A poliovirus neutralization epitope expressed on hybrid hepatitis B surface antigen particles

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope protein carrying the surface antigen (HBsAg) is assembled with cellular lipids in mammalian cells into empty viral envelopes. In a study to evaluate the capacity of such particles to present foreign peptide sequences in a biologically active form, in-phase insertions were created in the S gene encoding the major envelope protein. One of the sequences inserted was a synthetic DNA fragment encoding a poliovirus neutralization epitope. Mammalian cells expressing the modified gene secreted hybrid particles closely resembling authentic 22-nanometer HBsAg particles. These particles reacted with a poliovirus-specific monoclonal antibody and induced neutralizing antibodies against poliovirus. The results indicate that empty viral envelopes of HBV may provide a means for the presentation of peptide sequences and for their export from mammalian cells.     

Enhanced immunogenicity of the pre-S region of hepatitis B surface antigen

The 55 codons upstream of the gene sequence encoding the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are called the pre-S(2) region. It has been proposed that polypeptides of high molecular weight that contain the pre-S(2) region should be included in future hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines. The pre-S(2) region and the S gene product [25 kilodalton (kD)] together compose a polypeptide of high molecular weight (33 kD). As an initial attempt to determine the relevance of the 33-kD polypeptide to development of an HBV vaccine, the murine immune response to pre-S(2)-encoded determinants as compared to S-encoded determinants on the same polypeptide was examined. The results indicate (i) the pre-S(2) region is significantly more immunogenic than the S region of HBsAg, (ii) the 26 amino acid residues at the NH2-terminus of the 33-kD polypeptide represent a dominant antibody binding site on the pre-S(2) region, (iii) the immune response to the pre-S(2) region is regulated by H-2-linked genes distinct from those that regulate the response to the S region, and (iv) immunization of an S region nonresponder strain with HBV envelope particles that contain both the pre-S(2) and S regions can circumvent nonresponsiveness to the S region.     

Failure of limiting antigen doses to selectively stimulate high-avidity memory cells

Mouse spleen cells secondarily stimulated with a small dose of antigen, which elicited few antibody-forming cells, produced antibodies of avidity no greater than that of antibodies synthesized by cells stimulated with an optimal antigen dose. This result is in conflict with the hypothesis that maturation of the immune response is based on competition for limiting amounts of antigen among cells with receptors of varying avidity.     

A transgenic mouse model of the chronic hepatitis B surface antigen carrier state

In an attempt to establish a model of the healthy carrier state in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, transgenic mice expressing HBV genes were produced. Fertilized one-cell eggs were microinjected with subgenomic fragments of HBV DNA containing the coding regions for the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and pre-S and X antigens. Either the normal (HBV) or metallothionein promoters were used to obtain expression of the HBV genes. There was no evidence of viral replication or tissue pathology. The integrated HBV DNA sequences were inherited in a normal Mendelian fashion. Three of 16 transgenic mice expressed HBV-encoded gene products to which they were immunologically tolerant. Expression was not tissue specific and may be influenced by the genomic integration site and cellular factors. Both HBsAg and pre-S antigen were detectable within the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelial cells. High serum concentrations of HBsAg were detectable and the secreted product appeared authentic as judged by mean density, morphology, mean particle diameter, polypeptide composition, and antigenicity. The absence of tissue pathology in these immunologically tolerant animals supports the hypothesis that cellular injury under these conditions is not a direct consequence of expression of the pre-S or HBs regions of the HBV genome.     

Anti-idiotypic antibody vaccine for type B viral hepatitis in chimpanzees

Anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-Id) that contain an internal image component that mimics the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) were used to immunize chimpanzees. Four injections of the rabbit anti-Id preparation elicited an antibody response to HBsAg (anti-HBs). The antibody specificity appeared to be against the anti-Id, since the anti-Id immunogen was shown to bind the chimpanzee anti-HBs. Two chimpanzees immunized with the anti-Id, along with two control animals that were either untreated or received a nonimmune rabbit immunoglobulin G preparation, were challenged with infectious hepatitis B virus. Both control chimpanzees developed clinical and serological characteristics consistent with an active hepatitis B virus infection, whereas the two anti-Id treated chimpanzees were protected from infection. Since chimpanzees provide a relevant model of a human response to hepatitis B virus immunization and infection, these results indicate that anti-Id preparations such as that described here might be candidates for vaccines against human diseases.     

