Normal serum cytotoxicity for P32-labeled smooth Enterobacteriaceae. 3. Isolation of a gammag normal antibody and characterization of other serum factors causing P32 loss

Spitznagel, John K. (University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill). Normal serum cytotoxicity for P(32)-labeled smooth Enterobacteriaceae. III. Isolation of a gammaG normal antibody and characterization of other serum factors causing P(32) loss. J. Bacteriol. 91:401-408. 1966.-Gram-negative bacteria lost metabolically incorporated P(32) when suspended in serum only if the serum contained heat-labile in addition to heat-stable factors. Gram-positive bacteria labeled with P(32) and included for comparison lost P(32) in heat-inactivated as well as in fresh normal serum. Further investigation of gram-negative bacteria showed that a smooth Escherichia coli (O117:H27) lost P(32) only if suspended in serum containing complement fractions C'1, C'2, C'3, and C'4 "normal" antibody and lysozyme. The normal antibody was recovered by absorption on and subsequent elution from E. coli O117:H27 cell walls. Immunoelectrophoresis showed that it was a gammaG-globulin. Its P(32)-releasing activity was destroyed by 2-mercaptoethanol. Lysozyme was found to potentiate the P(32)-releasing action of normal antibody plus complement. Evidence was obtained suggesting that beta(1C) globulin was the component absorbed to zymosan during serum absorption at 15 C. Reduction of the beta(1C) level evidently upsets an important balance that exists in normal serum among complement, antibody, and lysozyme. This balance is essential for maximal P(32) release from labeled bacteria, or possibly for a maximal antibacterial effect from normal serum. The possible relationships of bactericidal, bacteriolytic, and opsonic action of normal serum are discussed.

Opsonizing and bactericidal activity of antibodies against common antigen of Enterobacteriaceae

Domingue, Gerald J. (State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y.), and Erwin Neter. Opsonizing and bactericidal activity of antibodies against common antigen of Enterobacteriaceae. J. Bacteriol. 91:129-133. 1966.-In addition to the well-known O, H, K, and Vi antigens, Enterobacteriaceae produce a common antigen, which was first identified by hemagglutination tests with Escherichia coli O14 antiserum. Studies on the biological significance of this antigen by in vitro phagocytic experiments have revealed that opsonization is markedly enhanced in the presence of the corresponding antibody, rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and normal rabbit serum. This effect is specific, because Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is devoid of this antigen, is not opsonized under these conditions, and removal of the antibody by absorption markedly reduces the uptake of enteric bacteria containing the antigen. Opsonization thus represents another method for the study of this antigen-antibody system. Bactericidal tests have revealed that antibodies against this antigen, engendered in rabbits by different strains of enteric bacteria and various procedures, are bactericidal for E. coli O14 but not for other enteric bacteria, possibly due to previously demonstrated differences between the antigen moieties obtained from these microorganisms.

Rabbit 19S antibodies with allotypic specificities of the a-locus group

Activity of bacteriophage T4 neutralizing antiserums obtained 8 days after a primary immunization of rabbits with purified phage T4 is due to antibodies of the 19S (IgM) type. This neutralizing activity could be partially inhibited by treatment with excess antiserum directed against the a-locus group allotypic specificity carried by the whole rabbit serum.

Nonspecific factors in resistance of mice to experimental tuberculosis

Youmans, Guy P. (Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.), and Anne S. Youmans. Nonspecific factors in resistance of mice to experimental tuberculosis. J. Bacteriol. 90:1675-1681. 1965.-In contrast to viable attenuated mycobacterial cells, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) did not produce an acute pulmonary granulomatous response in mice, did not decrease the tolerance of mice to early subsequent intravenous injections of viable attenuated mycobacterial cells, nor did it increase susceptibility to tuberculous infection when injected simultaneously with virulent mycobacterial cells. When the injection of E. coli LPS was followed by the intravenous injection of virulent mycobacterial cells, there was a moderate increase in resistance to tuberculous infection which was maximal 7 to 14 days after the LPS injection. The degree of increased resistance to tuberculous infection was approximately the same as that produced by nearly maximal tolerated doses of heat-killed attenuated mycobacterial cells, and to that produced by a trichloroacetic acid extract of heat-killed attenuated mycobacterial cells. It is suggested that the major, if not entire, immunizing component of heat-killed attenuated mycobacterial cells resides in a heat-stable "nonspecific" component. A "multiple response" theory of immunity to tuberculosis is proposed.

