A protective lysosomal self-regulating mechanism and its disturbance by diphtheria toxin

Department of Pathological Physiology, Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR T. T. Berezov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 109, No. 5, pp. 434–436, May, 1990.     

Effect of monophosphoryl lipid A on antibody response to diphtheria toxin and its subunits

Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) was evaluated for its ability to enhance the antibody response to diphtheria toxin and its fragment A and fragment B subunits. BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with 1 Lf of diphtheria toxoid in the presence of 25 microg of MPL on days 0 and 14. Two weeks after the second immunization, sera were obtained from the mice and analysed for antibody response to diphtheria toxin and its subunits. A new ELISA method, developed in our laboratory, was used to measure antibody levels against the toxin, fragment A, and fragment B. It was observed that MPL significantly enhanced antibody responses to diphtheria toxin and its subunits. However, there was no statistical difference between anti-A and anti-B responses. The results indicated that MPL seems to be a potential candidate as an adjuvant for future diphtheria vaccine formulation.     

Pentapeptide sharing between Corynebacterium diphtheria toxin and the human neural protein network

We describe the pentapeptides shared between the Corynebacterium diphtheria toxin and the human proteins associated with fundamental neural functions. We report that diphtheria toxin pentapeptides are spread among human antigens such as tuberous sclerosis proteins 1 and 2, reelin, contactin-4, neuroligins, semaphorin-5A, sodium channel protein type 1 subunit α, Williams–Beuren syndrome chromosomal region 1 protein, Williams–Beuren syndrome chromosomal region 20A protein. Williams–Beuren syndrome chromosomal region 8 protein, Bardet–Biedl syndrome 9 protein, Bardet–Biedl syndrome 10 protein, oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein, neurofibromin-2, and periaxin. The data are discussed in relation to the bacterial immune escape phenomenon, and in the context of potential cross-reactions in diagnostic tests and immune therapies.     

Allergen-specific immunosuppression by ovalbumin fused with diphtheria toxin in mice sensitized with albumins of different origin

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that ovalbumin-diphtheria toxin (OVA-DT) fusion protein eliminates mast cells bearing OVA-specific IgE and protects OVA-sensitized mice from fatal anaphylaxis induced by OVA challenge. OBJECTIVE: To prove the specificity of therapeutic effect of OVA-DT to allergy induced by OVA only and not by other allergens such as human serum albumin (HSA), and to examine the cytotoxic effect of OVA-DT on B cells bearing OVA-specific IgE. METHODS: Mice were sensitized with two different antigens, OVA and HSA, and then treated with OVA-DT. The therapeutic effect of OVA-DT on the allergy response to each of allergen was evaluated by anaphylactic test. The effect of OVA-DT on the production of allergen-specific Ig isotypes of the sensitized mice and the cytotoxic effect of OVA-DT on B cells expressing OVA-specific IgE were examined. RESULTS: OVA-DT suppressed only OVA-induced allergy but not HSA-induced allergy in mice sensitized with a mixture of OVA and HSA. The suppression was prolonged even to the mice boosted with the same allergen 14 days after last treatment of OVA-DT. In addition, when the sensitized mice were boosted with the same allergens 14 days after last treatment of OVA-DT, the mice showed to increase the production of OVA-specific IgG2a/IgG3 and decreased that of OVA-specific IgE. OVA-DT targeted B cells bearing OVA-specific IgE, and killed them by DT-mediated cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of OVA-DT was specific to OVA-induced allergy and the suppression of OVA-induced allergy was continuously shown in the mice boosted with the same allergens. This is considered to be caused by the increase of OVA-specific IgG2a and IgG3, and because of the decrease of OVA-specific IgE by killing of B cells bearing OVA-specific IgE.     

Role of thyroid hormones in the mechanism of action of diphtheria toxin on oxidative phosphorylation in rabbit liver mitochondria

In rabbits with experimental hypothyroidism the ability of the liver mitochondria to carry out oxidative phosphorylation was undisturbed after intravenous injection of diphtheria toxin. In rabbits with experimental hyperthyroidism, the sensitivity of the liver mitochondria to the uncoupling action of diphtheria toxin was sharply increased. It is postulated that the endocrine function of the thyroid gland plays an essential role in the uncoupling action of diphtheria toxin on oxidative phosphorylation.DeceasedDepartment of General Pathology and Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR P. N. Veselkin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 4, pp. 420–423, April, 1976.     