The human immune response to the OKT3 monoclonal antibody is oligoclonal

The availability of highly specific and homogeneous antibodies to human T cells by the hybridoma technique has elicited new interest in the clinical use of antibodies to lymphocytes as immunosuppressive agents. OKT3 is the murine monoclonal antibody that has been the most widely used in clinical transplantation to induce immunosuppression. This antibody recognizes a membrane molecular complex, exclusively present on mature human T lymphocytes, which is tightly linked to the T-cell antigen receptor. The long-term therapeutic use of murine monoclonal antibodies in vivo is hampered by the intense antibody response that occurs in most human patients. Thus, when administered alone, OKT3 manifests its immunosuppressive activity only during the 10 to 15 days that precede the onset of sensitization. The results presented here show, by use of isoelectrofocusing, that the antibody response to OKT3, already reported to be restricted in its specificity (only anti-isotypic and anti-idiotypic antibodies are produced), is in addition oligoclonal. This restriction of the anti-monoclonal response may suggest that an efficient way to circumvent the sensitization problem would be to administer consecutively different monoclonal antibodies presenting the same specificity but distinct idiotypes.     

HIV-1-infected T cells show a selective signaling defect after perturbation of CD3/antigen receptor

The binding of antigen or monoclonal antibody to the T cell receptor for antigen or the closely associated CD3 complex causes increases in the concentration of intracellular ionized calcium and subsequent cell proliferation. By measuring second messenger production in primary cultures of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)--infected T cells stimulated with monoclonal antibodies specific for either CD3 or CD2, a specific impairment of membrane signaling was revealed. The HIV-1--infected T cells were unable to mobilize Ca2+ after stimulation with anti-CD3, whereas CD2-induced calcium mobilization remained intact. Furthermore, the HIV-1--infected cells proliferated poorly after CD3 stimulation, although the cells retained normal DNA synthesis in response to interleukin-2 stimulation. These results show that the signals initiated by CD2 and CD3 can be regulated independently within the same T cell; uncoupling of signal transduction after antigen-specific stimulation provides a biochemical mechanism to explain, in part, the profound immunodeficiency of patients with HIV-1 infection.     

Antibodies to peptides detect new hepatitis B antigen: serological correlation with hepatocellular carcinoma

The expression of a previously unidentified gene product, encoded by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome, has been achieved with a recombinant SV40 expression vector. Antibodies against synthetic peptides representing defined regions of this protein were used to screen cells infected with recombinant virus as well as tissues naturally infected with HBV. A 24,000-dalton protein (p24) was detected in cells infected with recombinant virus and a 28,000-dalton protein (p28) was detected in tissues infected with HBV. The peptides or recombinant-derived protein were used as antigens to screen sera from individuals infected with HBV. Specific antibodies were detected predominantly in sera from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The presence of p28 in tissues infected with HBV and the appearance of specific antibodies in infectious sera establish the existence of an additional marker for HBV infection.     

Anti-idiotypic antibodies bear the internal image of a human tumor antigen

Goat antibodies to idiotypes (anti-idiotypic antibodies; Ab2) that recognize an idiotype associated with the combining site of a BALB/c mouse IgG2a monoclonal antibody (Ab1) to human gastric carcinoma were used to immunize BALB/c mice and rabbits. A monoclonal anti-anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab3) of IgG1 isotype was obtained after immunization of mice. The Ab3 and the Ab1 showed identical binding specificities and bound with similar avidities to the same tumor antigen. The induction of Ab1-like Ab3 by Ab2 was not restricted to mice, since Ab3 could also be induced in rabbits. Both the mouse- and the rabbit-derived Ab3 bound the same gastrointestinal cancer-associated antigen as Ab1. These findings indicate that Ab2 induced the formation of antigen-specific Ab3, probably because it bears the internal image of the tumor-associated antigen. This Ab2 may therefore have potential for modulating the immune response of cancer patients to their tumors.     

