Recognition of a novel naturally processed, A2 restricted, HCV-NS4 epitope triggers IFN-gamma release in absence of detectable cytopathicity

Using short term CTL lines derived from HLA A2/K^b transgenic mice and IFN-gamma release assays we demonstrate that the NS4.1769 epitope, is generated from natural processing of the NS4 antigen, and presented in the context of the A2/K^b molecules. Interestingly, T cell recognition of the naturally processed form of the NS4.1769 epitope was associated with significant IFN-gamma release, but no direct cytolytic activity. Epitopes of this phenotype might be of interest, in terms of therapy of chronic HCV infection by associating the benefit of localized lymphokine release with low or absent direct cytopathicity.     

Assessment of the role of "enkephalinase" in cholecystokinin inactivation

Cholecystokinin octapeptide and the C-terminal tetrapeptide are hydrolysed by a highly purified preparation of "enkephalinase" (EC 3.4.24.11). In both cases the Asp-PheNH2 bond is hydrolysed and the Gly4-Trp5 bond of the octapeptide is also cleaved, though more slowly. Evaluated from the appearance of Phe-NH2, the Km for the hydrolysis of the octapeptide by the purified peptidase is 57 microM and that for the tetrapeptide 65 microM. The apparent affinities of these peptides for the enzyme in striatal membranes are similar. The importance of this hydrolysis in the inactivation of endogenous cholecystokinin was assessed by studying the fate of cholecystokinin immunoreactivity released from slices of rat cerebral cortex and striatum by depolarization with potassium. In the absence of any peptidase inhibitor only 16% of the peptide released from the tissue was recovered in immunoreactive form in the medium, indicating that endogenous cholecystokinin octapeptide is, like other neuropeptides, rapidly and extensively hydrolysed following release. Selective inhibition of "enkephalinase" by Thiorphan (DL-3-mercapto-2-benzylpropanoyl glycine) did not significantly alter the recovery from slices of cerebral cortex and had only a very slight effect in the case of striatal slices. This suggests that, while cholecystokinin octapeptide is a substrate for "enkephalinase", this enzyme plays a less important (if any) role in the inactivation of endogenous cholecystokinin than for the opioid peptides.     

两种兔源内毒素结合蛋白的分离、纯化及其体外生物学活性的对比研究

目的　从烧伤合并内毒素血症致多器官损害家兔血清中分离纯化内毒素结合蛋白 ,并初步对比研究它们的生物学活性。方法　兔血清蛋白质通过二步离子交换层析 (Bio Rex 70Resin、Mono Q)及凝胶过滤分离纯化 ,并经流式细胞分析实验、绵羊红细胞凝聚实验、氨基末端氨基酸残基测序等方法鉴定 ,再将所获蛋白质作用于体外培养的人单核细胞 (U937) ,观测其分泌TNFα等细胞因子的生物效应。结果　获得两种具有促进内毒素 (LPS)与外周血单核细胞 (PBMC)结合的蛋白质 ,其中一种相对分子质量为 6 0× 10 4 ,其N端 10个氨基酸序列为TNPGLITRIT ,证实为兔内毒素结合蛋白 (LBP) ;另一种蛋白质相对分子质量为 4 8× 10 4 ,其N端 10个氨基酸序列为GSQGTFTSEE ,与NCBI蛋白质库中的氨基酸序列进行比较 ,未发现相同序列 ,命名为p48。结论　p48与LBP具有相似的生物学功能 ,p48的生物学活性稍弱于LBP。提示体内除LBP外 ,p48也同样起着介导LPS的毒性作用。这可能是近年国外研究中阻断LBP的活性后 ,机体毒性反应并无明显减轻的原因之一。     

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.     

阳离子交换色谱柱上聚合血红蛋白研究

采用柱上聚合的方法制备血红蛋白溶液，解决传统血红蛋白聚合过程中由于戊二醛的活性过高导致平均分子量大、产物分子量分布宽的问题。该方法利用阳离子交换剂对修饰度（聚合度）小的血红蛋白吸附能力大的原理，使其在柱上富积，同时加入戊二醛进行聚合反应。结果表明该方法能比较有效地缩小聚合血红蛋白的分子量分布。     

Substance P and somatostatin metabolism in sympathetic and special sensory ganglia in vitro

