Immunochemical specificities of the combining sites of bovine immunoglobulins reactive with sepharose 4B.

Binding specificities of calcium-dependent and -independent bovine IgM and IgG reactive with unsubstituted Sepharose 4B were determined by competitive binding assays. The binding of 125I-labeled calcium-dependent bovine IgM to unsubstituted Sepharose 4B was most effectively inhibited by lactose which was about 100 times more reactive than galactose and melibiose. Other inhibitors were much less potent. With 125I-labeled calcium-independent bovine IgM and IgG, on the other hand, lactose was as potent as galactose. Melibiose was about 10 times less potent than lactose and galactose, whereas other mono- and disaccharides were much less potent. From these findings, the combining site of calcium-dependent bovine IgM reactive with unsubstituted Sepharose 4B may be specific for lactose, whereas those of calcium-independent bovine IgM and IgG specific for galactose.     

Identification and isolation of calcium-dependent and -independent bovine immunoglobulins reactive with sepharose 4B

Calcium-dependent and -independent Sepharose 4B-binding bovine serum proteins were isolated by affinity chromatography on unsubstituted Sepharose 4B using 2 mM ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid followed by 0.1 M galactose. They appeared in two different protein peaks by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200. The earlier eluted protein was demonstrated to be immunologically IgM, whereas the retarded one IgG. From these findings, Sepharose 4B-binding bovine serum proteins are suggested to be calcium-dependent and -independent immunoglobulins IgM and IgG.     

Preparation of latex sensitized with rabbit IgG antibody for slide reversed passive agglutination

A method is described for preparing latex particles sensitized with IgG antibody (IgG-sensitized latex) applicable to the slide reversed passive agglutination (RPLA) test. Soap-free latex (latex) was sensitized with IgG which had been isolated from rabbit anti-bovine lactoferrin serum using protein A Sepharose CL 4B. Unadsorbed protein-binding sites on the surface of latex were blocked with bovine serum albumin (BSA). IgG-sensitized latex that gave better agglutination in RPLA could be selectively obtained by centrifugation at 19 900g for 15 min in 0.01 mol/L glycine buffer (pH 7.3; specific gravity 1.042) containing 3% NaCl, 5% saccharose and 2% choline chloride. By dispersing this IgG-sensitized latex in 0.01 mol/L glycine buffer (pH 7.3) containing 1–2% BSA, a uniformly suspended, highly reactive, readily agglutinable preparation was obtained.     

孕牛血清中早孕因子的分离纯化

采用DEAE－Sepharose(DEAE-琼脂糖凝胶）、CM－Sepharose(CM-琼脂糖凝胶）等离子交换层析、抗孕牛全血清IgG-Sepharose 4B亲和层析等技术，分离纯化妊娠4－5个月健康孕牛全血清中的早孕因子（EPF），用玫瑰花环抑制实验对各阶段产物EPF活性进行检测。结果表明，经层析过柱后的CM－ⅡA提取物有EPF活性。经SDS－PAGE银染显色证实它含有分子量为21、67、80KD的蛋白，实验结果支持21KD的多肽为主要EPF活性物成分。同时实验表明了亲和层析对进一步纯化EPF是可行的。     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to bovine IgG1

Monoclonal antibodies were developed to bovine IgG1. In addition, production of monoclonal antibodies to bovine light chain is also reported. Monoclonal antibody specificities were initially determined by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. The monoclonal antibovine IgG1 was shown by a specificity-independent isotyping solid-phase enzyme immunoassay to be mouse IgG1 with kappa light chains. Ascites derived monoclonal antibovine IgG1 antibodies were linked to cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose and used for affinity isolation of bovine IgG1. The bovine IgG1 eluted from the affinity column was characterized using immuno-electrophoresis, acrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. Affinity chromatography using monoclonal antibodies provided both a verification of monoclonal antibody specificity and a rapid technique for the isolation of bovine IgG1. This technique may also be employed to remove IgG1 contaminants during purification of bovine IgA.     