Antibody response to DT-GM, a novel fusion toxin consisting of a truncated diphtheria toxin (DT) linked to human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM), during a phase I trial of patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia

We are conducting a Phase I trial of a fusion toxin (DT-GM) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The fusion toxin consists of a truncated diphtheria toxin (DT) linked to human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM). Prior to beginning the Phase I trial, our first goal was to determine whether healthy controls and adult AML patients had preexisting antibodies able to inhibit DT-GM. Sera from 5 of the 9 controls completely neutralized DT-GM by an in vitro bioassay to assess the inhibition of DT-GM. Sera from 43 patients with AML were tested by bioassay and a specific enzymoimmunoassay (EIA) for anti-DT-GM antibodies. Forty-two of 43 samples were positive by EIA, and 5 patients (11.6%) showed complete neutralization of DT-GM in the bioassay. Anti-DT-GM concentrations were significantly higher in samples demonstrating neutralization than in samples demonstrating no neutralization (P = 0.003). In the Phase I trial of DT-GM prior to therapy, none of 28 patients exhibited neutralization by bioassay, but 89% were positive by EIA. After the first course of DT-GM, 23% developed neutralizing antibodies by the bioassay, and 64% of patients exhibited an increase in their anti-DT-GM antibody concentrations by EIA. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical impact of the anti-DT-GM antibodies and whether the neutralization bioassay can be replaced by our EIA.     

Increased proteolysis of diphtheria toxin by human monocytes after heat shock: a subsidiary role for heat-shock protein 70 in antigen processing

The expression of heat-shock proteins (hsp) increases after exposure to various stresses including elevated temperatures, oxidative injury, infection and inflammation. As molecular chaperones, hsp have been shown to participate in antigen processing and presentation, in part through increasing the stability and expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules. Heat shock selectively increases human T-cell responses to processed antigen, but does not affect T-cell proliferation induced by non-processed antigens. Here, we have analysed the mechanisms by which stress such as heat shock, and the ensuing hsp over-expression affect the processing of diphtheria toxin (DT) in peripheral blood monocytes. We found that heat shock increased DT proteolysis in endosomes and lysosomes while the activities of the cathepsins B and D, classically involved in DT proteolysis, were decreased. These effects correlated with the heat-shock-mediated increase in hsp 70 expression observed in endosomes and lysosomes. Actinomycin D or blocking anti-hsp 70 antibodies abolished the heat-shock-mediated increase in DT proteolysis. These data indicate that the increased expression of hsp 70 constitutes a subsidiary mechanism that facilitates antigen proteolysis in stressed cells. Confirming these data, presentation by formaldehyde-fixed cells of DT proteolysates that were obtained with endosomes and lysosomes from heat-shocked peripheral blood monocytes showed higher stimulation of T cells than those generated with endosomes and lysosomes from control peripheral blood monocytes.     

Comparative human and mouse antibody responses against tetanus toxin at clonal level

Tetanus is a highly fatal disease caused by tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) and remains a major threat to human and animal health, despite preventive strategies. TeNT is composed of heavy and light chain linked by a disulfide bond. The antibody response to TeNT is polyclonal and directed to multiple epitopes within both the light and heavy chains, leading to toxin neutralization. This study was undertaken to localize and compare neutralizing epitopes recognized by human and mouse TeNT-specific antibodies at a clonal level. In the present study, 22 murine hybridoma clones and 50 human lymphoblastoid cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were generated against TeNT. The specificity of these mAb was determined using different recombinant fragments of tetanus toxin. Moreover, this study investigated the in vitro toxin neutralizing activity of these mAb by a ganglioside GT1b assay. The results showed that tetanus toxoid immunization in humans and BALB/c mice induced a vigorous humoral immune response against different fragments of TeNT, particularly the carboxyl-terminal fragment of the heavy chain (known as fragment C). The fragment C-specific human and mouse mAb could largely neutralize TeNT. However, while all fragment C-specific human mAb reacted with the carboxyl-terminal part of this fragment (H_CC), the majority of the mouse mAb failed to recognize this region. These results suggested that fragment C is the major target for the TeNT neutralizing antibodies, although different epitopes seem to be targeted by human and mouse antibodies.     

