Drug and fatty acid effects on serum thyroid hormone binding

We directly compared the competitor potency for serum T4 binding of 11 nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; the diuretics furosemide, ethacrynic acid, and bumetanide; diphenylhydantoin; the cholecystographic contrast agents iopanoate and ipodate; and six long-chain nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) using equilibrium dialysis. To avoid artefacts that occur in competitor studies with diluted serum or isolated binding proteins, we used undiluted normal serum, with drugs added at concentrations that achieved high therapeutic total and free serum levels at equilibrium. Drug addition was based on the measured free fraction of each drug in serum. The free T4 fraction in normal serum (Tris buffer, pH 7.4; 37 C) was between 1.40 X 10(-4) and 1.53 X 10(-4). Drug-induced increases in T4 free fraction were: fenclofenac, 90%; aspirin, 62%; meclofenamic acid, 39%; diflunisal, 37%; mefenamic acid, 31%; and furosemide, 31%. Significant increases of 7-15% occurred with diclofenac, flufenamic acid, phenylbutazone, and diphenylhydantoin. Indomethacin, ketoprofen, tolmetin, ethacrynic acid, bumetanide, iopanoate, and ipodate were inactive at the concentrations studied. Addition of 2.0 mmol/L oleic acid had a negligible effect, but 3.5 mmol/L oleic acid inhibited T3 and T4 binding significantly. Other long chain NEFA (addition of 1.5 mmol/L) gave increases in free T4 fraction as follows: arachidonic acid, 26%; linolenic acid, 23%; and linoleic acid, 11%. Stearic and palmitic acids were inactive. The effect of 5 mmol/L oleic acid in serum could be reproduced by addition of 0.5 mmol/L to serum diluted 1:10, indicating that protein binding of NEFA is the major determinant that limits their competitor potency. These findings provide a basis for anticipating which potential inhibitors may cause important changes in serum thyroid hormone binding. The time course of such effects will be influenced by the pharmacokinetics of the inhibitor itself as well as the equilibrium findings described here.

The assay for thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin using cultured human thyroid cells and its clinical application

A new technique for the determination of the serum level of thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) is described. TSI may be detected by measuring cyclic AMP increases in cultures of isolated thyroid epithelial cells in response to added normal or patient's serum. Our results showed that the serum level in the normal control group was mostly lower than 110%, however, in 9.1% of normal human sera, TSI showed a positive result. In abnormal position, activity of TSI was higher than 110% of the rate of the normal control group. The positive result was 86% and the serum TSI levels were 270 +/- 176.6% in patients with Graves' disease before receiving antithyroid drug. After treatment with antithyroid drugs from one to thirty months, the positive results dropped to 35% and the serum TSI level decreased to 117.0 +/- 113%, which was significantly lower than that in untreated patients. In conclusion, TSI can be detected in the majority of the sera in patients with Graves' disease using this technique. It is helpful to the diagnosis and treatment of the Graves' disease.

Detection of cells of megakaryocyte lineage in haematological malignancies by immuno-alkaline phosphatase labelling cell smears with a panel of monoclonal antibodies

Immuno-alkaline phosphatase staining (by the APAAP technique) has been used to identify promegakaryoblasts in cell smears from 10 cases of leukaemia (three acute leukaemia, seven blast transformations). In all cases promegakaryoblasts were labelled by at least two anti-platelet glycoprotein (gp) antibodies, the highest percentages being obtained with anti-gp IIIa (antibody C17). HLA-DR was expressed by a variable percentage of neoplastic cells in all cases, the T11 (CD2) antigen (sheep red cell receptor) in four of seven cases tested and the p150,95 antigen in three of the six cases tested. In some cases of acute myeloid leukaemia APAAP staining of blood smears revealed circulating promegakaryoblasts and micromegakaryocytes (which superficially resemble small lymphoid cells). It is concluded that immuno-alkaline phosphatase staining of cell smears offers a convenient means of diagnosing acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia in the routine laboratory.

A sandwich immunoassay for human prolyl 4-hydroxylase using monoclonal antibody

Monoclonal antibody was used in a sandwich enzyme immunoassay and in a radioimmunoassay for human serum immunoreactive prolyl 4-hydroxylase. The enzyme immunoassay utilized a monoclonal antibody as a solid phase and horseradish peroxidase-labeled rabbit antibody (Fab') to human prolyl 4-hydroxylase as a conjugate. Sensitivity was 0.1 ng (0.4 fmol) of enzyme per tube. With a conjugate purified by an enzyme-bound affinity column, sensitivity was increased to 0.01 ng (0.04 fmol) per tube, and linearity was obtained between 0.01 to 30 ng (0.04-125 fmol) per tube. The radioimmunoassay used a 125I-labeled rabbit antibody (IgG) as the conjugate. Sensitivity of this technique was 0.4 ng of enzyme per tube. The enzyme immunoassay gave reproducible quantitation and evidenced a higher enzyme concentration in the serum of patients with liver disorders. Protein immunoblotting showed that the serum immunoreactive prolyl 4-hydroxylase trapped in the sandwich immunoassay was mainly the beta-subunit.