乙肝病毒表面抗原基因转化番茄

将乙肝病毒表面抗原 (HBs Ag)基因与 Ca MV3 5 s启动子及 nos终止子构建植物表达载体 p1 3 0 1 HBs,直接法转入根癌农杆菌 EHA1 0 5 (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) ,以该菌株介导叶盘法转化番茄 ,得到抗潮霉素的再生植株 .抗性苗总 DNA经 PCR、Southern斑点杂交证实目的基因已整合到番茄基因组中 ,EILSA检测证明在番茄中正确表达了乙肝表面抗原蛋白 .     

Early signal transduction by the antigen receptor without commitment to T cell activation

The T lymphocyte antigen-receptor complex mediates antigen-specific cell activation, at least in part, through the production of inositolphospholipid-derived second messengers. Little is known about how second messenger events, typically measured within minutes of ligand binding, eventually lead to distal biologic responses such as expression of lymphokine genes. Several monoclonal antibodies directed against the receptor complex were tested for their ability to elicit transmembrane signaling in the parental Jurkat line and in a somatic mutant (J.CaM1) with a deficient receptor function. One antibody elicited substantial early Ca2+ mobilization responses in both cells but was unable to promote expression of the interleukin-2 gene in J.CaM1. In J.CaM1 there was a diminished production of phosphatidylinositol second messengers, and the elevation in intracellular free Ca2+ was transient. Thus, short-term Ca2+ mobilization does not always indicate complete signal transmission and lead to a full cellular response.     

Specific antigen in serum of patients with colon carcinoma

The binding of monoclonal antibody specific for colon carcinoma was inhibited by serum from patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon but not by serum from patients with other bowel diseases or from healthy volunteers. Of other malignancies studied, serum from two patients with gastric carcinoma and two patients with pancreatic carcinoma also inhibited the specific binding of monoclonal antibody. The levels of carcinoembryonic antigen in these serum samples were not correlated with their levels of binding inhibition. Such monoclonal antibodies may prove useful for the detection of colorectal carcinoma.     

Specific expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in transgenic mice

Two transgenic mice were obtained that contain in their chromosomes the complete hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome except for the core gene. These mice secrete particles of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum. In one mouse, HBV DNA sequences that had integrated at two different sites were shown to segregate independently in the first filial generation (F1) and only one of the sequences allowed expression of the surface antigen. Among these animals the males produced five to ten times more HBsAg than the females. A 2.1-kilobase messenger RNA species comigrating with the major surface gene messenger RNA is expressed specifically in the liver in the two original mice. The results suggest that the HBV sequences introduced into the mice are able to confer a tissue-specific expression to the S gene. In addition, the HBV transgenic mice represent a new model for the chronic carrier state of hepatitis B virus infection.     

用PCR和ELISA方法分析奶牛血清和奶中类乙型肝炎病毒

用人乙型肝炎病毒（ＨＢＶ）表面抗原（ＨＢｓＡｇ）和ｅ抗原（ＨＢｅＡｇ）ＥＬＩＳＡ试剂盒检测８５份奶牛血清和９３份奶样。结果测出３３份血清为ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性，其中４价亦为ＨＢｅＡｇ阳性；２２份奶样为ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性，其中１１份亦为ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性。７个双阳性的样本，用针对ＨＢＶ表面抗原基因不同部位的两对引物作ＰＣＲ分析，结果未能扩增出特异片段，排除了奶牛ＨＢＶ血清学阳性是由人ＨＢＶ感染所致。     

Human monoclonal antibodies to Pf 155, a major antigen of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Pf 155, a protein of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, is strongly immunogenic in humans and is believed to be a prime candidate for the preparation of a vaccine. Human monoclonal antibodies to Pf 155 were obtained by cloning B cells that had been prepared from an immune donor and transformed with Epstein-Barr virus. When examined by indirect immunofluorescence, these antibodies stained the surface of infected erythrocytes, free merozoites, segmented schizonts, and gametocytes. They bound to a major polypeptide with a relative molecular weight of 155K and to two minor ones (135K and 120K), all having high affinity for human glycophorin. The antibodies strongly inhibited merozoite reinvasion in vitro, suggesting that they might be appropriate reagents for therapeutic administration in vivo.     