Immunity to tetanus and diphtheria in various age groups of the Polish population

The concentration of tetanus and diphtheria antitoxins was determined in 279 sera of 18 to 81-year-old women and 509 sera of 22 to 46-year-old men. Tetanus antitoxin content was determined also in 246 samples of fluid from human placentas and 428 lots of commercial human normal immunoglobulins. Immunity to tetanus was clearly age-dependent: in younger age groups the percentage of immunized persons amounted to 90%-100%, in middle-age groups to about 80%, and at age above 60 to about 25%. The findings are in agreement with age-dependent incidence of tetanus, which has become now in Poland a disease primarily of older people. Two groups of the population are now protected against diphtheria: a younger group under 20, and an older one above 40. Immunity in younger age groups was induced by artificial immunization, and among older persons by natural immunization through contact with diphtheria bacilli during severe diphtheria epidemics in the past. Between these groups, gaps exist including 20-30 years of age, who are sensitive to diphtheria.     

Mucosal and systemic antibody responses after peroral or intranasal immunization: effects of conjugation to enterotoxin B subunits and/or of co-administration with free toxin as adjuvant

The mucosa-binding molecules cholera toxin (CT) from Vibrio cholerae and heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) from Escherichia coli have previously been used as mucosal adjuvants and carriers for many types of antigen. However, since these molecules are toxic and cannot be used in human vaccines, it is important to study whether their non-toxic mucosa-binding B subunits, CTB and LTB, can be used as alternative safe mucosal adjuvants and/or carrier molecules. We have as a model protein antigen used human gammaglobulin (HGG) for admixture with or chemical conjugation to recombinantly produced CTB and LTB, respectively, and measured antigen-specific local secretory IgA antibodies in saponin extracts from intestine and lung tissue by ELISA following intra-nasal (i.n.) or per-oral (p.o.) immunization. The results show that local antibody formation against HGG was increased after immunization with conjugated as compared to free HGG. However, while the conjugates alone gave rise to significant immune responses in the lung and also, to a lesser degree, in the intestine after i.n. immunization, co-administration of a small amount of free CT/LT as adjuvant was needed to induce a significant immune response in the intestine after p.o. immunization. We also found that following i.n. immunization, the addition of CTB to HGG, without coupling, increased the mucosal immune response to some extent, indicating that CTB by itself can work as an adjuvant by the i.n. route of immunization. A striking finding was that, as a carrier, CTB was superior to LTB when the conjugates were used by the oral but not by the i.n. route of immunization. In conclusion, conjugation of an antigen to mucosa-binding molecules such as CTB and/or LTB can dramatically increase their mucosal immunogenicity. This approach may thus be useful in the preparation of mucosal vaccines.     

Impaired antibody responses to a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in remission

Eight patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who have been in complete clinical remission for a mean of 23.3 months were evaluated for their antibody responses to a pneumococcal vaccine. The results were correlated with lymphocyte subpopulations, serum immunoglobulin levels, andin vitro mitogenic responses to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin and pokeweed mitogen. Two patients with normal antibody responses had immunoglobulin levels and mitogenesis within the range of controls. Impaired antibody responses in the remaining six patients were correlated either with marked depressed mitogenesis to phytohemagglutinin or with low levels of IgA. Impaired humoral immune responses seem to persist in these patients even after several months of sustained clinical remission.     

