Protein micelles of human histocompatibility antigens (HLA-A and HLA-B)

Human histocompatibility antigens (HLA-A and -B) are membrane proteins which have large hydrophilic domains outside the cell membrane and a small hydrophobic portion in the lipid bilayer. In this paper we describe optimal conditions for preparing micelles of detergent-solubilized HLA-A2 and -B7 antigens. These homogeneous protein aggregates are water soluble and free of detergent and lipid. Hydrophobic interactions between the intramembraneous portions of the HLA antigens are the driving forces in the formation of these protein micelles. The papain-solubilized fragment of the HLA antigens is not included in the micelle. The average molecular weight of the HLA micelles is around 9 × 10⁵ daltons, which suggests sixteen HLA-A2 and/or HLA-B7 antigenic molecules per protein aggregate. Electron microscopic studies revealed that the most frequent size of the micelles is 12 mm and that HLA-micelles are similar but not identical to micelles from Sindbis Virus glycoproteins (E1 and E2) The HLA-A2 and -B7 micelles retained full antigenic activity as judged by precipitations with allo- and heteroantisera. Such micelles will no doubt be important tools in further studies of the role of histocompatibility antigens.     

Structural difference between the two forms of guinea-pig beta 2-microglobulin and their occurrence in inbred guinea-pig strains

The structural difference between two forms (basic and acidic) of guinea-pig beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) has been established. Both forms are present in urine from inbred guinea-pig strains. The beta 2m forms were each digested with carboxypeptidase Y and carboxypeptidase A contaminated with carboxypeptidase B. Released amino acids were separated from remaining protein, dansylated and analysed by 2-dimensional TLC on polyamide layer sheets. From the results it was concluded that the basic beta 2m form has lysine and the acidic beta 2m form has asparagine as their respective C-terminal amino acids. The acidic form is also 1 amino acid (lysine) shorter than the basic form, which is supported by electrophoretic studies on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The presence of the 2 forms of beta 2m in urine from inbred guinea-pig strains 2 and 13, shown by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography, makes it unlikely that the 2 forms are a result of genetic polymorphism.     

Identification of parasite proteins in a membrane preparation enriched for the surface membrane of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium knowlesi

A subcellular fraction enriched in erythrocyte membranes has been isolated from rhesus monkey erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium knowlesi. Infected cells were lysed by centrifugation through a zone of hypotonic buffer and membranes isolated by equilibrium density gradient centrifugation in the same tube. The purified membrane fraction was shown to include the erythrocyte surface membrane by several methods: electron microscopy, identification of Coomassie Blue stained erythrocyte membrane proteins, identification of band 3 with a monoclonal antibody, and identification of radioiodinated cell surface proteins. The resulting ghosts were shown to be specifically reactive with monkey sera against the variant surface antigens of P. knowlesi by indirect immunofluorescence and membrane agglutination. No reactivity was seen with a monoclonal antibody (13C11) against the intracellular schizont surface. A number of metabolically labelled parasite proteins were enriched in this membrane function, including peptides of 277, 208, 173, 153, 134, 109, 80, 60 and 48 kDa and the variant surface antigens of variable molecular mass (180-207 kDa). These proteins were distinct from the major parasite proteins of total infected erythrocytes and isolated merozoites. The major glucosamine labelled glycoprotein of the internal schizont (230 kDa) was not found in this fraction. Moreover, no fragment of this parasite glycoprotein was found in this membrane fraction, indicating that no part of this molecule is transported to the erythrocyte surface. In contrast, the variant antigen of P. knowlesi, known to be on the erythrocyte surface, could be readily identified as peptides unique to specific cloned parasite lines. We propose that the other nine parasite proteins found within this membrane fraction represent a starting point for the identification of other parasite proteins transported to the surface membrane of the infected erythrocyte.     

