CXCL1/CXCR2在羊瘙痒因子感染小鼠脑组织中的分布特征研究

目的 探究朊病毒感染小鼠脑组织CXC趋化因子配体1 (CXCL1)与CXC趋化因子受体2 (CXCR2)的分布特征。方法 通过免疫组织化学、免疫组织荧光双染实验明确羊瘙痒因子139A及ME7感染终末期小鼠脑组织中CXCL1/CXCR2的分布特征,确定CXCL1/CXCR2的靶细胞及与羊瘙痒因子样朊蛋白(PrPSc)沉积的关系。结果 通过全脑区免疫组化染色发现,CXCL1/CXCR2在羊瘙痒因子139A及ME7感染终末期小鼠脑组织中的含量明显升高,主要分布在海马、皮层、丘脑、小脑及延髓5个脑区。CXCL1与小胶质细胞和神经元细胞存在共定位,而CXCR2与神经元细胞存在共定位。在羊瘙痒因子139A及ME7感染终末期小鼠脑组织中CXCL1、CXCR2和PrP^Sc三者存在明显共定位。结论 CXCL1/CXCR2分布于朊病毒感染小鼠脑组织中朊病毒病理特征集中的脑区。     

Detection of autoantibodies against Rabphilin-3A-like protein as a potential biomarker in patient's sera of colorectal cancer

BackgroundRabphilin-3A-like (RPH3AL) protein functions in the regulation of hormone exocytosis, and mutations in the RPHA3L gene have been associated with tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC). We evaluated the potential use of anti-RPH3AL autoantibodies as a marker for CRC detection.MethodsSera from 84 patients with CRC and 63 healthy controls were analysed for the presence of RPH3AL autoantibodies with a Western blotting assay.ResultsThe frequencies of RPH3AL autoantibodies in the early stage, advanced stage and all CRC patients were 64.7%, 78.0% and 72.6%, respectively. These values are significantly higher than the frequency of RPH3AL autoantibodies in healthy controls (15.9%, P < 0.001). Although the presence of RPH3AL autoantibodies did not correlate with clinical parameters, RPH3AL autoantibodies were found in 69.4% (34/49) of CRC patients who were negative for carcinoembryonic antigen. The value of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of RPH3AL autoantibody was 0.84, which suggests that screening for these autoantibodies could potentially be used for CRC diagnosis.ConclusionCirculating RPH3AL autoantibodies are prevalent in patients with CRC, and detection of these autoantibodies might provide a novel non-invasive approach for CRC diagnosis.     

Pathogenic implications for autoantibodies against C-reactive protein and other acute phase proteins

This review describes pathophysiology of post-surgical hypophosphatemia (HP), which has particularly high incidence following liver transplantation. HP remains poorly understood; and there is a lack of universally accepted guidelines for its investigation and management. The pathogenesis of HP following major liver surgery has been hypothesized as being due either to excessive utilization by regenerating liver or increased urinary losses of phosphate. This review provides evidence that excessive urinary loss rather than increased Pi uptake by the liver is the most likely mechanism, and this may be mediated by recently described phosphaturic factors, known as phosphatonins. Until recently blood Pi homeostasis had been explained solely in terms of classical hormones, i.e., vitamin D and PTH. It is however increasingly recognized that phosphatonins may play a critical role in the post-operative HP, but the exact mechanism and candidate phosphaturic factor has not yet been identified. In this review, we have described likely mechanisms and suggest candidate phosphatonins that may mediate urinary Pi loss following liver transplantation. We also discuss the biochemical consequences of cellular Pi depletion, which exposes some gaps in the utilization of established knowledge and therefore in the management of HP. The main aspects of pathophysiology of HP and cellular Pi depletion are presented to provide rational for novel biochemical investigations, which are likely to improve monitoring of HP associated metabolic stress as well as extent of severity of HP, and thereby enhance management of these patients.     

Activities of various quinolone antibiotics against Mycobacterium leprae in infected mice.

