Immunological relationships among subunits of glutathione S-transferases A, AA, B and ligandin and hybrid formation between AA and ligandin by guanidine hydrochloride

Immunological properties of ligandin(Lig) and glutathione S-transferase(GST)-A, -AA and -B were investigated for elucidating their subunit relationships. By using either anti-Lig or -AA antibody, GST-B made a clear common precipitin line with Lig or AA in double immunodiffusion and the activity was inhibited intermediately between Lig and AA, whereas Lig and AA reacted very weakly with antibodies to each other. A hybrid between Lig and AA formed by guanidine hydrochloride treatment was identified immunochemically to be GST-B. GST-A had no immunological relationship with any of other three forms.     

Fasciola hepatica: IgG and IgA levels in the serum and bile of infected cattle

Bile and serum samples were collected from calves with an implanted cannula throughout a 20-week period of infection with Fasciola hepatica. Using indirect fluorescent antibody labelling and plastic-embedded sections of juvenile and adult flukes as antigens, estimates were made of the relative concentrations of IgG and IgA specific for fluke tegumental and gut antigens in the samples of serum and bile. In serum, antibodies against juvenile (t1) tegument and gut antigens reached peak concentrations 4–6 weeks postinfection and declined slowly thereafter as flukes became established in the bile ducts. IgG against adult tegument (t2) antigens appeared in the serum 6 weeks after infection, but no IgA against t2 was detected. In the bile, both IgG and IgA titres against t1 and gut antigens rose to peak values at 4–6 weeks after infection, but there was no activity against t2 antigen. The Ig levels in bile were considerably lower than in serum. Much more IgA relative to IgG occurred in bile as compared to serum (IgG/IgA ratio in serum was 16–32, in bile 1–2) suggesting a role for IgA in defence at mucosal surfaces. Comparison of the antibody profiles in bile and serum suggested that IgG in the bile was derived from circulating IgG whereas IgA may have been preferentially concentrated in the bile.     

Les Cricetidae (Rodentia,Mammalia)de la Milloque (bassin d'Aquitaine): Horizon repère de l'Oligocène supérieur

A screen washed and hand sorted sample of six tons sediments from La Milloque (Lot-et-Garonne) has yielded to the author several thousand micromammal's teeth. Among the Rodents, four extinct species of Cricetids have been recognized: Eucricetodon praecursor (Schaub, 1925); Adelomyarion viretiHugueney, 1969; Pseudocricetodon cf. thaleri (Hugueney, 1969); Melissiodon quercyiSchaub, 1920. The fossil remain's study affords many paleontological informations more particularly for E. praecursor, a previously poorly known species. About the upper Oligocene biochronology the four species' evolution degrees prove the statute of reference locality attributed to La Milloque, «mammalian timemark just below the reference locality of Coderet (Allier). Moreover it's pointed out that the locality of Rickenbach (Switzerland) is slightly older than La Milloque, whereas an intermediate age between La Milloque and Coderet can be suggested for the locality of Dicupentale (Tarn-et-Garonne).     

Electrokinetic study of the reactions of peritoneal macrophages and eosinophils with IgG immune complexes

Electrophoretic light scattering (laser Doppler electrophoresis) has been employed to study the effects of guinea pig IgG immune complexes on the electrophoretic mobility distributions of guinea pig resident peritoneal cells. The resident population of cells is composed of macrophages (approximately 75%) and eosinophils (approximately 25%). These cells were separated according to the well-established method of Boyum. Populations of resident macrophages, eosinophils, and the unfractionated samples were incubated with soluble immune complexes, antigen alone, or antibody alone. The mean mobility of the resident macrophages decreased approximately 60% when incubated in the presence of immune complexes, although no effect could be discerned in the presence of antigen or antibody alone. The width of the resulting macrophage mobility distribution was larger than that of the control distributions, with a broad shoulder on the high-mobility side, indicating a heterogeneous response of the macrophages to the immune complexes. Eosinophils react in two distinct fashions. One population of eosinophils is present near the control experiments. The second population reacts in a manner very similar to that of macrophages. This suggest that at least two populations of eosinophils are present in the unstimulated guinea pig peritoneal cavity. Results that are intermediate between these two cases are found when unfractionated samples are studied.     

