Chromosome mapping of human cell surface molecules: Monoclonal anti-human lymphocyte antibodies 4F2, A3D8, and A1G3 define antigens controlled by different regions of chromosome 11

Monoclonal antibodies 4F2, A3D8, and A1G3, directed against cell surface antigens present on subsets of human cells, were used to identify the human chromosome regions that code for the antigenic determinants. Human fibroblasts expressed all three antigens, and no cross-reactivity with Chinese hamster or mouse cells was found. Fourteen rodent x human somatic cell hybrids, derived from six different human donors and from two different Chinese hamster and one mouse cell line, were studied simultaneously for human chromosome content and for antibody binding as detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Concordancy with binding of all three antibodies was observed only for human chromosome 11. All other chromosomes were excluded by three or more discordant hybrid clones. Data from six hybrids containing three different regions of chromosome 11 indicate that it is the long arm of chromosome 11 which is both necessary and sufficient for expression of the human antigen defined by 4F2 while the antigen(s) defined by A3D8 and A1G3 map to short arm.     

Assignment of the human gene for the glucocorticoid receptor to chromosome 5.

Human lymphoblastic leukemia cells of line CEM-C7 are glucocroticoid-sensitive and contain glucocorticoid receptors of wild-type characteristics. EL4 mouse lymphoma cells are resistant to lysis by glucocorticoids due to mutant receptors that exhibit abnormal DNA binding. Hybrids between the two cell lines were prepared and analyzed with respect to glucocorticoid responsiveness and to receptor types by DNA-cellulose chromatrography. Sensitive hybrid cell clones contained the CEM-C7-specific receptor in addition to the EL4 type of receptor. Several sensitive hybrid cell clones were used for selection of resistant segregants by growth in the presence of high concentrations of glucocorticoid. These segregants had lost the wild-type CEM-C7 receptor, while the EL4-specific receptor was retained. To identify the human chromosome that was lost concordantly with the CEM-C7 receptor the chromosomes of hybrid cells were studied by alkaline Giemsa (G-11) staining and trypsin/Giemsa banding. All hybrids contained human chromosomes in addition to one to two sets of EL4 chromosomes. Human chromosome 5 was present in all hybrid cell clones that expressed the CEM-C7 receptor and it was absent from those that did not. This absolute correlation was not observed for any other human chromosome. We conclude that the human gene for the glucocorticoid receptor is located on chromosome 5.     

Mutations in MCT1 cDNA in patients with symptomatic deficiency in lactate transport

We identified 5 patients with subnormal erythrocyte lactate transport plus symptoms and signs of muscle injury on exercise and heat exposure. All had transport rates below the 95% envelope for normals. Three cases had rates 40-50% of mean normal. One was found to have a missense mutation in monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), the gene for the red cell lactate transporter (also expressed in skeletal muscle), at a conserved site, which was not mutated in a cohort of 90 normal humans. The other 2 cases had a different missense mutation (at a nonconserved site), which was also not mutated in the normal cohort. All 3 patients were heterozygotes. We presume that these mutations are responsible for their subnormal lactate transport, and hence their muscle injury under environmental stress; homozygous patients should be more seriously compromised. The other 2 cases had lactate transport rates 60-65% of mean normal, and their MCT1 revealed a third mutation, which proved to be a common polymorphism in the normal cohort. These 2 patients may be physiologic outliers in lactate transport, with their muscle damage arising from some other genetic defect.     

Progressive glomerular sclerosis in experimental antiglomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis

A model of chronic progressive glomerular sclerosis in experimental antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) glomerulonephritis was developed in Wistar rats. Wistar rats given the accelerated form of anti-GBM anti-body glomerulonephritis initially developed significant proteinuria and renal insufficiency associated primarily with a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with normal renal clearance of para-aminohippuric acid and with markedly reduced filtration fraction. The glomerular functional abnormalities were associated with marked glomerular hypercellularity due to leukocytic infiltration as well as proliferation of intrinsic glomerular cells with crescent formation. Late in the course of the disease, by day 21, GFR had fallen further, associated with a parallel decrease in the clearance of para-aminohippuric acid and a normal filtration fraction. At this stage, glomerular hypercellularity had diminished and was replaced by glomerular sclerosis. The model appears to be a reproducible form of chronic glomerulosclerosis and demonstrates that the chronic phase of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis is distinctly different from that of the acute phase. It provides a controllable setting to study the glomerular sclerotic process independent of the initial inflammatory changes.     