Previously, pefloxacin and ofloxacin were found to be active against Mycobacterium leprae in vitro, in experimental animals, and in clinical trials of lepromatous leprosy patients. In this study, we compared certain more recently developed fluoroquinolones (lomefloxacin, PD 124816, WIN 57273, temafloxacin, and sparfloxacin) with pefloxacin and ofloxacin in M. leprae-infected mice at doses of 50, 150, and 300 mg/kg given five times weekly. All seven of the fluoroquinolones studies were active against M. leprae; temafloxacin and sparfloxacin were the most active, being fully bactericidal at all three dosage schedules. Additionally, sparfloxacin was found to be fully bactericidal at 15 and 30 mg/kg given five times weekly.     

散发性特发甲状旁腺机能减退患者体内存在自身抗体

目的 探讨散发性特发甲状旁腺机能减退症患者体内是否存在自身免疫性抗体.方法 对散发性特发甲状旁腺机能减退症患者26例、其直系亲属112例以及健康对照者60例,采用间接免疫荧光技术检测抗甲状旁腺自身免疫性抗体,同时检测血清钙、磷、镁、甲状旁腺激素含量.结果 散发性特发甲状旁腺机能减退症患者血清中抗甲状旁腺自身抗体阳性10例,阳性率为38%,明显高于直系亲属的10%(χ2=13.42,P＜0.01)和健康对照者的7%(χ2=13.46,P＜0.01).患者以女性为主(19/26),抗体阴性患者平均病程0.5～7年(中位数为2.2年),较抗体阳性患者平均病程0.5～4.5年(中位数为1.75)有延长的趋势;血清甲状旁腺激素水平在抗体阴性患者中为(7.06±2.06)ng/L,较抗体阳性患者的(8.86±2.86)ng/L有降低的趋势,差异无统计学意义(P=0.74).结论 散发性特发甲状旁腺机能减退症患者体内有抗甲状旁腺的自身免疫性血清学证据,抗甲状旁腺抗体的出现提示该病与自身免疫有关.     

血清中心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ自身抗体的检测及临床意义

[目的]建立血清中心肌肌钙蛋白I（cTnI）自身抗体的ELISA检测方法,探讨其在冠心病诊断中的临床意义。[方法]采用间接ELISA方法,检测90例冠心病患者血清,其中急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者30例,不稳定性心绞痛（UA）患者30例,稳定性心绞痛（SA）患者30例,另健康对照者30例,进行比较和统计学分析。[结果]cTnI自身抗体阳性率在冠心病各组明显高于健康对照组,AMI组阳性率高于UA组,uA组高于SA组。[结论]cTnI自身抗体的出现与心肌损伤程度显示呈正相关,对病情严重程度的判定具有一定意义。     

Acceleration of scrapie disease in mice by an adenovirus

Coinfected mice were examined for a possible interaction between the scrapie agent and an adenovirus. A low titer (10(2) TCD50) of mouse adenovirus (MAdV) caused a significant acceleration of clinical signs of scrapie in mice infected 128 days previously with scrapie. In this experiment, the coinfected mice died 19 days earlier than mice infected with scrapie alone. When a higher titer of MAdV (10(4)-10(5) PFU) was used, a more drastic acceleration of scrapie disease was seen in mice infected 85 and 110 days previously with scrapie. At 85 days, coinfection caused mice to die 37 days earlier than mice infected with scrapie alone, whereas at 110 days, coinfection caused mice to die 52 days earlier than mice infected with scrapie alone. MAdV alone caused no clinical disease in normal mice. The brains of coinfected mice and mice that had been infected with scrapie alone showed a histopathology consistent with scrapie. A possible explanation for these findings is that the replication of the scrapie agent is accelerated by adenovirus. Defective parvoviruses are known to be helped by adenoviruses. Spleens from coinfected mice but not from mice infected with MAdV alone yielded, in cultures of BALB 3T3 cells, infectious MAdV and one or two smaller agents with the dimension and shape of a parvovirus.     