Specificity of antigen recognition by human lymphocytes in vitro

Delayed hypersensitivity reactions in vivo are exquisitely specific, in terms of both a lack of response after induction of tolerance and a response after sensitization. These studies in vitro demonstrate that this specificity, at least at the level of antigen recognition, is probably derived from different populations of cells, each responding to different antigens.     

Maintenance of serological memory by polyclonal activation of human memory B cells

Production of antibodies can last for a lifetime, through mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Here, we show that human memory B lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells in response to polyclonal stimuli, such as bystander T cell help and CpG DNA. Furthermore, plasma cells secreting antibodies to recall antigens are produced in vivo at levels proportional to the frequency of specific memory B cells, even several years after antigenic stimulation. Although antigen boosting leads to a transient increase in specific antibody levels, ongoing polyclonal activation of memory B cells offers a means to maintain serological memory for a human lifetime.     

The nucleocapsid of hepatitis B virus is both a T-cell-independent and a T-cell-dependent antigen

One characteristic of the immune response during hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in humans is the vigorous production and subsequent persistence of antibodies of immunoglobulin (Ig) classes M and G to the nucleocapsid antigen (HBcAg). In this study HBcAg was shown to be similarly immunogenic in mice. When injected into athymic (nude) B10.BR and athymic BALB/c mice, HBcAg induced IgM and IgG class antibodies to HBc in spite of the absence of T cells in nude mice. In euthymic mice, HBcAg efficiently stimulated T-cell proliferation in vitro and helper T-cell function in vivo. The dual functions of HBcAg as a T-cell-independent and a T-cell-dependent antigen may explain its enhanced immunogenicity. Denaturation of HBcAg yields a nonparticulate antigen designated HBeAg; when HBeAg was used as the immunogen, antibody production required helper T-cell function. Although HBcAg and HBeAg are serologically distinct, they are structurally related, and in these experiments were highly cross-reactive at the T-cell level. These results suggest that the elevated levels of IgM antibodies to HBc and the enhanced immunogenicity of HBcAg during HBV infection in humans reflect the ability of HBcAg to directly activate B cells to produce antibodies to HBc in the presence or absence of HBcAg- or HBeAg-sensitized T cells.     

监测重组蛋白EgM9免疫犬的特异性抗体变化

[目的]探索EgM家族重组蛋白(EgM 9)与Iscom为佐剂结合免疫犬后血清抗体变化规律.[方法]利用间接ELISA法检测免疫组与对照组血清特异性抗体(IgG、IgGi,IgG2,IgA、IgM和IgE)的变化规律,并以Western-blotting方法进行验证.[结果]经统计学方法分析显示,免疫组与对照组特异性抗体IgG及其亚类IgG1,IgG2,差异极显著(P <0.01),而特异性抗体IgA,IgM和IgE差异不显著(P > 0.05).[结论]证实EgM家族重组蛋白(EgM 9)与Iscom为佐剂结合能引起犬特异性免疫应答.     

Carbohydrate dramatically influences immune reactivity of antisera to viral glycoprotein antigens

Analysis of the ability of heteroantisera, monoclonal antibodies, and antibodies to synthetic peptides to react with viral glycoproteins deglycosylated with endoglycosidase F revealed that the reactivities of most of the antibodies to these glycoprotein antigens were influenced by the attached carbohydrate moieties. All heteroantisera prepared in rabbits or goats to either fully glycosylated retroviruses or influenza virus were virtually unreactive toward the viral glycoproteins after carbohydrate removal. Analyses with a panel of monoclonal antibodies to purified Rauscher murine leukemia virus gp70 indicated that the reactivity of most of these antibodies improved while the reactivity of others decreased or remain unchanged after carbohydrate removal. Most of the antibodies to synthetic peptide sequences in the influenza virus hemagglutinin also improved in reactivity after carbohydrate removal. These data indicate that carbohydrate side chains on viral glycoproteins influence the immune response to these antigens, and the more native the glycoprotein immunogen, the more dramatic the carbohydrate influence. Thus the immune response to these glycoproteins is not simply a function of the immunogenicity of certain domains over others but rather is a direct measure of carbohydrate influences on the host's perception of the foreign antigen.