Genetic analyses of gustation in the fowl

Preferences towards quinine sulfate (QS) and dextrose (DEX) were tested in purelines and reciprocal crosses of two lines of chickens that had undergone 22 generations of selection for high and low juvenile body weight. Parental line-F₁ comparisons provided evidence for non-additive genetic variation for hedonic sensitivity towards QS and DEX, though in opposite directions. Additive genetic variation appeared to influence the preference ratios for both stimuli at super-threshold concentrations. These results are discussed with regard to their evolutionary implications.     

Purification of biologically active rubella virus antigens by immunoaffinity chromatography

A general procedure for isolating biologically active rubella virus antigens (VPI, Mr = 61,000; VP2, Mr = 45,000; VP3, Mr = 36,000) by monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography is described. Complexes formed between monoclonal antibodies and rubella virus antigens were found to be stable either at low pH or in Tris buffer containing detergent and high salt, but were efficiently dissociated by 5% diethanolamine, pH 11.5, or 50 mM lithium diiodosalicylate buffer, pH 8.0. Chromatographically purified rubella viral antigens retained their antigenicity as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Biological studies showed that rubella structural proteins VP2 and VP3 had no hemagglutinin function while the mixture of VP1 and VP2 and VP3 directly demonstrated hemagglutination activity. These results indicate that VP1 is at least in part responsible for the hemagglutinin function of rubella virus.     

A monoclonal antibody (RH1-38) which inhibits multiple systems of cell-mediated cytotoxicity--I. Identification of a novel epitope on a killer cell surface bimolecular complex important in the cytotoxic response

This paper presents the initial characterization of a mouse monoclonal antibody (RH1-38) which blocks, in the absence of complement, three different systems of cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This monoclonal antibody markedly inhibits cytotoxicity mediated by human natural killer cells, a monocyte-like cell [phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated HL-60], and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes generated in a mixed leukocyte reaction. RH1-38 is not nonspecifically toxic to cells since antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity was not inhibited and viability as assessed by trypan blue exclusion was not affected. Inhibition is specific since control hybridoma culture supernatants, parent (NS-1) ascites supernatant, monoclonal anti-HLA and normal mouse IgG were not significantly inhibitory. In the NK system, the inhibitory effect appears to be due to binding of monoclonal antibody to effector cell surface since exposure of targets to antibody followed by washing yielded no inhibition of killing. Inhibition requires the antigen-binding portion of the antibody molecule and thus appears to be related to steric hindrance of an effector cell surface molecule which is important in the expression of cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Immunoprecipitation of surface-radioiodinated membranes from PMA-stimulated HL-60 cells and analysis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels revealed a bimolecular complex (195,000 and 125,000 daltons) without significant change under reducing conditions. Control immunoprecipitates yielded no peaks of activity. This monoclonal antibody should serve as a useful probe of the function and biochemistry of a killer cell surface antigen important in the expression of cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Since RH1-38 inhibits cytotoxicity mediated by at least three apparently unrelated effector cells, the relevant antigen may be part of a common mechanistic step. As the companion paper demonstrates, this monoclonal antibody does not affect the conjugation step, but appears to block a late step in the NK cytolytic mechanism. Thus, RH1-38 recognizes either an epitope district from previously-described anti-LFA-1 antibodies or alternatively recognizes a distinct functional killer cell surface molecule.     

Monoclonal antibodies to three distinct epitopes on human IgE: their use for determination of allergen-specific IgE

Three different monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against human immunoglobulin E have been obtained which specifically bind to human myeloma and polyclonal IgE. The antibodies showed high avidities for soluble IgE (0.7 X 10(9) to 3.3 X 10(9) M-1). These MAb defined three distinct epitopes on IgE. A mixture of these antibodies in combination with an 125I-labelled anti-mouse Kappa chain MAb has been used to measure allergen-specific IgE. This determination was performed by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay using allergen extracts coated to either chemically activated paper discs or to polyvinyl chloride wells. This method is 4-10 times more sensitive than other previously reported procedures. A similar technique has also been applied to detect individual allergens in immunoblots of allergen extracts.     

