Influence of adjuvants on the antibody specificity to the Plasmodium falciparum major merozoite surface protein, gp195

The effect of adjuvants on the specificity of immune responses to the Plasmodium falciparum gp195 protein was investigated using adjuvant formulations based on synthetic muramyl dipeptide and monophosphoryl lipid A derivatives, in parallel with CFA and alum. Although these immunomodulators were as effective as CFA in inducing an antibody response to gp195, there were distinct differences in the recognition of B cell epitopes by these antibody populations. We have also demonstrated that MHC control of antibody specificity can be related to the adjuvant used for immunization. In general, the potency of adjuvants, their ability to induce antibodies of a particular specificity, or their ability to overcome MHC control of immune responsiveness varied independently. These findings suggest a critical role of adjuvants in the determination of the specificity of the immune response to protein Ag. Thus, the influence of adjuvants should be a major consideration in studies on immunologic recognition, as well as in the design of modern subunit vaccines.

Influence of adjuvants on the antibody specificity to the Plasmodium falciparum major merozoite surface protein, gp195

The effect of adjuvants on the specificity of immune responses to the Plasmodium falciparum gp195 protein was investigated using adjuvant formulations based on synthetic muramyl dipeptide and monophosphoryl lipid A derivatives, in parallel with CFA and alum. Although these immunomodulators were as effective as CFA in inducing an antibody response to gp195, there were distinct differences in the recognition of B cell epitopes by these antibody populations. We have also demonstrated that MHC control of antibody specificity can be related to the adjuvant used for immunization. In general, the potency of adjuvants, their ability to induce antibodies of a particular specificity, or their ability to overcome MHC control of immune responsiveness varied independently. These findings suggest a critical role of adjuvants in the determination of the specificity of the immune response to protein Ag. Thus, the influence of adjuvants should be a major consideration in studies on immunologic recognition, as well as in the design of modern subunit vaccines.

Apatite formation on the surface of Ceravital-type glass-ceramic in the body

Previous studies on surface structural changes in vitro as well as in vivo of bioactive A-W-type glass-ceramics and Bio-glass-type glasses showed that the essential condition for glasses and glass-ceramics to bond to living bone is formation of a bonelike apatite layer on their surfaces in the body. Gross et al., however, had explained the bone-bonding mechanism of Ceravital-type apatite-containing glass-ceramic without mentioning formation of the surface apatite layer. In the present study, apatite formation on the surface of one of Ceravital-type glass-ceramics was investigated in vitro as well as in vivo. An apatite-containing glass-ceramic of the composition Na2O 5, CaO 33, SiO2 46, Ca(PO3)2 16 wt%, which was named KGS by Gross et al., was soaked in an acellular simulated body fluid which had ion concentrations almost equal to those of the human blood plasma. The same kind of glass-ceramic was implanted into a rabbit tibia. Thin-film x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopic observation of the surfaces of the specimens soaked in the simulated body fluid showed that Ceravital-type glass-ceramic also forms a layer of carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite of small crystallites and/or a defective structure on its surface in the fluid. Electron probe x-ray microanalysis of the interface between the glass-ceramic and the surrounding bone showed that a thin layer rich in Ca and P is present at the interface. These findings indicated that Ceravital-type glass-ceramics also form the bonelike apatite layer on its surface in the body and bond to living bone through the apatite layer.

Bone bonding mechanism of beta-tricalcium phosphate

It has been proposed that the formation of a surface apatite layer in vivo on surface active ceramics is an essential condition for chemical bonding between ceramics and bone tissue. To clarify the difference in bone-bonding mechanisms between surface active ceramics and bioresorbable ceramics, two experiments were performed using plates of dense beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP). First, plates of beta-TCP were implanted subcutaneously in rats for 8 weeks. Surface change due to bioresorption was observed with scanning electron microscopy. Formation of the apatite layer on the surface was investigated using thin-film x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy. Second, plates of beta-TCP were implanted in tibiae of rabbits for 8 and 25 weeks and subjected to the detaching test to measure bone-bonding strength. beta-TCP bonded strongly to bone. Undecalcified sections of the interface of bone and beta-TCP were examined with SEM-EPMA. However, by physicochemical methods, no formation of surface apatite layer was observed. These results suggest that beta-TCP bonds to bone through microanchoring between bone and rough surface of resorbed beta-TCP.

