Solid phase C1q microassay for the rapid detection of circulating immune complexes

A C1q solid phase microassay was designed for the rapid detection of circulating immune complexes. Its level of sensitivity is comparable to that of the Raji cell and greater than the C1q binding assay; furthermore, it is faster and low in cost. These conditions make it more practical and applicable in the clinical setting.     

Immunity in HIV-1-Infected Adults with a Previous State of Moderate-Severe Immune-Suppression and More Than 500 CD4+ T Cell After Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

We evaluated phenotypic and functional parameters of immune restoration of 27 HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (HIV-cases) with HIV-RNA levels below detectable limits at least during 18 months, and CD4+ cell per microliter higher than 500 at the moment of the study and lower than 300 anytime before. These patients were compared with 11 HIV-controls that never had less than 500 CD4+ cell per microliter and 20 healthy-controls (HIV seronegative subjects) in a cross-sectional study. HIV-cases had lower counts of naïve CD4+ than HIV-controls and healthy-controls. HIV-patients (both HIV-cases and HIV-controls) showed higher values of naïve and memory CD8+ counts than healthy-controls. TREC-bearing cell levels were significantly lower in HIV-cases than in healthy-controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures, HIV-cases had lower values in proliferation to streptokinase (SK) and tetanus toxin (TT) than in healthy-controls. HIV-cases had lower IFN-γ and higher IL-5 production with pokeweed than healthy-controls (P < 0.01). However, IL-5 production of HIV-cases after TT stimulation was lower than in HIV-controls and healthy-controls. Total IgG and IgG1 levels were significantly higher in HIV-cases than in HIV-controls and healthy-controls. Also, IgM levels were significantly higher in HIV-cases than in healthy-controls. Nevertheless, IgG2 levels were significantly lower in HIV-cases and HIV-controls than in healthy-controls. The levels of specific Igs antipneumococcal capsular polysaccharide and TT were significantly lower in HIV-cases than in healthy-controls. HIV-patients with a previous state of severe-moderate immunosuppression normalizing their CD4+ counts have a incomplete immune reconstitution after HAART. Long-term consequences of this subclinical immune deficiency remain to be determined.     

Autoantibodies to heat shock protein 90 in the human natural antibody repertoire

The present study demonstrates the presence of natural autoantibodies of the IgG isotype directed against heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). The binding properties of affinity-purified anti-HSP antibodies were compared with those of natural antibodies specific for other self antigens, including anti-thyroglobulin and anti-myoglobin autoantibodies, by using semiquantitative immunoblotting, with solubilized proteins from normal liver tissue as antigens, and cross-blot analysis using purified self proteins. Affinity-purified anti-HSP90 antibodies were polyreactive and the non-HSP90-specific fraction of normal IgG was depleted in its natural autoantibody content. We further observed that self antigens including HSP, myosin, tubulin and aldolase with highly conserved structures show similar patterns of binding with natural antibodies, and form a well-defined cluster as demonstrated by cluster analysis of immunoreactivity data, whereas the less-conserved self and non-self antigens remained unclustered. The results favor the hypothesis that HSP90 belongs to a subset of highly conserved and immunodominant self antigens that are the primary target for natural autoantibodies in normal human IgG.     

Etiology of IgA nephropathy syndrome

Since Berger's original paper on mesangial IgA-IgG deposition with hematuria, there have been a number of clinical and pathological studies regarding IgA immune complexes, the mechanisms of glomerular IgA deposition leading to glomerular injury and animal models of IgA nephropathy. During the last quarter of this century, glomerular changes such as IgA nephropathy have also been observed in cases associated with other diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Schoenlein-Henoch purpura, liver cirrhosis and chronic inflammatory diseases of the lung. This evidence supports the idea of an IgA nephropathy syndrome. On the other hand, IgA is thought to be an important humoral factor at the mucosal immune system and appears to have an antibody function against various etiologic candidates of extrinsic or intrinsic substances at the mucosal and systemic immune system. Glomerular IgA deposition in IgA nephropathy syndrome is thought to result from elevated levels of circulating immune complexes or aggregated IgA due to an overproduction of polymeric IgA as antibodies in the serum and due to the clearance impairment of IgA immune complexes in the hepatic and splenic phagocytic system. The glomerular IgA subclass is not one-sided, but should be evaluated in comparison with the age of patients at renal biopsy; this indicates the approximate age of onset. Cirrhotic IgA glomerulonephritis is not related to Hepatitis B or C virus infection, but to the pathophysiologic condition of liver cirrhosis. Various etiologic candidates such as viral, microbial, dietary antigens or auto-antigens have been listed and experimental models of IgA nephropathy syndrome have provided some clues in understanding the etiology of primary IgA nephropathy. However much still remains to be clarified and some specific epitopes common among these etiologic candidates will have to be identified.     

