Alloantibodies to PHA-activated lymphocytes detect human Qa-like antigens

Platelet-absorbed sera were obtained from placental clots after delivery by multiparous women. These sera contained antibodies that react with PHA-activated lymphocytes after the latter are separated from peripheral blood and expanded with interleukin 2. These alloantibodies did not react with resting T lymphocytes, but reacted with B lymphocytes, PHA-activated lymphocytes, or both types of cells obtained from some but not all of the T lymphocyte donors. Reactions against B lymphocytes were associated with anti-Ia-like antibodies on the basis of blockage by turkey antibodies against human Ia. Reactions against PHA-activated lymphocytes that were blocked by turkey anti-beta 2m were classified as 'HT'. Several antibodies were found to give reactions to HT determinants in separate panels of lymphocytes from Tel Aviv and Boston. The reproducibility of the cytotoxicity reactions was 89%. Altogether, 23 of 1100 sera were found to contain these reactions when screened by a panel of cells obtained from 30 individuals of known HLA phenotypes. Correlation coefficients were determined for all reactions, determining three clusters of significant reactivities: sera 965 and 1032 defined HT-2; sera SF48 and 1642 defined HT-3; and sera 1136, 1605, 1014, and 1227 defined HT-4. HT-2 was found to be inherited with HLA in 11 siblings from four families. Some of these antibodies react with antigens (non-HLA) containing beta 2m that were expressed on activated lymphocytes, but not on resting T lymphocytes, and did not react with thymocytes from the same donors of the peripheral lymphocytes. Our findings suggest that the HT alloantigens expressed on lectin-activated lymphocytes are class I differentiation antigens of a system analogous to the murine Qa system.

The large subunit of the fatty acid oxidation complex from Escherichia coli is a multifunctional polypeptide. Evidence for the existence of a fatty acid oxidation operon (fad AB) in Escherichia coli

The subunit locations of the five enzymes associated with the fatty acid oxidation complex from Escherichia coli were studied by immunotitration and chemical modification. Antibodies raised against the purified complex caused the parallel inhibitions of enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, while slightly stimulating 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. All five component enzymes of the complex were inactivated by treatment with iodoacetamide. The inactivation of 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase was rapid, whereas the four other enzymes were inactivated at much slower, but almost equal rates. All enzymes except for 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase were protected against this inactivation by either NADH or crotonyl-CoA. The reaction of iodo[1-14C]acetamide with the complex in the presence and absence of NADH resulted in the differential labeling of the large subunit only. These observations together with published results (Pawar, S., and Schulz, H. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 3894-3899) lead to the suggestion that enoyl-CoA hydratase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, cis-delta 3-trans-delta 2-enoyl-CoA isomerase, and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA epimerase are located on the 78,000-Da subunit, whereas 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase is associated with the 42,000-Da subunit. Additionally, this study provides further evidence for the existence of a fatty acid oxidation (fad AB) operon that codes for the multienzyme complex of fatty acid oxidation and that is located at 85 min on the E. coli chromosome.

Genetic diversity and ecological relationships of marsh frog populations in Israel