Rabbit antibodies against two different extracellular domains of human thyrotropin receptor possess thyroid stimulating activities

We have produced rabbit antibodies against synthetic peptides corresponding to the mid-region (amino acid residues 172-202, C peptide) and to the unique segment near the transmembrane region (amino acid residues 341-370, P peptide) in the extracellular component of the human thyrotropin (TSH) receptor and evaluated their biological activities. Both anti-C peptide antibodies raised in two rabbits showed strong thyroid stimulating activities (TSAb) (4127% and 2548%). Anti-P peptide antibodies raised in two rabbits were also strongly positive for TSAb activities (359% and 3468%). However, none of these antibodies had TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII) activities. These results suggest that the domains responsible for TSAb are likely to span the entire extracellular component of the TSH receptor.

[Tumor-forming type IgA (kappa) multiple myeloma developed into polyclonal hyper gamma-globulinemia after M-protein loss]

A 77 year-old female admitted with costal and right clavicular tumors and multiple osteolytic lesions. In January 1983, a diagnosis of mature type plasmacytoma was made based on the histopathological examination of the right clavicular tumor. The amounts of serum protein and IgA (kappa) M-protein were 7.5 g/dl and 2.1 g/dl, respectively. A myelogram revealed 21% of mature plasma cells with 31.3 x 10(4) nucleated cells/microliter. Four months later following a chemotherapy started in March 1983, the tumor size became smaller with undetected M-protein by an immunofixation method. Besides, a serum protein analysis showed 24.6% of gamma-globulin and 1,980 mg/dl of IgG. However, in December 1983, the right clavicular and costal tumors regrew. The second biopsy specimen showed diffuse proliferated plasmablastoid cells which reacted only to anti-kappa antibody. By August 1984, the patient had systemic subcutaneous tumors as well as polyclonal IgG up to 3,356 mg/dl suggesting rapid progression of the disease. A myelogram showed 7.4% of mature plasma cells. In December 1984, the patient died of complicated obstructive ileus due to multiple mesenteric tumor. In this study we discussed on the role of M-protein loss and increased of normal globulin level in a tumor-forming type multiple myeloma.

The bonding behavior of calcite to bone

Plates of calcite (CaCO3) were implanted in rabbit tibiae, and their biocompatibility and bonding ability to bone were studied. The plates were also implanted subfascially in rabbit muscle for 8 weeks, and changes on their surfaces in the body were examined. Contact microradiography and Giemsa surface stain demonstrated direct bonding between calcite and bone without interpositions. The average failure load of the interface between calcite and bone was 4.11 kg, indicating an adequate strength of bonding. However, a Ca-P-rich layer, which formed on the surfaces of other bioactive ceramics in vivo, was not detected by a scanning electron microscope-electron probe x-ray microanalyzer. Scanning electron micrographs of the surface of calcite implanted subfascially for 8 weeks showed marked degradation and a rough surface. However, the surface apatite layer was not detected by thin-film x-ray diffraction analysis and Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy. Calcite is a biodegradable material that bonds to bone without a surface apatite layer. The mechanical bonding provided by the anchoring effect of the newly formed bone into the surface roughness of calcite is considered to be a major factor in calcite-bone bonding.

Partial degradation and biological activities of an antitumor polysaccharide from rice bran

A rice bran polysaccharide designated RON was subjected either to partial hydrolysis with formic acid or to partial degradation by ultrasonic irradiation. A significant change in the molecular size was also observed during simple chromatography of RON on a strongly acidic ion exchange resin, although the apparent molecular weight of RON had been assumed to be more than 1 x 10(6) daltons (Da). This fact indicates that RON exists as molecular aggregates, presumably mediated by metal cations. Degradation products with average molecular weights above ca. 1 x 10(4) Da which were obtained by any of the three methods still retained the following activities of RON: in vivo antitumor activity against Meth-A fibrosarcoma in mice by oral administration, and in vitro macrophage stimulatory effects to induce tumoricidal activity and interleukin 1 production. This molecular size was proven to be the minimum requisite for these activities because smaller fragments were scarcely active. The aggregation was characteristic of RON but not essential for its antitumor activity because definite, though slightly reduced, activity was exhibited even by the smaller fragments obtained after the ion exchange resin treatment.

