Horseshoe kidney and membranous glomerulonephritis with cold activation of complement

A 48-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of proteinuria associated with persistent hypocomplementemia. Intravenous pyelography indicated the presence of horseshoe kidney without other abnormalities. Hypocomplementemia was caused by cold activation of complement. There were some findings suggestive of chronic liver disease (positive HCV antibody, hypergammaglobulinemia, low cholinesterase, etc.). Percutaneous renal biopsy showed the features of multiple evolutional phases of membranous glomerulonephritis.

Protective effects of monoclonal antibodies against lethal canine distemper virus infection in mice

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the haemagglutinin (H), fusion protein (F) and nucleoprotein of canine distemper virus (CDV) were examined for their ability to protect mice against lethal CDV infection. One MAb against H and two of six MAbs against F protected mice, the protective effect of the anti-H MAb being stronger than that of the anti-F MAbs. The anti-H MAb showed virus neutralizing activity, but the two anti-F MAbs, which recognized the same epitope, did not. Protection by the anti-F MAbs correlated with cell fusion inhibition, but not with complement-dependent neutralization, complement-dependent cytolysis or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. These results suggest that neutralization by antibody against H and cell fusion inhibition by antibody against F play important roles in the protective mechanism against CDV infection.

Expression of hemagglutinin of Haemophilus paragallinarum serotype A in Escherichia coli

The genomic DNA of Haemophilus paragallinarum (Hpg) serotype A strain 221 was cloned into vector plasmid pBR322. The recombinant plasmids were introduced into Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain C600. Subsequently, a total of 277 transformants were obtained. One, designated strain no. 6, expressed hemagglutination activity against chicken erythrocytes. Strain no. 6 contained the recombinant plasmid pNV102, and DNA of about 2.57 kb was inserted into pNV102. When strain no. 6 was cured of pNV102, the strain lost hemagglutination activity. When the cured strain was retransformed with pNV102, hemagglutination activity was restored. E. coli strain no. 6 reacted with monoclonal antibody specific to the hemagglutinin of Hpg serotype A in a dot-blotting analysis. Chickens immunized with the inactivated strain no. 6 produced the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody, and chickens possessing the HI antibody showed protection against challenge exposure by Hpg strain 221.

Antigenic and functional characterization of rinderpest virus envelope proteins using monoclonal antibodies

A total of 24 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the haemagglutinin (H) and the fusion protein (F) of rinderpest virus (RPV) were used to characterize their antigenic structure and biological properties, and to analyse natural variation in the envelope proteins of morbilliviruses. The anti-H and anti-F MAbs defined seven and three distinct antigenic sites, respectively. The MAbs to six sites on H were able to neutralize the infectivity of RPV. The addition of guinea-pig complement or anti-mouse immunoglobulin increased the virus-neutralizing antibody titre of most of the anti-H MAbs, including those lacking neutralizing activity. One of the antigenic sites on H was conserved among morbilliviruses and the MAbs to this site had haemagglutination inhibition activity against measles virus (MV). The remaining sites were specific for RPV and varied antigenically between strains of RPV. The anti-F MAbs lacked neutralizing activity, but two of the five MAbs did show activity in the presence of complement or anti-mouse immunoglobulin. On the whole, the antigenic sites on F were conserved in some strains of MV, but not in canine distemper virus. All of the sites on the surface proteins were sensitive to SDS and, although those on F were not affected by 2-mercaptoethanol, five of the seven sites on H were destroyed by it. These results suggest that the epitopes on the envelope proteins are conformation-dependent.

Survey of infectious coryza of chickens in Indonesia

A survey of infectious coryza of chickens was performed in West Jawa of Indonesia between 1987 to 1988 by the detection of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody against Haemophilus paragallinarum (Hpg) in non-vaccinated healthy laying (12 farms, 196 chickens) and native (8 farms, 197 chickens) chickens. HI antibodies against Hpg were detected not only in the native chickens but also in the laying chickens, regardless of the district, and were observed in 70% (14/20) of farms and 19% (73/393) of chickens. HI antibodies against serotype A were detected from 11 farms (55%) and 11% (45/393) in chickens. Those against serotype C were detected from 5 farms (25%) and 8% (30/393) in chickens. Three Hpg strains were isolated from different chickens affected with infectious coryza. Two of them were identified as type A and the other as type C by the rapid plate agglutination test. These results demonstrated that the outbreaks of infectious coryza caused by serotype A and C strains had occurred in Indonesia.