Allozymic variation in proteins encoded by 28 loci was analyzed electrophoretically in 340 mostly adult specimens representing 11 populations, 8 central and 3 isolated, of aquatic marsh frogs, Rana ridibunda in Israel, along a north-south transect of generally increasing aridity. In addition, geographic variation in 3 morphological variables of 144 frogs and in vertebral stripe color polymorphism of 262 frogs were also studied. The results indicate that. (a) Of the 28 loci examined, 12 (= 43%) are largely monomorphic in all populations; out of the remaining loci, 6 were locally and weakly polymorphic and 10 regionally and strongly polymorphic. (b) No fixation of alternative alleles was found in any of the 28 loci and 11 populations studied. The commonest allele predominated across all populations, central as well as isolates, (c) Clinal patterns associated with increasing aridity southwards and eastwards occurred in polymorphism, P; heterozygosity, H; and in allele frequencies of Esterase-1, Xanthine dehydrogenase, Aldehyde oxidase and Albumin. (d) In the 3 estimates of genie variation, mean number of alleles per locus, A, mean proportion of polymorphic loci per population, P, and heterozygous loci per individual, H, marsh frogs displayed average estimates of genetic variation. The 3 estimates were: A =1.14 (range, 1.18-1.57); P = 0.33 (range, 0.14-0.54): H = 0.069 (range, 0.032-0.094). (e) Central populations harbored distinctly more genic variation than isolated populations. (f) Genic similarity between populations was high. (g) Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were found in 8 out of 11 populations involving 8 loci, (h) P, H, and allozymic variation in several gene loci were significantly correlated and predictable by environmental variables, primarily those related to water and temperature. (i) A significant amount of morphological variation was found between localities for body length, foot length, and weight in both sexes. Body weight in females was negatively correlated with temperature; and all three morphological variables in females were predicted significantly by a combination of temperature and humidity. (j) The three vertebral stripe color phenotypes, gray, green and red occurred in the following frequencies: 0.59, 0.24, 0.17, respectively. The red morph increased clinally southwards and was significantly correlated with most temperature and water variables. The geographic variation in both the green and red morphs was predicted significantly by climatic variables, both colors blending with local substrates.The spatial patterns and environmental correlates of genetic and morphological variation in Rana ridibunda in Israel suggest that (i) protein polymorphisms are at least partly adaptive and that part is moulded by natural selection rather than by stochastic processes or neutrality; (ii) the environmental variation model seems to be a good predictor of genetic variation in marsh frogs; (iii) body size varies adaptively, presumably determined primarily through thermoregulation; (iv) the spatial pattern of the color polymorphism seems to be adaptively selected by at least two factors: visual predation and climatic determinants.

The BF locus and HLA: rare alleles coding for functionally active and inactive factor-B products

The genetic polymorphism of properdin factor B (BF) was studied in different populations. The rarer alleles, BF*F1 and BF*S1, occurred in Caucasians, were less frequent in North American blacks, and were not demonstrated in any of three Oriental populations studied. Two further alleles of BF, termed BF*FM and BF*SM, were found to exist in these populations. The BF*FM allele, which was found only in Caucasians, codes for a functionally inactive factor-B product, whereas the BF*SM allele (found in a single Chinese individual), like other alleles of BF, codes for a functionally active product. HLA haplotype analyses in individuals carrying the rarer alleles of BF revealed not only a strong association between BF*F1 and HLA-B18 and BF*S1 and HLA-Bw50 but an even stronger association between these BF alleles and alleles of the two C4 loci. BF*F1 occurred most frequently on a C4A*3,B*Q0 haplotype, whereas the BF*S1 allele was usually found on a C4A*2,B*1/B*Q0 haplotype. HLA haplotypes carrying the BF*FM and BF*SM alleles all carried the more common C*4A3,B*1 haplotype.

Functionally different T lymphocyte subpopulations determined by their sensitivity to complement-dependent cell lysis with the monoclonal antibody 4A

A human T lymphocyte antigen 4A (40,000 daltons) is defined by a monoclonal, complement- (C) fixing, hybridoma-produced antibody (moAb 4A). This antigen, which is identical to the previously reported antigen 3A 1, is expressed at quantitatively different levels on functional subsets of peripheral T lymphocytes as determined by the cell sensitivity to antibody and C. Peripheral T lymphocytes can be divided into two populations: 4A high-density T cells (4A increases), which are killed in vitro by moAb 4A + C, and 4A low-density T cells (4A decreases), which are not affected in vitro by moAb 4A + C treatment. The helper/inducer T cell lineage, defined by moAb Leu 3a, and the cytotoxic/suppressor T cell lineage, defined by moAb Leu 2A, contain both 4A increases and 4A decreases T cell populations. Functional studies by moAb 4A + C treatment show that 1) the 4A increases T cell population contains T helper cells, which are necessary for in vitro antibody production against red cell-bound determinant; 2) the 4A decreases T cell population contains the precursor T cells, which proliferate in vitro in MLC, and the precursor T cells, which are necessary for the in vitro generation of the alloreactive cytotoxic T cells; and 3) the cytotoxic activity of alloreactive T cells generated in CML assay is abrogated by moAb 4A + C treatment; 4) the activation of T cells by PHA and Con A increases the quantitative expression of 4A antigen.