Synthetic low-toxicity muramyl dipeptide and monophosphoryl lipid A replace Freund complete adjuvant in inducing growth-inhibitory antibodies to the Plasmodium falciparum major merozoite surface protein, gp195

The Plasmodium falciparum major merozoite surface protein (gp195) is a protective antigen against lethal malaria. However, increasing evidence indicates that the efficacy of a malaria vaccine will require a strong adjuvant that is safe for human use. We compared the efficacies of two low-toxicity synthetic immunomodulators, B30-MDP (a lipophilic muramyl dipeptide derivative) and LA-15-PH (a synthetic equivalent of monophosphoryl lipid A), with that of Freund complete adjuvant (FCA) in eliciting an antibody response to gp195. Rabbits were immunized with native gp195 and B30-MDP, LA-15-PH, or the two in combination, with liposomes as the vehicle. Aluminum hydroxide and FCA were used as reference adjuvants. Results showed that adjuvant formulations based on B30-MDP alone or in combination with LA-15-PH induced high antibody titers to gp195, as compared with FCA. LA-15-PH alone was less effective. Aluminum hydroxide induced significantly lower antibody titers. The functional activity of the rabbit anti-gp195 antibodies induced by different adjuvants was evaluated in an in vitro parasite growth inhibition assay previously shown to correlate with anti-gp195 immunity in the Aotus monkey model. All rabbits immunized with B30-MDP-LA-15-PH and two of three rabbits immunized with B30-MDP alone produced sera that strongly inhibited parasite growth. The degree of growth inhibition was similar to that with FCA. The antibody titers of the rabbits receiving B30-MDP-LA-15-PH strongly correlated with the degree of in vitro growth inhibition. Our findings provided strong evidence that adjuvant formulations based on synthetic B30-MDP and LA-15-PH can replace FCA as adjuvants in stimulating protective immunity specific for gp195.

Effects of injecting massive amounts of bioactive ceramics in mice

The effects of massive administration of bioactive ceramic powder (Bioglass (45S5), Ceravital (KGS), apatite-wollastnite containing glass ceramics (A-W GC), and hydroxyapatite (HA], by intraperitoneal (IP), intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous (SC) injection in Balb/c mice were examined in this investigation. Alumina, Silica Glass (SG), and A-W-Al (containing the same amount of crystal as A-W GC and 6.3% Alumina) were used as nonbioactive controls. The particle size of each material injected was smaller than 44 microns. In addition to the above, two more sizes (smaller than 105 microns and smaller than 255 microns) of A-W GC powder, and a 1 x 1 x 0.2 cm plate of the A-W GC were also evaluated. When the particle size was smaller than 44 microns, intraperitoneal injections of 5 mg per g of body weight of BG, KGS, A-W GC, and A-W-Al were lethal to the mice. Ceramics in fine powder form, which are generally believed to have higher bioactivity, are associated with higher mortality except A-W-Al. On the other hand, when the particle size of the ceramic was increased, the fatal effects of ceramic powders in mice decreased. Plate form of ceramics implanted I.P. had no systemic effects. Intramuscular or SC injections of bioactive ceramic powder with a particle size smaller than 44 microns had almost no systemic effects. Both the particle size of the ceramic powder and the route of administration influenced the reactivity of the bioactive ceramics in the mice. In conclusion, regardless of particle size, neither SC nor IM injection of large doses of highly bioactive ceramics had an adverse effect on the host (mouse).

Interaction mechanism between microtubule-associated proteins and microtubules. A proton nuclear magnetic resonance analysis on the binding of synthetic peptide to tubulin

An amino acid sequence essential for microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to bind to microtubules is presented [Aizawa et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 5885-5890]. A synthetic peptide of 23 amino acid residues which corresponded to the sequence [tubulin binding peptide (TBP)] was active in binding to tubulin and inducing its assembly. The TBP-tubulin interaction mechanism was analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a simplified model for MAP-microtubule interactions. Intraresidue transferred nuclear Overhauser effects (TRNOEs) of TBP in TBP-tubulin mixtures were analyzed, and strong binding of two Val and two Lys residues of TBP to tubulin was detected. Among the sharply peaked signals from tubulin aromatic residues, those due to Tyr ring protons broadened upon mixing with TBP, suggesting the involvement of Tyr residue(s) in the binding with TBP. Irradiation of the tubulin Tyr protons resulted in an intermolecular TRNOE at TBP methyl proton resonances. Evidently, hydrophobic interactions between Val and Tyr residues are important for the binding of TBP to tubulin. Hydrophobic interactions have not been taken into account previously in the widely accepted electrostatic model for the binding of MAPs to microtubules.

Comparison of two kinds of cell packets of Micrococcus luteus by scanning electron microscopy: outermost layer maintaining the packet structure

Two kinds of cell packets of Micrococcus luteus, one having teichuronic acids (TUA) in the cell wall and the other lacking TUA, have been independently reported by two groups of workers. A comparison by scanning electron microscopy of these packets provided a possibly consistent interpretation for the seemingly conflicting opinions whether TUA were involved in packet induction. It was strongly suggested that the packets having TUA in the wall were rigidly maintained by a bridging structure of the outermost layer of the peripheral wall, while the packets lacking TUA showed low contribution of the outermost layer to the bridging structure probably due to the absence of TUA.

[Studies of antigens related to metabolic and growth inhibitions of Staphylococcus aureus L-form]

Metabolic and growth inhibiting activities in immunoglobulin (of anti-S. aureus L-form serum and anti-S. aureus coccal form serum) could be absorbed by cell membranes of S. aureus L-form and its coccal form, respectively. These activities could not be absorbed by cell membrane of Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus pyogenes or Actinomyces viscosus. These findings suggested the existence of species-specific antigens of cell membrane. The membrane antigens of L-form related to the metabolic and growth inhibiting activities were stable to trypsin, heating and periodate, and were not solubilized by trypsin. A large part of the antigen in a typsin-insoluble membrane precipitate of L-form could be extracted by acetone and the subsequent use of chloroform-methanol (2: 1). A fractionation study of chloroform-methanol extract by using silicic acid calum indicated that more than two components were involved in metabolic and growth inhibiting activities.

[Metabolic and growth inhibitions of Staphylococcus aureus L-form by immunoglobulin]

The coccal form as well as the L form of Staphylococcus aureus could produce the metabolic and growth inhibiting antibodies of the L form in the rabbit sera.

Lack of response of murine peritoneal macrophages to in vitro activation by muramyl dipeptide (MDP). I. Macrophage activation by MDP is species dependent

Peritoneal exudate macrophages from mice, rats, and guinea pigs were assessed using six different parameters of macrophage activation to determine whether the cells were stimulated under similar experimental conditions. Peritoneal exudate macrophages from mice, irrespective of strain, were far less responsive to a variety of in vitro stimulatory effects of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine than those from rats or guinea pigs, while no significant differences were noted with the reactivity to stimulation by endotoxic lipopolysaccharide. We conclude that macrophage activation by MDP in vitro is species dependent.

Macrophages are stimulated by muramyl dipeptide to induce polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulation in the peritoneal cavities of guinea pigs

N-Acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (muramyl dipeptide [MDP]) injected intraperitoneally significantly increased the number of cells entering the peritoneal cavity of guinea pigs primed with liquid paraffin or thioglycollate. There was a close relationship between peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) accumulation and the uptake of glucosamine by macrophages in guinea pigs treated with a variety of bacterial cell surface components such as cell wall peptidoglycan subunits and bacterial or synthetic lipid A. The PMN accumulation was also facilitated by the intraperitoneal transfer of the peritoneal macrophages that had been stimulated by MDP in vitro. Furthermore, cell-free lavage fluids taken from the peritoneum of MDP-treated guinea pigs also initiated the influx of PMNs when introduced into the peritoneal cavities of liquid paraffin-pretreated guinea pigs. These results suggest that a soluble factor which attracts neutrophils is produced by MDP-treated macrophages. Partial characterization of the factor is described.

Microtubule assembly inhibitor protein consists of a rigid globule essential for its activity and highly mobile coils

The structure of microtubule assembly inhibitor protein (MIP) was studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and limited proteolysis. Spin-diffusion experiments revealed that MIP has a tightly folded structure, a "rigid globule." This globule was irreversibly denatured by heat treatment at 80 degrees C, and the denatured MIP showed little ability to inhibit microtubule assembly. This indicates that the native globular structure is essential for the activity. By spin-diffusion and spin-echo experiments, the other part of the molecule was found to be highly mobile. We termed the region "highly mobile coils." Most of the acidic residues appeared to be clustered in the highly mobile coils. By limited proteolysis using subtilisin, the mobile region was digested into shorter pieces, and a single 17-kDa fragment remained. Proton NMR spectrum of this fragment was much the same as the spin-diffusion subspectra of the rigid globule in the intact MIP molecule. Furthermore, the 17-kDa fragment was found to retain the activity to inhibit the microtubule assembly. These results indicate that MIP consists of two moieties; one domain forms a rigid globule which is essential for its activity to inhibit microtubule assembly, and the other acidic one is highly mobile and tails from the globule. The tertiary structures of these two domains appear to be independent from each other. These domains may be responsible for two different functions of MIP, the interaction with the cytoskeleton and the interaction with, for example, nuclear components.

