High-density proteoglycan induces specific suppression of adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

We compared the levels of serum antibodies in male and female C57Bl/6 mice during the primary and after challenge infection with Giardia muris. Male mice began passing cysts in their faeces earlier than females, and were shedding cysts for over 60 days, while females stopped shedding cysts by day 20 after infection. In both males and females there were significant increases in parasite-specific IgM 10 and 20 days after infection. No differences in parasite-specific serum IgA were observed until 40 days after infection. Parasite-specific IgG (whole) levels were elevated on days 20 and 40 in females, while males showed no significant increases. In addition, females had a much stronger IgG2b and IgG3 response than males. After challenge with either cysts or soluble parasite protein only the females had significant increases in specific anti-parasite IgG2b. Our data show differential ability of males and females to control the infection with G. muris is paralleled by a difference in the anti-parasite serum IgG response of the mice.     

CD45 expression by murine B cells and T cells: Alteration of CD45 isoforms in subpopulations of activated B cells

The CD45 family of high molecular weight cell surface glycoproteins is abundantly expressed by virtually all hematopoietic cells. CD45 molecules exist as multiple isoforms whose extracellular portions vary in protein structure and carbohydrate content but whose intracellular portions are highly conserved and possess tyrosine phosphatase activity. In this review we summarize current studies describing CD45 isoform expression on peripheral and thymic lymphocytes. Further, we analyze changes in CD45 isoform expression by selective populations of activated B cells.     

Hepatitis B surface antigen particles of subtypes adw and adr, and compound subtype (adwr) in symptom-free carriers in Japan.

Of sera from 1,878 Japanese blood donors who carried hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), 420 were subtyped as adw (22.4%) and 1,443 as adr (76.8%); only 15 (0.8%) contained HBsAg of subtype ayw or ayr. Sera with HBsAg/adr had higher HBsAg titres than those with HBsAg/adw (geometric mean of haemagglutination titre: 10.1 +/- 2.4 vs. 9.7 +/- 2.4, p less than 0.01), and a higher prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen (24% vs. 13%, p less than 0.001). Carriers of HBsAg/adr progressively predominated over those of HBsAg/adw with increasing age. Of sera from 1,863 carriers of HBsAg/adw or HBsAg/adr, 182 (9.8%) contained HBsAg particles with both subtypic determinants in the w/r allele. The presence of w and r determinants on the same particles was ascertained by sandwiching them between monoclonal antibody with the specificity for w and that with the specificity for r. HBsAg particles of compound subtype (adwr) were found more often in sera with hepatitis B e antigen than those without it (145/403 [36.0%] vs. 37/1,460 [2.5%], p less than 0.001). Sera with HBsAg/adwr particles had HBsAg titres higher than those without them (12.4 +/- 1.9 vs. 9.7 +/- 2.3, p less than 0.001). HBsAg/adwr particles arise from phenotypic mixing of the S-gene product of wild-type virus and that of mutants with point mutations for subtypic changes. The results obtained indicated that HBV strains of subtype adr have a higher replicative activity than those of adw, and suggested that mutations in the S gene for subtypic changes would be associated with an active replication of hepatitis B virus.     

Development of a quantitative monoclonal antibody‐based immunoassay for humicola ianuginosa on rice grains and comparison with conventional assays

A sensitive, specific, quantitative enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed that can be used to determine the extent of mycelial growth of a sporulating thermophilic fungus, Humicola lanuginosa on the surface of rice grains. The assay employs a monoclonal antibody EC6, developed in a previous study, which does not recognize spores of the fungus. Using antigen‐coated wells, a direct linear relationship was established between dilutions of extracts from freeze‐dried mycelium (0.5 to 3 μg/ml) and absorbance values but to eliminate day‐to‐day variations it was found to be necessary to run a dilution series, prepared from stock freeze‐dried mycelium, with every test sample. The ELISA method was compared with conventional quantitative methods. Estimates of total mycelial length in freeze‐dried material by ELISA were found to be in the same order of magnitude as those determined by ergosterol and a theoretical calculation. The ELISA method also compared favourably with direct linear measurements (by photomicrography) of live mycelium present in aliquots from homogenates of a 1 cm² plug taken from a plate but estimates of the latter by the dilution plate count method were much lower. In assays with inoculated rice grains, the quantitative ELISA method proved more sensitive than either the ergosterol method or direct plating of surface‐sterilized grains. The ELISA method also has the advantage of being highly specific and quick to conduct.     

Desmin as an immunochemical marker of human decidual cells and its expression in menstrual fluid

The expression of intermediate filament proteins in human endometrial tissue was examined. Desmin was selectively expressed in decidualized stroma, as demonstrated by SDS-PAGE analysis and positive response with a monoclonal antibody specific for desmin in ELISA and in western blot analysis. The same monoclonal antibody specifically stained human decidual cells in decidualized endometrium (secretory endometrium) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections prepared from diagnostic curettage samples. Desmin was also detected in menstrual fluid. Therefore, desmin might serve as a biochemical and histochemical marker of human decidualized endometrium.     

Intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma massively involving the gastrointestinal tract

A case Is presented of intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma seen In a 53 year old mate, which extensively Infiltrated systemic organs, Including the entire digestive tract from the esophagus to the rectum. Payer's patch Invasion was evident. Multiple Intestinal perforations caused death 5 months later. Surface marker studies suggested the marginal zone origin for this CD2CT B cell malignancy.     

Single-step nested polymerase chain reaction for detection of different genotypes of hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) exhibits considerable sequence variability and circulates in the blood at extremely low levels. Current methods for detecting HCV RNA are based mostly on nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in which part of the first amplification product is reamplified in the second tube by an internal primer pair. A novel nested PCR method was developed in which the two successive amplification processes are carried out in the same tube with a single step of physical manipulation. Careful selection of highly conserved sequences of the 5′ noncoding region as primers enabled successful detection of all three major genotypes circulating in France, including the one with variation in this region. Retaining high sensitivity of the conventional nested PCR, the novel method reduced greatly the risk of carry-over contaminations. It was also cost- and time-saving. The one-step nested PCR method is especially suitable for routine diagnosis of HCV infection in clinical laboratories. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effects of recombinant leukocyte interferon on serum immunoglobulin concentrations and lymphocyte subpopulations in chronic hepatitis B

To investigate immune effects of interferon (IFN) therapy in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B, serum immunoglobulin concentrations and peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations were sequentially studied before, during, and after therapy in nine patients who were treated with recombinant human -IFN in doses ranging from 3 to 10 million units per day for 28 days. Serum immunoglobulin A levels decreased significantly, from 414±23 mg/dl (mean ± SE) to 379±28 mg/dl (P<0.05), after the first week of therapy and to a bottom value of 323±20 mg/dl (P<0.001) at the fourth week. Immunoglobulin G levels decreased significantly, from 2603±175 to 2328±169 mg/dl (P<0.005), after the first week of therapy and to a bottom value of 2005±199 mg/dl (P<0.001) at the fourth week. Immunoglobulin M levels were also reduced significantly after 3 weeks of therapy (from 229±23 to 188±15 mg/dl;P<0.01). These reductions in immunoglobulins A, G, and M returned to pretreatment levels by 4 months after the end of the therapy. In lymphocyte subpopulations, significant depressions were found in CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, and B1-positive cells in peripheral blood after the first week of therapy (CD3, from 1700±114 to 1234±114/mm³,P<0.005; CD4, from 1036±88 to 780±64/mm³,P<0.005; CD8, from 620±57 to 426±60/mm³,P<0.05; and B1, from 519±84 to 276±48/mm³,P<0.01) followed during therapy, while Leul la-positive cells did not change significantly. During the 6-month follow-up period, three patients had a sustained clinical remission in which HBeAg disappeared from serum. Disappearance of HBeAg was unassociated with initial levels or percentage changes of serum immunoglobulins and peripheral lymphocytes expressing each of the test markers in these patients. These findings suggest that immune effects of IFN therapy are independent from its antiviral effects.     

重型乙型病毒性肝炎肝组织内T淋巴细胞亚群的观察

本文用抗CD_3,CD_4,CD_8McAb和ABC法检测21例重型乙肝患者肝大片,亚大片坏死区炎性浸润细胞中的T细胞亚群,CD_3~+细胞>70％,其中主要为CD_8~+细胞,CD_4~+细胞减少,CD_4~+/CD_8~+比值显著下降,与急黄肝和慢活肝比较差异显著。相反,非HBV感染性肝病患者非T细胞和CD_4~+细胞增加,CD_4~+/CD_8~+比值>1。提示重肝时T细胞可能参与了肝损伤,CD_8细胞亚群可能是介导肝细胞坏死的重要因素之一。还观察到相当数量的淋巴细胞和肝细胞HLA—DR抗原阳性,淋巴细胞与膜型HBAg(+)肝细胞密切接触。     

Preferential expansion of Ly-1 B and CD4 CD8 T cells in the polyclonal lymphocyte responses to murine T.cruzi infection

Acute murine infection with T.cruzi results in polyclonal lymphocyteresponses manifested by blast transformation of a large fractionof B, CD4+, and CD8+ cells. We describe here the finding ofsignificant increases in the splenic representation of minorpopulations, Ly-1+ B cells and CD4-CD8- T cells. These lymphocytepopulations might play an important role in the host response,as shown by T.cruzi infection of hosts that had been lethallyirradiated and reconstituted with autologous bone marrow. Underthese conditions, the splenic polyclonal PFC responses are nearlyabrogated, and not restored by the transfer of syngeneic peritonealcells which, however, reconstitute T15 idiotype production inthe same hosts. Control levels of PFC responses, however, arereconstituted by transfer of syngeneic splenic T cells. Sincebone marrow-reconstituted animals contain normal numbers ofCD4+ and CD8+ T cells which are actually activated by infection,these results suggest the participation of other T cell populationsin the host response to infection, as also suggested by themarked increases in T cell receptor and messages detectedin the spleen of infected animals. The implications of thesefindings in immunopathology of Chagas' disease are discussed.