Treatment of septic thrombocytopenia with immune globulin

Thrombocytopenia frequently complicates systemic infection and results from multiple possible mechanisms. We and others have demonstrated that platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) levels are elevated in the majority of patients with septic thrombocytopenia. Corticosteroids may be undesirable as a treatment for thrombocytopenia for patients with severe infection because of their potential for suppressing the immune response. We hypothesized that septic thrombocytopenia is, in most cases, an immune disorder analogous to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) which might respond to intravenous gamma-globulin as a treatment for increasing the platelet count in this disorder. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG), 400 mg/kg daily for 3 days, was administered in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Twenty-nine patients who developed thrombocytopenia during a documented, septic episode were studied. Patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), hypersplenism, or drugs known to cause thrombocytopenia were excluded. Elevated PAIgG levels were documented in 52% of evaluable patients. Mean platelet counts in the IVIG group rose from 43K at study entry to 178K (411% rise) by Day 9. In the placebo group platelets rose from 51K to 125K (261% rise;P = 0.02). Seventy-seven percent of the IVIG group had a minimum peak rise of 35K, vs 56% of the placebo group. Three patients in the placebo group had a serious bleeding episode, vs one in the IVIG group. The use of IVIG to treat septic thrombocytopenia not associated with DIC leads to a more rapid, more sustained, and greater increase in platelet count than placebo. Its use is recommended in the septic patient who is bleeding or is likely to need invasive or surgical procedures.     

树突状细胞在黏膜免疫模型小鼠中的分布及E-cadherin和ICAM-1表达的研究

目的通过研究小鼠树突状细胞在黏膜免疫模型小鼠中分布特征及上皮型钙黏附分子（E-cadherin）和细胞间黏附分子-1（ICAM-1）的表达,以探讨E-cadherin和ICAM-1在树突状细胞迁移过程中的调控作用.方法采用光镜和免疫组织化学染色方法,观察黏膜免疫模型小鼠中树突状细胞的分布特征;分析E-cadherin和ICAM-1的表达情况.结果体内的树突状细胞在黏膜免疫模型小鼠中,主要分布于肠系膜淋巴结、回肠集合淋巴小结、胃和空回肠黏膜及黏膜下层,与对照组相比有显著差异,其ICAM-1表达明显增高,E-cadherin表达下调,分别与对照组数密度和面密度比较有显著差异.结论在树突状细胞迁移运动过程中,E-cadherin和ICAM-1黏附分子可能起着关键性的调控作用.     

Dissociation of hepatitis A virus antigen-anti-HAV antibody complexes by 2-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol

Intravenous inoculation of two marmosets and one chimpanzee with hepatitis A virus (HAV) resulted in the replication of virus in liver, excretion of HAV particles in stool, and the appearance of circulating antibodies specific for hepatitis A. The development of an early antibody response in the chimpanzee and in one of the two infected marmosets was shown to interfere with the serologic detection of HAV antigen (HAV Ag) in homogenates of acute phase liver tissue obtained from these animals. Treatment of HAV Ag-positive and IgM anti-HAV-positive liver homogenates with thiol reducing compounds was shown to release HAV Ag from in vitro formed immune complexes. The increased RIA response for HAV Ag in homogenates treated with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) or dithiothreitol (DTT) was further shown not to be due to activation of HAV Ag itself or to a nonspecific effect on the RIA coating antibody, radiolabeled probe, or homogenized liver tissue. IgG and IgM double-antibody sandwich RIAs for HAV Ag were also compared for their ability to detect HAV Ag under reducing and nonreducing conditions. Application of the 2-ME or DTT treatment procedure to the serologic detection of other viral antigens or viruses whose presence in blood, stool, tissue macerate, or other milieu may be masked by specific antibody appears to be feasible.     

脊髓损伤后神经修复过程中的细胞微环境北大核心

背景:以往的研究显示单一改变脊髓损伤区域某一基因表达或者某一细胞的状态,对脊髓损伤后功能恢复无显著影响,而大量证据表明调控脊髓损伤后紊乱的细胞微环境是神经功能恢复的关键因素。目的:对脊髓损伤前后细胞微环境的生物学特性,包括多种细胞之间的相互调控以及细胞外组分对损伤神经修复的作用和机制进行综述。方法:由第一作者检索PubMed及Web of Science数据库,英文检索词为“spinal cord injury,glial cell,neuron,immune cell,neural stem cell,extracellular matrix,cytokine,extracellular vesicle,regeneration”。文献检索的时间范围为2000年1月至2021年12月,最终筛选出64篇文献进行分析。结果与结论:①脊髓损伤后,在细胞微环境的细胞组分中,占比最高的胶质细胞间的相互作用,以及与神经元的相互调控作用最为关键。②在脊髓损伤后的细胞外组分中,利用生物相容性良好的水凝胶模仿天然细胞外基质,可有效模拟和重建损伤区域内的细胞微环境,促进轴突伸长。③在脊髓损伤后的细胞外调节因子中,促炎因子如肿瘤坏死因子α和白细胞介素1β等加剧了细胞微环境的炎症反应,应用受体抑制剂或阻断相关通路抑制上述促炎因子的表达是一种有效的治疗方法,同时在脊髓微环境中增加白细胞介素10等抗炎因子的表达,抑制损伤区域炎症发展的研究也陆续出现。④最近被重视起来的细胞外囊泡作为传递信息的载体在细胞微环境中也发挥了重要作用。⑤文章揭示了脊髓损伤后细胞微环境中的包括细胞组分和细胞外组分之间的多组相互调控关系,证实了细胞微环境中各组分之间所发挥的神经修复作用并不是孤立的。