Immunological and In-Vivo Neurological Studies on a Benzoic Acid-Specific T-Cell-Derived Antigen-Binding Molecule from the Serum of a Toluene-Sensitive Patient |
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Authors: | Zeinab Khalil George M. Georgiou Henry Ogedegbe Robert E. Cone Faye Simpson Colin H. Little |
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Affiliation: | 1. National Ageing Research Institute, University of Melbourne , Parkville, Melbourne, Australia;2. Neuropsychology , Dementia and Memory Clinic , Doncaster, Melbourne, Australia;3. Department of Pathology , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington, Connecticut;4. Mt Waverley, Melbourne, Australia |
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Abstract: | T-cell-derived antigen-binding molecules (TABMs) specific for benzoic acid were isolated from the serum of a toluene-sensitive patient. The resulting purified TABMs (BA-TABMs) did not contain immunoglobulin G and were associated with the cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). BA-TABMs bound to benzoic acid conjugated to human serum albumin (BA-HSA), as well as to other chemicals conjugated to human serum albumin—including dinitrophenol and oxazolone. The binding of BA-TABMs to the conjugated chemicals increased the level of detectable TGF-β, and a similar effect was observed with the unconjugated chemicals, benzoic acid and 2,4-dinitrophenol glycine. The increase in TGF-β was critically dependent on the ratio between BA-TABMs and the conjugated or unconjugated chemicals; the increase was optimum at intermediate concentrations and absent at low and high concentrations. The authors used an established animal model in vivo and demonstrated that TGF-β enhanced the inflammatory response induced by the release of neuropeptides from sensory nerves; this enhancement occurred in a dose-dependent manner. The BA-TABMs also enhanced this neurogenic inflammatory response in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was blocked by anti-TGF-β antibody. When the authors added either BA-HSA or benzoic acid, the effect of BA-TABMs on neurogenic inflammation was further enhanced at intermediate concentrations of antigen and was unaltered or reduced at higher concentrations. TABMs specific to particular chemicals, as a result of their association with cytokines (e.g., TGF-β), may be implicated in symptom production in chemically sensitive patients. |
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Keywords: | Maternal occupation neural tube defects spina bifida |
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