Specific binding of bovine, ovine, caprine and equine IgG subclasses to defined types of immunoglobulin receptors in gram-positive cocci

One hundred and twenty bacterial strains were tested for non-immune binding of radiolabelled bovine, ovine, caprine and equine immunoglobulins. Bacteria possessing previously defined IgG receptors interacted in a well defined manner with purified IgG subclass immunoglobulins. Human group C and G streptococci carrying IgG receptors type III were capable of binding all IgG subclasses in the four mammalian species studied. Protein A-containing staphylococci demonstrated a restricted specificity with binding of bovine IgG1, ovine IgG1, caprine IgG1 and IgG2 as well as equine IgG(ab). Group A streptococci which can bind human IgG did not show specific reactivity. A new type of binding unrelated to the regular Fc-mediated binding was observed with equine IgG(T).The differences in specificity for IgG subclasses suggest that structures with binding capacity to streptococcal type III Fc receptors are different from staphylococcal protein A reactive sites. Inhibition experiments performed with purified immunoglobulins showed that individual IgG subclasses differed greatly in their inhibiting capacity reflecting differences in avidity.The high avidity and the broad, unrestricted immunoglobulin G reactivity of streptococcal IgG receptor type III indicate that human group C and G streptococci may provide a valuable tool for solid phase absorption of immunoglobulins from several mammalian species.     

Surface markers on bovine fetal lymphocytes and immunoglobulin synthesis in a congenital infection related to epizootic bovine abortion

Immunological parameters were studied among 23 late-term bovine fetuses. Epizootic bovine abortion (EBA) disease was induced in fetuses by feeding Ornithodoros coriaceus ticks on pregnant heifers. A spirochaete-like microorganism was detected in the blood of diseased fetuses and in inapparent natural infections in some abattoir-collected fetuses. Fetuses were classified according to stages of disease: EBA diseased (n = 10), EBA infected (n = 7) and normal (n = 6). Using flow cytometry, the presence of surface immunoglobulins (sIg) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) receptors were used to detect B and T lymphocytes, respectively. In peripheral blood of normal fetuses, most lymphocytes were identified as T or B cells, whereas about 20 per cent of lymphocytes in EBA diseased fetuses did not reveal the sIg or PNA receptor markers (null cells). Size and shape analyses by flow cytometry detected a population of enlarged lymphocytes in the EBA diseased fetuses. The numbers of cells bearing determinants reactive with monoclonal antibodies specific for bovine T cells (B26A and B29A) and B cells (TH21A) were considerably less than those expressing the PNA receptor and sIg. These results suggested that the monoclonal antibodies were binding to differentiation antigens which were not consistently expressed on the fetal cells. Radio-immunodiffusion was used to measure bovine IgM, IgG1 and IgG2 in fetal serum. The quantities of immunoglobulins were markedly increased in animals infected with the spirochaete-like organism (groups 1 and 2) and were assumed to result from fetal antibody synthesis.     

Functional implications for signaling via the IL4R/IL13R complex on bovine cells

IL-4 and IL-13 share a wide range of activities on monocytes, epithelial cells and B cells and thus play an important role in host defense. Many of these activities are not conserved among species as human, but not murine, B cells are thought to be responsive to IL-13. We previously demonstrated that human IL-13 is highly conserved at the nucleic acid level with a candidate bovine IL-13 cDNA homologue. Moreover, recombinant human IL-13 stimulates Ig secretion by appropriately activated bovine B cells. These studies have been extended to examining Ig class switching at both the protein and mRNA levels in addition to examining other markers of cellular activation. Our results suggest that IL-13 influences B cell differentiation by enhancing IgM, IgG1, and IgE production. IL-13 stimulation alone increases MHC class II expression and progression through cell cycle, although at lower levels in comparison to rboIL-4. The biology of the receptors for IL-4 and IL-13 is complex and raises several key questions with regard to IL-4-dependent and -independent mechanisms of host immunomodulation. Recent studies suggest that at least four chains are involved. These include the p140 IL-4 binding chain (IL-4Ralpha), the common gamma chain (gammac chain), IL-13 receptor alpha- chain (IL-13Ralpha-1) and the IL-13 receptor alpha-2 chain (IL-13Ralpha-2). We have recently cloned cDNAs for the bovine homologues of the IL-13Ralpha-1 and IL-4Ralpha chains and evaluated mRNA expression for a variety of cell types following stimulation. The expression patterns and their implications for receptor chain utilization in signaling via these key TH2 signature cytokines will be discussed.     

Role of complement S protein (vitronectin) in adherence of Streptococcus dysgalactiae to bovine epithelial cells.

