BACKGROUND: Unexpected antibody screening and identification tests are very important pre-transfusion tests for preventing transfusion reactions. Nowadays, the column agglutination test is widely used in Korea. The results of many studies that used this method showed the decreased frequency of nonsignificant cold antibodies and an increased frequency of warm antibodies when compared with other studies that used the tube test or the microplate test. This study was performed in order to determine the accurate frequency and distribution of unexpected alloantibody by using the column agglutination test. METHODS: We analyzed the results from 32,218 antibody screening tests with using LISS/Coombs cards and ID-DiaCell I and II for the transfusion candidates and patients with hemolytic anemia who were seen at Kyungpook National University Hospital during a recent eight-year period. RESULTS: According to the results of the antibody screening test, 188 samples (0.58%) out of all 32,218 samples, were shown to be positive. Unexpected alloantibodies were detected in 86 patients (0.27%) with using the antibody identification test. The antibodies that were detected most frequently were anti-E (29 samples), followed by anti-D (8 samples), anti-M (8 samples) and anti-c (7 samples). CONCLUSION: The frequency and distribution of unexpected antibodies at our hospital are similar with those obtained in other Korean studies. The detection rates of warm antibodies, including Rh antibodies, were high. The proportion of Rh antibodies in patients with a gestation history was significantly higher than that in the patients without a gestation history. This study shows once again that pregnancy affects the antibodies and this supports the relationship between pregnancy and antibody formation.
Agglutination Tests ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Antibodies* ; Antibody Formation ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Pregnancy

Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are an emerging class of targeted therapeutics with the potential to improve therapeutic index over the traditional chemotherapy. However, it is difficult to control the site and stoichiometry of conjugation in mAb, typically resulting in heterogeneous mixtures of ADCs that are difficult to optimize. New methods for site-specific drug attachment allow development of more homogeneous conjugates and control of the site of drug attachment. In this article, the new literature on development of ADCs and site-specific ADCs is reviewed. In addition, we summarized the various strategies in production of site-specific ADCs.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; chemistry ; Antibody Specificity ; Binding Sites, Antibody ; Immunoconjugates ; chemistry

Ginsenosides are the major components of ginseng, which is known to modulate blood pressure, metabolism, and immune function, and has been used to treat various diseases. It has been reported that ginseng and several ginsenosides have immunoregulatory effects on the innate and T cell-mediated immune response. However, their effects on the humoral immune response have not been fully explored. The present study examined the direct effects of red ginseng extract (RGE) and ginsenosides on mouse B cell proliferation and on antibody production and the expression of germline transcripts (GLT) by mouse B cells in vitro. RGE slightly reduced B cell proliferation, but increased IgA production by LPS-stimulated B cells. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 selectively induced IgA production and expression of GLTalpha transcripts by LPS-stimulated B cells. Collectively, these results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 can drive the differentiation of B cells into IgA-producing cells through the selective induction of GLTalpha expression.
Animals ; Antibody Formation ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Blood Pressure ; Cell Proliferation ; Ginsenosides ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Metabolism ; Mice* ; Panax

Anti-Sda is of no clinical significance, because it rarely causes hemolytic transfusion reactions. Even when its presence is suspected during antibody screening test, further identification of the antibody is usually not performed. We experienced a case of anti-Sda in 73 yr-old male patient showing mixed field agglutination by microcolumn agglutination. Antibody specificity could not be identified by conventional antibody identification test, and it was proven to be anti-Sda by urine neutralization test. In spite of its little clinical significance, it may give incompatible crossmatching results reacting with Sda antigen, which occurs at a high frequency in general population. When incompatible crossmatch results arising from anti-Sda are suspected, the problem may be solved by using the urine-neutralized serum of in crossmatching test.
Agglutination ; Antibody Specificity ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Neutralization Tests

Evening primrose oil(EPO), which contains 72% cis-linoleic acid and 9% cisgamma linolenic acid, has been clinically used for treatment of number of diseases in human and animals. And it is also known to lower cholesterol(CHO) level of hypercholesterolaemic individuals. But the role of EPO as CHO-suppressant is controversial, and the relationship of EPO to CHO level in immune regulating activities is unclear at present. To evaluate the effect of evening primrose on the normal plasma CHO-levels, rabbits were fed with evening primrose seed(EPS) or injected with evening primrose seed-extract(EPE), and measured the plasma CHO-levels by duration of treatment. Both of EPS and EPE did not influence the plasma CHO-levels until 4 day treatment and thereafter the levels were significantly reduced. For the investigation of the EPE-effect on immune response to sheep erythrocytes(SRBC), mice were injected with EPE for 4 days before SRBC-sensitization or with CHO just before SRBC, Sensitization or with CHO in regulating effect of immune response was evaluated by the measuring the footpad swelling reaction and antibody response to SRBC. EPE itself did not influence Arthus reaction but it remarkable reduced delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH) and antibody production in comparison with control. CHO slightly increased Arthus reaction and DTH, but it somewhat decreased antibody responses. However, CHO significantly recovered the EPE-induced decrement of DTH and humoral immunity. There results led to that conclusion the evening primrose triggers the decrease of plasma CHO-levels and immune responses, and suggested that the mechanisms responsible for the nonspecific immune inhibitory effect of evening primrose might be partially due to the decrement of the CHO-levels.
alpha-Linolenic Acid ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Arthus Reaction ; Cholesterol* ; Erythrocytes* ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Mice ; Oenothera biennis ; Plasma* ; Primula* ; Rabbits ; Sheep*

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Antibody Affinity ; Antibody Specificity ; Antigen-Antibody Reactions ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; analysis ; immunology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; immunology ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; therapy

