A new genetic polymorphism in human platelet polypeptides detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis

We describe a new genetic polymorphism of human platelet polypeptide, detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver-staining. The polymorphism was tentatively designated thrombocyte B (ThB) with a molecular weight of 34 k Da and isoelectric point of 4-7-4-8. In this polypeptide, three different electrophoretic types (1-1, 1-2, 2-2) were identified. Family and population studies indicate that the three phenotypes of the polypeptide are determined by two common alleles at a single autosomal locus. In a Japanese population, the gene frequency of ThB 1/ThB 2 was 0.74/0.26. The ThB polypeptide was not found in other blood cells and decreased or disappeared during the preparation or storage of platelets.     

Increased release of tissue plasminogen activator and its inhibitor in human parotid saliva upon stimulation

Parotid saliva from 12 healthy volunteers was collected prior to and after 5 and 25 min of stimulation at a constant flow rate of 0.25 or 1.0 ml min^-1. In the salivary samples the concentrations of tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator), PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1), albumin and total protein were determined and the activity of amylase, tPA and PAI assessed. Presence of both tPA and PAI-1 antigen was demonstrated in all samples, and in unstimulated saliva the ratio between the activator and its inhibitor was 1:7. Upon stimulation we found a significantly increased concentration of PAI-1, a less pronounced increase in tPA concentration, unchanged amylase and total protein levels and significantly decreased albumin concentration. tPA activity was significantly reduced after prolonged stimulation which had no effect on PAI activity. In stimulated saliva a significant positive correlation between concentration of tPA and PAI-1 was demonstrated. Stimulation with citric acid had no effect on output of albumin which is passively filtered from blood, whereas the increase in flow rate corresponded to the significantly increased secretion rate of total protein and amylase which is secreted by gland cells. The secretion pattern of tPA and PAI-1 differed significantly from that of albumin in showing markedly increased output rate during the stimulation period, and the relative increase in output of PAI-1 was significantly higher than that of amylase and total protein. Thus, the results from this study suggest an active release of both tPA and its main inhibitor PAI-1 into saliva.     

Extension of human acid α-glucosidase polymorphism by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel

1. A method to analyse acid α-glucosidase (GAA) activity in human tissues by flatbed polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing has been devised.
2. With this method the GAA polymorphism has been extended from three to six commonly occurring phenotypes.
3. After isoelectric focusing the GAA2 isozyme migrated cathodally with respect to the GAA1 isozyme, whereas with the previous starch-gel electrophoresis method their relative positions were reversed.
4. The six common phenotypes are generated by three alleles, GAA*1, GAA*2 and GAA*4 with frequencies of 0.91, 0.03 and 0.06, respectively.     

Increased release of tissue plasminogen activator and its inhibitor in human parotid saliva upon stimulation.

Parotid saliva from 12 healthy volunteers was collected prior to and after 5 and 25 min of stimulation at a constant flow rate of 0.25 or 1.0 ml min-1. In the salivary samples the concentrations of tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator), PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1), albumin and total protein were determined and the activity of amylase, tPA and PAI assessed. Presence of both tPA and PAI-1 antigen was demonstrated in all samples, and in unstimulated saliva the ratio between the activator and its inhibitor was 1:7. Upon stimulation we found a significantly increased concentration of PAI-1, a less pronounced increase in tPA concentration, unchanged amylase and total protein levels and significantly decreased albumin concentration. tPA activity was significantly reduced after prolonged stimulation which had no effect on PAI activity. In stimulated saliva a significant positive correlation between concentration of tPA and PAI-1 was demonstrated. Stimulation with citric acid had no effect on output of albumin which is passively filtered from blood, whereas the increase in flow rate corresponded to the significantly increased secretion rate of total protein and amylase which is secreted by gland cells. The secretion pattern of tPA and PAI-1 differed significantly from that of albumin in showing markedly increased output rate during the stimulation period, and the relative increase in output of PAI-1 was significantly higher than that of amylase and total protein. Thus, the results from this study suggest an active release of both tPA and its main inhibitor PAI-1 into saliva.     

Analysis of human lymphocyte protein expression. I. Identification of subpopulation markers by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

This study provides new knowledge on the changes in protein expression that differentiate the functionally and phenotypically different cells of the human immune system. Purification by flow cytometry of normal lymphocytes (both T and B cells), monocytes and granulocytes, combined with high-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, revealed reproducible qualitative and quantitative changes between these cell populations. Characteristic profiles of marker proteins for each cell type were identified. Determination of markers for T lymphocyte subpopulations was achieved by the comparative analysis of normal T cells separated on the basis of CD4 and CD8 expression in combination with the analysis of cells from patients with T cell chronic lymphocyte leukemia. These results suggest that the modulation or regulation of proteins is very strictly controlled in lymphoid differentiation, and that several quantitative and a few qualitative differences can give rise to completely different phenotypes. Thus, instead of detecting numerous random differences among lymphocyte protein patterns, rather stringent regulation of protein expression in each subpopulation was found.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for minocycline in human plasma and parotid saliva

A sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with UV detection was developed for the determination of minocycline in human plasma and parotid saliva samples. Samples were extracted using an Oasis HLB cartridge and were injected into a C8 Nucleosil column. The HPLC eluent contained acetonitrile-methanol-distilled water-0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (25:2:72.9:0.1, v/v). Demeclocycline was used as internal standard. The assay showed linearity in the tested range of 0.1-25 microg/ml. The limit of quantitation was 100 ng/ml. Recovery from plasma or parotid saliva averaged 95%. Precision expressed as %CV was in the range 0.2-17% (limit of quantitation). Accuracy ranged from 93 to 111%. In the two matrices studied at 20 and 4 degrees C, rapid degradation of the drug occurred. Frozen at -30 degrees C, this drug was stable for at least 2 months, the percent recovery averaged 90%. The method's ability to quantify minocycline with precision, accuracy and sensitivity makes it useful in pharmacokinetic studies.     

Assignment of the ǵene for F-type phosphofructokinase to human chromosome 10 by somatic cell hybridization and specific immunoprecipitation

A method of specific immunoprecipitation of minor isozymes was developed and applied to the detection of human F-type phosphofructokinase in man-rodent somatic cell hybrids.
This method allowed us to assign the gene for this newly discovered isozyme of phosphofructokinase to chromosome 10.     

A simple method of electroelution of individual protein bands from SDS polyacrylamide gels for direct study in cellular assays

A very simple and effective procedure which allows simultaneous electroelution of separated proteins from SDS polyacrylamide gel into small quantity of elution buffer is described. Elution parameters have been optimized for maximum possible recovery (50-60%). Protein fractions were collected in physiological buffer and an efficient removal of SDS have been obtained, thus fractions collected were suited for direct testing in cell cultures. Method was used to investigate human T-cell responses to purified secreted M tuberculosis H37Rv proteins. Eight low molecular weight (M.w. range 10 kD to 25 kD) culture filtrate proteins were purified in quantities, sufficient for immunological characterization. Lymphocyte proliferative responses and cytokine release pattern from tuberculosis patients, healthy contacts and healthy controls were studied on stimulation with purified culture filtrate proteins. Immunologically important M.tuberculosis proteins were identified by using this method. This approach should be applicable to the rapid identification and characterization of any interesting T cell antigen.     

Acid α-glucosidase: A new polymorphism in man demonstrable by ''affinity'' electrophoresis

1. A new polymorphism of the enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase is described. The three phenotypes, 1, 2-1 and 2, appear to be determined by two alleles alpha-GLU1 and alpha-GLU2 at an autosomal locus. The allele frequencies in Europeans are approximately alpha-GLU1 = 0-97 and alpha-GLU2 = 0-03. 2. The polymorphism is not detectable after electrophoresis on other support media (cellogel and agarose) and evidence is presented that the separation is effected by a difference in binding of the isozyme products of the two alleles to the support medium starch, which contains alpha-1-4 and alpha-1-6 linked glucose units. We have called this type of separation affinity electrophoresis. 3. No difference in the kinetic properties of the two enzymes could be demonstrated using 4-methyl umbelliferyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside and maltose as substrates or maltose and turanose as inhibitors, but it is possible that differences might exist when macromolecular substrates are used. 4. One individual with the rare homozygous genotype has been found. There is at present no indication that this genotype is associated with a pathological condition.     

Contaminant bands on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis are recognised by antibodies in normal human serum and saliva

Contamination of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis samples has commonly produced artefactual bands when sensitive detection systems, such as silver staining or immunoblotting procedures, have been used. Evidence suggests that these bands originate from human skin contamination of reagents and equipment. The presence of antibodies to contaminating bands, in serum and saliva samples from normal donors, detected in immunoblotting experiments, is described; the isotype distribution of these naturally occurring antibodies has also been investigated.     

Difference in the homology of two nuclear nonhistone protein fractions as compared by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

The extent of homology between two protein fractions was compared by simple electrophoretic analysis. Nuclear proteins of several rodent cells of different origins were fractionated into acid-soluble and acid-insoluble fractions. The two protein fractions were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in separate gel systems, and protein bands with identical mobilities were sought either in all possible combinational pairs of cell types or in all cell types. The paired and overall homology indices calculated from these data and chi-square testing of the results indicated that acid-soluble nuclear nonhistone proteins are more homologous than acid-insoluble nuclear proteins. Several factors which might have affected the results were discussed.     

Antigenic components of Gnathostoma spinigerum recognized by infected human sera by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting

Antigenic components of Gnathostoma spinigerum larval extract were revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and immunoblot analysis using sera from patients with 6 proven cases of gnathostomiasis, 5 presumptive cases of gnathostomiasis, 3 proven cases of angiostrongyliasis, 3 proven cases of cysticercosis, and pooled sera from healthy adults. By the 2-DE, the larval extract was highly complex and consisted of more than 75 polypeptides. Immunoblotting analysis of this larval extract after reaction with each of 6 proven gnathostomiasis sera revealed various numbers of antigenic spots ranging from 30 to 70 spots at the approximate molecular masses of less than 14.4 to more than 94 kDa with isoelectric points (pI) of less than 4.65 to 9.6. Antigenic spots at the approximate molecular mass of more than 30 kDa were recognized with the proven angiostrongyliasis, proven cysticercosis and healthy control sera but these sera did not react with the spots at approximate molecular masses of 23-25 kDa with pI of 8.3-8.5. The reacted spots, which consisted of at least 1 to 2 spots, were unique for the recognition of gnathostomiasis sera. Five out of 6 (83.3%) proven and 4 out of 5 (80%) presumptive gnathostomiasis sera reacted with these specific spots.     