Studies of antibodies in the sera of patients who have made red cell autoantibodies

BACKGROUND: In patients in whom autoantibodies of broad specificity (panagglutinins) are present in the serum, adsorption studies are often necessary to identify alloantibodies that are simultaneously present. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Samples from 138 patients in whom the direct antiglobulin test was positive and antibody was present in the serum were studied. When antibody identification studies before or after initial adsorption suggested the presence of an alloantibody, additional alloadsorptions were performed. RESULTS: Among the samples from 138 patients, 71 contained only panagglutinating autoantibody, and another 19 contained either autoantibodies or alloantibodies that were not accompanied by panagglutinins. The remaining 48 samples contained both panagglutinins and a total of 62 antibodies that appeared to be alloimmune in nature. Alloadsorption with antigen-negative red cells showed that 29 (47%) of the apparent alloantibodies were in fact partially adsorbed autoantibodies that mimicked alloantibodies by their reactions. CONCLUSION: Initial autoadsorption often left unadsorbed alloantibodies and autoantibodies with mimicking specificities. Initial alloadsorption more often left only true alloantibodies unadsorbed. From the screening tests, it appeared that 43 percent of the 138 patients were alloimmunized. Recognition of the mimicking nature of the partially adsorbed autoantibodies found that the real incidence of alloimmunization in the patients was 23 percent. Recognition of this phenomenon considerably simplifies the selection of blood for transfusion to these patients.     

Characterization of proliferating cell nuclear antigen recognized by autoantibodies in lupus sera

A nuclear antigen associated with cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA]) and blast transformation is recognized by autoantibodies in the sera of some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Using this autoantibody as a reagent, PCNA was purified 120-fold by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE chromatography, and Sephadex G200 gel filtration. The antigenicity of PCNA was sensitive to trypsin but resistant to ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease, suggesting that the antigenic determinant resided in protein and not nucleic acids. PCNA was inactivated at 56 degrees C for 30 min. Isoelectrophoretic focusing showed that the pI was 4.8. Analysis of immunoprecipitates on polyacrylamide gels showed the presence of IgG heavy and light chains and a single polypeptide band of 33,000 mol wt. This polypeptide band was the reactive antigen in immunoblotting (Western transfer) assays.     

Lamin B autoantibodies in sera of certain patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Sera from four patients with systemic lupus erythematosus containing antibodies that yield nuclear rim staining of HEp-2 cells by indirect immunofluorescence were identified and characterized. Each serum contained autoantibodies reacting strongly with lamin B on western blots. One of the four sera displayed weaker reactivity with lamins A and C, while the other three displayed only minimal reactivity with lamins A and C. Titers of antilamin antibodies ranged from 1:1,250 to 1:36,250. Two of the sera also reacted at a dilution of 1:20 with cytoplasmic filaments of PTK-2 cells, suggesting that a small fraction of the autoantibodies in these sera may bind to alpha-helical domains of the lamins that are homologous to those of intermediate filaments. The majority of the antilamin antibodies in these patients' sera are specific for portions of the lamin B molecule that are not homologous to lamins A and C, however. The findings suggest that autoantibodies to the nuclear lamina may, in some instances, be responsible for a rim pattern in the fluorescent antinuclear antibody assay. In addition, autoantibodies to the nuclear lamina in sera of certain patients with systemic lupus erythematosus may be useful for defining the molecular structure and biological functions of lamin B, as well as for studying mechanisms of autoimmunity.     

Synthesis of proteins in Escherichia coli immunoreactive with sera from individuals infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type I

The env-pX IV fused gene of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) was inserted into lac promoter-directed expression vectors for production of viral proteins in bacteria. Resulting recombinant plasmids, pK13 and pK15, directed synthesis of fused proteins of 59 kDa (Env-p40x) and 100 kDa (Gag-Env-p40x), respectively. Western blot analysis showed that these proteins were reactive with sera of patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and retained multiple antigenic determinants of viral proteins. In combination with recombinant Gag protein [S. Itamura, K. Shigesada, M. Imai, N. Kobayashi, T. Hamakado, T. Harada and M. Hatanaka, Gene 38, 57-64 (1985)], these bacterially synthesized proteins may provide a useful tool for differential diagnosis of ATL by detecting serum antibodies against individual viral proteins and for analysis of viral gene functions.     

