Differential detection of type II collagen N-terminal and C-terminal denaturation epitopes in degrading cartilage.

AIMS: To investigate the relative stability of collagen metabolites in degrading cartilage. METHODS: New antipeptide antibodies to denaturation epitopes located in the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the type II collagen helix have been made and characterized. Type II collagen fragments in the conditioned medium from cultures of degrading bovine nasal cartilage were detected by immunoblotting with the new antisera as well as by N-terminal sequencing. The antibodies were also used in immunohistochemical studies of normal and osteoarthritic human cartilage. RESULTS: Type II collagen fragments with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 30 kDa were detected in cartilage conditioned media using antibody AH12L3, which recognizes N-terminal epitope AH12. The N-terminal sequence of one of these fragments matched exactly a sequence in the N-terminal region of type II collagen. Antibody AH9L2, which recognizes C-terminal epitope AH9, did not bind to any protein bands in the immunoblotted culture medium. In immunohistochemical studies, antibody AH12L3 detected extensive regions of degraded collagen in osteoarthritic cartilage and a more restricted pattern of staining in nonarthritic cartilage. Far less immunostaining was apparent in all cartilage specimens with antibody AH9L2. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the N-terminal region of type II collagen is more resistant to proteolysis than the C-terminal region, an observation that has important implications for the choice of epitopes that are likely to be good markers of damage to cartilage collagen in patients with arthritis.     

Analysis of collagenase-cleavage of type II collagen using a neoepitope ELISA

We have developed monoclonal antibody 5109 against a unique highly acidic sequence in type II collagen. When paired with previously reported monoclonal antibody 9A4, 5109 can be used as the capture antibody in an ELISA assay for the neoepitope generated by collagenase-cleavage of type II collagen. The assay detects the sequence ZGlyGluX(759)GlyAspAspGlyProSerGlyAlaGluGlyProX(771)GlyProGlnGly(775) where Z is a variable length polypeptide, X is proline or hydroxyproline, and Gly(775) corresponds to C-terminal amino acid of the 3/4 piece after collagenase cleavage. Antibody 5109 detects the first and 9A4 the second underlined sequence. Antibody 5109 recognizes its epitope with a K=1.2x10(-8) M independently of hydroxylation of X(759). When X(771) is proline, the sequence is 90x more sensitively detected by this ELISA than when it is hydroxyproline. Type II collagen of human articular cartilage was fragmented by cyanogen bromide (CNBr) and trypsin. The immunoreactive fragment was captured with 5109 and sequenced. Proline(771) averaged 81% hydroxylated. Other 3rd position prolines were >97% hydroxylated. In urine of control individuals of 50-70 years of age, we failed to detect the presence of the collagen fragment in a majority (8/10) of specimens. The two controls with measurable levels averaged 123 pM. In a similar age cohort of osteoarthritic patients, the majority (9/10) showed measurable values of urinary collagen fragments averaging 312 pM. This assay can be used for monitoring type II collagen metabolism in patients with osteoarthritis.     

Cleavage of type II collagen by cathepsin K in human osteoarthritic cartilage

Cathepsin K is a cysteine protease of the papain family that cleaves triple-helical type II collagen, the major structural component of the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage. In osteoarthritis (OA), the anabolic/catabolic balance of articular cartilage is disrupted with the excessive cleavage of collagen II by collagenases or matrix metalloproteinases. A polyclonal antibody against a C-terminal neoepitope (C2K) generated in triple-helical type II collagen by the proteolytic action of cathepsin K was prepared and used to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to study the generation of this epitope and the effects of its presence in normal adult and osteoarthritic femoral condylar articular cartilage. The generation of the C2K epitope in explant culture and the effect of a specific cathepsin K inhibitor were studied. The neoepitope, which is not generated by the collagenase matrix metalloproteinase-13, increased with age in articular cartilage and was significantly elevated in osteoarthritic cartilage compared with adult nonarthritic cartilage. Moreover, in explants from three of eight OA patients, the generation of the neoepitope in culture was significantly reduced by a specific, nontoxic inhibitor of cathepsin K. These data suggest that cathepsin K is involved in the cleavage of type II collagen in human articular cartilage in certain OA patients and that it may play a role in both OA pathophysiology and the aging process.     

