolumn agglutination method were not significant different for screening blood group alloantibodies (χ2 = 0.333, P＞0.05), and the overall consistency was 97.2%; the results of SPR technique in 7 patients with positive blood group antibodies were as follows: 3 cases with anti-E, 1 case anti-M, 1 case anti-C, 1 case anti-Jka and 1 case autoantibody, which were consistent with the results of microcolumn agglutination tests, and the compatible red blood cells were selected for transfusion, of which the infusion of 6 cases was effective. In only 1 case the infusion was ineffective because of autoantibody. CONCLUSION For screening and identification of blood group alloantibodies, the performance of SPR chip technique is equivalent to the micro-column agglutination, but the procedure of SPR technique is simpler, faster and high-throughput and label-free, which can meet the basic requirements for rapid screening and identification of blood group alloantibodies before transfusion of red blood cells.
Blood Group Antigens ; Blood Transfusion ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; Surface Plasmon Resonance

<b>OBJECTIVEb>A multiplex PCR system for screening rare blood group antigens K and Yt(b) was constructed to study the distribution of the two blood groups in a Uygur population in Xinjiang, China.

<b>METHODSb>Sequence-specific primers (SSP) were designed based on single nucleotide polymorphism sites of KEL and ACHE alleles encoding the two blood group antigens. The system was designed for simultaneously detecting the two antigens by optimizing the PCR reaction. Three hundred and sixty-two randomly selected healthy individuals were screened. Products of PCR were further analyzed for heterozygosity.

<b>RESULTSb>The system was set up successfully. No KK sample was identified and 9 K+ k+ , 41 Yt (a+ b+ ), 4 Yt (a- b+ ) were found among the 362 samples.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>The established PCR-SSP based multiple PCR system is efficient to screen the rare blood group antigens K and Yt(b). The information of rare blood donors obtained from the screening can be used to improve the capability of compatible transfusion.

Antigens, Bacterial ; genetics ; Antigens, Surface ; genetics ; Blood Donors ; Blood Group Antigens ; genetics ; Blood Transfusion ; methods ; China ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Abstract　　B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is an ideal target for precise treatment due to its highly selective expression on malignant myeloma cells. This review summarizes briefly the advances in the latest research progress on biological activity of BCMA, its significance as a biomarker and immunotherapy direcited against BCMA, such as bispecific antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy against mature B cell antigens.
Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte ; B-Cell Maturation Antigen ; B-Lymphocytes ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Multiple Myeloma ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes