On a basic 31 kDa muscle membrane protein in cattle and pig, presumably equivalent to the class II antigen associated p31 molecule

In a recent paper we gave evidence by two-dimensional electrophoresis that, in man, the class II antigen associated glycoprotein p31 (also called Ii, In, M1, DR gamma, XM1) is expressed not only in the membranes of B lymphocytes but also in those of muscle, liver and brain. It can therefore be assumed that the p31 is not really associated with the human class II antigens but is a ubiquitous molecule. Here we demonstrate for the first time that the muscle membranes of cattle and pig contain corresponding polypeptides, with a molecular weight of about 31 kDa and an isoelectric point around 7.5, which comigrate in two-dimensional electrophoresis with p31 derived from the human muscle. Thus, in cattle and pig too, these proteins seem to be equivalent to the class II antigen associated p31, showing a tissue distribution wider than observed up to now. The molecules can be concentrated by ion-exchange chromatography.

Lentil lectin enriched microsomes from the plasma membrane of the human B-lymphocyte cell line H2LCL carry a heavy load of type-1 porin

Using an established biochemical approach, five subcellular fractions of human B lymphocytes were prepared by differential centrifugation. Crude membranes were passed over a lentil lectin column to enrich carbohydrate-coated cell surface microsomes. The lectin-bound fraction contained a high amount of plasma membrane-derived microsomes as indicated by cell surface markers. All subcellular fractions in Western blots proved to contain distinct but variable amounts of porin. There was a strong increase in porin content from crude membranes to plasma membrane-derived vesicles. The porin content of this fraction appeared to be higher than that of mitochondria. In the final step the plasma membrane-derived microsome fraction proved to be devoid of contamination by outer mitochondrial membranes, as revealed by antibodies against the established markers MAO B and Tom20 applied in Western blots. These data prove the extramitochondrial expression of human type-1 porin/ type-1 VDAC.

Soluble HLA class I and class II antigens in patients with multiple sclerosis

Soluble HLA class I (sHLA-I) and soluble HLA class II (sHLA-II) antigen levels during different stages of disease were investigated in paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 37 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using ELISA and Western blot analysis. Soluble HLA-II antigens in the serum of untreated patients with the relapsing-remitting type of MS (RRMS) were found to be significantly elevated in acute relapse as compared to values obtained from patients under steroid treatment, in remission or healthy controls. No significant differences in circulating sHLA-I levels could be detected. In contrast, a trend towards increased intrathecal production of sHLA-I molecules in the CSF was observed in untreated RRMS patients in acute relapse, whereas the levels of soluble HLA-II antigens in the CSF were below the detection limit of the ELISA method. Our observations underline the presence of systemic immune activation in MS patients, as reflected in elevated serum sHLA-II antigen levels, and reveal a dichotomy between sHLA class I and II antigen production in the peripheral blood versus CSF in acute MS. Serial measurements of sHLA-II antigen levels might represent a non-invasive method to assess disease activity in MS patients.

Soluble HLA class I and class II concentrations in factor VIII and PCC preparations

Soluble HLA class I (sHLA-CI) and class II (sHLA-CII) molecules were quantitated in 11 commercially available factor VIII and prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) preparations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). In 4 preparations, we detected traces of sHLA-CI (0.01-0.07 mg/l), and in 7 hemostatic preparations small amounts of sHLA-CII molecules (0.02-0.28 mg/l). The concentrations of these contaminant molecules are unequivocally below the mean values of sHLA in human plasma (sHLA-CI: 1.01 +/- 0.72 mg/l; sHLA-CII: 1.53 +/- 2.44 mg/l). Based on the total amount of chronically administered factor VIII or PCC, contaminating sHLA molecules may be in principle able to exert immunomodulatory effects in patients treated with such preparations.

