[Analysis of estrogen receptors in normal bone and bone tumor tissues]

Thirteen human normal bone and fifteen bone tumor tissues were assayed for estrogen receptor (ER) by Dextran-coated Charcoal method (Scatchard plot). The results showed that the concentrations of ER in normal bone tissues (15.12 +/- 14.68 fmol/mg pro) were higher than that of bone malignant tumors (8.04 +/- 6.71 fmol/mg pro) P < 0.05). The binding dissociation constants (Kd) of ER in bone tumors (18.46 +/- 27.10 x 10(-11) mol/L) was lower than those in normal ones (39.91 +/- 20.13 x 10(-11) mol/L) (P < 0.025). The percentages for positive score of ER in normal and tumor ones (23.1%, 26.7%) were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Our study indicated that the variations of concentration and affinity of ER in bone related to the tumor incidence. That cytosol ER content was decreased in malignant bone tumors whereas that of affinity increase suggests an impairment or change of an intact receptor mechanism in this tissues.

Measurement of ragweed-specific IgE in canine serum by use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, containing polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies

Using polyclonal rabbit and monoclonal mouse anti-dog IgE antibodies, we developed ELISA for measurement of ragweed-specific IgE in canine serum. In the ELISA, microtitration plates were coated with ragweed extract and sequentially incubated with canine serum, purified monoclonal or polyclonal anti-dog IgE, and conjugated goat antibody to mouse IgG or rabbit IgG. Serum ragweed-specific IgE values were measured by the 2 ELISA in serum samples from 60 ragweed-allergic dogs and in serum from 10 control dogs. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) tests were performed on these sera to compare results with those of the ELISA. Mean coefficient of variation between assays was 0.20 +/- 0.10 for the assay using the polyclonal antibody and was 0.17 +/- 0.10 for that using monoclonal antibody. Sensitivity was 0.6 U/ml for the ELISA, using polyclonal antibody, and 2.5 U/ml for the ELISA, using monoclonal antibody. Serum ragweed-specific IgE values measured by the 2 ELISA strongly correlated with PCA titers (P < 0.0000), but the ELISA using polyclonal antibody had higher correlation with PCA titer (r = 0.84) than the ELISA using monoclonal antibody (r = 0.59). The geometric mean ragweed-specific IgE value measured by the 2 ELISA and by PCA testing, was significantly higher (P < 0.0000). in allergic dogs than in control dogs. The 2 ELISA were specific, sensitive, and reproducible for measurement of ragweed-specific IgE in canine serum.

Binding of dog immunoglobulins G, A, M, and E to concanavalin A

The binding of dog immunoglobulins G, A, M and E to concanavalin A (Con A) has been investigated. A passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test was used for measurement of dog IgE, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for measurement of dog IgG, IgA and IgM. After the dog serum fraction was applied to a Con A-Sepharose column, sequential elution with different buffers was performed; 100% of IgE and IgM, 60% of IgG and 58% of IgA bound to the Con A-Sepharose. IgE was eluted by mannose, methylglucose, and methylmannoside. IgG was eluted by glucose, mannose, methylglucose, and methylmannoside. IgA and IgM were eluted by methylmannoside only. This provides a useful technique in the purification of dog immunoglobulins, especially dog IgE.

Purification and identification of polyclonal IgE antibodies from ragweed-sensitized dog sera

We have purified and characterized polyclonal dog IgE. Serum IgE was precipitated by (NH4)2SO4 and then purified by two different procedures. Ion exchange on DEAE-Sephacel, followed by HPLC using Tonen hydroxylapatite and then Protein G-Sepharose, produced a highly purified IgE fraction (No. 1) free of IgG, IgA and IgM as measured by ELISA, but recovery of IgE as measured by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis was low. Gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300, Con A-Sepharose and Protein G-Sepharose recovered 18% of initial IgE, 0.02% IgG, 0.4% IgM and 0.3% IgA. This IgE fraction (No. 2) was used to induce antibody production in rabbits. Western blot analysis was then performed for dog IgE fractions No. 1 and 2. Using the rabbit anti-dog IgE, a prominent IgE band with an apparent molecular mass of 226 kD was identified in fractions No. 1 and 2 subjected to nonreducing SDS-PAGE. This band also reacted with anti-human IgE, but not with anti-dog IgG or anti-dog IgA. Under reducing conditions the approximate molecular mass for the IgE & chain, estimated by Western blot using rabbit anti-dog IgE, was 73 kD, providing a molecular mass of 196 kD for dog IgE.

Christmas candy maker's asthma. IgG4-mediated pectin allergy

We evaluated a 29-year-old candy maker with no history of asthma who developed asthma after exposure to pectin, a compound manufactured from fruits and fruit rinds. Following eight years of employment during which he added pectin to a recipe for Christmas candies, the candymaker developed acute respiratory symptoms. Challenge testing with the pectin mixture caused a 40 percent decrease in FEV1. Skin prick testing was positive to the pectin extract. Total IgE was normal and pectin-specific IgE antibodies were not detected. A strongly positive pectin-specific IgG4 antibody response was present that was not detected in a control serum and could be inhibited by the addition of pectin. Antigen-specific IgG4 should be sought in IgE negative cases of occupational asthma.

The effect of training on the recovery from immobilization-induced bone loss in rats

We studied the effect of exercise on the recovery from osteoporosis induced by immobilization in growing laboratory rats. The right hind limb of male rats was immobilized by cast for 2 weeks. The rats were then divided into control and exercise groups. The controls were allowed to move freely in their cages and the exercise group was running for 1 hour every day. After 2 weeks immobilization, the ash weight of the immobilized tibia decreased to 85.2 +/- 0.6% (P less than 0.001) from that of contralateral tibia. After removal of the cast, the bone mass recovered and, in 9 weeks, the decrease of ash weight was reduced to 2.9 +/- 0.8% and 4.2 +/- 0.3% in the control and exercise groups, respectively. There was no statistical difference in ash weights between the running and control groups and the trabecular bone volume in the distal femur was also equal in both groups. Immobilization reduced the incorporation of [45Ca] into the tibia. After remobilization, the [45Ca]-incorporation was found to be significantly higher in the recovering leg than in the control leg. Exercise further stimulated [45Ca]-incorporation into the recovering tibia.

[Study of the estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor in human cervical carcinoma]

Three hundred and twelve different cervical specimens have been tested for estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) content with dextran-coated charcoal method (DCC). The results showed that the concentrations of ER and PR in normal cervical tissues were higher than those in malignant cervical tissues, and that the percentage of positive scores for ER and PR in cervical squamous epithelial tissues were higher than that in malignant cervical tissues. That the variances of ER and PR in cervical malignant tumors were not parallel suggested that the production or/and the mechanism of receptor action might be impaired. The percentage of positive scores for ER was not correlated with the clinical stages whereas that of PR was inversely proportional to clinical stages. That some patient with cervical cancer had high level of PR and had both ER and PR positive implied the possibility for endocrine therapy. The content and distribution of ER and PR in normal cervical tissues are consistent with the effects of sex hormone.

[Preparation of monoclonal antibodies against chorionic gonadotropin receptor and study of its characteristics]

We reported the production of monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against chorionic gonadotropin hormone (CG) receptor by fusing spleen cells of BALB/c mice which had been immunized by purified bacteria (Pseudomonas maltophilia) CG receptor with mouse myeloma line SP2/0. Four hybridoma cell lines secreting CG receptor McAbs were obtained (ED490 DG390, AB890 and GE590). The titers of specific antibodies of both mice ascites and culture supernatant were 10(-2)-10(-6) and 1-10(-2) respectively, by solid phase ELISA. Double-Immunodiffusion test showed that the McAb GE590 was IgG1, and the McAbs ED490, DG390 and AB890 were IgG2b Immunoprecipitation indicated that 125I-HCG could bind the HCG receptor which had reacted with McAbs ED490, AB890 and DG390, suggesting that they may recognize the receptor with different antigenic determinant. Interaction of McAb GE590 with the receptor showed that the increased concentration of GE590 was in inverse proportion to the amount of 125I-HCG binding receptor, indicating that both the McAb and 125I-HCG could recognize a common site of receptor and that increased concentration of McAb GE590 may induce some change in conformation and structure of the receptor. Our study suggested that these McAbs may be used for studying structure of CG receptor.

Total serum IgD is increased in atopic subjects

We have developed a sandwich-type ELISA system for measuring total IgD levels in the serum of atopics and non-atopic controls. In this ELISA system, affinity purified goat anti-human IgD was used for capture. Results were superior to those obtained with monoclonal anti-human IgD antibody. No cross-reactivity could be demonstrated to IgG, IgM, IgA or IgE. The assay showed minimal non-specific binding even with initial serum dilutions of 1:2. The results obtained were reproducible among replicates (Mean CV +/- SEM = 0.03 +/- 0.002; n = 251), between dilutions (CV = 0.08 +/- 0.006; n = 108), and between assays (CV = 0.05 +/- 0.12; n = 5). We used routine radioimmunoassay for measuring total serum IgE. Using these assays total serum IgD and IgE levels were measured in 75 atopic patients and 33 normal subjects. None of the atopics had recent immunotherapy. As expected, the geometric mean serum IgE in atopics (373 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in normal subjects (49 ng/ml) (P less than 0.01). However, geometric mean serum IgD was also significantly higher in atopics (20.3 micrograms/ml) than that in normal subjects (8.4 micrograms/ml) (P less than 0.02). In both atopic and normal groups, mean serum IgD level did not differ significantly on the bases of age, sex or asthmatic status. Furthermore, total serum IgD was not significantly correlated with total serum IgE (r = 0.14; P = 0.14; n = 108), indicating that immunoregulatory control of the basal levels of the two isotypes is not linked.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ragweed IgE and IgG4 antibody in nasal secretions during immunotherapy

We have developed sensitive amplified immunoassays for measurement of IgE and IgG4 ragweed (RW) antibodies in unconcentrated nasal washes. IgE to Amb a I (formerly antigen E) can be assayed to less than 0.1 ng/ml using IgE capture by anti-IgE on microtitre plates and an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated Amb a I with an amplification substrate technique. IgG4 to whole RW extract was assayed to less than 0.01 ng/ml by amplification ELISA using monoclonal anti-IgG4. Nasal washes (NW) (10 ml) and serum were obtained in December from 22 RW-sensitive patients before and after 1 and 2 yr of RW immunotherapy (IT), and assayed for Amb a I IgE or RW IgE and RW IgG4 antibodies Amb a I IgE could be measured in the NW of 15/22 pre IT, 19/22 at 1 yr IT, but only 3/10 at 2 yr IT (compared with pre-IT, P less than 0.05). Mean Amb a I IgE in NW was 0.66, 0.36 and 0.21 ng/ml at pre, 1 yr and 2 yr IT (P-values greater than 0.05). Mean serum RW IgE, was 76, 55 and 27 ng/ml at pre, 1 yr and 2 yr IT (P-values greater than 0.05). Amb a I IgE in nasal washes was correlated with RW IgE in serum (r = 0.56, P less than 0.001, n = 44). RW IgG4 was detectable in NW of 15/22 pre-IT, 18/22 at 1 yr IT and 9/10 at 2 yr IT (P-values greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Responsibility of tRNA(Ile) for spermine stimulation of rat liver Ile-tRNA formation

To determine whether tRNA or aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is responsible for spermine stimulation of rat liver Ile-tRNA formation, homologous and heterologous Ile-tRNA formations were carried out with Escherichia coli and rat liver tRNA(Ile) and their respective purified Ile-tRNA synthetases. Spermine stimulation was observed only when tRNA from the rat liver was used. Spermine bound to rat liver tRNA(Ile) but not to the purified aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex. Kinetic analysis of Ile-tRNA formation revealed that spermine increased the Vmax and Km values for rat liver tRNA(Ile). The Km value for ATP and isoleucine did not change significantly in the presence of spermine. Furthermore, higher concentrations of rat liver tRNA(Ile) tended to inhibit Ile-tRNA formation if spermine was absent. Spermine restored isoleucine-dependent PPi-ATP exchange in the presence of rat liver tRNA(Ile), an inhibitor of this exchange. The nucleotide sequence of rat liver tRNA(Ile) was determined and compared with that of E. coli tRNA(Ile). Differences in nucleotide sequences of the two tRNAs(Ile) were observed mainly in the acceptor and anticodon stems. Limited ribonuclease V1 digestion of the 3'-32P-labeled rat liver tRNA(Ile) showed that both the anticodon and acceptor stems were structurally changed by spermine, and that the structural change by spermine was different from that by Mg2+. The influence of spermine on the ribonuclease V1 digestion of E. coli tRNA(Ile) was different from that of rat liver tRNA(Ile). The results suggest that the interaction of spermine with the acceptor and anticodon stems may be important for spermine stimulation of rat liver Ile-tRNA formation.

Expression and release of interleukin-1 by different human melanoma cell lines

The influence of immunologic parameters on the clinical course of malignant melanoma is increasingly evident. However, it is not known which factors contribute to the immunologic host reaction against malignant melanoma. Because epidermal cells and, in particular, normal as well as transformed keratinocytes recently have been demonstrated to release various immunomodulating cytokines, the capacity of melanoma cells to produce interleukin-1 (IL-1) was examined. Accordingly, supernatants derived from different melanoma cell lines contained significant levels of IL-1 activity. Upon high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) gel filtration, melanoma cell-derived IL-1 (MEL-IL-1) exhibited molecular weight heterogeneity, and HPLC chromatofocusing revealed major activity at pH 5.0 and minor activity at pH 7.0. A monoclonal antibody directed against monocyte-derived IL-1 blocked MEL-IL-1 activity significantly and was able to precipitate four species of biosynthetically radiolabeled MEL-IL-1 (25, 17, 6, and 4 kilodaltons), suggesting that MEL-IL-1 is identical to monocyte-derived IL-1. This was also confirmed by Northern blot analysis detecting IL-1 alpha specific mRNA in melanoma cells by hybridization with a cDNA fragment encoding for IL-1 alpha. Thus, melanoma cells, like other epidermal cells, exhibit the capacity to release the immunomodulating cytokine IL-1 and, therefore, probably have the potency to influence host defense mechanisms directed against malignant melanoma.