Serologic ambiguity and allelic frequency of the HLA-B40 family in the Korean population

The most frequently identified HLA-B type in Koreans is HLA-B40 (13.4%). Due to the lack of mono-specific alloantisera and cross reactivity of sera used as typing reagents, discrimination between the serologic splits of B40, B60 and B61, has been a problem in tissue typing laboratories. In this study, an efficient PCR-SSP typing system was established to distinguish B60 and B61 and to assess the difficulty in serologic assignment for these types. The SSP system was also used to elucidate the frequency of B40 alleles (B*4001-B*4008) encoding B40 molecules in the Korean population. Eighty eight unrelated individuals identified serologically as B40 positive were selected from 358 consecutive volunteers from the unrelated bone marrow registry. Seven sets of PCR that amplify exons 2 and 3 of the HLA-B gene using 10 sequence specific primers (SSP) were used for discrimination between B60 and B61, and for B40 allelic typing. A clear discrimination of B60 and B61 was possible in all samples including 48 serologically ambiguous samples (B60 – 14/48; B61 – 34/48) and 5 potentially B40 homozygous samples (B60/B61 heterozygotes – 4/5; B60 homozygote - 1/5). Therefore, the use of a focused SSP approach enhances serologic definition of HLA types in routine clinical testing. In allelic typing, all B60 samples (26) appeared to be B*4001, but B61 samples revealed more heterogeneity (B*4002 – 36/58, B*4003 – 4/58, B*4006 – 18/58). In addition, B*4003 seemed to be closely associated with the A24-Cw3-DRB1*02 haplotype (3/4). The characterization of allele frequency as well as haplotypic association will be helpful in determination of the optimal size of the volunteer marrow donor pool in the Korean population.     

Protein micelles of human histocompatibility antigens (HLA-A and HLA-B)

Human histocompatibility antigens (HLA-A and -B) are membrane proteins which have large hydrophilic domains outside the cell membrane and a small hydrophobic portion in the lipid bilayer. In this paper we describe optimal conditions for preparing micelles of detergent-solubilized HLA-A2 and -B7 antigens. These homogeneous protein aggregates are water soluble and free of detergent and lipid. Hydrophobic interactions between the intramembraneous portions of the HLA antigens are the driving forces in the formation of these protein micelles. The papain-solubilized fragment of the HLA antigens is not included in the micelle. The average molecular weight of the HLA micelles is around 9 × 10⁵ daltons, which suggests sixteen HLA-A2 and/or HLA-B7 antigenic molecules per protein aggregate. Electron microscopic studies revealed that the most frequent size of the micelles is 12 mm and that HLA-micelles are similar but not identical to micelles from Sindbis Virus glycoproteins (E1 and E2) The HLA-A2 and -B7 micelles retained full antigenic activity as judged by precipitations with allo- and heteroantisera. Such micelles will no doubt be important tools in further studies of the role of histocompatibility antigens.     

Identification of two distinct CD5- B cell subsets from human tonsils with different responses to CD40 monoclonal antibody