Unconventional T‐cell recognition of an arthritogenic epitope of proteoglycan aggrecan released from degrading cartilage

It has been proposed that peptide epitopes bind to MHC class II molecules to form distinct structural conformers of the same MHC II–peptide complex termed type A and type B, and that the two conformers of the same peptide–MHC II complex are recognized by distinct CD4 T cells, termed type A and type B T cells. Both types recognize short synthetic peptides but only type A recognize endosomally processed intact antigen. Type B T cells that recognize self peptides from exogenously degraded proteins have been shown to escape negative selection during thymic development and so have the potential to contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. We generated and characterized mouse CD4 T cells specific for an arthritogenic epitope of the candidate joint autoantigen proteoglycan aggrecan. Cloned T‐cell hybridomas specific for a synthetic peptide containing the aggrecan epitope showed two distinct response patterns based on whether they could recognize processed intact aggrecan. Fine mapping demonstrated that both types of T‐cell recognized the same core epitope. The results are consistent with the generation of aggrecan‐specific type A and type B T cells. Type B T cells were activated by supernatants released from degrading cartilage, indicating the presence of antigenic extracellular peptides or fragments of aggrecan. Type B T cells could play a role in the pathogenesis of proteoglycan‐induced arthritis in mice, a model for rheumatoid arthritis, by recognizing extracellular peptides or protein fragments of joint autoantigens released by inflamed cartilage.     

The Effects of Collagen Fragments on the Extracellular Matrix Metabolism of Bovine and Human Chondrocytes

Cartilage matrix degradation generates collagen type II fragments. The objective of this study is to explore the possibility that these collagen fragments may be part of an endogenous metabolic feedback. Initially, collagen fragments were extracted from normal or osteoarthritic cartilage, as part of a matrix fragment preparation. Later, collagen fragments were generated by digestion of bovine collagen type II with bacterial collagenase (col2f). These fragments were added to cultures of isolated chondrocytes (bovine and human) and cartilage explants (human). In a dose-dependent manner, col2f caused inhibition of cell attachment to collagen, inhibition of collagen synthesis, and induction of matrix degradation. In addition, when col2f were added to human cartilage explants, an induction of gelatinase activity was detected in the media. These data sets present first evidence that degradation products of collagen may be directly involved in the regulation of cartilage homeostasis.     

Conformational and linear B-cell epitopes of Asp f 2, a major allergen of Aspergillus fumigatus, bind differently to immunoglobulin E antibody in the sera of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis patients

Asp f 2 is a major Aspergillus fumigatus allergen involved in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Knowledge of the B-cell epitopes may contribute to the understanding of immunoregulation and immunodiagnosis. To elucidate the immunoglobulin E (IgE) binding epitopes in the linear sequence of Asp f 2, we synthesized decamer peptides spanning the whole molecule of Asp f 2 on derivatized cellulose membranes and evaluated IgE binding in ABPA patient and control sera. Peptides three to five amino acids long were synthesized based on amino acid sequences within the IgE binding regions and evaluated for the specificity of epitope antibody interactions. Nine IgE binding regions were recognized in this protein of 268 amino acid residues. Of the nine epitopes, seven (ATQRRQI, RKYFG, HWR, YTTRR, DHFAD, ALEAYA, and THEGGQ) are present in the hydrophilic regions of Asp f 2. Immunologic evaluation of the three recombinant fragments, Asp f 2A encompassing the N-terminal epitope region, Asp f 2B without N- and C-terminal regions of the protein, and Asp f 2C representing C-terminal epitopes, revealed that either the N- or C-terminal region of the protein is essential for the correct folding and conformation for IgE antibody binding.     

Identification of antibody epitopes in the CB-11 peptide of bovine type II collagen recognized by sera from arthritis-susceptible and -resistant rhesus monkeys.

Sera from eight rhesus monkeys that had been immunized with native bovine type II collagen were tested for antibodies to cyanogen bromide peptides (CB peptides) of type II collagen by Western blotting. The monkeys produced IgG antibodies to a number of different CB peptides, with five out of eight animals producing antibodies to the CB-11 peptide (four arthritic, one non-arthritic). Antibody epitopes on the CB-11 peptide of bovine type II collagen recognized by these sera were investigated by epitope mapping. Peptides (8-mers overlapping by seven amino acids) representing the CB-11 region were synthesised and the sera screened for binding to these peptides to determine areas of high IgG antibody binding to this region of type II collagen. The profiles obtained were not identical, though there were some epitopes that were commonly recognized. Antibodies to one epitope, also present in human type II collagen, were found only in the sera of two animals with the severest arthritis. The technique of epitope mapping has successfully identified a number of epitopes within the CB-11 peptide of type II collagen recognized by antibodies from bovine type II collagen-immunized monkeys. Studies on the relevance of responses to the identified epitopes can now be undertaken.     