Mechanisms regulating the content of the putative peptide transmitters, substance P and somatostatin, were examined in several neuronal populations in culture. Substance P levels increased more than 25-fold within 48 h in sympathetic neurons in the explanted rat superior cervical ganglion, and remained elevated for 4 weeks. Identity of the peptide was authenticated by combined high pressure liquid chromatography-radioimmunoassay. Veratridine prevented the increase of substance P in vitro, and tetrodotoxin blocked the veratridine effect, suggesting that sodium ion influx and membrane depolarization prevent peptide elevation. Veratridine (or potassium)-induced membrane depolarization released substance P into the culture medium through a calcium-dependent process. Consequently, at least some veratridine effects are attributable to release and subsequent depletion of ganglion peptide. However, the inhibitory effects of veratridine were far greater than could be accounted for by the quantity of peptide released, suggesting a separate influence on net synthesis (synthesis less catabolism) of substance P. Viewed in conjunction with previous in vivo studies, our observations suggest that trans-synaptic impulses, through the mediation of postsynaptic sodium flux, release substance P from sympathetic neurons and also regulate intracellular peptide metabolism. To determine whether the processes regulating substance P in sympathetic neurons reflect generalized mechanisms, a different peptide, somatostatin, was examined in sympathetic neurons; moreover, substance P was examined in a different neuronal population, special sensory neurons in the nodose ganglion. Substance P levels increased significantly in both sympathetic and sensory neurons after explantation, and somatostatin levels increased in sympathetic neurons. In each instance, the increase was dependent upon the presence of the calcium ions. Moreover, these increases were all prevented by veratridine, in a tetrodotoxin-sensitive manner. Our observations suggest that common regulatory mechanisms govern peptide transmitter metabolism in diverse neuronal populations.     

抗Ig融合蛋白Fc段单克隆抗体的制备、鉴定与应用研究

目的：制备并鉴定抗Ig融合蛋白Fc段的单克隆抗体(mAb)，建立用于检测Ig融合蛋白的夹心ELISA法和纯化Fc融合蛋白的亲和层析法。方法：以hBCMA—Ig融合蛋白为抗原免疫BALB／c小鼠，通过细胞融合制备抗Fc段mAb，用ELISA等方法鉴定mAb的Ig亚类、表位以及种属特异性，建立用于检测Ig融合蛋白的夹心ELISA法;Western blot检测mAb对变性Ig融合蛋白的反应性。将mAb与Sepharose4B交联，制备亲和层析柱，对LAIR1-Ig融合蛋白进行纯化。结果：获得7株稳定分泌抗Fc段mAb的杂交瘤(FMUFcl-FMUFc7)。利用FMUFc4作为包被mAb，FMUFc5作为酶标记mAb，成功地建立了检测Ig融合蛋白的ELISA法，敏感度达到2μg／L；在7株mAb中，FMUFc6可用于Ig融合蛋白的western blot检测。用FMUFc 6mAb制备的亲和层析柱，可有效地纯化LAIRl—Ig融合蛋白。结论：成功地制备了抗Ig融合蛋白Fc段的mAb，建立了可用于Ig融合蛋白检测和纯化的方法，为Ig融合蛋白的应用提供了有力手段。     

纹状体源性神经营养因子的分离纯化和生物鉴定

纹状体是中脑黑质多巴胺神经元的主要靶组织，我们先前的研究曾指出，纹状体提取液能增一外培养的中脑黑质神经元的存活和发育，本研究是在此基础一步应用ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－７５凝胶层析、高效液相色谱（ＨＰＬＣ）、反相高效液相色谱（Ｒ－ＨＰＬＣ），ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ等的分析，结合生物鉴定，从纹状体提取液中分离出化的活性因子－－纹关腐朽源性神经营养因子。该因子的分子量为１１．５ｋＤ，等电点为９．３９，它能促进体外     

Dopaminergic agents differentially alter β-endorphin processing patterns in the rat pituitary neurointermediate lobe

We have established the content and molecular species of immunoreactive β-endorphin (ir-β-END) and immunoreactive N-acetyl-endorphin (ir-Nac-END) in rat neurointermediate lobe by specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) and high-performance liquid chromatography after chronic administration of dopamine (DA) agonists and antagonists. The DA agonist, bromocriptine, reduces tissue levels of all major immunoreactive species, in particular the C-terminally shortened N-acetylated forms. The DA antagonist, haloperidol, proportionally increases all immunoreactive forms, except Nac-β-END_1–27, thus altering the relative abundance of this species. These data indicate that DA is involved in the control of both tissue levels and processing of β-END-like peptides in the rat neurointermediate lobe.     

Michael Addition Polymerizations of Trifunctional Amines with Divinyl Sulfone

Summary: The mechanisms of the Michael addition polymerization of N‐aminoethyl piperazine (AEPZ) with divinyl sulfone (DVS) were clarified based on the reactivity sequence of three different amines in AEPZ: 2° amine in piperazine ring > 1° amine ≫ 2° amine formed in situ. When the feed molar ratio of DVS to AEPZ was 1:1, the polymerization of AB intermediate formed proceeded, and the linear poly(sulfone amine) containing secondary and tertiary amines in the backbones were produced. The linear structure of the product was confirmed by NMR spectra, and the molecular weights, molecular weight distribution, and properties of poly(sulfone amine)s were characterized by GPC, DSC, and TGA.

Polymerization of linear poly(DVS‐AEPZ).