Measurement of gp210 autoantibodies in sera of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease with unknown etiology. Patients with PBC have antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) and additionally 50% of them have antinuclear antibodies (ANA). A 15-amino acid fragment (DRKASPPSGLWSPAY) from the C-terminal part of the nuclear envelope glycoprotein gp210 has been proposed as one of the antigenic targets for ANA. The aim of this work was to develop an immunoenzymatic assay for determination of gp210 autoantibodies using for its binding a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from the gp210 amino acid sequence and to determine level of these autoantibodies in sera of patients with PBC and other autoimmune liver diseases from Poland. Polystyrene microtitration plates coated with the synthetic peptide were consecutively incubated with diluted sera, anti-human immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies conjugated with horseradish peroxidase, and with tetramethylobenzidine. Optical density (OD) was read at 450 nm. The mean values of the intra- and interassay of variation coefficients of the test were 4.1 and 10.2%, respectively. Anti-gp210 was detected in 44% of PBC patients and in 6% of patients with PSC. The results were negative for healthy blood donors and other controls. The specificity of the test was 99%, so the anti-gp-210 autoantibodies estimated on DRKASPPSGLWSPAY can be a reliable marker of PBC.     

Experimental Pseudomonas infection in mice: acquired resistance against Pseudomonas septicemia and altered susceptibility in BCG infected mice.

Pseudomonas septicemia in mice caused the early death in the first three days of infection without any localized lesions. Localized lesions such as abscess are observed in the kidney and liver after the third day of infection. The early death increased in the BCG infected mice showing an increased level of macrophage activation. It seemed that such early death is due to endotoxin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the BCG infected mice showing an enhanced antibody formation were more resistant to pseudomonas septicemia. Immune serum protected such death, but immune spleen cells did not. Furthermore immune serum also protected the increased death in BCG infected mice.     

Human autoantibodies against desmoplakins in paraneoplastic pemphigus.

Recently, a previously unrecognized autoantibody mediated blistering disease, paraneoplastic pemphigus has been described. Paraneoplastic pemphigus is associated with lymphoid malignancies, thymomas, and poorly differentiated sarcomas. Serum of affected patients contain pathogenic autoantibodies that immunoprecipitate from normal keratinocytes a characteristic complex of four polypeptides with M(r) of 250, 230, 210, and 190 kD. As our preliminary studies indicated that the 250-kD and the 210-kD antigens comigrated with desmoplakins I and II, we investigated the possibility that autoantibodies against the desmoplakins were a component of this autoimmune syndrome. 11 sera from affected patients were tested by indirect immunofluorescence against desmosome containing tissues, immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled keratinocytes, and Western immunoblotting of desmoplakins I and II that had been purified to homogeneity from pig tongue epithelium. By indirect immunofluorescence, 9 of 11 sera showed strong binding to epithelial and nonepithelial desmosomes, and 2 were weakly reactive. All 11 immunoprecipitated 250- and 210-kD bands of variable intensity that comigrated with bands identified by a murine monoclonal antidesmoplakin antibody, and immunoblotting confirmed binding of the serum autoantibodies to purified desmoplakins. This demonstrates that paraneoplastic pemphigus is the first human autoimmune syndrome in which autoantibodies against the desmoplakins are a prominent component of the humoral autoimmune response.     

Hidden autoantibodies against common serum proteins in murine systemic lupus erythematosus. Detection by in vitro plaque-forming cell assay