This study investigated the response of different CD5^? B cell subsets to CD40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in various combinations with interleukin (IL)-4 or rabbit anti-human μ chain antibody (a-μ-Ab). The different CD5 B cell subsets were isolated from tonsillar B cell suspensions depleted of CD5⁺ B cells and subsequently fractionated on Percoll density gradients. While resting CD5⁺ B cells proliferated and produced IgM molecules in response to a-μ-Ab, IL-4 and CD40 mAb as well as to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC) and IL-2, resting CD5^? B cells, which were co-purified in the same 60% Percoll fractions, consistently failed to respond. These cells were, however, activated by the stimuli employed, as demonstrated by their capacity to express the surface activation markers CD69, CD25 and CD71. Resting CD5⁺ B cells had the typical phenotype of mantle zone B cells (IgM⁺ IgD⁺ CD39+ CD38^? CD10^? CDw75^dim), whereas resting CD5^? B cells were CD38^? CD39^? CD 10^? CDw75 intermediate and expressed surface IgM but relatively little surface IgD and could not be classified as mantle zone or germinal center cells. The finding that purified germinal center cells (CD38⁺ CD10⁺ CD39^? CDw75^bright, IgG⁺) responded to CD40 mAb and IL-4 and also to SAC plus IL-2 further underlined the differences to resting CD5^? B cells. However, some of the data collected suggest possible relationships between CD5^? B cells and germinal center cells. The CD5^? B cells isolated from the 50 % Percoll fraction proliferated in response to a-μ-Ab, CD40 mAb and IL-4 as well as to SAC and IL-2. These cells had the same mantle zone B cell phenotype as the CD5⁺ B cells, but their capacity to respond to the stimuli in vitro was unrelated to a possible contamination with CD5⁺ B cells, as documented by the appropriate controls. Furthermore, upon exposure to SAC or phorbol esters, the large majority of CD5^? B cells from the 50 % Percoll fraction did not express surface CD5 and there was very little if any accumulation of CD5 mRNA. Finally, most of the cycling cells in the stimulated CD5^? B cells did not express CD5. The CD5^? B cells from the 50 % Percoll fraction were comprised of a consistent proportion of cells that expressed surface activation markers. The removal of these cells abrogated the capacity of the suspensions to respond to the stimuli in vitro, possibly suggesting that these cells additional activation signals in vivo which were essential to acquire the capacity to respond and that could not be reproduced in vitro. The present study underlines the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of CD5^? B cells and contributes to the identification of two subsets of these cells which differ in phenotype, tissue distribution and in vitro responses to different stimuli.     

Guinea-pig peritoneal macrophage receptor for IgG--II. Purification of the receptor and its partial characterization

The Fc gamma receptor of guinea-pig peritoneal macrophages was purified by affinity chromatography by using rabbit IgG or guinea-pig IgG2 coupled to Sepharose. Lysates prepared by treatment of 125I-labeled macrophages with NP-40 were first applied to BSA-Sepharose and then to IgG-Sepharose and eluted with 0.5 M acetic acid containing 1% NP-40. The specific binding was determined by interaction of the 125I-labeled receptor with IgG-Sepharose in the presence and absence of soluble IgG. The specific binding of the purified receptor was 42-82%. Interactions of the purified receptor with IgG-Sepharose were equally well inhibited by soluble rabbit IgG or guinea-pig IgG2, but not by F(ab')2 fragments. Inclusion of NP-40 in the buffer used in the assay reduced nonspecific binding of the receptor to the affinity gels. The purified receptor can be stored for 20 days at 4 degrees C without a significant loss of the specific binding activity. Analysis of the receptor by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, under nonreducing and reducing conditions, revealed two major peaks of radioactivity corresponding to mol. wts of about 50,000 and 25,000, and one very minor peak corresponding to a mol. wt of about 30,000. The results obtained suggest that the protein of the second major peak is a product of the dissociation of the protein of the first major peak rather than a product of its reduction by 2-mercaptoethanol.     

鼠抗人OX40功能性单克隆抗体的研制及其生物学特性的鉴定

目的：研制功能性鼠抗人OX40单克隆抗体。方法：以转人OX40的转基因细胞L929-OX40为免疫原，常规免疫6—8周龄的雌性BALB／c小鼠；采用B淋巴细胞融合技术，将免疫小鼠脾脏细胞与SP2／0融合，以L929-OX40转基因细胞及PHA活化的T细胞为抗体筛选阳性细胞，经免疫荧光标记分析对杂交瘤进行反复筛选和多次的克隆化培养；采用快速定性试纸法及竞争抑制结合试验分析了该单抗的亚类及抗原识别位点；采用MTT法分析单抗在体外对T细胞的促增殖效应以及ELISA分析活化T细胞分泌的细胞因子。结果：获得1株持续、稳定分泌鼠抗人OX40单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株(命名为7E11)，该单抗能特异性地识别人OX40分子和介导有效的共刺激信号，体外促进活化的T细胞增殖和细胞因子的分泌。结论：成功研制成一株能分泌功能性鼠抗人OX40单克隆抗体的杂交瘤，该抗体特异性地识别人OX40分子并具有在体外协同刺激T细胞的作用。     

