Vaccination with experimental feline immunodeficiency virus vaccines, based on autologous infected cells, elicits enhancement of homologous challenge infection.
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Cats were vaccinated with fixed autologous feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cells in order to present viral proteins to the immune system of individual cats in an MHC-matched fashion. Upon vaccination, a humoral response against Gag was induced. Furthermore, virus-neutralizing antibodies were detected in a Crandell feline kidney cell-based neutralization assay, but not in a neutralization assay based on primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Despite the induction of these FIV-specific responses, vaccinated cats were not protected. Instead, accelerated virus replication was found, an observation similar to what previous experiments using other vaccine candidates have shown. Here, the results of the present study are discussed in the light of enhancement of lentivirus infections as a complicating factor in lentivirus vaccine development. (+info)
Epitope mapping of CCR5 reveals multiple conformational states and distinct but overlapping structures involved in chemokine and coreceptor function.
(42/9631)
The chemokine receptor CCR5 is the major coreceptor for R5 human immunodeficiency virus type-1 strains. We mapped the epitope specificities of 18 CCR5 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to identify domains of CCR5 required for chemokine binding, gp120 binding, and for inducing conformational changes in Env that lead to membrane fusion. We identified mAbs that bound to N-terminal epitopes, extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) epitopes, and multidomain (MD) epitopes composed of more than one single extracellular domain. N-terminal mAbs recognized specific residues that span the first 13 amino acids of CCR5, while nearly all ECL2 mAbs recognized residues Tyr-184 to Phe-189. In addition, all MD epitopes involved ECL2, including at least residues Lys-171 and Glu-172. We found that ECL2-specific mAbs were more efficient than NH2- or MD-antibodies in blocking RANTES or MIP-1beta binding. By contrast, N-terminal mAbs blocked gp120-CCR5 binding more effectively than ECL2 mAbs. Surprisingly, ECL2 mAbs were more potent inhibitors of viral infection than N-terminal mAbs. Thus, the ability to block virus infection did not correlate with the ability to block gp120 binding. Together, these results imply that chemokines and Env bind to distinct but overlapping sites in CCR5, and suggest that the N-terminal domain of CCR5 is more important for gp120 binding while the extracellular loops are more important for inducing conformational changes in Env that lead to membrane fusion and virus infection. Measurements of individual antibody affinities coupled with kinetic analysis of equilibrium binding states also suggested that there are multiple conformational states of CCR5. A previously described mAb, 2D7, was unique in its ability to effectively block both chemokine and Env binding as well as coreceptor activity. 2D7 bound to a unique antigenic determinant in the first half of ECL2 and recognized a far greater proportion of cell surface CCR5 molecules than the other mAbs examined. Thus, the epitope recognized by 2D7 may represent a particularly attractive target for CCR5 antagonists. (+info)
Heterogeneity of T-cell receptor usage in experimental autoimmune neuritis in the Lewis rat.
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In experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), T-cell receptor (TCR) variable (V)-region gene usage by neuritogenic T cells has been reported to be clonally restricted at the RNA level. This study was designed to verify TCR usage by neuritogenic T cells at the protein level. We generated two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 7H4 and 8G8 specific for a Vbeta4/Valpha11 associated idiotype expressed by the majority of neuritogenic cells of P2-specific T-cell lines. The remaining neuritogenic P2-specific T cells either exhibited a dominant usage of the TCR Vbeta13 chain recognized by the recently generated mAbs 17D5 and 18B1 or showed diverse Vbeta usage. Treatment of adoptive-transfer (AT)-EAN or of EAN actively induced with the neuritogenic P2 peptide by mAbs 7H4 and 8G8 led to a partial, but significant, reduction of clinical disease. Treatment with Vbeta13-specific mAb 17D5 had no clear effect on active EAN. Our data show that at least three different TCR are used by P2-specific pathogenic T cells in EAN, an animal model for human inflammatory neuropathies. (+info)
Specific antibody-dependent killing of Toxoplasma gondii by normal macrophages.
(44/9631)
The requirement for specificity of antibody-dependent inhibition or killing of intracellular Toxoplasma gondii trophozoites by normal mouse peritoneal macrophages was evaluated in vitro using light microscopy and autoradiography. Anti-toxoplasma antibody in the presence of 'accessory factor' rendered extracellular T. gondii trophozoites non-viable and non-infectious for cells, whereas exposure of extracellular trophozoites to heat-inactivated immune serum did not appear to damage the parasites. Although pretreatment of extracellular trophozoites with heat-inactivated immune serum neither diminished nor prevented infection of normal mouse peritoneal macrophages, it did confer upon macrophages the ability to inhibit or kill the organisms once they were intracellular. In contrast, pretreatment of trophozoites with either heat-inactivated normal or Besnoitia jellisoni immune serum did not enable normal macrophages to inhibit or kill T. gondii; rather, such organisms multiplied intracellularly in normal macrophages. Thus, pretreatment with specific antibody alone prepared T. gondii trophozoites for intracellular destruction by normal mouse peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest that spesific antibody acting in concert with normal macrophages may play a role in controlling infection with T. gondii. (+info)
Monospecific antipeptide antibody to cytochrome P-450 2B6.
