Definition of ocular antigens in ciliary body and retinal ganglion cells by the marker antibody pANCA.
(41/8759)
PURPOSE: A subset of patients with anterior uveitis express the marker, perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (pANCA). In this study, recombinantly isolated pANCA monoclonal antibodies were used to search for ocular cells expressing the pANCA antigen. METHODS: Paraffin sections of human ocular tissues obtained after death were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to identify cell types expressing pANCA antigen. Microdissected eye-bank ocular tissue was characterized by western blot analysis to confirm antigen expression and identify candidate protein species. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis with pANCA monoclonal antibodies revealed cytoplasmic antigen expression in retinal ganglion cells and ciliary body epithelium. pANCA antigen expression was restricted to tissues bearing these cell types by western blot analysis. A common set of epitope-positive protein species was shared by the two tissues (28 kDa, 80 kDa, and 90 kDa). Comparison of ocular tissues from seven subjects revealed no heterogeneity in antigen expression. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, novel cytoplasmic antigens of the pANCA marker antibody expressed in ciliary body and retinal tissue were identified. Validation of these antigens as targets of inflammation in pANCA+ uveitis requires further biochemical and immunologic analysis. (+info)
Combined genetic deficiency of C6 and C7 in man.
(42/8759)
By routine screening of sera, a subject was discovered who showed a sub-total deficiency of C6 and C7. No clinical disease was associated with this deficiency which was transmitted through the subject's family as a single genetic characteristic, the C6 deficiency being associated with a silent allele at the structural locus. The propositus was found to have low quantities of an abnormal C6 which was both antigenically deficient and smaller in size than normal C6 (110,000 daltons compared with 140,000 daltons) and small quantities of apparently normal C7. It is concluded that the most likely explanation for this defect is that the subject has a structural mutation in his C6 gene which produces hyopsynthesis not only of C6 but also of the closely linked gene for C7. These findings suggest the possibility that C6 and C7 may function as a single genetic unit and that the primary transcript copied from the genome includes information for both proteins. (+info)
Evidence for the genetic control of antibody affinity from breeding studies with inbred mouse strains producing high and low affinity antibody.
(43/8759)
The amount (Abt) and relative affinity (KR) of antibody produced in response to protein antigens injected in saline has been measured in the parents, F1 hybrids and backcross offspring of inbred mice which produce high and low KR antibody to these antigens. The results obtained support the view that antibody affinity is under polygenic control. Furthermore, strain related variation in Abt is independent of KR and the breeding experiments indicate that these two parameters are under independent genetic control. (+info)
Studies on the role of suppressor cells in specific unresponsiveness to DNCB.
(44/8759)
Lymph nodes--and to a lesser extent spleen cells--from guinea-pigs tolerant to DNCB contact sensitivity, when injected into normal syngeneic guinea-pigs, decrease the ability of the recipients to become sensitized to contact with DNCB. The difference between the complete tolerance transferred by parabiosis with tolerant partners and the partial tolerance induced by transfer of tolerant cells can be explained by the different numbers of cells homing in the recipients. The tolergen does not play any role in the transfer of tolerance. (+info)
Immunization against malaria with antigen from Plasmodium falciparum cultivated in vitro.
(45/8759)
Aotus monkeys, which are generally killed when infected with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, have been identified and grouped by karyotype. These animals were immunized with parasite material obtained from P. falciparum cultivated in vitro which had been maintained in culture for over a year. When sufficient amounts of this antigenic material were used with a synthetic muramyl dipeptide (MDP), protective immunity was induced without presenting the antigen in complete Freund's adjuvant. (+info)
Serum KL-6 level as a monitoring marker in a patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.
(46/8759)
A raised serum level of KL-6 is known to exist in active pulmonary fibrosis and KL-6 may be produced and secreted by type II pneumocytes. A case is described of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with high serum KL-6 levels. The serum KL-6 level decreased after whole lung washing and correlated with symptoms, opacities on the chest radiograph, and arterial blood gas measurements. The serum KL-6 level may represent a useful marker for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. (+info)
Antigen-induced hyperreactivity to histamine: role of the vagus nerves and eosinophils.
(47/8759)
M2 muscarinic receptors limit acetylcholine release from the pulmonary parasympathetic nerves. M2 receptors are dysfunctional in antigen-challenged guinea pigs, causing increased vagally mediated bronchoconstriction. Dysfunction of these M2 receptors is due to eosinophil major basic protein, which is an antagonist for M2 receptors. Histamine-induced bronchoconstriction is composed of a vagal reflex in addition to its direct effect on airway smooth muscle. Because hyperreactivity to histamine is seen in antigen-challenged animals, we hypothesized that hyperreactivity to histamine may be due to increased vagally mediated bronchoconstriction caused by dysfunction of M2 receptors. In anesthetized, antigen-challenged guinea pigs, histamine-induced bronchoconstriction was greater than that in control guinea pigs. After vagotomy or atropine treatment, the response to histamine in antigen-challenged animals was the same as that in control animals. In antigen-challenged animals, blockade of eosinophil influx into the airways or neutralization of eosinophil major basic protein prevented the development of hyperreactivity to histamine. Thus hyperreactivity to histamine in antigen-challenged guinea pigs is vagally mediated and dependent on eosinophil major basic protein. (+info)
Involvement of protein serine and threonine phosphorylation in human sperm capacitation.
(48/8759)
The involvement of serine and threonine phosphorylation in human sperm capacitation was investigated. Anti-phosphoserine monoclonal antibody (mAb) recognized six protein bands in the 43-55-kDa, 94 +/- 2-kDa, 110-kDa, and 190-kDa molecular regions, in addition to a faint band each in the 18-kDa and 35-kDa regions. Anti-phosphothreonine mAb recognized protein bands in six similar regions, except that the 18-kDa, 35-kDa, and 94 +/- 2-kDa protein bands were sharper and thicker, and an additional band was observed in the 110-kDa molecular region. In the 43-55-kDa molecular region, there was a well-characterized glycoprotein, designated fertilization antigen, that showed a further increase in serine/threonine phosphorylation after exposure to solubilized human zona pellucida. In a cell-free in vitro kinase assay carried out on beads or in solution, four to eight proteins belonging to similar molecular regions, namely 20 +/- 2 kDa, 43-55 kDa, 94 +/- 2 kDa, and 110 +/- 10 kDa, as well as in 80 +/- 4 and 210 +/- 10 kDa regions, were phosphorylated at dual residues (serine/tyrosine and threonine/tyrosine). Capacitation increased the intensity of serine/threonine phosphorylation per sperm cell, increased the number of sperm cells that were phosphorylated, and induced a subcellular shift in the serine/threonine-specific fluorescence. These findings indicate that protein serine/threonine phosphorylation is involved and may have a physiological role in sperm capacitation. (+info)