Evaluation of single- and dual antigen delayed fluorescence immunoassay in comparison to an ELISA and the in vivo toxin neutralisation test for detection of diphtheria toxin antibodies

An evaluation of the delayed fluorescence immunoassay (Delfia) against an ELISA method for determination of diphtheria antitoxin levels in serum was performed. The Delfia was also validated in the in vivo toxin neutralisation test (Txn) in rabbits. Two variants of the Delfia were studied, a single-antigen Delfia (sDelfia) with only the diphtheria toxin included and a dual-antigen Delfia (dDelfia) with tetanus toxoid included for simultaneous detection of antibodies against two antigens. The diphtheria antitoxin cut-off levels in the sDelfia and the dDelfia were 0.004 and 0.002 AU/ml, respectively, which is lower than the internationally accepted level showing any protection against diphtheria (0.01 IU/ml). Both Delfia variants showed good correlation with the ELISA procedure above the ELISA cut-off level of 0.02 AU/ml. Results from samples assayed in the in vivo Txn assay indicated that the low antitoxin levels detected by the Delfia were valid. These results show that the Delfia could be considered as an in vitro reference method for detection of diphtheria antitoxin in seroepidemiological surveys and vaccine studies.     

Longitudinal course of human metapneumovirus antibody titers and reinfection in healthy adults

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in adults and to determine the association between the levels of serum antibody titers and the susceptibility to reinfection. Serum samples collected at the periodic occupational medical checkup for employees of a hospital were subjected to an ELISA test. Of the 289 subjects, 288 (99.7%) had hMPV antibody titers that were more than 1:100 in May 2006. The percentage of subjects with a titer of ≥ 3,200 was significantly higher in adults aged 40-65 years old (30.2-31.5%) compared to young adults 20-39 years old (13.6%) (P < 0.05). To investigate the longitudinal course of the hMPV antibody titer, a total of 649 serum samples collected from 59 subjects who had participated in all biannual medical checkups between 2001 and 2006 were tested. We found that ten serum pairs showed a greater than fourfold increase in hMPV antibody titers. Additionally, the 5-year reinfection rate was estimated at 16.9% (10 of 59 subjects). The baseline titer before the fourfold increase ranged from 1:100 to 1:3,200, and the titer returned to baseline levels 2 or 3 years after the fourfold increase. The antibody titer of the person with the baseline titer of 1:100 showed a greater than fourfold increase twice within a year. Sixty to 80% of adults had an ELISA titer of 1:800 to 1:1,600, suggesting that such an antibody titer is not enough to protect from hMPV infection and that reinfection could occur among adults.     

Evaluation and characterisation of A and B fragments of Corynebacterium diphtheriae toxin towards recombinant diphtheria vaccine

Background: Diphtheria is a highly communicable disease caused by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of A and B subunits of diphtheria toxin (DT-A, DT-B) as potential vaccines against C. diphtheriae. A culture of C. diphtheriae (strain PW 8) was grown on Loeffler plates while Lingood medium was used for production of diphtheria toxin (DT). Materials and Methods: DT was purified and digested to obtain pure DT-A and DT-B and detoxified to obtain diphtheria toxin. Four groups of mice were immunised with different antigens (Ag) of C. diphtheriae. Results: The antibody (Ab) titres were significantly increased with immunised groups subsequent to three injections. On the other hand, Ab titres were estimated after the three immunisations and the levels of different Ab isotypes were comparatively measured. The levels of various isotypes immune responses showed variation between immunised groups where the IgG subclasses were significantly increased mainly with DPT immunised group. The IgM and IgA were significantly increased with DT-A more than others. Additionally, the evaluation of the cellular immune responses demonstrated that spleen cells from DPT and DT-A groups gave highly significant proliferative response with production of high levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ (Th1/Th2). Separation and purification of DT gene were performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sub-cloned in pGEM-T vector, for further studying of recombinant vaccine. Conclusion: Our results showed the possibility to prepare a potent recombinant vaccine containing whole DT gene or DT-A against C. diphtheriae or could be used in treatment of cancer as it give high levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ.     