Characterization of a cashew allergen, 11S globulin (Ana o 2), conformational epitope

Both linear and conformational epitopes likely contribute to the allergenicity of tree nut allergens, yet, due largely to technical issues, few conformational epitopes have been characterized. Using the well studied recombinant cashew allergen, Ana o 2, an 11S globulin or legumin, we identified a murine monoclonal antibody which recognizes a conformational epitope and competes with patient IgE Ana o 2-reactive antibodies. This epitope is expressed on the large subunit of Ana o 2, but only when associated with an 11S globulin small subunit. Both Ana o 2 and the homologous soybean Gly m 6 small subunits can foster epitope expression, even when the natural N-terminal to C-terminal subunit order is reversed in chimeric molecules. The epitope, which is also expressed on native Ana o 2, is readily susceptible to destruction by physical and chemical denaturants.     

Identification of antibody epitopes within the CB-11 peptide of type II collagen. I: Detection of antibody binding sites by epitope scanning.

Using epitope scanning, the precise location of antibody binding sites on the CB-11 peptide of bovine type II collagen have been identified for the first time. Two hundred and seventy two peptides (8 amino acids in length and overlapping by seven amino acids), representing the complete CB-11 sequence, were synthesised on solid phase supports, in duplicate, and were screened with sera from arthritic and non-arthritic, bovine type II collagen-immunised rats. A total of twenty one different antibody binding sites were identified with no epitope being uniquely recognised by sera from arthritic, as compared to non-arthritic, rats although differences in the relative amount of antibody binding were seen. Individual sera identified between two and thirteen epitopes with one epitope being recognised by all sera. Some of the amino acid sequences, of the CB-11 region of bovine type II collagen, recognised by the rat sera are identical to the sequences in human type II collagen and thus these epitopes may be relevant to autoimmunity to type II collagen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.     

Characterization of the conformational epitope of Guy's 13, a monoclonal antibody that prevents Streptococcus mutans colonization in humans

Guy's 13 is a mouse monoclonal antibody which recognizes streptococcal antigen I/II (SA I/II), a major cell surface glycoprotein of Streptococcus mutans. In a number of clinical trials, this antibody has been shown to prevent colonization in the human oral cavity. The aim of this study was to identify the SA I/II epitope recognized by Guy's 13. The data suggest that the epitope is conformational, delimited by two noncontiguous regions of the antigen: residues 45 to 457, within the N-terminal half of SA I/II, and residues 816 to 983, within the C-terminal half. In fluid-phase immunoassays a strict requirement for the simultaneous presence of both regions was demonstrated for antibody binding. Furthermore, these two regions of SA I/II were shown to have the ability to interact with each other in the absence of Guy's 13 antibody, suggesting that the normal conformation of SA I/II might be determined by the interaction of these two regions.     

Denaturation of type II collagen in articular cartilage in experimental murine arthritis. Evidence for collagen degradation in both reversible and irreversible cartilage damage

Degradation of type II collagen is thought to be a key step in the destruction of articular cartilage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether type II collagen degradation is associated with cartilage destruction. Type II collagen degradation was studied in two murine arthritis models, zymosan-induced arthritis (ZIA), which develops reversible articular cartilage damage based on proteoglycan analysis, and antigen-induced arthritis (AIA), in which there is irreversible damage to the cartilage. Type II collagen degradation was assayed immunohistochemically using the COL2-3/4m antibody which recognizes denatured type II collagen, such as is produced by collagenase cleavage. In both models, degradation of type II collagen was observed in the non-calcified articular cartilage of arthritic but not of control knees. In the patella-femoral compartment, collagen denaturation started to increase on day 3 (ZIA) and day 7 (AIA) and remained high on day 14. In contrast, in the tibia-femoral compartment, type II collagen breakdown was not increased before 14 days in either model. By 28 days, collagen denaturation was strongly reduced in the patella-femoral compartment in the ZIA model, but persisted in the tibia-femoral compartment in both models. In conclusion, increased type II collagen degradation was found in articular cartilage of both ZIA and AIA animals. Since ZIA does not develop irreversible cartilage destruction, this indicates that cartilage may have the ability to withstand a limited degree of type II collagen degradation without developing irreversible damage. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Allergenic and antigenic determinants of latex allergen Hev b 1: peptide mapping of epitopes recognized by human, murine and rabbit antibodies