Immunological properties of monoclonal antibodies to human and rat prolyl 4-hydroxylase

Monoclonal antibodies to human (8 clones) and rat (12 clones) prolyl 4-hydroxylase [EC 1.14.11.2] were prepared and characterized as regards subclass, subunit specificity, inhibition and crossreactivity. Among the antibodies to the human enzyme, four clones showed the IgG1 subclass, two IgA, one IgG2b, and one IgM. Four clones reacted with the alpha subunit of the enzyme, while the others reacted with the beta subunit. The enzymatic activity was inhibited by four clones. Five clones crossreacted with the rat enzyme. One clone inhibited the rat enzyme. Among the antibodies to the rat enzyme, seven clones showed the IgG1 subclass, four IgG2a and one IgG2b. Seven clones reacted with the alpha subunit, and four with the beta subunit. One reacted with neither subunit. The enzymatic activity was inhibited by seven clones. Seven clones crossreacted with the human enzyme. Three clones inhibited the human enzyme.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for platelet glycoproteins react with human monocytes

Three monoclonal antibodies, P256 , P140, and P112 , react with the 135,000 mol wt IIb component of the glycoprotein IIb/IIa complex. They also react with a 200,000-mol wt protein present at low levels in the complex. Using immunofluorescence techniques, monoclonal antibodies P140 and P112 , but not P256 , can be shown to bind to 80% of human monocytes. However, P256 was able to immunoprecipitate the IIb/IIIa complex from detergent-solubilized monocytes, suggesting that the P256 epitope is less accessible on monocytes than on platelets. The monoclonal antibodies also precipitated molecules of approximately 200,000 mol wt from the monocytes. Two other monoclonal antibodies, J15 (specific for the IIb/IIIa complex) and AN51 (which reacts with the second major platelet glycoprotein complex, I), also react with monocytes. Binding of the monoclonal antibodies to the histiocytic cell line, U937, and promyelocytic cell line, HL-60, reflected the pattern of reaction with monocytes. The presence on monocytes of these glycoproteins, instrumental to the role of platelets in clotting, raises the possibility that monocytes might have similar functions in particular circumstances.

A monoclonal antibody (WT1) for detecting leukemias of T-cell precursors (T-ALL)

The selectivity of a monoclonal anti-T antibody, designated WT1, has been assessed in a series of 906 leukemias and lymphomas. In acute lymphoblastic leukemias, WT1 reacts comprehensively and selectively with thymic acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells in untreated or relapsed patients, thus overriding the extensive antigenic diversity of this cancer and the immaturity of the cell type involved. All 80 cases of thymic ALL examined were WT1-positive. In addition, 18 cases of presumptive prethymic ALL were also WT1-positive, but were unreactive with other maturation-linked T-cell markers. The phenotype WT1+ HLA-DR TdT+ appears to be unique to T-ALL and can therefore be used systematically for the differential diagnosis of this poor prognosis subtype of ALL. Virtually all ALL cases can now be placed into one of two major subgroups representing transformed precursors of either the T- or B-cell lineage. WT1 identifies a single polypeptide of approximately 40,000 mol wt and is similar to two previously described monoclonal antibodies.

Two monoclonal antibodies identifying a subset of human peripheral mononuclear cells with natural killer cell activity

Two monoclonal antibodies (H25 and H366) raised against the cultured T lymphoid cell line HSB-2 were shown to define a subset of peripheral mononuclear cells with natural killer and killer cell activity. The two antibodies show similar tissue distributions. Radioimmune trace binding assay shows that H25 and H366 react with all T cell lines tested and with the monocyte line U937, but weakly or not at all with cell lines of B, myeloid or erythroid origin. Both antibodies react with about 10% of E rosette-forming cells and a proportion of nonrosetting lymphocytes and monocytes. They do not react with B lymphocytes, granulocytes, red cells or platelets. A proportion of thymocytes and low numbers of tonsil and spleen mononuclear cells are positive. H25+ and H366+ lymphocytes are medium-sized cells with abundant granular cytoplasm, and most carry Fc receptors for IgG. H25 and H366 immunoprecipitate two polypeptide chains of 96 and 53kDa from surface-labeled HSB-2 cells.

Monoclonal anti-type 2 H: an antibody detecting a precursor of the A and B blood group antigens

A monoclonal antibody was produced which binds specifically to Type 2 H antigen of the ABO blood group system. The antibody, H11, is an IgM molecule which reacts by direct agglutination of red cells with the same pattern as other anti H reagents such as Ulex europaeus lectin. The specificity was determined by inhibition and adsorption with chemically defined oligosaccharides. H11 also reacted with poly (glycosyl) ceramide purified from group 0 red cells and glycoprotein H purified from human stomach mucosa and meconium. H11 differs from Ulex lectin, however, in that it was not inhibited by saliva from ABH secretor individuals or by glycoprotein H purified from human ovarian cysts or submaxillary glands.

Kinetic studies of carboxypeptidase Y. III. Action on ester, amide, and anilide substrates and the effects of some environmental factors

Kinetic parameters of carboxypeptidase Y are given for the hydrolyses of ester, amide, and anilide substrates. The kcat/Km values were compatible with those of chymotrypsin [EC 3.4.21.1] with a few exceptions. One ionizable group with a pK of around 5.8 was suggested to be involved in the free enzyme in hydrolyzing all the substrates, including peptide substrates. In addition, hydroxylaminolysis and the kinetic isotope effects of deuterium oxide indicated, with some reservations, a reaction mechanism which proceeds via the formation of an acyl intermediate.