The autoantibodies found in human and murine systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are generally directed against cells or components of cells such as nuclear antigens. This predilection may be due to the unusual immunogenicity of certain autoantigens, or to unusual patterns of antibody crossreactivity. Alternatively, the observed spectrum of reactivities may reflect the in vivo absorption of those autoantibodies directed against soluble antigens. To test whether hitherto undetected autoantibodies against serum proteins might exist in murine SLE, we developed assays that were independent of the possibility of absorption of autoantibodies by serum autoantigens; large numbers of plaque- forming cells (PFC) directed against mouse albumin and mouse transferrin were easily detected in the spleens of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr, BXSB, and NZB mice. The secreted antibodies were relatively specific for the mouse proteins, since only limited cross-reactivity was seen with albumin and transferrins of other species in inhibition experiments. The production of these hidden antibodies could not be the result of diffuse polyclonal B cell activation, since the PFC to mouse transferrins and albumin were not always accompanied by comparable numbers of PFC against related albumins and transferrins. The results indicate that autoantibody production in murine lupus is a generalized phenomenon, not limited to the production of autoantibodies to nuclear or other cell-bound antibodies. However, the relative specificity of the autoantibodies for self-antigens indicates that diffuse polyclonal B cell activation cannot be the mechanism responsible, and argues that a selective mechanism, probably driven by antigen, accounts for production of autoantibodies in SLE.     

Detection of autoantibodies to survivin and livin in sera from patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Survivin and livin are highly expressed in cancer cells and transformed cells, but show little or no expression in normal differentiated tissues. Human antibody responses to tumor-associated antigens have been detected, but little is known about the response to survivin and livin in breast cancer patients. METHODS: We examined the prevalence of anti-survivin and livin antibodies in breast cancer patients with a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using recombinant protein. RESULTS: Using a cutoff value for positivity determined as the mean absorbance +2SD for healthy control samples, sera from 11 of 46 breast cancer patients (23.9%) were positive by the ELISA using recombinant survivin protein. Of 46 samples from the same breast cancer patients, 15 (32.6%) were positive for anti-livin antibodies. In addition, 24 (52.2%) were positive for 1 or both ELISAs using the respective proteins. Intensity of anti-livin antibody responses did not correlate with intensity of anti-survivin responses. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-livin antibodies were detected in sera from breast cancer patients by an anti-livin ELISA using full-length recombinant livin protein. Like survivin, livin may act as a major cancer antigen in breast cancer patients.     

Age-dependent production of IgA and IgM autoantibodies against IgG2a in a colony of 129/Sv mice

Although much of the basic immunological work has been done with mice, little is known about anti-IgG autoantibodies in this species. Dresser (1, 2) has reported the occurrence, in CBA mice, of anti-IgG antibody (Ab)(1) detected by a hemolytic-plaque assay after stimulation with endotoxin or immunization against sheep erythrocytes. IgM rheumatoid factor has also been described in various strains of mice with a systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease (3). Recently, we have tried to induce anti-IgG in mice of the 129/Sv strain by inoculating autologous IgG. To our surprise, we found that the sera of all the animals had, before any inoculation, anti-IgG detectable by agglutination of particles coated with autologous IgG. The possibilities to investigate the mechanism of production and the biological role of this kind of Ab prompted us to undertake a study of the nature and specificity of the mouse anti-IgG.     

Absence of high-affinity calreticulin autoantibodies in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases and coeliac disease

Calreticulin has been reported to be an autoantigen in various autoimmune connective tissue diseases and in coeliac disease. Previous studies have used incubation buffers with low salt and low detergent concentrations (low stringency conditions) with serum albumin or other proteins as a blocking agent. Using these conditions we found a relatively high level of non-specific binding in many sera. Antibodies to proteins that are used as blocking reagents in ELISA (bovine serum albumin (BSA), ovalbumin, skimmed milk powder) are frequently present in sera, and these may cause false-positive results. Moreover, the low isoelectric point of calreticulin and its chaperone properties may give rise to false-positive results under low stringency conditions. We report that the use of a simple buffer without protein (50 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 1% Tween 20, 0.3 M NaCl) removes most of the problems with unwanted binding (high stringency conditions). Using the high stringency conditions, we screened sera from 107 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, sera from patients with other systemic autoimmune diseases and from children with coeliac disease for the presence of high-affinity calreticulin autoantibodies by immunoblotting and ELISA. None of the sera contained high-affinity calreticulin antibodies. It is concluded that calreticulin is not a common autoantigen in patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases or coeliac disease.