Characterization of a folate receptor in parotid gland and a folate binding protein in saliva from humans. Epitope relatedness to human milk folate binding protein

The present study was performed to establish the antigenic identity and origin of the folate binding protein in human saliva. We identified a folate receptor in human parotid and submandibular gland which immunoreacted with antibodies against human milk folate binding protein, as evidenced by ELISA and immunostaining of ductal epithelium and secretory glandular material. The receptor concentration was 0.4-1.4 nmol 3H-folate bound/g protein. Ligand binding was of a high-affinity (K=10(10) M(-1)) type, exhibited positive cooperativity, a slow radioligand dissociation at pH 7.4, and inhibition by folate analogues. The concentration of immunoreactive folate binding protein in saliva as determined by ELISA with antibodies against human milk folate binding protein was several fold higher than that determined by radioligand binding (nil - 1 nM). This indicates that a major fraction of the immunoreactive material does not bind 3H-folate, and could represent a precursor form of the protein. In conclusion, the folate binding protein in human saliva seems to be a secretory product of the salivary glands. The protein is also epitope-related to folate binding proteins in other human mucosal secretions.     

HIV antibodies in whole saliva detected by ELISA and western blot assays

Paired serum and saliva samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB) for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies. The study group included 36 individuals known to be HIV seropositive and 14 healthy, seronegative controls. HIV antibodies were detected in all but one of the saliva samples of the seropositive subjects. In this particular patient, seroconversion was documented 1 week earlier by sequential testings. A further saliva sample obtained 2 months later was ELISA positive for salivary HIV antibodies. Antibodies against HIV proteins gp120 and gp160 were detected by Western blot assay in all saliva specimens taken from HIV seropositive subjects (including the ELISA-negative patient who seroconverted. Antibodies against other viral proteins (p65, p55, p51, gp41, p35, p24 p18) were found in saliva haphazardly without any clear-cut correlation with the clinical stage of the disease. Pretreatment of the saliva with protease inhibitor was essential for the diagnostic use of saliva for the detection of HIV antibodies by Western blot assay. Calculation of the ratio of titres in serum to those in saliva showed the highest ratios in symptomless subjects (mean +/- SD; 1844 +/- 1412) and the lowest in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (mean +/- SD; 811 +/- 445). The ratio of serum to saliva by ELISA showed a positive correlation with salivary flow rate, indicating a dilution of salivary HIV antibodies with increasing salivary flow rate. The gingival bleeding index was negatively correlated with the ratio, supporting the concept that salivary HIV antibodies transudate from blood to saliva via gingival fluid.     

Comparative polypeptide analysis of human, murine and strigis herpesviruses with murine cytomegalovirus by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

The polypeptide composition of five purified murine herpesvirus (MHV) strains grown in a stable line of rabbit embryo fibroblasts (REF) was analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and compared with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). About 24 structural polypeptides of molecular mass ranging from 275,000 to 25,000 were identified in MHV and HSV-1. The polypeptide profiles of MHV and HSV-1, showed a close similarity. The polypeptides of MHV were further compared with those of HSV-1, HSV-2, herpes virus strigis (HVS) and murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Differences were found between herpesviruses of different origin and MCMV. SDS-PAGE analysis of the six strains of MCMV labelled with 14C-amino acid hydrolysate also revealed differences in electrophor eticprofiles of MHV and MCMV proteins, what was confirmed by densitometric scanning of HSV-1, MHV and MCMV.     

Heterogeneous distribution of influenza A matrix protein in polyacrylamide gel, detected using an immunoblotting method with monoclonal antibodies

The immune blotting method using monoclonal antibodies to Ml protein showed protein Ml to migrate in several bands in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PGE) of influenza A virus polypeptides. The heterogeneous distribution of Ml protein in PGE is due to the formation of aggregates: dimers, trimers, and polymers of a higher order. The capacity of Ml protein for aggregation is typical not of all influenza virus strains and most likely is not associated with gel overloading. Since dimers and trimers of Ml protein comigrate in the gel with virus-specific proteins such as NP and proteins of a polymerase complex, this circumstance should be take into consideration in using PGE for isolation of pure influenza virus proteins.     

Purification of human C-reactive protein by barium sulfate and preparative agarose electrophoresis

A procedure is described for the purification of C-reactive protein (CRP) from human serum. The methods described take advantage of the barium sulfate adsorption property of CRP and the unique biophysical property of CRP migration during electrophoresis in agarose gels containing Ca2+. The purified CRP had an apparant molecular weight of 28,000 as determined by migration of the reduced protein during SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The described procedure has the advantage of not requiring either molecular sieve or affinity chromatography for purification of homogenous CRP from human sera.