The binding of bovine complement S protein (vitronectin) to Streptococcus dysgalactiae isolates from cattle with mastitis and the S protein's role in streptococcal adherence to bovine epithelial cells were investigated. All 25 clinical isolates of S dysgalactiae interacted with bovine S protein. None of the other streptococcal species tested bound to bovine S protein. The S protein-binding sites were saturable and highly sensitive to trypsin. The binding of bovine S protein to S dysgalactiae isolates was specific and could not be inhibited by other plasma proteins, such as fibronectin, albumin, fibrinogen, alpha 2-macroglobulin, or IgG. Similarly, streptococcal binding of bovine S protein was not influenced by the synthetic peptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, which constituted the host cell attachment sequence of S protein. In adherence experiments, prior binding of bovine S protein to S dysgalactiae enhanced streptococcal adherence to bovine epithelial cells. The enhancing effects by bovine S protein were abolished when the respective binding sites on the streptococci were digested by trypsin. Thus, bovine S protein could be an important mediator of adherence of S dysgalactiae to bovine epithelial cells.     

Comparison of the agar gel immunodiffusion test and ELISA in the detection of bovine leukosis virus antibody in cattle persistently infected with bovine virus diarrhoea virus

When six cattle persistently infected with bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) were inoculated with lymphocytes infected with bovine leukosis virus (BLV), a depressed antibody response to BLV was observed by ELISA which was due to a decrease in IgG1 synthesis. The ELISA was more sensitive and more reliable than the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test in detecting BLV infection in cattle persistently infected with BVDV. Decreased antibody responses were manifested in the AGID test by negative, inconclusive or weakly positive reactions: only two of the six cattle developed antibodies that generated positive AGID reactions.     

Binding of bovine IgG2a and IgG2b allotypes to protein A, protein G, and Haemophilus somnus IgBPs.

Immunoglobulin binding proteins (IgBPs) are thought to be virulence factors which enable pathogens to evade the host's immune response. Since bovine IgG2 is important in protection against pyogenic infections, the binding characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus protein A (PrA), streptococcal protein G (PrG), or Haemophilus somnus high molecular weight IgBPs to the two bovine IgG2 allotypes were examined. For PrA or PrG binding of IgG2, guinea pig red blood cells coated with specific IgG2a or IgG2b antibodies were used in a competitive binding inhibition assay with unlabeled and horseradish peroxidase-labeled PrA or PrG. To determine which sizes of H. somnus. IgBPs bind to the two IgG2 allotypes, immunoblots with H. somnus culture supernatant were probed with anti-DNP IgG2a and IgG2b. This detects only Fc binding because anti-DNP does not cross-react with H. somnus antigens. Both IgG2 allotypes bound equally well to PrA and PrG. However, IgG2b but not IgG2a bound to H. somnus high molecular weight IgBPs. The lack of differential binding of bovine IgG2 allotypes to PrA and PrG means that these IgBPs can be considered to be unbiased reagents in assays for detection of bovine IgG2 or for immunoaffinity purification. The differential binding of H. somnus IgBPs to the IgG2 allotypes indicates that animals having one allotype may be more resistant to H. somnus infection than animals having the other allotype.     

Immunochemical studies to purify rabbit and chicken immunoglobulin G antibody by protein A-Sepharose chromatography

The immunoglobulin (Ig) G binding properties of protein A made affinity chromatography with protein A an acceptable method for isolation of IgG in mammals. Rabbit IgG was isolated by fractionation of serum on a column containing protein A coupled to Sepharose. The IgG molecules of subclasses 1, 2, and 4 and their fragments containing the Fc region had this affinity, but not IgG-3. The second peak, after washing with 1M acetic acid eluate (pH 7.0) as shown in the Ouchterlony agar immunodiffusion test, was the IgG fraction. Similar studies on normal and hyperimmune chicken sera indicated that chicken IgG does not bind to protein A molecules. Further studies indicated that chicken plasminogen did not bind covalently to protein A molecules and subsequently did not interfere in the affinity of protein A to bind to IgG molecules. The inhibition of binding of chicken IgG to protein A molecule is still unknown.     

Differential complement activation by bovine IgG2 allotypes.

Immunoglobulin allotypes and complement (C) are known to be related to susceptibility to infection. Because bovine IgG2 is important in resistance to pyogenic infections and because its two allotypes, IgG2a and IgG2b, differ in sequence in the CH1, hinge, CH2, and CH3 regions, we tested the ability of these allotypes to initiate the bovine C cascade. Bovine IgG2a and IgG2b were standardized according to specific anti guinea pig red blood cell (GPRBC) ELISA activity using anti IgG2 reagents shown essentially unbiased for allotype. Complement activating activity of the allotypes was quantitated in a GPRBC lysis assay. With this system, IgG2b consistently had more than twice the activity in bovine C mediated lysis as compared with IgG2a. The fact that both EDTA and EGTA/Mg almost completely inhibited C mediated lysis of GPRBCs indicated that lysis was due to the classical pathway. Since antibody usually activates C by the classical pathway, this supports the supposition that activation was by the IgG2-GPRBC complexes. Flexibility analyses showed that IgG2b had a more rigid hinge than IgG2a, perhaps partially explaining the greater efficiency of IgG2b in C activation. Other mechanisms may include differences in glycosylation and in the amino acid at position 332. The difference in ability to activate C may mean that animals of the IgG2a allotype could be more susceptible to infection with extracellular pyogenic pathogens which are killed by C or by phagocytes after opsonization with IgG2 and C.     