Background The rubber elongation factor in Hevea rubber (Hev b 1) is one of the most important latex allergen and is leading cause oflatex type 1 hypersensitivity in children with spina bifida. Objective The aim of this study was to define the allergenic and antigenic epitopes of Hev b 1. Methods The immunoglobulin- (Ig)E and IgG antibody binding sites on Hev b 1 allergen were delineated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using synthetic overlapping peptides covering the whole Hev b 1 sequence. In order to improve the binding capacity and specificity all peptides were biotinylated at the N-terminal end via a 6-aminohexanoic acid as spacer and then adsorbed to streptavidin pre-coated microtitre plates. Fine mapping to define the essential amino acid residues for the antibody binding was achieved by using overlapping peptides with one amino acid offset. Results It was demonstrated that the IgE epitopes were located in different regions of Hev b 1 including the C-terminal segment (121–137) and the segments with amino acid residues of 30–49 and 46–64. Two monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) II2F3 and II4G9 raised against purified Hev b 1 recognized the C-terminal segment only. The results of epitope mapping with three rabbit antisera revealed that five positive peptides, including the epitope peptides 31–49, 46–64 and 121–137, were involved in the antibody-binding sites. Eine mapping on the segments 46–64 and 121–137 showed that the two MoAbs reacted with the peptide 125–134 in the C-terminal region, whereas the peptide with amino acids 124–134 was essential for recognition by human IgE antibodies. Epitopes to rabbit polyclonal IgG and human IgE were also found to be involved in the amino acid residues of 47–59. Conclusion Our results indicate that the most allergenic/antigenic portions of Hev b 1 allergen are the C-terminal region and the region with amino acid residues of 31–64. In both regions, the minimal IgE-binding epitope is almost identical with the IgG-binding epitope.     

Collagen fibril structure of normal, aging, and osteoarthritic cartilage.

The collagen architecture in normal, aging, and osteoarthritic articular cartilage was studied optically using a new silver staining technique based on specimens from 50 autopsy cases, four amputated limbs, and six osteoarthritic knees. In the normal articular cartilage, the collagen fibrils in the superficial zone were compactly arranged into layers of decussating flat ribbons mostly parallel to the artificial split lines. The fibrils showed a tendency to condense into vertical arcade columns undergirded by tangential bundles in the intermediate zone. In the deep zone, the fibrils formed a random meshwork with a slight preponderance of vertical fibrils in the perilacunar region. Three types of early degradative lesions involving the collagen network were identified. Type I lesions consisted of focal superficial disruptions related to age and friction. Type II lesions consisted of focal disruptions of tangential fibrils in the intermediate zone leading to cyst formation, probably representing a form of local stress failure. Type III lesions were found in the patella and consisted of marked swelling of the superficial zone, the cause of which was unknown. Lesions of varying severity were seen within each of the three types; the morphological changes of the more severe lesions overlapped with those of clinically overt osteoarthritis.     

The assessment of cartilage degradation in vivo: development of an immunoassay for the measurement in body fluids of type II collagen cleaved by collagenases

A monoclonal antibody has been developed which recognizes a neoepitope in type II collagen which is generated by the intrahelical cleavage of collagenases. Antibody reactivity is directed at the carboxyl-terminus of the TCA or 3/4 piece of the degraded alpha1(II) chain. Reactivity is dependent upon hydroxylation of proline. Evidence is provided suggesting that epitope binding involves the recognition of a conformational neoepitope. Using an ELISA, we show that this neoepitope can be detected in the urines and sera of nonarthritic persons and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An increased content is observed in the sera and urines of patients. The assay may be of value in studying cartilage type II degradation both in vitro and in vivo such as in those with arthritis.     

大骨节病关节软骨胶原表型表达和软骨细胞异常分化的研究

目的探讨大骨节病关节软骨胶原表型表达的变化特点和软骨细胞异常分化在发病中的意义。方法用单克隆免疫组化法测定５例大骨节病关节软骨Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅵ、Ⅹ型胶原表型的表达。结果（１）关节软骨表层的Ⅱ型胶原表型表达减少；（２）Ⅰ、Ⅲ和Ⅵ型胶原表型表达见于关节软骨全层，而Ⅹ型胶原仅限于关节软骨钙化层和深层软骨细胞团周围；（３）软骨细胞团有Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅵ型胶原表型表达，而软骨细胞坏死区内无任何胶原表型表达。结论大骨节病关节软骨胶原表型表达类似于原发性骨关节病的变化，但在关节软骨表层Ⅰ型胶原表型表达增强以及软骨坏死区内无任何胶原表型表达不同于原发性骨关节病。     

