Epitope definition by proteomic similarity analysis: identification of the linear determinant of the anti-Dsg3 MAb 5H10

Background  

Walking along disease-associated protein sequences in the search for specific segments able to induce cellular immune response may direct clinical research towards effective peptide-based vaccines. To this aim, we are studying the targets of the immune response in autoimmune diseases by applying the principle of non-self-discrimination as a driving concept in the identification of the autoimmunogenic peptide sequences.     

Epitope analysis for human sperm-immobilizing monoclonal antibodies,MAb H6-3C4, 1G12 and campath-1

Human monoclonal antibody, MAb H6-3C4, possesses strong sperm immobilizing activity. MAb H6-3C4 has been suggested by several research groups to react with a carbohydrate moiety of male reproductive tract CD52 (mrtCD52). In the present study, we analysed the epitope on mrtCD52 for MAb H6-3C4 and found that it was polymorphic in Western blot analysis and disappeared after enzymatic removal of the N-linked carbohydrate moiety. Two other monoclonal antibodies (1G12, campath-1) with sperm-immobilizing activity recognized mrtCD52 in a polymorphic manner similar to MAb H6-3C4. Further analysis showed that 1G12 recognized a structure formed by the peptide and/or a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor portion as does campath-1. Results of a lectin binding assay suggested the presence of O-linked carbohydrates on mrtCD52. Our results also indicated that the peptide portion of CD52 could serve as an epitope for sperm-immobilizing antibodies. It was concluded that the epitope of MAb H6-3C4 is similar to, but distinct from, those of 1G12 and campath-1, and that mrtCD52 contains different antigenic epitopes.     

Epitope analysis of monoclonal antibody E5/G6, which binds to a linear epitope in the nucleocapsid protein of hantaviruses

Summary. Monoclonal antibody E5/G6 recognized a linear epitope common to hantavirus nucleocapsid proteins. Using synthetic peptides, we identified epitope E5/G6 as the 9 mer YEDVNGIRK (NP 165–173), in which D167, G170, I171, and R172 are indispensable. Furthermore, all the peptides synthesized using various hantavirus sequences bound MAb E5/G6 consistently, despite the existence of several amino acid variations in this region. These results indicate that MAb E5/G6 is a useful tool for detecting hantavirus antigen in rodent or patient tissues using Western blotting or other immunohistochemical assays.     

应用噬菌体表面展示技术筛选流感病毒H3N2抗原模拟表位

目的 筛选特异性流感病毒H3N2抗原模拟表位,为开展新的流感病毒疫苗研究探索新的途径.方法 应用噬菌体表面展示技术,以抗-H3N2的单克隆抗体作为固相筛选分子,对人工合成的噬菌体随机肽库进行5轮"吸附-洗脱-扩增"的筛选过程,在第5轮筛选后,随机挑取48个克隆,经噬菌体酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)鉴定并进行交叉反应实验以及竞争抑制性实验,最后对所选克隆进行DNA序列分析,以确定H3N2抗原的模拟表位.结果 经噬菌体富集后,从随机筛选的48个克隆中得到21个阳性克隆,经ELISA鉴定及交叉反应实验、竞争抑制性实验后,确定氨基酸序列XTXPYXX为H3N2的模拟表位.结论 用噬菌体7肽库筛选得到H3N2的模拟表位,为开展用流感病毒模拟表位探索新的防治方法研究奠定了基础.     

Detection and identification of peroxiredoxin 3 as a biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma by a proteomic approach

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide with poor prognosis due to resistance to conventional chemotherapy and limited efficacy of radiotherapy. Thus, alternative therapeutic strategies need to be established. In order to search for a useful biomarker to improve its efficacy, we conducted a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF MS-based comparative proteomic analysis to profile the differentially expressed proteins between HCC tumor tissues with histological evidence and the adjacent non-tumor tissues. Twenty-two out of 43 dysregulated proteins were identified, including 15 upregulated proteins, and 7?downregulated proteins (over 2-fold, P<0.01). The expression of peroxiredoxin?3 (PRDX3) at the mRNA and protein levels was confirmed by RT-PCR and western blotting in HCC cell lines, and HCC samples, and further analysed by immunohistochemistry in HCC samples of different clinical pathological stages. The results indicated that overexpression of PRDX3 was associated with 94.9% HCC, and correlated with poor differentiation (P<0.05), which suggest that PRDX3 has substantial clinical impact on the progression of hepatocarcinoma, and may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC.     

