Prevalence of herpes B virus antibody in nonhuman primates reared at the National University of Japan

A serological investigation by means of an enzyme immuno assay test for herpes B virus (cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) was performed on 961 sera of healthy nonhuman primates reared in laboratory animal facilities which belong to the Association of Laboratory Animal Facilities of the National University of Japan. An antibody prevalence of 40% (384/ 961) was demonstrated. The antibody titer was shown to be higher among macaques (60% of cynomolgus monkeys, 53% of rhesus monkeys, and 34% of Japanese monkeys) than among non-macaque species (21%). These data indicate that nonhuman primates reared in animal facilities may present an occupational health problem and a potential zoonotic biohazard as demonstrated in limited cases in the United States.

Nomenclature of immunoglobulin A and other proteins of the mucosal immune system. IUIS/WHO Subcommittee on IgA Nomenclature

The predominant immunoglobulin found in exocrine secretions of humans and most other mammals is secretory IgA, a polymeric form of IgA containing an additional glycoprotein chain designated "secretory component". In this article recommended abbreviations are proposed for the following forms of human IgA and other proteins of related interest: secretory IgA, secretory IgM, secretory component, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, polymeric IgA, monomeric IgA, IgA subclass 1, IgA subclass, 2, A2 allotype marker 1, and A2 allotype marker 2.

The synonymous substitution rate of the major histocompatibility complex loci in primates

Because the divergence of many allelic lineages at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci predates species divergence, standard methods of calculating synonymous substitution rates are not applicable to this system. We used three alternative methods of rate estimation: one based on the minimum number of substitutions (Dm), another on the nucleotide difference (Dxy), and the third on the net nucleotide difference (Dn). We applied these methods to the protein-encoding sequences of primate MHC class I (A, B, and C) and class II (DRB1) genes. To determine the reliability of the different estimates, we carried out computer simulation. The distribution of the estimates based on Dxy or Dn is generally much broader than that based on Dm. More importantly, the Dm-based method nearly always has the highest probability of recovering true rates, provided that Dm is not smaller than 5. Because of its desirable statistical properties, we used the Dm-based method to estimate the rate of synonymous substitutions. The rate is 1.37 +/- 0.61 for A, 1.84 +/- 0.40 for B, 3.87 +/- 1.05 for C, and 1.18 +/- 0.36 for DRB1 loci, always per site per 10(9) years. Hence despite the extraordinary polymorphism, the mutation rate at the primate MHC loci is no higher than that of other loci.

Molecular cloning of orangutan and gibbon MHC class I cDNA. The HLA-A and -B loci diverged over 30 million years ago

To investigate whether the classical HLA MHC class I loci have been preserved during evolution of the primates, we have cloned, sequenced, and expressed eight MHC class I cDNA from orangutan and gibbon lymphocytes. Both the HLA-A and -B loci are present in both of these species. In fact, lymphocytes from the orangutan expressed three HLA-B-related gene products, suggesting that the ancestral homologue of the HLA-B locus had undergone a duplication in this species. Interestingly, several amino acid motifs thought to be important in the Ag-presenting function of MHC class I molecules were preserved in the Ag-recognition sites of the orangutan and gibbon MHC class I molecules. Finally, these findings suggest that the recombination event between the HLA-A and -E loci occurred over 38 million years ago. These data indicate that the HLA-A and -B loci are extremely stable and that recombination between them is rare. Furthermore, the data presented here argue against the role of concerted evolution in the evolution of primate MHC class I molecules.

Evolution of immunoglobulin allotypes and phylogeny of apes

Serum samples from 72 Pan troglodytes, 5 Pan paniscus, 22 Gorilla gorilla, 23 Pongo pygmaeus abelii, 5 Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus, 2 hybrids P.p. abelii X P.p. pygmaeus and 13 Hylobates lar were tested for Gm(1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 24, 28), Km(1) and Bm(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) immunoglobulin allotypes by the classical hemagglutination inhibition method. The distribution of the various alleles and phenotypes makes it possible to distinguish each species or subspecies. Common chimpanzees have the richest polymorphism. Pygmy chimpanzees share common phenotypes with gorillas. Bornean and Sumatran orangutans have their own patterns of polymorphism, as do gibbons. Our principal component plot and dendrogram are compatible with the traditional classification of Hominoidea [e.g. Simpson, Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist. 85: 1-350, 1945] in 3 families: Hominidae, Pongidae and Hylobatidae.

