A comparative proteomic study of sera in paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus patients and in healthy controls using MALDI-TOF-TOF and LC MS-A pilot study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) exhibits an aggressive clinical phenotype with severe complications and overall poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to analyse differential expression of low molecular weight (LMW) serum protein molecules of pSLE patients with active disease in comparison to sera of healthy age matched controls. Further, some of the differential expressed spots were characterised and identified by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography (LC-MS). METHODS: 2D-PAGE was performed using pooled sera of active pSLE and age matched healthy controls. Gels were silver-stained and differentially expressed protein spots were detected by automated image master platinum 2D software. 79 +/- 17 protein spots were detected for control gels and 78 +/- 17 protein spots for patient gels. Of these eleven protein spots were selected randomly and characterized by MALDI-TOF MS (five protein spots) and LC MS (six protein spots) techniques. RESULTS: Out of the 11 protein spots, 5 protein spots were significantly upregulated viz., leiomodin 2 (LMOD2); epidermal cytokeratin 2; immunoglobulin kappa light chain variable region; keratin 1 and transthyretin (TTR). Three protein spots were significantly down regulated e.g., apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1); chain B human complement component C3c; campath antibody antigen complex. Two protein spots (complement component C3; retinol binding protein (RBP) were found to be expressed only in disease and one protein spot cyclohydrolase 2 was only expressed in controls. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 2-D maps of patients with active pSLE and controls differ significantly. In this pilot study, using proteomic approach we have identified differential expressed proteins (of LMW) e.g., RBP, LMOD 2, TTR, Component C3c Chain B and APO A1. However, in future, further studies need to confirm the physiological and pathological role of these proteins in similar cohorts of pSLE.     

Depolymerized chitosans functionalized with bPEI as carriers of nucleic acids and tuftsin-tethered conjugate for macrophage targeting

Development of efficient and safe nucleic acid carriers (vectors) is one of the essential requirements for the success of gene therapy. Here, we have evaluated the gene transfer capability of chitosan-PEI (CP) conjugates prepared by conjugating low molecular weight branched polyethylenimine (LMWP) with depolymerized chitosans (7 and 10 kDa) via their terminal aldehyde/keto groups. The CP conjugates interacted efficiently with nucleic acids and also showed higher cellular uptake. These conjugates on complexation with DNA yielded nanoparticles in the size range of 100-130 nm (in case of C7P) and 115-160 nm (in case of C10P), which exhibited significantly higher transfection efficiency (~2-42 folds) in vitro compared to chitosans (high and low mol. wt.) and the commercially available transfection reagents retaining cell viability almost comparable to the native chitosan. Of the two CP conjugates, chitosan 7 kDa-LMWP (C7P) displayed higher gene transfer ability in the presence and absence of serum. Luciferase reporter gene analysis in male Balb/c mice receiving intravenous administration of C7P3/DNA polyplex showed the maximum expression in their spleen. Further, tuftsin, a known macrophage targeting molecule, was tethered to C7P3 and the resulting complex, i.e., C7P3-T/DNA, exhibited significantly higher gene expression in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages as compared to unmodified C7P3/DNA complex without any cytotoxicity demonstrating the suitability of the conjugate for targeted applications. Conclusively, the study demonstrates the potential of the projected conjugates for gene delivery for wider biomedical applications.     

Application of flow cytometry in detection of red-cell-bound IgG in Coombs-negative AIHA

Coombs negative autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is characterized by laboratory evidence of in vivo hemolysis along with a negative direct antiglobulin test (DAT) performed by conventional tube technique (CTT) in clinically suspected AIHA patients. The sensitive gel test (GT) and flow cytometry (FC) can effectively diagnose such patients where CTT does not detect low level of red cell autoantibodies. We investigated the use of FC in the serological evaluation of CTT DAT negative AIHA and its comparison with GT DAT. Of the 50 patients with suspected AIHA, CTT DAT was negative in 5 patients (Coombs negative AIHA). GT DAT could detect red cell autoantibodies in 4 of these 5 patients. Monospecific GT DAT showed IgG and/or C3d as the responsible autoantibody. FC was considered as reactive when MFI was >3.6 (mean of 20 healthy negative volunteers +2SD). FC was reactive in all five Coombs negative AIHA patients. The mean MFI in five known CTT DAT positive samples taken for comparison was significantly higher compared to 5 DAT negative AIHA (18.3 +/- 7.78 vs. 7.88 +/- 1.35, p < 0.05). There was poor correlation between strength of GT DAT and MFI by FC. We conclude that FC is more sensitive test than the CTT and helps in the serological diagnosis of Coombs negative AIHA. However, in resource poor settings, GT DAT can be a good alternative to FC.     

Age-related accumulation of a novel CD44 + CD25lowgammadelta T-cell population in hematopoietic organs of the mouse

We discovered a novel population of gammadelta T cells in the mouse that accumulates with age in hematopoietic organs, but not in epithelia. These cells are CD25low (an unusual phenotype for gammadelta T cells in the mouse); express higher levels of TCRgammadelta and CD44 than do CD25- gammadelta T cells; mainly express Vgamma2, Vgamma3, and Vgamma4 chains; and are largely quiescent. A very similar cell population appears in the late stages of fetal thymus organ cultures, suggesting that the accumulation of CD44 + CD25lowTCRgammadelta + cells is a response to stress induced by aging in vivo or by culture in vitro. The precursors of CD44 + CD25lowTCRgammadelta + cells are generated during fetal or very young adult life, as this population was undetectable in aged recipients of bone marrow from old or young donors. CD44 + CD25lowTCRgammadelta + cells may be a biomarker of aging, but could also play a role in the inflammatory changes that accompany aging.     

Immunogenicity study of recombinant human sperm-associated antigen 9 in bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata)

BACKGROUND: The human sperm-associated antigen 9 (hSPAG9) is of special interest attributing to the findings indicating that SPAG9 is an acrosomal molecule. SPAG9 is not only restricted to acrosomal compartment but also persists in equatorial segment post-acrosome reaction, which is a key location in sperm-egg interaction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunogenicity studies in macaques were carried out with recombinant hSPAG9 (rhSPAG9) adsorbed on alum, which resulted in high titres of anti-rhSPAG9 antibodies as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunoblotting analysis employing anti-rhSPAG9 antibodies generated in monkeys indicated that antibodies specifically reacted with native SPAG9 from macaque and human sperm and rhSPAG9 protein. Furthermore, indirect immunofluorescence experiments demonstrated SPAG9 localization in the acrosomal compartment of macaque and human sperm. In addition, monkey antibodies against rhSPAG9 significantly inhibited the human spermatozoa adherence or penetration in zona-free hamster oocytes. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that rhSPAG9 adsorbed on alum is highly immunogenic in subhuman primate model and therefore represents a suitable sperm-based vaccine immunogen for fertility trials in macaque.     

CD45 regulates apoptosis in peripheral T lymphocytes

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is a key mechanism for regulating lymphocyte numbers. Murine lymph node lymphocytes cultured in vitro without added stimuli show significant levels of apoptosis over 24 h, detectable by staining with Annexin V. CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes from transgenic (Tg) mice expressing single CD45RABC or CD45RO isoforms show increased apoptosis and the extent of apoptosis is inversely correlated with the level of CD45 expression. CD45 Tg cells exhibit phosphatidyl serine translocation and DNA oligonucleosome formation, and can be partially rescued from apoptosis by culture in caspase inhibitors or common gamma-chain-binding cytokines. We conclude that CD45 is an important regulator of spontaneous apoptosis in T lymphocytes and this mechanism may contribute to the disease associations reported for individuals expressing CD45 variant alleles.