Following the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells by proteomic identification of biomarkers

Following the differentiation of cultured stem cells is often reliant on the expression of genes and proteins that provide information on the developmental status of the cell or culture system. There are few molecules, however, that show definitive expression exclusively in a specific cell type. Moreover, the reliance on a small number of molecules that are not entirely accurate biomarkers of particular tissues can lead to misinterpretation in the characterization of the direction of cell differentiation. Here we describe the use of technology that examines the mass spectrum of proteins expressed in cultured cells as a means to identify the developmental status of stem cells and their derivatives in vitro. This approach is rapid and reproducible and it examines the expression of several different biomarkers simultaneously, providing a profile of protein expression that more accurately corresponds to a particular type of cell differentiation.     

Characterization of 12-L-hydroxy 5, 8, 10-heptadecatrienoic acid produced by rat basophilic leukemia-2H3 cells

14C- 12-L-hydroxy-5, 8, 10-heptadecatrienoic acid was produced by incubating the 10,000 x g supernatant of rat basophilic leukemia -2H3 cells with 14C-arachidonic acid in the presence of isoproterenol and hemoglobin. The Vmax was 125 p mol/min/2 x 10(7) cells and its Km value was 1.28 n mol, indicating the low synthetic activity even though a sufficient amount of the substrate was available. The synthesis was dose-dependently decreased by the addition of calcium ions and inhibited by ETYA and indomethacin but not by imidazol, suggesting that the production might be non-enzymatic break-down from PGH2.     

Collagen-induced arthritis in B10.RIII mice (H-2r): identification of an arthritogenic T-cell determinant.

Susceptibility to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a murine model of autoimmune arthritis, is strongly linked to only two major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes, H-2q and H-2r. In order to identify the determinants of type II collagen (CII) required to induce arthritis in H-2r-bearing mice, B10.RIII mice were immunized with bovine, chick or human CII. Only bovine CII induced significant arthritis and autoantibodies. When the major CNBr peptides of bovine collagen were isolated and used for immunization, only mice immunized with CB8, representing CII 403-551, developed arthritis. To identify immunogenic epitope(s) within CB8, a panel of synthetic peptides representing overlapping sequences of the bovine peptide was generated. When each peptide was cultured with T cells from B10.RIII mice immunized with CII, one peptide, representing CII 430-466, contained a major T-cell epitope. By using an in vitro lymphokine production assay, the T-cell epitope was further narrowed to CII 442-456. These findings suggest that a T-cell determinant important for the initiation of arthritis in B10.RIII (H-2r) mice is located within a 15 amino acid sequence, residues 442-456 of bovine CII.     

Epitope recognition in histone H1 by SLE autoantibodies in the presence of a DNA-ligand.

To investigate the specificity of anti H1 antibodies peptides from the N- and C-domain of H1 and the synthetic oligonucleotide (AT)6 were complexed. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy indicated that the free peptides H1(1-16), H1(204-218) and C(121-210) in low salt buffer assume a random structure but become helical when bound to the oligonucleotide. The structured and unstructured H1 fragments were then analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with anti-H1 antibodies in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) and with the monoclonal anti-H1 antibody MRA-12 derived from MLR lpr/lpr autoimmune mice. Binding of these antibodies to H1(204-218) and C was inhibited to a level of 50% when these H1 peptides were complexed with (AT)6. When the same antibody was tested with H1 fragment GC(34-210), attachment to oligonucleotide (AT)6 did not influence antibody binding. Competition studies with liquid phase GC and C antigen against solid phase GC and C indicated that liquid phase GC was more efficient in displacing antibody binding reactivity than liquid phase C. The displacement effect of both liquid phase antigens was greatest against solid phase C. We conclude that anti-H1 autoantibodies are directed against an epitope located near the junction of the G- and C-domain which is exposed and not masked when H1 is bound to DNA.     