Influenza vaccine format mediates distinct cellular and antibody responses in human immune organoids

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抗艰难梭菌A毒素单克隆抗体的制备及特性分析

目的 :制备抗艰难梭菌A毒素的单克隆抗体 (mAb)并鉴定其特性。方法 :用纯化的艰难梭菌A毒素免疫BALB/c小鼠 ,将免疫小鼠的脾细胞与骨髓瘤细胞Sp2 / 0融合 ,采用间接ELISA筛选杂交瘤细胞。用ELISA检测mAb腹水的效价、相对亲和力和进行表位分析 ;用Westernblot检测mAb的特异性。结果 :得到 6株杂交瘤细胞株 ,5C10株细胞分泌的mAb为IgG2a ,4B5和 8A1株细胞分泌的mAb为IgG1,其他 3株细胞mAb (2H7、3E9和 6G8)均分泌IgM。中和试验表明 ,所有的mAb均无中和活性。腹水mAb的效价均在 10 -4以上 ,其中mAb 2H7、6G8、5C10、4B5和 8A1具有共同的表位 ,而mAb 3E9识别的位点与其他 5株不同。mAb 8A1和 4B5的相对亲和力>10 5,其他 4株mAb的相对亲和力 >10 4。在非变性条件下 ,PAGE后Westernblot的结果显示 ,6株mAb均可与相对分子质量 (Mr)为 5 5× 10 4的A毒素产生反应 ;而在变性条件下 ,还原与非还原SDS PAGE后Westernblot均显示 ,6株mAb均可与Mr 为 5× 10 4～ 2 4× 10 4的A毒素产生反应。结论 :6株杂交瘤细胞株均能分泌抗艰难梭菌A毒素的特异性mAb ,为艰难梭菌A毒素的研究提供了有利的工具     

Virus excretion and strain specific antibody responses after oral poliovaccine in previously immunised children

A nation-wide campaign with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine was organized in Finland in February-March 1985 in order to stop the unexpected outbreak of poliomyelitis. Excretion time of the vaccine viruses and antibody responses due to vaccination were studied in a group of healthy 6-year-old children who were classmates to one of the patients during the outbreak and who also had been screened for excretion of the epidemic poliovirus type 3 strain. While faecal excretion of at least one of the three vaccine virus serotypes was documented in all 19 children, only one throat specimen out of 106 studied was positive in the virus isolation test. The mean excretion times for types 1, 2, and 3 were 13, 21, and 21 days, respectively, and five children were still excreting a vaccine virus strain at 5 wk. Faecal excretion of the type 3 vaccine virus was not seen in children who had been excreting the epidemic type 3 strain 4 mo earlier. Excretion of a respective vaccine virus strain was usually well correlated to a booster response in serum neutralising antibodies to types 2 and 3 but not to type 1 poliovirus. A relatively high prevaccination antibody level did not always prevent the take of the corresponding vaccine virus strain. An increase in the level of neutralising serum antibodies towards at least one poliovirus serotype was observed in all but one of the 17 children studied. Antibody responses to the live vaccine strains were similar to those towards the corresponding nonattenuated strains while the absolute antibody titres against the epidemic P3/Finland/23127/84 strain remained relatively low in most sera studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A transcriptionally distinct subset of influenza-specific effector memory B cells predicts long-lived antibody responses to vaccination in humans

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NMDA受体亚单位NR1、NR2A和NR2B在大鼠海马的免疫组织化学表达

目的 :观察N 甲基 D 门冬氨酸受体亚单位 1 (N methyl D aspartatereceptorsubunit 1 ,NR1 )、亚单位 2A(NR2A)和亚单位 2B(NR2B)在成年大鼠海马结构各区的表达特点 ,为研究三者在海马生理和病理过程中的作用提供形态学资料。方法 :大鼠脑 2 0 μm厚冰冻切片 ,免疫组织化学ABC法显色 ,图像分析。结果 :NR1、NR2A和NR2B在海马CA1～CA3区锥体细胞以及齿状回颗粒细胞普遍表达 ,三者中以NR1免疫组织化学反应最强 ,NR2A最弱 ,NR2B居中。NR1与NR2A在海马各区间的表达水平都无显著差异 ;NR2B在海马CA1区的表达明显强于其在CA3区及齿状回的表达 ,尤其是CA1区锥体细胞的顶树突在贯穿辐射层及腔隙分子层的全长中都呈高表达。结论 :NR1、NR2A和NR2B在正常海马结构各区的表达强度和形式存在差异 ,提示各区间天然N 甲基 D 门冬氨酸(N methyl D aspartate ,NMDA)受体的亚单位构成比例可能有所不同