Studies on the use of nonhuman primates to determine the DR status of the human hematopoietic stem cell

Monoclonal antibodies that recognize monomorphic determinants of human DR are potentially useful for the in vitro elimination of malignant cells from marrow for use in autologous transplantation. While DR is expressed on normal hematopoietic progenitor cells and the cells of the majority of the hematologic and lymphoid malignancies, there is the possibility that DR may not be expressed on the hematopoietic stem cells responsible for marrow regeneration after transplantation. To resolve the uncertainty regarding the DR status of the human stem cell, we determined whether antihuman DR monoclonal antibodies recognized analogous antigens on nonhuman primate hematopoietic progenitor cells to determine an appropriate animal transplant model. We used antihuman DR plus C'-mediated lysis of marrow progenitor cells as an indicator of whether the analogous nonhuman primate cells express similar antigens. Using two potent C'-fixing anti-DR monoclonal antibodies separately (5F3, AMG-12), human progenitor cells are reduced by 90%-100%. The range of progenitor cell depletion varied more widely with the nonhuman primates studied: 80%-99% with cells from the chimpanzee, 48%-100% with cells from the orangutan, and 62%-100% with cells from the rhesus monkey. Despite this, the majority of animals yielded results identical to that seen with human cells. We concluded that autologous transplantation with DR-depleted rhesus bone marrow into a lethally irradiated animal would be a practical and expeditious means to determine the DR status of the cell responsible for marrow regeneration, and by inference the DR status of the human hematopoietic stem cell.

Epizootic of parainfluenza-3 virus infection in gibbons

A laboratory-housed breeding colony of white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) experienced an epizootic of upper respiratory tract disease characterized by lethargy, anorexia, coughing, and serous rhinorrhea. Signs were more severe in adults than in offspring, and all animals recovered without complications. Base-line, acute, and convalescent sera from the most severely affected gibbons were tested for antibodies against a wide spectrum of infectious agents. For personnel known to have had contact with the gibbons, testing for the same agents was done on base-line sera and sera obtained at the same time as the acute and convalescent sera were obtained from the gibbons. Rising titers against parainfluenza-3 virus were detected in 6 of 7 gibbons tested. An increase in titer was not seen in the sera of personnel.

A rapid, large scale purification procedure for gibbon interleukin 2

Interleukin 2 (IL 2) was purified from the conditioned medium of a gibbon T cell line, MLA144, which releases IL 2 constitutively. The IL 2 was obtained free of contaminating proteins by a simple process consisting of an initial batch purification on trimethylsilyl-controlled pore glass followed by reversed phase high pressure liquid chromatography. Overall recovery of IL 2 activity ranged from 70 to 100% of initial activity and yielded 2 X 10(6) or greater units of IL 2 per 15 liters of serum-free MLA144 conditioned medium. The specific activity of purified IL 2 ranged from 0.5 to 1 X 10(8) IL 2 U/mg protein. The purified IL 2 showed four molecular species when analyzed by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing-SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Each of the four molecular forms was active in the bioassay for IL 2 activity. Three molecular forms had apparent m.w. of 16,000 but different isoelectric points of 5.9, 6.3, and 6.7. One molecular form had an apparent m.w. of 15,000 and an isoelectric point of 7.2. The most abundant form of IL 2 had an apparent m.w. of 16,000 and an isoelectric point of 6.3. The purified IL 2 supported the growth of IL 2-dependent lymphocytes to a greater extent than did the same level of crude IL 2-containing MLA144 conditioned medium. The ability to purify large amounts of IL 2 by a rapid and efficient procedure will be of great help in both biochemical and immunologic studies of this lymphokine.

Reactivity of monoclonal antibodies against human leucocyte antigens with lymphocytes of non-human primate origin

The phylogenetic distribution of antigens present on human lymphocytes was investigated by incubating human or simian cells with murine anti-human monoclonal antibodies and then determining the level of reactivity with a radiolabelled anti-murine IgG reagent. The monoclonal antibodies used were specific for a T-cell antigen, lymphoid and lymphoid:myeloid antigens, Ia antigens, and beta 2 microglobulin. The cells examined included B- and T-lymphoblastoid cell lines and fresh peripheral blood lymphocytes separated by sheep erythrocyte rosetting into T-cell and non T-cell fractions. Results of these studies showed that the antibodies gave complete cross-reactivity with gorilla and chimpanzee cells while B-cell lines of orangutan origin had lost lymphoid and beta 2 microglobulin markers. Gibbon cells and cells of Old World and New World monkeys reacted strongly only with monoclonal antibodies against Ia antigenic determinants. These Ia antigens were found on the non T-cell fraction of fresh peripheral lymphocytes, on B-cell lines and on some virus induced T-cell tumour lines. Immunoprecipitation analysis using the anti-Ia antibodies showed a degree of molecular diversity on owl monkey and marmoset cells compared to the Ia antigens associated with human cells.