Purification and characterization of two putative HLA class II associated proteins: PHAPI and PHAPII

In addition to their well defined role in presentation of processed antigen on the cell surface, class II molecules are able to transduce signals into the cell after binding of ligands. The cytoplasmic regions of class II molecules might function as docking sites for as yet unidentified proteins that are components of this signalling pathway. Here we report on two putative HLA class II associated proteins (PHAPI and PHAPII) which have been purified from the cytosolic fraction of the human lymphoblastoid B-cell line H2LCL using an affinity matrix composed of the synthetic biotinylated cytoplasmic region of the DR2 alpha chain immobilized on avidin agarose. The sequence obtained for PHAPI revealed a novel primary structure with a leucine/isoleucine rich N-terminal region. Protein data and the cDNA sequence obtained for PHAPII agree with the cDNA sequence of SET that has been described recently. Both PHAPI and PHAPII have an extended highly acidic C-terminal region. Based on their primary structure we speculate that PHAPI and PHAPII are involved in the generation of intracellular signalling events that lead to regulation of transcriptional activity after binding of a ligand to HLA class II molecules.

Studies on human porin. VI. Production and characterization of eight monoclonal mouse antibodies against the human VDAC "Porin 31HL" and their application for histotopological studies in human skeletal muscle

We report on the production and characterization of eight monoclonal mouse antibodies against the complete human VDAC "Porin 31HL". The antigen used was purified from a total membrane preparation of the transformed human B-lymphocyte cell line H2LCL. In Western blots all eight mAbs react with a single 31-kDa band in solubilized H2LCL membrane preparations thus demonstrating their specificity for the human VDAC "Porin 31HL". Concerning the epitope specificity we show that all eight mAbs equally react with the N-terminal part of human porin. Moreover, we demonstrate the expression of VDAC in the sarcolemma by indirect immunoenzyme labelling of cryosections of human skeletal muscle applying four of our mAbs. These data support our recent observations on the expression of porin channels in the plasmalemma of different normal and transformed human cell lines. VDAC in the plasmalemma is discussed as the molecular basis of the Blatz and Magleby channel.

Quantitation of soluble HLA class II molecules by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

In order to quantify soluble HLA-DR,DQ,DP molecules (sHLA-RQP) an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed utilizing two monoclonal antibodies specific for HLA-DR,DP (Tü35) and HLA-DQ (Tü22) gene products, respectively. Highly purified HLA class II molecules isolated from a lymphoblastoid cell line were used for calculation of exact sHLA-RQP protein values. Circadian variations of sHLA-RQP plasma levels were studied in 7 healthy probands showing no significant deviations; measurements in 4 probands at intervals between 4 and 6 weeks revealed that sHLA-RQP levels remain relatively stable. The population analysis of 209 unrelated, HLA-typed healthy donors resulted in an average protein concentration of 1.53 +/- 2.44 micrograms/ml plasma for sHLA-RQP. Four out of 209 probands (= 1.9%) had no detectable sHLA-RQP. Significant associations of high or low sHLA-RQP levels to particular HLA-DR or -DQ specificities were not observed. However, plasma derived from HLA-DR9 positive had the highest and from HLA-DR8 positive donors the lowest mean sHLA-RQP values. By comparing HLA identical with two-haplotype-different siblings we found no evidence that sHLA-RQP plasma levels are under genetic control of the HLA complex or closely linked genes. Furthermore, soluble HLA class I plasma concentrations in 100 probands analyzed showed no correlation to those of sHLA-RQP.

Studies on human porin. IV. The primary structures of "Porin 31HM" purified from human skeletal muscle membranes and of "Porin 31HL" derived from human B lymphocyte membranes are identical

We report on the purification of "Porin 31HM" from the crude plasma membrane fraction of human skeletal muscle. Furthermore, all tryptic peptides of the molecule were purified and characterized by different methods. The alignment of the peptides with the complete primary structure of the human B lymphocyte plasma membrane-derived "Porin 31HL", published by us recently (Kayser, H. et al. (1989) this Journal 370, 1265-1278), proved both structures to be completely identical. Our data demonstrate that porin fractions from crude plasma membranes of different human cell types do not show any variation on the primary structure level.