Pericellular proteins of the developing mouse tendon: a proteomic analysis

Tendon fibroblasts synthesize and assemble collagen fibrils, the basic structural unit of tendons. Regulation of fibrillogenesis is essential for tendon development and function. Fibril assembly begins within extracellular micro-domains associated with the fibroblast surface. We hypothesize that molecules crucial to the regulation of fibril assembly are membrane associated and/or within the pericellular micro-environment. This report defines proteins in the surfaceome, that is, plasma membrane and pericellular matrix, from mouse flexor digitorum longus tendons. Proteomic analysis identified a set of surfaceome molecules including collagens, fibronectin, integrins, proteoglycans, and receptors in extracts from mouse tendons at postnatal day 1, a developmental stage when collagen protofibril nucleation and initial steps in fibril assembly predominate. The proteomic results were validated for molecules identified with a small number of unique peptides and/or low sequence coverage. For these analyses, proteins were selected based on their potential roles in fibril nucleation, that is, collagen V; organization of fibrillogenesis, that is, integrins and fibronectin; and known localization to the plasma membrane with potential to impact matrix assembly, that is, CD44, syndecan-1, epidermal growth factor receptor, and matrix metalloproteinase 25. These molecules were all detected in extracts of the developing tendon, demonstrating that the surfaceome included molecules hypothesized to regulate fibrillogenesis as well as many with no known function in this capacity. This report, therefore, generates an unbiased set of cell surface-associated molecules, providing a resource to identify novel or unexpected regulatory molecules involved in collagen fibril and matrix assembly.     

Molecular complexity of HLA-DQw3: The TA10 determinant is located on a subset of DQw3 β chains

In attempts to examine the relationships between serologic and structural polymorphisms of HLA-DQ molecules we have analyzed several monoclonal antibodies generated against polymorphic determinants on HLA-DQ molecules. One antibody, SFR20-DQw3, has a serologic reactivity like that of the previously characterized anti-DQw3-like monoclonal antibody. IVD12, but differs from IVD12 in its affinity for DQw3 molecules associated with DR4 and DRw9 haplotypes. Two other monoclonal antibodies have identical serologic and molecular specificity, and react with a subset of DQw3 positive cells: they have been designated SFR20-DQβ5. Biochemical analysis of the DQ molecules carried by DQw3-positive cell lines associated with different DR haplotypes (DR4, DR5, DRw8, DRw9, DRw12), reveal the presence of at least three different kinds of β chains carrying the DQw3 epitope. All the cell lines bound by SFR20-BQβ5 (DR5, DRw8, and DRw12) possess DQβ chains of indistinguishable electrophoretic mobility, which are different from the DQβ chains of DQw3 cell lines not bound by this antibody while DQw3 β chains carried by DR4 and DRw9 haplotypes are distinct from DQβ5-positive BLCL and from each other. The serologic reactivity of antibody DQβ5 correlates perfectly with in RFLP of the DQ β gene designated DQw3.1 (Kim et al.: PNAS 828139, 1985), and with the serologic specificity TA10 as defined during the Ninth International Workshop (Schreuder GMT et al.: Histocompatibility Testing 1984). SFR20-DQβ5 reacts with a separated β chain by Western blot analysis. The finding of industinguishable β chain electrophoretic mobility for all DQβ5/TA10 positive cell lines tested provide the molecular basis for these specificities, and strongly suggest that antibody SFR26-DQβ5 detects a single allele of the multiple DQβ alleles which can contribute to the formation of the DQw3 specificity.     

Elucidation of linear epitopes of pertussis toxin using overlapping synthetic decapeptides: identification of a human B-cell determinant in the S1 subunit indicative of acute infections

To identify relevant linear epitopes within the immunodominant ADP-ribosyl transferase (S1 subunit) of pertussis toxin (PT), its complete amino acid sequence was synthesized as consecutive, overlapping decapeptides on solid phase and probed for seroreactivity with pertussis specific human antisera in 'peptide scans'. Comparison of the resulting antigenic profiles revealed two distinct types of human antisera, though amino acids 140-200 could not be assessed as the corresponding peptides reacted non-specifically with the detection system. Human anti-pertussis sera predominantly recognized linear immunodominant epitopes located in three separated segments spanning amino acids 3-16, 21-30, and 211-222. Antisera originating from infants with acute B. pertussis infections (type I) identified determinants in all three segments, while type-II antisera from convalescent patients only recognized epitopes in the N-terminal regions. The binding of pertussis specific antisera—both type I and type II—to the holotoxin was inhibited by preincubation of antibodies with synthetic peptides corresponding to two linear determinants located at the N-terminus of S1: R 3-16 and R 21-30. However, competitive binding of antibodies to PT and to synthetic peptides equivalent to the third epitope (R 211-222) was only observed with type I antisera. Thus, the linear immunogenic determinant identified at the C-terminus of the A-protomer represents a human epitope which is apparently specific for antisera from pertussis patients with acute infections. The possible application of this determinant in serologic diagnosis will be a valuable tool to detect and distinguish acute Bordetella pertussis infections.     