The lower expression of CD20 antigen molecules on the B cell membrane is the primary characteristic of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). In this paper, we combined laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and quantum dots labeling to detect the expression and distribution of CD20 molecules on CD20+B lymphocyte surface. Simultaneously, we investigated the morphology and ultrastructure of the B lymphocytes that belonged to the normal persons and B-CLL patients through utilizing the atomic force microscope (AFM). In addition, we measured the force spectroscopy of CD20 antigen-antibody binding using the AFM tips modified with CD20 antibody. The fluorescent images indicated that the density of CD20 of normal CD20+B lymphocytes was much higher than that of B-CLL CD20+B cells. The AFM data show that ultrastructure of B-CLL CD20+B lymphocytes became more complicated. Moreover, the single molecular force spectroscopy data show that the special force of CD20 antigen-antibody was four times bigger than the nonspecific force between the naked AFM tip and cell surface. The force map showed that CD20 molecules distributed homogeneously on the normal CD20+B lymphocytes, whereas, the CD20 molecules distributed heterogenous on B-CLL CD20+B lymphocytes. Our data provide visualized evidence for the phenomenon of low-response to rituximab therapy on clinical. Meanwhile, AFM is possible to be a powerful tool for development and screening of drugs for pharmacology use.
Antigen-Antibody Reactions ; immunology ; Antigens, CD20 ; immunology ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; ultrastructure ; Binding Sites, Antibody ; Cell Membrane ; immunology ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; immunology ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Quantum Dots

The bursa of Fabricius (BF) is a central humoral immune organ unique to birds. Four bursal peptides (BP-I, BP-II, BP-III, and BP-IV) have been isolated and identified from the BF. In this study, the immunoadjuvant activities of BPs I to IV were examined in mice immunized with H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) vaccine. The results suggested that BP-I effectively enhanced cell-mediated immune responses, increased the secretion of Th1 (interferon gamma)- and Th2 (interleukin-4)-type cytokines, and induced an improved cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response to the H9N2 virus. BP-II mainly elevated specific antibody production, especially neutralizing antibodies, and increased Th1- and Th2-type cytokine secretion. BP-III had no significant effect on antibody production or cell-mediated immune responses compared to those in the control group. A strong immune response at both the humoral and cellular levels was induced by BP-IV. Furthermore, a virus challenge experiment followed by H&E staining revealed that BP-I and BP-II promoted removal of the virus and conferred protection in mouse lungs. BP-IV significantly reduced viral titers and histopathological changes and contributed to protection against H9N2 AIV challenge in mouse lungs. This study further elucidated the immunoadjuvant activities of BPs I to IV, providing a novel insight into immunoadjuvants for use in vaccine design.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Antibody Formation ; Birds ; Bursa of Fabricius ; Cytokines ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype ; Influenza in Birds ; Lung ; Mice ; Peptides ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

In addition to T cell-dependent (TD) Ab responses, T cells can also regulate T cell-independent (TI) B cell responses in the absence of a specific major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and antigenic peptide-based interaction between T and B cells. The elucidation of T cells capable of supporting TI Ab responses is important for understanding the cellular mechanism of different types of TI Ab responses. Natural killer T (NKT) cells represent 1 type of helper T cells involved in TI Ab responses and more candidate helper T cells responsible for TI Ab responses may also include γδ T cells and recently reported B-1 helper CD4⁺ T cells. Marginal zone (MZ) B and B-1 cells, 2 major innate-like B cell subsets considered to function independently of T cells, interact with innate-like T cells. Whereas MZ B and NKT cells interact mutually for a rapid response to blood-borne infection, peritoneal memory phenotype CD49d(high)CD4⁺ T cells support natural Ab secretion by B-1 cells. Here the role of innate-like T cells in the so-called TI Ab response is discussed. To accommodate the involvement of T cells in the TI Ab responses, we suggest an expanded classification of TD Ab responses that incorporate cognate and non-cognate B cell help by innate-like T cells.
Antibody Formation* ; Antigen-Antibody Reactions ; B-Lymphocyte Subsets ; B-Lymphocytes ; Classification ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Memory ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; Phenotype ; T-Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

BACKGROUND: The frequency with which the 2 B lineages have been found to cocirculate in a season has been on the rise, which has spurred the need for a quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) to protect against both B lineages. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that QIV include both B lineages beginning in the 2013–2014 flu season. This study was conducted to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of an egg-cultivated QIV in healthy Korean children and adolescents aged ≥ 6 months to < 19 years. METHODS: A total of 528 subjects were randomized 4:1 to receive either a QIV (GC3110A) or a trivalent influenza vaccine. Hemagglutination inhibition antibody responses were assessed 28 days after the last dose. Safety was also evaluated. RESULTS: The proportion of subjects in the GC3110A group who achieved seroconversion was confirmed to exceed 40% across all age groups. The proportion of subjects aged ≥ 6 months to < 3 years in the GC3110A group who achieved seroprotection failed to meet the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) standard of 70%. Potential causes may include the small number of subjects, as well as the small dosage. However, results pertaining to the other age groups satisfied the MFDS standard. The safety profile was also comparable to that of the control. CONCLUSION: The new quadrivalent split influenza vaccine may offer broader protection to children and adolescents aged ≥ 3 years to < 19 years of age against both influenza B lineages than the existing trivalent influenza vaccines (Registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02541253).
Adolescent ; Antibody Formation ; Child* ; Hemagglutination ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines* ; Influenza, Human* ; Seasons ; Seroconversion ; World Health Organization