Monoclonal antibodies against the human interleukin-11 receptor alpha-chain (IL-11Ralpha) and their use in studies of human mononuclear cells

A panel of 14 hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against the human interleukin-11 receptor alpha chain (hIL-11Ralpha) was obtained using two different approaches. Two antibodies were raised against peptides of the N- and C-terminal sequences, respectively, of the extracellular part of the hIL-11Ralpha. Another group of 12 antibodies was generated against a hybrid protein consisting of the extracellular part of the hIL-11Ralpha fused to mature full-length human IL-2. All these antibodies recognized native hIL-11Ralpha and most also recognized the denatured receptor on immunoblots after SDS-PAGE. Four different epitopes were identified on the extracellular part of the hIL-11Ralpha. One epitope, defined by the E27 antibody, is located at the N-terminus and the other three epitopes are clustered in the membrane-proximal, C-terminal region. The antibodies defining epitopes I and II recognized membrane-bound hIL-11Ralpha expressed in gp130/hIL-11Ralpha-co-transfected Ba/F3 cells. The E27 antibody cross-reacted with murine IL-11Ralpha, in agreement with the fact that the N-terminal region is highly conserved between species. The other 13 antibodies all recognized a region between amino acids 319 and 363, which is the membrane-proximal part of the hIL-11Ralpha. This region, which is less conserved between mouse and human, is shown here to be an immunodominant region. Anti-IL-11Ralpha monoclonal antibodies, which have not been described previously enabled us to explore the expression and tissue distribution of IL-11Ralpha on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cell lines. The antibodies provide powerful tools for the study of the regulation and function of the receptor.     

Mapping of novel autoreactive epitopes of the diabetes-associated autoantigen IA-2

IA-2, a member of the tyrosine phosphatase family, has been identified as a dominant autoantigen in type 1 diabetes. To define humoral IA-2 epitopes, we generated a panel of IA-2 deletion mutants and chimeric proteins using the highly homologous tyrosine phosphatase-like protein IA-2beta. Analysis of autoantibody reactivity in 111 IA-2 antibody positive sera from patients with type 1 diabetes revealed that humoral epitopes cluster to several domains of the intracytoplasmic part of IA-2 [IA-2ic, amino acid (aa) 604-979]. Immunodominant epitopes were found in the first N-terminal 73 amino acids (56% positive), in the middle domain residing between residues 699-874 (45% positive) and the C-terminus depending on the presence of aa 931-979 (at least 37% positive). Competition experiments with overlapping peptides revealed that autoantibody binding towards the N-terminus was dependent on residues 621-628. In the C-terminal domain, two novel conformation-dependent epitopes were identified. The first epitope requires the presence of the C-terminal part of IA-2 (aa 933-979) and an IA-2-specific region between residues 771-932. Reactivity against the second epitope was dependent on intact C-terminal domains as well as residues in the middle (aa 887-932) and N-terminal regions (aa 604-771) which are conserved in IA-2 and IA-2beta. We here defined novel autoantigenic determinants in the N-terminus of IA-2 and characterized conformational epitopes residing in the C-terminal region or spanning from C-terminal residues to the N-terminal domain of IA-2ic. The identification of dominant target regions of diabetes-specific autoantibodies may help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the autoimmunity towards IA-2.     

Behavior of human articular chondrocytes derived from nonarthritic and osteoarthritic cartilage in a collagen matrix

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morphologic and biochemical behavior and activity of human chondrocytes taken from nonarthritic and osteoarthritic cartilage and seeded on a three-dimensional matrix consisting of collagen types I, II, and III. Human articular chondrocytes were isolated from either nonarthritic or osteoarthritic cartilage of elderly subjects, and from nonarthritic cartilage of an adolescent subject, seeded on collagen matrices, and cultured for 12 h, 7 days, and 14 days. Histological analysis, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical assays for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and DNA content were performed for cell-seeded and unseeded matrices. Chondrocytes of nonarthritic cartilage revealed a larger number of spherical cells, consistent with a chondrocytic phenotype. The biochemical assay showed a net increase in GAG content in nonarthritic chondrocytes, whereas almost no GAGs were seen in osteoarthritic cells. The DNA results suggest that more osteoarthritic cells than chondrocytes from nonarthritic cartilage attached to the matrix within the first week. Human articular chondrocytes isolated from osteoarthritic cartilage seem to have less bioactivity after expansion and culture in a sponge consisting of type I, II, and III collagen compared with chondrocytes from nonarthritic cartilage.