Structure and conformation of a novel inhibitor of angiotensin I converting enzyme--a tripeptide containing phosphonic acid

A novel phosphotripeptide, (IR)-1-(N-(N-acetyl-L-isoleucyl)-L-tyrosyl)amino-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethy l- phosphonic acid, is a potent inhibitor of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE). ACE inhibitory activity in vitro of the peptide is comparable to that of captopril. Its diethylester (C29H42N3O8P, molecular weight, 591.6) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2, with cell constants: a = 25.666(9), b = 9.590(8), c = 13.557(2)A, beta = 91.65(2) degrees, Z = 4, Dc = 1.17 g/cm3. The structure was solved by MULTAN 11/82 and refined by full matrix least-squares methods to a final R-factor of 0.063 for 2123 unique reflections (F greater than 3 sigma(F] measured on an Enraf-Nonius CAD-4 diffractometer (CuK alpha, lambda = 1.541 8 A, T = 295 K). The absolute configuration of the alpha-carbon where the phosphonic acid is attached was determined unequivocally by referring to the L-isoleucyl moiety whose absolute configuration is known. The conformation of the molecule is relatively rigid owing to the intramolecular requisites and the resultant relative disposition of hetero atoms, which are necessary to its biological activities, are confined to the corresponding disposition in captopril.

Production, characterization and protective effect of monoclonal antibodies to Haemophilus paragallinarum serotype A

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to Haemophilus paragallinarum serotype A were obtained by fusion of murine myeloma cells (P3-X63-Ag8-U1) and spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with whole cells of strain 221. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with whole cells was used to show that the monoclonal antibodies are specific for serotype A of H. paragallinarum. Four monoclonal antibodies indicated hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) activity against serotype A; their titers were 10(4)-10(5). By western blotting, two of these monoclonal antibodies reacted with a protein of molecular weight 39,000. Chickens treated with mAbs possessing HAI activity survived without clinical signs of infection. No challenge strain was isolated from these chickens, indicating that four mAbs with HAI activity suppressed growth of the challenge strain in the nasal cavity, whereas mAbs without HAI activity showed no passive protective effect. These results demonstrated that HI antibodies contributed to protection, and strongly suggest that hemagglutinin (HA) antigen, especially the epitopes which were recognized by these mAbs are important for protective immunity in chickens.

Macrophage-dependent and B-cell-dependent proliferative T-cell populations in the peritoneal exudate cells of immunized mice

The antigen-dependent proliferative response of the Ia- T lymphocyte population in peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) of C3H/HeN mice immunized with horse red blood cells (HRBC) was examined by determining the uptake of tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR) into the cells in vitro. Both the antigen and accessory cell population, which was either macrophages or B lymphocytes that had been prepared from the PEC or spleen of unimmunized mice, were necessary for the proliferative response of the Ia- T cell population and also the production of IL-2 by the Ia- T cells, but the Ia- T cell population could proliferate in the absence of antigen and accessory cells, if IL-2 was present. The IL-2-dependent proliferation of the Ia- T cells was augmented in the presence of macrophages, but not B cells. The Ia- T cells that had been treated previously with anti-IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) antibody showed no response to IL-2 in the presence or absence of B cells, but responded to IL-2 in the presence of macrophages. Direct contact of the Ia- T cells with macrophages seemed to be necessary for augmentation of the proliferative response of the Ia- T cells to IL-2 because the separation of these cell populations by a membrane filter in a Marbrook type culture vessel resulted in poor augmentation of the response. Cell-associated IL-1 did not participate in the augmentation because paraformaldehyde-treated macrophages did not help the response. When the Ia- T cells had been previously treated with complement and anti-asialo GM1 antibody, the IL-2-dependent proliferative response was not affected, but the augmentation of the response by macrophages was blocked. Previous treatment of the cells with anti-L3T4 antibody diminished the response to IL-2, but did not affect the augmentation of the response by macrophages. Pretreatment of the cells with anti-Thy-1.2-antibody reduced the response to IL-2 and the augmentation by macrophages. Therefore, we concluded that there are at least two populations, capable of responding to IL-2 in the immune Ia- T cell population; one with L3T4 surface antigen and another with asialo GM1 antigen. The response of the latter cells, but not the former, to IL-2 is augmented in the presence of macrophages.