Rifampin and cell-mediated immune responses in tuberculosis.

To estimate the potential adverse consequences of rifampin therapy on cell-mediated immunity in tuberculosis, we measured in vitro lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen, and in vitro and in vivo responses to purified protein derivative tuberculin. Thirty-seven patients treated with therapeutic combinations containing rifampin were compared with 13 persons who had never received the drug. After initial improvement, responses to phytohemagglutinin became depressed in patients receiving rifampin for periods of 4 to 24 months. No significant changes were noted in lymphocyte responses to concanavalin A or pokeweed mitogen. In vitro and in vivo responses to purified protein derivative tuberculin were not altered. Because a favorable therapeutic outcome was achieved in all subjects, we concluded that rifampin does not have clinically significant immunosuppressive activity.     

Mesangial cell hillocks. Nodular foci of exaggerated growth of cells and matrix in prolonged culture.

To examine the capability of glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) to produce extracellular matrix, the authors studied MCs in culture by light and electron microscopy as well as immunocytochemistry. MCs were obtained from isolated rat glomeruli and maintained up to 12 weeks in medium containing 20% fetal calf serum. MC outgrowth of primary culture and of up to three subcultures showed characteristic organization consisting of bands of elongated or stellate intertwined cells. After confluency at 10-16 days, MCs continued to grow in irregular multilayers. MCs produced extracellular matrix material within 2-4 days after plating, and large amounts of matrix accumulated with time. By 2-3 weeks, foci of exaggerated MC proliferation, matrix secretion, and necrotic cell debris formed nodular protrusions, which gradually produced large hillocks. Immunocytochemical studies of MC outgrowths were performed on culture plates or on sectioned material with the use of specific rabbit polyclonal antibodies to isolated matrix proteins and FITC-conjugated, affinity-purified second antibodies. Within 3 days of culture, MCs elaborated fibronectin and collagen Types I, III, IV, and V. With time, strands of matrix, notably in the central mass of hillocks, stained extensively for these constituents. Staining for laminin was less pronounced. Smooth muscle cell myosin was regularly found on distinct intracellular fibrils and in the extracellular material of hillocks. Electron microscopy revealed the hillocks to be composed of elongated cells on the surface and stellate cells intermingled with matrix and necrotic cell debris in the core. The results show that proliferating MCs can be maintained in homogeneous culture for a prolonged time period. MCs produce large amounts of the extracellular matrix proteins (Type IV and V collagen, fibronectin, laminin), which are found in normal glomeruli. Cultured MCs also produce interstitial collagen Types I and III. MC hillocks show the nodular accumulation of matrix similar to that seen in the mesangium of diseased glomeruli. It is concluded that the in vitro model of prolonged MC outgrowth may facilitate the investigation of factors that govern mesangial matrix production. Such a model could be used in examining the response of the mesangium to defined inflammatory or metabolic stimuli.     

A recombinant envelope protein vaccine against West Nile virus

West Nile (WN) virus is a flavivirus that first appeared in North America in 1999. Since then, more than 600 human deaths and 22,000 equine infections have been attributed to the virus in the United States. We expressed a truncated form of WN virus envelope (E) protein in Drosophila S2 cells. This soluble recombinant E protein was recognized by antibodies from naturally infected horses, indicating that it contains native epitopes. Mice and horses produced high-titer antibodies when immunized with recombinant E protein combined with aluminum hydroxide. Immunized mice were resistant to challenge with a lethal viral dose. Sera from immunized horses, administered to naive mice, conferred resistance against a lethal WN viral challenge. In addition, sera of immunized horses neutralized West Nile virus in vitro, as demonstrated by plaque reduction assays. This recombinant form of E protein, combined with aluminum hydroxide, is a candidate vaccine that may protect humans and horses against WN virus infections.     