Oligomerization and polymerization of the filovirus matrix protein VP40

The matrix protein VP40 from Ebola virus plays an important role in the assembly process of virus particles by interacting with cellular factors, cellular membranes, and the ribonuclearprotein particle complex. Here we show that the N-terminal domain of VP40 folds into a mixture of two different oligomeric states in vitro, namely hexameric and octameric ringlike structures, as detected by gel filtration chromatography, chemical cross-linking, and electron microscopy. Octamer formation depends largely on the interaction with nucleic acids, which in turn confers in vitro SDS resistance. Refolding experiments with a nucleic acid free N-terminal domain preparation reveal a mostly dimeric form of VP40, which is transformed into an SDS resistant octamer upon incubation with E. coli nucleic acids. In addition, we demonstrate that the N-terminal domain of Marburg virus VP40 also folds into ringlike structures, similar to Ebola virus VP40. Interestingly, Marburg virus VP40 rings reveal a high tendency to polymerize into rods composed of stacked rings. These results may suggest distinct roles for different oligomeric forms of VP40 in the filovirus life cycle.     

脑康复冲剂对大鼠软脑膜微循环作用的实验研究

目的：脑康复冲剂临床用于治疗脑血栓血瘀证患者，本实验观察其对在大鼠实验性软脑膜微循环障碍的影响。方法：大鼠预防性给药，用高分子右旋糖酐水溶液静脉注射形成大鼠软脑膜的微循环障碍，观察脑康复冲剂对大鼠微循环的影响。结果：用高分子右旋糖酐造模后，大鼠软脑膜的微循环发生障碍，表现为血液流速减慢、血细胞聚集等，脑康复冲剂组血流速度开始减慢的时间明显比生理盐水对照组延长，且分级数也明显优于生理盐水组，对高分子右旋糖酐造成的血液流态障碍，脑康复组明显好于生理盐水组（P＜0．05），毛细血管网交叉点数开始减少的时间也比生理盐水对照组延长，差异显著（P＜0．01）。结论：脑康复冲剂使大鼠血流速度和血液流态得到改善，具有预防和改善动物脑微循环障碍的作用。     

猴空泡病毒40核酸序列检测法的优化研究

目的 对通常使用的猴空泡病毒40(Simian vacuolating virus 40,SV40)核酸序列检测法进行优化,寻找敏感性高、特异性强、适用面广的SV40核酸序列检测引物.方法 以21个SV40毒株完全基因组为基础数据,用Primer Premier 5.00软件重新设计两对SV40 DNA检测引物,用Oligo 6.71软件和DNAMAN 6.0.40软件对引物参数进行分析,将分析结果与通常使用的检测引物进行比较.用不同稀释度SV40核酸序列作模板,比较4对引物检测的敏感性.分别用无菌水、Vero细胞DNA、SV40 DNA作模板检测4对引物的特异性.结果 对于21个SV40病毒株,优化引物对VP1和T的序列是保守的;对于接受号为J02400、NC_001669、AF316139和AF316141的4个病毒株,通常使用的引物对GCVP1和GCT的序列是保守的;用同一稀释度的SV40 DNA作模板,引物对VP1和T的扩增效率明显高于引物对GCVP1和GCT;在特异性检测比较中,引物对VP1和T没有出现非特异性扩增条带,引物对GCVP1和GCT在100 bp处出现非特异性扩增条带.结论 优化的SV40核酸序列检测法具有敏感性高、特异性强、检测面广、引物及其PCR产物序列保守等特点.     

Antigen and checkpoint receptor engagement recalibrates T cell receptor signal strength

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淋巴细胞共刺激信号和凋亡信号异常与RA免疫效应亢进的研究

目的：探究T淋巴细胞表面多种细胞信号分子所介导的细胞活化或凋亡信号在RA患者免疫功能紊乱中的作用。方法：采用流式细胞术检测RA患者外周血T细胞亚群及其表面共刺激分子cD154（cD40L）、CD30和凋亡受体CD95（Fas）的表达。结果：RA患者外周血T细胞亚群偏移，CD4^＋T细胞增加，CD8^＋T细胞减少；共刺激分子CD154在CD4^＋和CD8^＋T细胞上的表达均上调，但CD30分子的表达均降低，并以CD4^＋T细胞降低更为明显。同时，凋亡受体CD95分子在T细胞亚群上的表达均明显增加。结论：RA患者T淋巴细胞表面多种信号分子表达异常，共同导致了RA患者免疫功能紊乱。