Tear volume in relation to contact lens wear and age

We examined the tear volume of the inferior conjunctival sac in relation to patient age and complications of contact lens wear using a special phenol red thread test. Records of patients who had undergone this test between 1984 and 1987 were reviewed. Based on the wet length of the thread, three groups were defined: 9 mm or less, 10-14 mm, and 15 mm or more. Those patients who showed consistent results over three or more separate testings were selected for this study. A total of 11,336 eyes met this criterion. A confidence interval of 95% was established as a basis for comparison of the groups. We found that the percentage of eyes with 9 mm or less of wet length increased with the age of the subject group. Likewise, the percentage of each age group with 15 mm or more of wet length steadily decreased among progressively older groups. Eyes wearing PMMA lenses with 9 mm or less of wet length showed the highest incidence of superficial punctate keratitis (SPK) and erosion. The group of eyes wearing high-DK lenses with 15 mm or more of wet length showed the lowest incidence of SPK and erosion.

T cell line specific for bacterial peptidoglycan subunit: possible role of the COOH-terminal amino acid of the disaccharide tetrapeptide in binding to the T cell receptor

The T cell line specific for a bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan subunit, disaccharide tetrapeptide of diaminopimelic acid type, was examined for epitope specificity in elicitation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in X-irradiated Lewis rats, using pairs of analogs different in optical configuration of the COOH-terminal amino acid. The test cell line induced DTH against analogs with the COOH-terminal D-amino acid but not against those with the L-amino acid at the COOH terminus. A close correlation was found between the T cell line-induced DTH reaction in vivo and the proliferative response in vitro, in terms of clear discrimination of the optical configuration of COOH-terminal amino acid of disaccharide tetrapeptide. The L-isomers (non-stimulatory analogs of T cell proliferation) competitively inhibited the proliferation of the T cell line by the corresponding D-isomers. Thus the L-isomers appear to interact with Ia molecules on antigen-presenting cells. We conclude that COOH-terminal D-amino acid of the disaccharide tetrapeptide could be involved in binding to the T cell receptor, induction of T cell proliferation, and elicitation of DTH.

A common amino acid sequence in 190-kDa microtubule-associated protein and tau for the promotion of microtubule assembly

Previously we reported that chymotryptic fragments of bovine adrenal 190-kDa microtubule-associated proteins (27-kDa fragment) and bovine brain tau (14-kDa fragment) contained microtubule-binding domain (Aizawa, H., Murofushi, H., Kotani, Hisanaga, S., Hirokawa, N., and Sakai, H. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 3782-3787; Aizawa, H., Kawasaki, H., Murofushi, H., Kotani, S., Suzuki, K., and Sakai, H. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 7703-7707). In order to study the structure of microtubule-binding domain of the two microtubule-associated proteins, we analyzed the amino acid sequence of the 27-kDa fragment and compared the sequence with that of the 14-kDa fragment. This revealed that 190-kDa microtubule-associated protein and tau contained at least one common sequence of 20 amino acid residues in their microtubule-binding domains. A synthetic polypeptide corresponding to the common sequence (Lys-Asn-Val-Arg-Ser-Lys-Val-Gly-Ser-Thr-Glu-Asn-Ile-Lys- His-Gln-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg-Ala-Lys) was bound to microtubules competitively with the 190-kDa MAP. The apparent dissociation constant (KD) for the binding of the polypeptide to microtubules was estimated to be 1.8 x 10(-4) M, and the maximum binding reached 1.2 mol of the synthetic polypeptide/mol of tubulin dimer. This synthetic polypeptide increased the rate and extent of tubulin polymerization and decreased the critical concentration of tubulin for polymerization. The polypeptide-induced tubulin polymers were morphologically normal microtubules and were disassembled by cold treatment. The common sequence (termed assembly-promoting sequence) was thus identified as the active site of 190-kDa microtubule-associated protein and tau for the promotion of microtubule assembly. The reconstitution system of microtubules with this synthetic polypeptide with assembly-promoting sequence may be useful to elucidate detailed molecular mechanism of the promotion of microtubule assembly by microtubule-associated proteins.

[Seizure and tremor occurring in acute leukemia patients treated with imipenem/cilastatin]

We report here four patients with acute leukemia, who developed seizure or tremor following treatment with imipenem, a new broad-spectrum antibiotic. All four patients had no renal dysfunction and recovered after discontinuation of the drug. Two patients who developed seizure had a past history of cerebral hemorrhage with symptoms of meningitis in one and the other had received frequent intrathecal injections of methotrexate. Seizure also occurred in another patient who was given multiple intrathecal injections of methotrexate. The remaining old patient developed tremor after the first administration of imipenem which did not progress to convulsion. Cerebral hemorrhage or meningitis is known to predispose patients for convulsion following imipenem treatment. In addition, the present study suggests that central nervous system damage related with intrathecal injections of methotrexate may be a predisposing factor. Thus, imipenem should be given with caution to acute leukemia patients who often have risk factors for developing imipenem-related complications.