(45/9631)
To study cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 2B6 contribution to methoxychlor metabolism within human liver microsomes and to initiate an investigation of CYP2B6 protein expression, we developed a polyclonal antibody targeted to a 20-residue peptide within that protein. The antibody was found to be highly sensitive and monospecific for CYP2B6 on immunoblots. Although many immunological studies have described the absence or low expression of CYP2B6 in human livers, in the present investigation, we have found this not to be the case. We immunoquantified CYP2B6 apoprotein expression in a panel of 28 livers and found concentrations ranging from 2 to 82 pmol/mg protein, with a mean value of 25 pmol/mg protein. Five livers ( approximately 18%) displayed relatively high levels of CYP2B6 (>40 pmol/mg protein). There were no sex-related differences, although the highest level was observed in a 1-week postpartum donor given several medications. A marked diminution in variability was found in individuals aged 56 or older (n = 12), but there were no age-related trends in mean CYP2B6 content. We suggest that CYP2B6 represents a significant portion of total CYP in human liver. The exquisite sensitivity of this antibody (fmol quantities are detected easily on immunoblots) may explain our detection of CYP2B6 in 100% of livers versus its detection in a limited number of livers by certain other investigators. The antibody also was found to immunoinhibit CYP2B6-catalyzed N-demethylation of (S)-mephenytoin in human liver microsomes by 68 to 79%. The utility of this antibody for determining human liver microsomal CYP2B6 contribution to the ortho-hydroxylation of methoxychlor was demonstrated. (+info)
Epitope analysis of a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) C-terminal-specific monoclonal antibody and new aspects for the discrepancy between equimolar and skewed PSA assays.
(46/9631)
BACKGROUND: Immunoassays to measure prostate-specific antigen (PSA) often give different values for the same patient samples, and the calibrators among commercial immunoassays are not interchangeable. We developed three novel assays to quantify the free and complexed forms of PSA in serum. METHODS: We synthesized 46 peptides, which encompassed the entire PSA molecule, and determined the interactions between selected monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and those peptides or the intact PSA molecule. RESULTS: MAb PA313 did not cross-react with human glandular kallikrein (hK2), which has 78% amino acid homology to PSA. This MAb bound with KD = 40 nmol/L to the C-terminal peptide of PSA and distinguished between a synthetic peptide derived from PSA (PSA46A: NH2-C-R226KWIKDTIVANP237-COOH) that differed from one derived from hK2 (PSA46B: NH2-C-R226KWIKDTAANP237-COOH) by a single amino acid. Only the MAb combination of PA313/PA121 showed equimolar reactivity with PSA and with PSA complexed with alpha1-antichymotrypsin (PSA-ACT). The free form of PSA (F-PSA) was determined by MAbs PA313/FPA503, and the amount of complexed PSA (C-PSA) in PSA-ACT was determined by alphaACT/PA313. The total PSA (T-PSA) measured by either of the equimolar assays (PA313/PA121 or Tandem-R) was consistent with the sum of F-PSA and C-PSA. In contrast, T-PSA by a skewed assay (IMx) was higher than F-PSA + C-PSA when the ratio of F-PSA to T-PSA (F/T) was >0.15. T-PSA measured by IMx was nearly equal to F-PSA/0.55 + C-PSA. The coefficient 0.55 reflected different reactivities of the IMx assay with PSA-ACT and PSA. CONCLUSION: The discrepancy between the values measured by equimolar and skewed assays depends on the ratio of free to total PSA in the sample. (+info)
Library of sequence-specific radioimmunoassays for human chromogranin A.
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BACKGROUND: Human chromogranin A (CgA) is an acidic protein widely expressed in neuroendocrine tissue and tumors. The extensive tissue- and tumor-specific cleavages of CgA at basic cleavage sites produce multiple peptides. METHODS: We have developed a library of RIAs specific for different epitopes, including the NH2 and COOH termini and three sequences adjacent to dibasic sites in the remaining part of CgA. RESULTS: The antisera raised against CgA(210-222) and CgA(340-348) required a free NH2 terminus for binding. All antisera displayed high titers, high indexes of heterogeneity ( approximately 1.0), and high binding affinities (Keff0 approximately 0.1 x 10(12) to 1.0 x 10(12) L/mol), implying that the RIAs were monospecific and sensitive. The concentration of CgA in different tissues varied with the assay used. Hence, in a carcinoid tumor the concentration varied from 0.5 to 34.0 nmol/g tissue depending on the specificity of the CgA assay. The lowest concentration in all tumors was measured with the assay specific for the NH2 terminus of CgA. This is consistent with the relatively low concentrations measured in plasma from carcinoid tumor patients by the N-terminal assay, whereas the assays using antisera raised against CgA(210-222) and CgA(340-348) measured increased concentrations. CONCLUSION: Only some CgA assays appear useful for diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors, but the entire library is valuable for studies of the expression and processing of human CgA. (+info)
Selection-dominant and nonaccessible epitopes on cell-surface receptors revealed by cell-panning with a large phage antibody library.
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To generate antibodies to defined cell-surface antigens, we used a large phage antibody fragment library to select on cell transfectants expressing one of three chosen receptors. First, in vitro panning procedures and phage antibody screening ELISAs were developed using whole live cells stably expressing the antigen of interest. When these methodologies were applied to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing one of the receptors for a neuropeptide, somatostatin, using either direct cell panning or a strategy of depletion or ligand-directed elution, many different pan-CHO-cell binders were selected, but none was receptor specific. However, when using direct panning on CHO-cells expressing the human membrane protein CD36, an extraordinary high frequency of antigen-specific phage antibodies was found. Panning on myoblasts expressing the rat homologue of CD36 revealed a similar selection dominance for anti-(CD36). Binding of all selected 20 different anti-(CD36) phage was surprisingly inhibited by one anti-(CD36) mAb CLB-IVC7, which recognizes a functional epitope that is also immunodominant in vivo. Similar inhibition was found for seven anti-(rat) CD36 that cross-reacted with human CD36. Our results show that, although cells can be used as antigen carriers to select and screen phage antibodies, the nature of the antigen target has a profound effect on the outcome of the selection. (+info)