Functionally different T lymphocyte subpopulations determined by their sensitivity to complement-dependent cell lysis with the monoclonal antibody 4A

A human T lymphocyte antigen 4A (40,000 daltons) is defined by a monoclonal, complement- (C) fixing, hybridoma-produced antibody (moAb 4A). This antigen, which is identical to the previously reported antigen 3A 1, is expressed at quantitatively different levels on functional subsets of peripheral T lymphocytes as determined by the cell sensitivity to antibody and C. Peripheral T lymphocytes can be divided into two populations: 4A high-density T cells (4A increases), which are killed in vitro by moAb 4A + C, and 4A low-density T cells (4A decreases), which are not affected in vitro by moAb 4A + C treatment. The helper/inducer T cell lineage, defined by moAb Leu 3a, and the cytotoxic/suppressor T cell lineage, defined by moAb Leu 2A, contain both 4A increases and 4A decreases T cell populations. Functional studies by moAb 4A + C treatment show that 1) the 4A increases T cell population contains T helper cells, which are necessary for in vitro antibody production against red cell-bound determinant; 2) the 4A decreases T cell population contains the precursor T cells, which proliferate in vitro in MLC, and the precursor T cells, which are necessary for the in vitro generation of the alloreactive cytotoxic T cells; and 3) the cytotoxic activity of alloreactive T cells generated in CML assay is abrogated by moAb 4A + C treatment; 4) the activation of T cells by PHA and Con A increases the quantitative expression of 4A antigen.

Spinal epidural abscess

Eighteen patients with spinal epidural abscess were seen at the Tientsin Medical College Hospital 1957-1977. Presentation was uniform, with back pain and local tenderness, fever and leucocytosis, then the appearance of neurologicaspol deficit, tending to paraplegia with 48 hours. There had been an infection elsewhere in 14 cases, one followed vertebral osteomyelitis and in three the origin was unknown. Diagnosis was made by lumbar puncture, either by aspiration of pus or myelography. The infective organism was Staphylococcus aureus in all cases. Treatment was by laminectomy and removal of pus and granulation. Of 12 patients with leg weakness for less than 48 hours before surgery, five made good recovery, four improved but remained with a disability, two were unchanged and one died. None of the cases paraplegic for over 48 hours showed any improvement and 2 died. The importance is urged of early diagnosis and swift and vigorous treatment.

The biochemical and genetic basis for the microheterogeneity of human R-type vitamin B12 binding proteins

R-type vitamin B12 binding proteins (R proteins) from human granulocytes, erythrocytes, plasma, and other body fluids were characterized by isoprotein banding patterns on autoradiograms after resolution via thin-layer polyacrylamide isoelectric focusing (IEF) gel electrophoresis. R proteins obtained from various tissue sources in a given individual show tissue-specific electrophoretic patterns. The desialated R proteins obtained following in vitro treatment with neuraminidase are, however, the same for any given individual and do not show tissue specificity. The differences seen in native R proteins (i.e., transcobalamin I, III, and others) obtained from different tissues are due to variations only in the sialic acid content. Granulocytes from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) contain both TC I and TC III, and these R proteins can be released in vitro by lithium stimulation. Normal granulocytes contain only TC III. Differences in desialated R proteins from individual to individual are due to a genetic polymorphism controlled by a single genetic locus (designated TCR) with two alleles, 1 and 2, which are found to be codominantly expressed in heterozygous individuals. The allelic variants of the desialated R proteins found in different blood cells and body fluids are controlled by only one genetic locus.

Brain abscess: a review of 400 cases

The author reviews 400 cases of brain abscess treated in China over 20 years. The commonest cause was chronic ear infection, with abscesses in the temporal lobe and cerebellum. Signs of increased intracranial pressure were present in most cases, localizing neurological signs in two-thirds, and clinical signs of infection in only 57%. The difficulties of early diagnosis may be considerable. Definitive diagnosis was dictated by the techniques available: when clinical features and ultrasound indicated a localized abscess, a burr hole and exploratory aspiration were used; otherwise, and in complicated cases, angiography or ventriculography were required. Antibiotics were given in full doses for an extended period. Aspiration was the initial treatment in 253 cases, with 22% mortality. Excision was the sole treatment in 128 patients, of whom 17.2% died. A further 76 patients underwent aspiration followed by excision; 25% of these patients died. There was no significant difference in mortality in these treatment groups. The most important predictor of outcome was the patient's condition when first seen. In 103 cases, signs of brain herniation were present; the mortality was 64% in these patients. In the 297 without herniation, mortality was only 8.4%. Early referral for specialist care, computerized tomography, correct choice and dosage of antibiotics, and the surgical methods in present use should make this a benign disease.