Immunogenicity and role of size: response of guinea pigs to oligotyrosine and tyrosine derivatives

Guinea pigs injected with 100 micrograms of p-azobenzenearsonate derivatives of hexa-L-tyrosine, tri-L-tyrosine, or N-acetyl-L-tyrosine amide, in complete Freund's adjuvant, developed, after 10 to 19 days, delayed-type hypersensitivity to these substances. This was shown by skin reactions, followed by the formation of circulating antibodies that were detectable by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Experiments with p-azobenzenearsonate-hexa-L-tyrosine labeledwith iodine-131 showed that this substance was bound in vitro to proteins of normal guinea pig serum. Binding was similar with the nonantigenic hexa-L-tyrosine and its p-azobenzoate derivative.

Some Aspects of Immunity in Tumors

This is a review of the main advances in the immunology of tumors. The paper starts from the researches which have led to the identification of the histocompatibility systems and to the formulation of the transplantation laws. After a hint at the different kinds of transplantable tumors, at the grafting technique and at the exceptions of the above laws, the problem of the heterologous grafting and of the so-called privileged sites is taken into consideration. Mention is made of the non-genetic factors which may influence the take of a tumor graft. Next, the actual and debated problem of the tumor specific antigens and, on the opposite side, of the antigenic semplification of tumors is illustrated. Successively, the paper deals with the immunologic reactions by which the host tissues may antagonize the taking of a tumor graft and, conversely, with those like the «enhancement» or «XYZ effect» which promote the multiplication of the neoplastic cells. The review ends with a chapter on the conditioning both of the tumor graft and of the host, i.e., on that complex of biological, chemical and physical treatments which are apt to prolong the survival of a homograft.

Distribution among the gamma-globulin molecules of different genetically determined antigenic specificities in the Gm system

Isolated myeloma proteins and anti-Rh antibodies were utilized for determination of the distribution among the gamma-globulin molecules of various Gm(b) and Gm(f) determinants. All of these genetic factors are as a rule inherited together in Caucasians, but not in other races. The Gm(b) determinants, except (b(2)), were found together in the same Caucasian myeloma globulins of the Vi H chain group, which never carried Gm(f) or (b(2)). The Gm(f) and (b(2)) determinants were found together in other myeloma globulins, of the We group. Anti-Rh antibody molecules appeared to be similar to myeloma molecules in these respects. A few myeloma proteins and anti-Rh antibodies were encountered which reacted with some but not other anti-Gm(b) or anti-Gm(f) reagents; the only available Vi type myeloma protein from a Negro, specifically lacked the Gm(b(3)) factor. The observations might be explained by the following hypothesis: In Caucasians with the common Gm(f) Gm(b) gene complex the Gm(b) antigenic determinants, except (b(2)), co-occur in certain molecules, which contain a polypeptide chain determined by the Gm(b) gene; the Gm(f) and (b(2)) determinants co-occur in other molecules, which contain a polypeptide chain determined by the Gm(f) gene. Individuals that lack some Gm(b) or Gm(f) determinants most likely have a gene partly different from Gm(b) or Gm(f). The value of studies with myeloma proteins from individuals of different racial groups was apparent from this study. One myeloma protein from a Chinese was unique in that it was both Gm(a+) and Gm(f+).

Phylogenetic origins of antibody structure. I. Multichain structure of immunoglobulins in the smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis)

The elasmobranch Mustelus canis has been shown to produce antibodies to Limulus hemocyanin. The serum of both normal and immunized M. canis contains immunoglobulins having sedimentation coefficients of approximately 7S and 17S. Antibody activity was found in the 17S immunoglobulin which may be dissociated to 7S components with concomitant loss of activity. Both 17S and 7S serum, immunoglobulins were antigenically identical. They consisted of light and heavy chains present in amounts comparable to those of higher vertebrates. Peptide maps indicated that the light chains had an entirely different primary structure than the heavy chains, but that the corresponding chains of 7S and 17S dogfish serum immunoglobulins were similar in primary structure. The heavy chains appeared to resemble the n chains of immunoglobulins of higher vertebrates in their starch gel electrophoretic behavior. It is suggested that the elasmobranch M. canis may have only one major class of immunoglobulins resembling that of macroglobulins (gammaM-immunoglobulins) seen in higher vertebrates. The results indicate that the multichain structure of antibodies is an ancient evolutionary development.

Primary immune reactions in organ cultures

Primary immune reactions were initiated and maintained in vitro. Spleen explants from mice treated with either phytohemagglutinin or adjuvant were stimulated to form hemagglutinins and hemolysins, whereas no treatment of spleen donors was necessary to invoke a "graft-versus-host" response which led to specific splenomegly.