Bovine immune response to papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD)-associated spirochetes is skewed in isolate reactivity and subclass elicitation

Papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD) is a growing cause of lameness of dairy cattle worldwide. Farms with PDD-afflicted cows experience economic loss due to treatment costs, decreased milk production, lower reproductive efficiency and premature culling. Cows exhibit both humoral and cellular immune responses to PDD-associated spirochetes. This study was undertaken to further characterize the bovine humoral response to PDD-associated spirochetes. Forty-seven sera samples collected from cattle (Field cattle) on three different dairy operations in Iowa were analyzed. In addition, sera were obtained from six young steers (Test cattle) that received a mixed inoculum of four previously isolated Treponema phagedenis-like spirochetes (1A, 3A, 4A and 5B) on two separate occasions. Relative levels of total IgG, IgG1, IgG2 and IgM reactive to each individual spirochete were determined. Field cattle had a higher mean antibody response to 5B compared to the other isolates and T. phagedenis. Test cattle reacted most strongly with 4A following initial exposure, shifting to a greater reactivity with 5B and a reactivity profile similar to field cattle following secondary exposure. No measurable IgM was detected. IgG1 was produced predominately in all cattle. Low to moderate levels of total IgG reactivity to T. phagedenis occurred with sera from all cattle.     

Studies on the binding and hemagglutinating properties of cholera toxin to human erythrocytes

The binding and hemagglutinating properties of cholera toxin (CT) were studied by competitive binding assays and hemagglutination inhibition. The binding of 125I-labeled CT to neuraminidase-treated human type B erythrocytes was most effectively inhibited by ganglioside GM1 among different inhibitors used. Other mono-, di-, and polysaccharides and glycoproteins were at least 10(5) times less potent inhibitors. On the other hand, hemagglutination of neuraminidase-treated human type B erythrocytes by CT was inhibited by lactose, galactose, hog A + H, bovine salivary mucin, porcine thyroglobulin, and fetuin, whereas that was not effectively inhibited by ganglioside GM1 at the highest concentration. These findings suggest that the predominant binding substance for CT on human type B erythrocytes is ganglioside GM1 and that hemagglutination requires some additional process since the interaction of CT with ganglioside GM1 is somehow different in hemagglutination.     

Preparation of anti-bovine and porcine mu chain sera

Absorption of anti-L chain antibodies contained in anti-IgM sera immunized with purified bovine and porcine IgM was undertaken by affinity chromatography on a column of Sepharose 4B, coupled with the normal follicular fluids of the respective species as an immunosorbent. Anti-L chain antibodies in both anti-IgM sera were completely absorbed without incurring reduction of the antibody titer, and anti-bovine and anti-porcine mu chain sera were prepared.     

Interaction of bovine immunoglobulin gamma 2 (IgG2) with staphylococcal protein A: evidence for IgG2a and IgG2b sub-subclasses in the bovine

The reactivity of bovine IgG with protein A is confusing with respect to which of the bovine IgG class and subclasses are reactive. We have, therefore, re-examined the interaction of bovine immunoglobulins with protein A. The results presented in this paper indicated that at pH 8.0 protein A binds only immunoglobulin of the IgG2 subclass. The bound IgG2 can be readily recovered from an immobilized protein A column at pH 5.0. Furthermore, the antigenic IgG2 eluted demonstrated two charged species which could readily be separated by ion-exchange chromatography. These results indicate that IgG2 in the bovine exists in two sub-subclasses, IgG2a and IgG2b. The two sub-subclasses of IgG2 could be rapidly isolated with a good yield in two-steps namely protein A affinity chromatography followed by ion exchange chromatography.     

Frequency of lymphocytes bearing Fc receptors and surface membrane immunoglobulins in normal, persistent lymphocytotic and leukemia cows.