The configuration of mitiromycin and its derivation from mitomycin B

The configuration of mitiromycin (2) was first determined by NMR experiments including the NOE technique. The absolute structure of 2 was related to mitomycin B (3) because 2 was derived from 3 under basic conditions. The ketonic form 4 was presumed to be involved in the generation of 2.

Structure studies of mitomycins. III. Structure of M-83

7-N-(p-Hydroxyphenyl)mitomycin C* (I), C21H22N4O6.H2O, Mr = 444.45, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 8.056 (2), b = 33.832 (9), c = 7.469 (1) A, V = 2036 (1) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.45 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54184 A, mu = 8.8 cm-1, F(000) = 936, T = 293 K, R = 0.041 for 1923 observed reflections with F greater than 3 sigma (F). Although the overall structure, except the p-hydroxyphenyl group, is similar to mitomycin C, the bond lengths in the quinone ring are significantly influenced by the substituent. The phenyl and quinone rings are nearly planar and the two rings form a dihedral angle of 46.36 (7) degrees. Two quinone O atoms deviate from the least-squares planes of the quinone ring on the same side of the plane.

Crystallization and preliminary diffraction studies of recombinant human granulocyte-stimulating factor (KW2228)

Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) specifically stimulates proliferation of neutrophils. Two crystal forms of a mutant of hG-CSF expressed in Escherichia coli have been obtained using the hanging drop vapour diffusion method. One form is triclinic, space group P1, with cell dimensions a = 37.3 A, b = 46.4 A, c = 47.7 A, alpha = 105.5 degrees, beta = 98.0 degrees and gamma = 109.4 degrees. The other is monoclinic, space group C2, with cell dimensions a = 82.0 A, b = 49.2 A, c = 49.4 A and beta = 113.9 degrees. Both crystal forms diffract beyond 2.0 A and are suitable for X-ray analysis.

A novel beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist MY336-a: structure of the tetraacetylated compound

(1R*,3S*)-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-8-acetoxy-1,3-bis(acetoxymethyl)-2-acetyl-7 - methoxy-6-methyl-isoquinoline, C21H27NO8, Mr = 421.45, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 11.892 (2), b = 11.067 (2), c = 8.4866 (8) A, beta = 92.12 (1) degree, V = 1116.1 (5) A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.255 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54184 A, mu = 7.702 cm-1, F(000) = 448, T = 293 K, R = 0.048, wR = 0.072 for 2178 observed reflections. The tetrahydropyridine ring adopts a half-boat conformation. The bond lengths and angles are within the normal ranges. There are no intermolecular contacts less than the sum of the van der Waals radii.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against four structural proteins of rinderpest virus

Twenty-four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against rinderpest virus (RPV) were established and characterized by several serological tests. Of the 24 MAbs. 10 recognized the nucleoprotein (NP), six the phosphoprotein (P), four the haemagglutinin (H), and two the fusion (F) protein as determined by radioimmunoprecipitation assay. The specificities of the remaining two MAbs could not be determined. From a competitive binding assay using MAbs against each structural protein, at least five, four and two separate antigenic sites were identified on the NP, P and H proteins, respectively. MAbs against the H protein neutralized the infectivity of the virus, but those against the F protein were only neutralizing in the presence of guinea-pig complement. The reactivities of each of the MAbs for other strains of morbillivirus were tested using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay. The MAbs against four out five antigenic sites on the NP showed cross-reactivity amongst all the strains of morbillivirus tested whereas the fifth antibody reacted only with RPV. Of the antibodies specific for the P protein, the antibody against one site was cross-reactive with all the strains of RPV, measles virus (MV) and canine distemper virus (CDV), the antibody against another site was reactive with RPV and MV but not with CDV, and the antibodies against the other two sites were specific for RPV.