Inheritance and genetic linkage of transcobalamin II

The genetic polymorphism of the vitamin B12 transport protein transcobalamin II (TC II) was studied in the Caucasian population and in families. There are five codominent alleles of TC II which show a Mendelian mode of inheritance. No genetic linkage of TC II was found with gene loci for ADA, GLO I, Pi, HLA, AB0 and AK1. TC II like proteins could be detected on autoradiograph of PAGE in two patients with congenital homozygosity for functional TC II deficiency. These vitamin B12 binding proteins in the patients' serum were shown not to be normal R-proteins.

Studies on the phenomenon of latent propagated sensation along the channels. II. Investigation on the lines of LPSC on the twelve main channels

Applying an electric impulse at the Jing points and then tapping on the skin surface along the lines perpendicular to the channels, latent PSC of 12 channels was examined respectively on 200 patients at an acupuncture clinic. Of the cases examined, 68.5% were found to have positive latent PSC. No prominent difference was found among the 12 main channels. In patients with higher sensitivity of latent PSC and in those with marked PSC as well, the traces of latent PSC can be located simply by tapping (i.e. without electric impulsation at the Jing points), and the width of the sensitive lines is about 0.5 cm. Furthermore, in cases with marked PSC, the latent sensation lines were always found to be a continuation of the marked ones. These facts indicate that the latent PSC is a common meridian phenomenon in a large number of individuals.

Electrocardiogram made on ascending the Mount Qomolangma from 50 m a. s. l

In May 1975, one female mountaineer and eight male mountaineers of our country once more climbed onto the highest peak of the world Mount Qomolangma from the north slope. At the same time, we recorded 15 electrocardiograms while they were climbing from 7,600 m to the peak(8,848.13m) through radio-operated electrocardiography. In this report we mainly analyze the characteristics of electrocardiogram of six mountaineers who ascended the peak at the stage from 50 m a. s. l. to over 8,200m a. s. l. The result proves that although obvious changes after reaching an altitude above 8,200 m from the plain region should be those of indexes of heart rates, the QRS axis, Q-TR, Q-T/T-Q, P wave and T wave, there is no T wave diphasic, inverted, flat or abnormal shifting of S-T segment in the electrocardiogram of these outstanding mountaineers. This fully proves that those summit climbers are of excellent constitution and good adaptation ability to hypoxia. This also shows that the people who have been trained and acclimatized under hypoxia conditions (including permanent altitude residents and native lowlanders) can maintain normal physiological functions under ultra-anoxia for quite a long time.

Genetic mapping of the 21-hydroxylase-deficiency gene within the HLA linkage group

To document further the proposed genetic linkage between congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency and HLA, 34 unrelated families from New York and Zurich, with a total of 48 patients, 48 siblings and their parents, were studied. All patients were HLA genotypically different from the healthy sibs; when two or more children were affected in the same sibship they were always HLA-B identical. The gene for 21-hydroxylase deficiency was separated by genetic recombination from the HLA-A locus and from the locus for glyoxalase I-polymorphism. No HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C antigen was selectively increased among the 34 unrelated patients. Lod-score analysis for HLA-B:21-hydroxylase deficiency gave a peak for theta approximately 0.00 at 5.20 for females and 4.30 for males, giving a total peak lod score of 9.5 at theta approximately 0.00 when male and female lod scores were combined. Close genetic linkage between HLA-B and 21-hydroxylase deficiency was thus established.

Two HLA-linked loci controlling the fourth component of human complement

An electrophoretic polymorphism of the fourth component of human complement (C4) is described. Three patterns of bands of C4 were observed in EDTA plasma from a panel of unrelated blood donors and family members by using the technique of immunofixation electrophoresis. These patterns consisted of four fast-moving anodal bands (F), four slow-moving cathodal bands (S), or a combination of both the F and S bands (FS). The C4 patterns of bands were observed in EDTA plasma and not in serum. Family studies showed that this polymorphism of C4 did not segregate with HLA histocompatibility genes in a fashion governed by two codominant alleles at a single genetic locus. The family data are in agreement with the hypothesis that two different genetic loci control the electrophoretic patterns of C4. One locus controls the presence (F) or absence (f0) of the four anodal (F) bands and the other controls the presence (S) or absence (s0) of the four cathodal (S) bands. The C4F and C4S loci are both closely linked to HLA-B.