Partial N-terminal sequence analysis of human class II molecules expressing the DQw3 determinant

HLA-DQ molecules were isolated from DRw9-homozygous and DR4-homozygous cell lines by using a monoclonal antibody HU-18, which recognizes class II molecules carrying the conventional DQw3 determinant. The partial N-terminal sequence analysis of the DQw3 molecules revealed that they have sequences homologous to those of murine I-A molecules. Within the limits of our sequence analysis, the DQw3 molecules from the two cell lines are identical to each other in both the alpha and beta chains. The DQ alpha as well as DQ beta chains were found to have amino acid substitutions when compared to other I-A-like molecules whose sequences have been reported. These differences may contribute to the DQw supertypic specificity. The polymorphic nature of DQ molecules is in marked contrast to that of DR molecules where DR alpha chains are highly conserved while DR beta chains have easily detectable amino acid substitutions.     

Epitope analysis of isoforms of the major allergen Phl p V by fingerprinting and microsequencing

The major allergen of timothy grass pollen (Phleum pratense), designated as Phl p V, consists of isoallergenic components of 38 and 32 kDa with pi values of 5.2 7.5 and 4.8 5 9, respectively. The different-sized proteins reveal similarities in IgE reactivity, N-terminal sequence and protein staining. For epitope analysis of these allergens u combination of enzymatic cleavage of electrophoretically separated proteins and iminunoblotting techniques with subsequent N-terminal sequencing was performed. After isolation of the components from two-dimensional PAGE gels. proteins were enzymatically cleaved and separated by SDS-PAGE. By endoproteinase Glu-C cleavage six IgE-reactive fragments of each 32 kDa protein and three of each 38 kDa allergen were obtained. Microsequencing of the fragments revealed internal sequences that did not show any similarities between the different-sized allergens. Therefore, we assume only slight structural variations among allergens of similar sizes, whereas the 32 and 38 kDa proteins reveal great differences.     

Autoradiographic analysis of the effect of potassium orotate on the intensity of [5-3H]uridine and [3H]proline into wound fibroblasts

The intensity of incorporation of [5-³H]uridine into the nucleus and cytoplasm of fibroblasts during wound healing in control mice and in mice receiving potassium orotate and the intensity of incorporation of [³H]proline into the same cells and into the intercellular spaces between them were studied. Incorporation of [³H]proline was shown to take place much more intensively than that of [5-³H]uridine. A considerable increase was observed in RNA synthesis in the fibroblasts under the influence of potassium orotate, accompanied by a less marked increase in synthesis of proline-containing proteins under analogous conditions. The dynamics of the nucleo-cytoplasmic ratios revealed by autoradiographic investigation correlated with the ultrastructural changes in the fibroblasts in the course of their differentiation.Department of Pathological Anatomy, A. V. Vishnevskii Institute of Surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. V. Snezhnevskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 6, pp. 615–617, June, 1979.     

Microarray based mutational analysis of patients with methylmalonic acidemia: identification of 10 novel mutations

Methylmalonic acidemia is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder affecting the propionate oxidation pathway in the catabolism of several amino acids, odd-chain fatty acids, and cholesterol. Methylmalonic acidemia is characterized by elevated levels of methylmalonic acid in the blood and urine. Mutations in the MUT gene, encoding methylmalonyl-CoA mutase carries out isomerization of L-methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA, cause methylmalonic acidemia. In this study, 30 Turkish patients diagnosed with mut methylmalonic acidemia were screened for mutations using custom designed sequencing microarrays. The study resulted in detection of 22 different mutations, 10 of which were novel: p.Q132*, p.A137G, c.753+1T, p.T387I, p.Q514E, p.P615L, p.D625V, c.1962_1963delTC, p.L674F, and c.2115_2116insA. The most common, p.P615T, was identified in 28.0% of patients. These results suggest that microarray based sequencing is a useful tool for the detection of mutations in MUT in patients with mut methylmalonic acidemia.