A recombinant West Nile virus envelope protein vaccine candidate produced in Spodoptera frugiperda expresSF+ cells

In this study, a recombinant truncated West Nile virus envelope protein antigen (rWNV-E) was produced in serum-free cultures of the expresSF+ insect cell line via baculovirus infection. This production system was selected based on its use in the production of candidate human and animal vaccine antigens. A defined fermentation and purification process for the rWNV-E antigen was established to control for purity and immunogenicity of each protein batch. The material formulated with aluminum hydroxide was stable for greater than 8 months at 4 °C. The recombinant vaccine candidate was evaluated for immunogenicity and protective efficacy in several animal models. In mouse and hamster WNV challenge models, the vaccine candidate induced viral protection that correlated with anti-rWNV-E immunogenicity and WNV neutralizing antibody titers. The rWNV-E vaccine candidate was used to boost horses previously immunized with the Fort Dodge inactivated WNV vaccine and also to induce WNV neutralizing titers in naïve foals that were at least 14 weeks of age. Furthermore, the vaccine candidate was found safe when high doses were injected into rats, with no detectable treatment-related clinical adverse effects. These observations demonstrate that baculovirus-produced rWNV-E can be formulated with aluminum hydroxide to produce a stable and safe vaccine which induces humoral immunity that can protect against WNV infection.     

Inflammatory responses and their impact on beta-galactosidase transgene expression following adenovirus vector delivery to the primate caudate nucleus.

An E1, E3 deleted adenovirus vector, serotype 5, carrying the marker gene LacZ was bilaterally microinfused into the caudate nuclei of 10 St Kitts green monkeys. The location and number of cells expressing transgene and host immunologic response were evaluated at 1 week (n = 2) and 1 month (n = 8) following vector infusion. A large number of cells expressed beta-galactosidase in some monkeys, exceeding 600000 in one monkey, but no expression was seen in three of 10. All monkeys had positive adenoviral antibody titers before vector infusion, indicating the possibility of previous exposure to some adenovirus, but only one showed a significant increase in titer afterwards. Inflammatory cell markers revealed an inverse correlation between transgene expression and the extent of inflammatory response. Dexamethasone administered immediately before and for 8 days following vector delivery, however, had no effect on transgene expression. The demonstration of significant inflammatory responses in the brain of some individual primates, including demyelination, indicates the need for new generations of adenovirus vectors, or the successful suppression of inflammatory responses, before this vector is suitable for non-cytotoxic clinical applications in the CNS.     

A West Nile virus recombinant protein vaccine that coactivates innate and adaptive immunity

A chimeric protein West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine capable of delivering both innate and adaptive immune signals was designed by fusing a modified version of bacterial flagellin (STF2 Delta ) to the EIII domain of the WNV envelope protein. This fusion protein stimulated interleukin-8 production in a Toll-like receptor (TLR)-5-dependent fashion, confirming appropriate in vitro TLR5 bioactivity, and also retained critical WNV-E-specific conformation-dependent neutralizing epitopes as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. When administered without adjuvant to C3H/HeN mice, the fusion protein elicited a strong WNV-E-specific immunoglobulin G antibody response that neutralized viral infectivity and conferred protection against a lethal WNV challenge. This potent EIII-specific immune response requires a direct linkage of EIII to STF2 Delta , given that a simple mixture of the 2 components failed to induce an antibody response or to provide protection against virus challenge. The presence of a functional TLR5 gene in vivo is also required--TLR5-deficient mice elicited only a minimal antigen-specific response. These results confirm that vaccines designed to coordinately regulate the innate and adaptive immune responses can induce protective immune responses without the need for potentially toxic adjuvants. They also support the further development of an effective WNV vaccine and novel monovalent and multivalent vaccines for related flaviviruses.