Quantitative determination of anti-dsDNA antibodies and antibody/dsDNA stoichiometries in prepared,soluble complement-fixing antibody/dsDNA immune complexes

We have investigated quantitatively the complement-mediated binding of prepared, soluble ¹²⁵I-7S IgG antibody/³H-dsDNA immune complexes to human red blood cells (RBCs). We have performed these studies by using a detailed modification of the RBC-CF assay [Pedersen et al., J. Immun. Meth. 38, 2692–2280 (1980)] which now allows for the simultaneous measurement of both ³H-DNA and ¹²⁵I-binding to the cells. Our results indicate that, in the case of three SLE patients, their anti-dsDNA antibody titers are sufficiently high that a small fraction of their ¹²⁵I-7S IgG antibodies (ca 0.1–0.2%) can be identified as specifically anti-dsDNA. We have also used an indirect method (with ¹²⁵I-labelled rabbit anti-human IgG) for the determination of IgG anti-dsDNA antibodies in complement-fixing antibody/dsDNA immune complexes that bind to RBCs, and the results of these measurements are in reasonable agreement with the direct binding experiments. These studies have also allowed us to estimate the antibody/DNA stoichiometries in complement-fixing immune complexes. The results of these experiments may provide a useful standard for the analysis of monoclonal anti-dsDNA antibodies.     

Localization of the disulfide bridges of human histocompatibility antigens.

Both papain-solubilized and detergent-solubilized human histocompatibility antigens have been treated with NTCB (2-nitro-5-thiocyanatobenzoic acid) which cleaves these molecules at cysteine residues. A study of the fragment produced has made it possible to deduce the size and location of the two disulfide loops in these molecules. The sizes of the two loops in HLA-B7 and in the mixture HLA-B7 + 12 are about 5100 and 6600 daltons, a size similar to that of the disulfide loops found in immunoglobulins. The disulfide loops in HLA-A2 may be smaller in size. The two loops are located in middle regions of these molecules; neither the N-terminal nor the C-terminal regions contain disulfide loops.     

Labeling of cells with ferumoxides-protamine sulfate complexes does not inhibit function or differentiation capacity of hematopoietic or mesenchymal stem cells

Two FDA-approved agents, ferumoxides (Feridex), a suspension of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and protamine sulfate, a drug used to reverse heparin anticoagulation, can be complexed and used to label cells magnetically ex vivo. Labeling stem cells with ferumoxides-protamine sulfate (FePro) complexes allows for non-invasive monitoring by MRI. However, in order for stem cell trials or therapies to be effective, this labeling technique must not inhibit the ability of cells to differentiate. In this study, we examined the effect of FePro labeling on stem cell differentiation. Viability, phenotypic expression and differential capacity of FePro labeled CD34 + hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were compared with unlabeled control cells. Colony-forming unit (CFU) assays showed that the capacity to differentiate was equivalent for labeled and unlabeled HSC. Furthermore, labeling did not alter expression of surface phenotypic markers (CD34, CD31, CXCR4, CD20, CD3 and CD14) on HSC, as measured by flow cytometry. SDF-1-induced HSC migration and HSC differentiation to dendritic cells were also unaffected by FePro labeling. Both FePro-labeled and unlabeled MSC were cultured in chondrogenesis-inducing conditions. Alcian blue staining for proteoglycans revealed similar chondrogenic differentiation for both FePro-labeled and unlabeled cells. Furthermore, collagen X proteins, indicators of cartilage formation, were detected at similar levels in both labeled and unlabeled cell pellets. Prussian blue staining confirmed that cells in labeled pellets contained iron oxide, whereas cells in unlabeled pellets did not. It is concluded that FePro labeling does not alter the function or differentiation capacity of HSC and MSC. These data increase confidence that MRI studies of FePro-labeled HSC or MSC will provide an accurate representation of in vivo trafficking of unlabeled cells.