Fluoresceinated, heat-aggregated bovine immunoglobulins (B-IgG) and human immunoglobulins (H-IgG) were used to detect a receptor for the crystallizable fragment (Fc) of the immunoglobulin molecule on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of cattle. The aggregated and B-IgG and H-IgG bound to the bovine PBL, but aggregated H-IgG was found to be more sensitive for the detection of Fc receptors. The specificity of aggregated H-IgG binding to the Fc receptors was established by demonstrating that antigen-antibody complexes inhibited this binding, and unaggregated H-IgG did not bind significantly to PBL. Double-labeling experiments suggested that all Fc+ cells have surface immunoglobulins (SIg), a marker for B lymphocytes. The percentage of Fc+ and SIg+ cells in normal animals was 9.5% (range 4-15%) and 16.2% (range 4.5-30.2%), respectively. Persistent lymphocytotic cows had 2.71 times more Fc+ and 3.85 times more SIg+ lymphocytes than did normal cows. Cows with lymphosarcoma had a lower percentage of Fc+ and SIg+ cells than did cows with persistent lymphocytosis. Cases with thymic lymphosarcoma and those with the skin form of leukemia had normal percentages of Fc+ and SIg+ cells.     

Monoclonal antibodies suitable for incorporation into a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of specific antibodies to Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were produced by fusing Sp2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells with spleen cells from BALB/c and ND4 mice that were immunized with killed Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona whole cells. Thirty hybridomas which produced antibodies (of the IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, or IgG3 isotype) that bound to epitopes on the serovar pomona whole cell antigen were identified by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Twenty-eight of these 30 mAbs cross-reacted in the indirect ELISA with at least one whole cell antigen prepared from 12 other pathogenic Leptospira serovars, and/or with whole cell antigen from the non-pathogenic Leptospira biflexa serovar patoc. The two serovar pomona-specific mAbs, which were designated M897 and M898, were obtained from the ND4 mouse and were both of the IgG1 isotype. In competitive ELISAs, M897 and M898 were inhibited from binding to the pomona antigen by bovine sera with anti-serovar pomona microscopic agglutination test (MAT) titres ranging from 100 to 6400. No significant inhibition was observed with pomona MAT-negative sera or with sera from animals experimentally infected with serovars canicola, copenhageni, grippotyphosa, hardjo type hardjobovis or sejroe. The epitopes recognized by M897 and M898 were both highly susceptible to sodium meta-periodate oxidation, indicating a carbohydrate composition. Neither of these mAbs reacted in immunoblots with the separated components of the serovar pomona whole cell antigen.     

Sheep macrophages express at least two distinct receptors for IgG which have similar affinity for homologous IgG1 and IgG2.

Ovine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) may express several IgG receptor (Fc gamma receptor; FcR) subsets. To study this, model particles (opsonized erythrocytes; EA), which are selectively handled by certain FcR subsets of human macrophages were used in cross-inhibition studies and found to react in a similar manner with FcR subsets of sheep macrophages. In experiments with monoclonal antibodies against subsets of human FcR, human erythrocytes (E) treated with human anti-D-IgG (anti-D-EAhu) and sheep E treated with bovine IgG1 (Bo1-EAs) were handled selectively by human macrophage FcRI and FcRII, respectively. Rabbit-IgG-coated sheep E (Rb-EAs) were recognized by FcRI, FcRII and possibly also by FcRIII of human macrophages. Anti-D-EAhu, Bo1-EAs and Rb-EAs were also ingested by sheep BMM. Competitive inhibition tests, using various homologous and heterologous IgG isotypes as fluid phase inhibitors and the particles used as FcR-specific tools in man (anti-D-EAhu and Bo1-EAs), revealed a heterogeneity of FcR also in sheep BMM. Thus, ingestion of anti-D-EAhu by ovine BMM was inhibited by low concentrations of competitor IgG from rabbit or man in the fluid phase, but not at all by bovine IgG1, whereas ingestion of Bo1-EAs was inhibited by bovine IgG1. This suggested that anti-D-EAhu were recognized by a FcR subset distinct from that recognizing bovine-IgG1. It was concluded that sheep BMM express functional analogs of human macrophage FcRI and FcRII and that Bo1-EAs and anti-D-EAhu are handled by distinct subsets of BMM FcR. All EAhu tested (EAhu treated with anti-D, sheep IgG1 or sheep IgG2) were ingested to a lower degree than EAs. This inefficient phagocytosis could be enhanced by treatment of EAhu with antiglobulin from the rabbit, suggesting that it is caused by a low degree of activity of opsonizing antibodies rather than special properties of the erythrocytes themselves. Several lines of evidence suggested that both FcR subsets of ovine BMM recognize both ovine IgG1 and IgG2. In contrast, bovine IgG1 reacts with one FcR subset and bovine IgG2 interacts inefficiently with all FcR of ovine BMM.