Antistreptococcal antibodies, rheumatoid factors and haptoglobin in apes and monkeys

Sera of 157 baboons (Papio hamadryas and P. anubis) 21 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) five orang utans (Pongo pygmaeus) three mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) and three gibbons (Hylobates lar lar) were examined for the content of antistreptolysin O, antidesoxyribonuclease B, for the presence of rheumatoid factors as well as for the level and type of haptoglobin. The mean antistreptolysin O titer (AST) in baboons was 106 ASU +/- 18 in dextransulfate absorbed sera ("real" AST) and 182 ASU +/- 34 in non-absorbed sera. The mean decrease after absorption was 20% (i.e., 20% inhibitor + 80% antistreptolysin O), a value that is lower than previously found in rhesus monkeys (55%) or in man (40%). Raised values of anti-DNase B were found in two baboons only, and none of the sera of that species displayed presence of rheumatoid factors. In chimpanzees, the mean AST was 68 +/- 29 in absorbed and 87 ASU +/- 57 in non-absorbed sera. Anti-DNase B was raised in three animals, and in two cases the increase was correlated with raised AST. Of 19 chimpanzee sera examined, 13 were found to contain antigammaglobulins ("rheumatoid factors") the titers of which reached 1:64 or more. All primate sera tested so far showed haptoglobin type 1-1 or Hp 1-1-like patterns. The haptoglobin level in chimpanzees and baboons was comparable to that established in man; in rhesus monkey, on the other hand, much lower values (40-62 mg/100 ml) or ahaptoglobinemia were observed. The sera of all monkeys and apes tested so far showed a very low (undiluted, or up to 1:10 titer at most) agglutinating activity against T4-antigen-carrying streptococci. This is in agreement with our observations made previously which indicated that human or animal sera of haptoglobin type 1-1 agglutinated streptococci to a much lower degree than type Hp 2-2 or type Hp 2-1 sera.

A comparative study of rosette formation in 12 species of nonhuman primates

Lymphocytes, isolated from the peripheral blood of 12 species of nonhuman primates, were tested for the ability to form rosettes with antibody-complement-coated erythrocytes (EAC rosettes) and with erythrocytes from various animal species. In general, New World primates (wooly, spider colobus, capuchin and owl monkeys) had a greater number of EAC rosette-forming cells (30-44%) than did Old World monkeys (baboons, gibbons, rhesus, cynomolgus, pigtailed, stumptailed and Japanese macaques) (22-30%). All possessed lymphocytes capable of forming rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. Lymphocytes from some primate species formed rosettes with canine, equine, goat or porcine erythrocytes.

Natural antibodies in sera from healthy humans to antigens on surfaces of type C RNA viruses and cells from primates

Sera from healthy humans contained naturally occurring antibody against group- or subgroup-specific antigen on the envelope of the following type C viruses isolated from primates: gibbon ape leukemia virus, simian (woolly monkey) sarcoma virus, baboon endogenous type C virus, and putative human type C viruses [HL23V isolated from blood cells of a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (HL23) and HEL-12V from human embryonic diploid cells (CIH-32)]. Two sera also reacted with C57BL/6 mouse leukemia induced by Friend virus. These results were obtained by indirect immunoelectron microscopy with various virus-producing cells and by absorption tests using as targets gibbon lymphosarcoma cells that release gibbon ape leukemia virus. In a previous report, the presence of natural antibody in sera from healthy gibbon apes was demonstrated. When the specificities of the human and gibbon natural antibodies were compared, the human natural antibody reacted with two nonproducing culture cell lines of human lymphocytic leukemia (CEM-A and MOLT) and with human embryonic diploid (CIH-1(V-) cells [which became type C virus-producing CIH-32(V+) cells after many passages], but did not react with normal gibbon spleen monolayer cells. In contrast, gibbon natural antibody showed no reaction with CEM-A, MOLT, and CIH-1(V-) cells but reacted with gibbon spleen monolayer cells. Neither human nor gibbon natural antibody that was reactive with gibbon ape leukemia virus crossreacted with feline leukemia virus and mouse wild-type AKR leukemia virus. The gibbon lymphosarcoma cells releasing gibbon ape leukemia virus were used in a screening study of sera from healthy humans. Out of 72 sera screened by indirect immunoelectron microscopy using this system, 55 were positive (76%), i.e., 26 out of 35 males (74%) and 29 out of 37 females (78%). The highest incidence of antibody production was in 1- to 10-year-olds and 31- to 40-year-olds, with the adults exhibiting higher levels. Differences in incidence of natural antibody were not found to be sex-linked. These findings suggest that type C RNA viruses related to the gibbon ape leukemia virus and simian (woolly monkey) sarcoma virus family as well as the baboon endogenous type C virus family may be widespread in humans.

Specificity of naturally occurring antibody in normal gibbon serum

Gibbon natural antibody examined by immunoelectron microscopy reacted with the entire envelope of type C virus and with areas on the cell surface equivalent to or smaller than the diameter of a virion in gibbon and human culture cells infected with or releasing type C viruses. The antibody activity was absorbed completely by two cell cultures infected with gibbon ape leukemia virus and by the virus itself, and partially by normal gibbon spleen cells and dog thymus-derived cells infected with baboon endogenous type C virus, and fresh white blood cells obtained from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in acute blastic crisis.