Control of acetylcholine receptor mobility and distribution in cultured muscle membranes. A fluorescence study

The molecular control of the distribution and motion of acetylcholine receptors in the plasma membrane of developing rat myotubes in primary cell culture was investigated by fluorescence techniques. Acetylcholine receptors were marked with tetramethylrhodamine-labeled α-bungarotoxin and lateral molecular motion in the membrane was measured by the fluorescence photobleaching recovery technique. Three types of experiments are discussed: (I) The effect of enzymatic cleavages, drugs, cross-linkers, and physiological alterations on the lateral motion of acetylcholine receptors and on the characteristic distribution of acetylcholine receptors into patch and diffuse areas. (II) Observation of the distribution and/or motion of fluorescence-labeled concanavalin A receptors, lipid probes, cell surface protein, and stained cholinesterase in acetylcholine receptor patch and diffuse areas. (III) The effect of a protein synthesis inhibitor and electrical stimulation on membrane incorporation of new acetylcholine receptors.Some of the main conclusions are: (a) acetylcholine receptor lateral motion is inhibited by concanavalin A plant lectin and by anti-α-bungarotoxin antibody, but marginally enhanced by treatment with a local anesthetic; (b) patches are stabilized by an immobile cellular structure consisting of molecules other than the acetylcholine receptors themselves; (c) this structure is highly selective for acetylcholine receptors and not for other cell membrane components; (d) acetylcholine receptor patch integrity and diffuse area motion are independent of direct metabolic energy requirements and are sensitive to electrical excitation of myotube; (e) lipid molecules can move laterally in both acetylcholine receptor patches and diffuse areas; and (f) acetylcholine receptor lateral motion in diffuse areas and immobility in patch areas are not altered by specific agents which are known to affect extrinsic cell surface proteins, or cytoplasmic microfilaments and microtubules.     

Radioimmune assay of tubulin applied to oligomers, synaptic membranes, and plants

A radioimmune assay for microtubule protein, tubulin, is described, in which unknown amounts of native or denatured tubulin can be quantitated by the ability to compete with pure [¹²⁵I]tubulin for rabbit antibodies produced against purified bovine brain tubulin. The assay is used to demonstrate that crude extracts of mouse brain contain negligible amounts of 30–36S tubulin oligomers under conditions where purified tubulin forms substantial amounts of such structures. Also, the particulate fraction of osmotically shocked and sonicated brain synaptosomes contains negligible tubulin antigenic activity. By contrast, soluble extracts of soybean, especially rapidly dividing regions of the plant, were found to contain significant amounts of cross-reacting material, providing further evidence for the conservative evolutionary nature of this ubiquitous and important protein.     

Ascaris suum: specific antibodies in isolated intestinal loop washings from immunized swine.

Six pigs had been immunized with multiple dose of embryonated eggs and an isolated intestinal loop was prepared in each animal. Specific antibodies to Ascaris suum were detected in the soluble protein fraction of washings from the intestinal loops using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. The specific antibodies belonged to the IgA, IgG and IgE classes of immunoglobulins. In contrast, specific antibodies were not detected in the soluble protein fraction from the accumulated fluid from the intestinal loop of one pig. Soluble proteins from the washings of intestinal loops consisted of serum albumin, a large molecular size glycoprotein, and variable amounts of several α-globulins, transferrin, and immunoglobulins. The individual soluble protein solutions were efficiently fractionated using DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-200, and Sepharose 6B Chromatographic columns.     

Gut-associated immune effector responses in immunocompetent and immunocomprimised mice with Giardia lamblia

Abstract Significantly higher Giardia lamblia trophozoites load in the intestine of infected mice accompanied pronounced influx of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (Lyt 2.2⁺), T cells (Thy 1.2⁺) and significant reduction in IgA-containing cells in the gut during the establishment and peak phases of infection. The induction of helper/inducer T cells (Lyt 1.1⁺) and significant enhancement of IgA-containing cells in gut resulted in the decline of the trophozoite loads. However, the prior treatment of animals with dexamethasone alone resulted in significant reduction in helper/inducer T cells (Lyt 1.1⁺) and the IgA-containing cells in the gut; the percents of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (Lyt 2.2⁺) and IgM-containing cells remained unaltered. Although the G. lamblia infection in such animals further significantly increased the influx of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells, the late response of helper/inducer T cells and IgA-containing cells was abrogated during the decline phase of infection. The significant reduction in the trophozoite load — despite immuno-suppressive therapy — appeared to be due to unaltered IgM response in such animals which probably took over the function of IgA in defense against G. lamblia . The data of the investigation thus suggested a role of helper/inducer T cells and antibodies producing cells in gut as important effector cells resulting in the termination of primary G. lamblia infection.     

The first report on immunoglobulins A,E, G and M levels in cystic fibrosis patients in Saudi Arabia

BackgroundPrevious reports have shown that pulmonary and systemic hypergamma-globulinemia in CF patients is a reflection of chronic pulmonary infection. Infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to have major prognostic significance in patients CF. This study aims to identify the incidence of immunoglobulins (especially: IgG, and IgE) in a cohort of CF patients.MethodsA total of 297 patients recruited all over the country’s region for this study were a as part of the CF registry data from 1st January 1984 to 1st June 2016. All patients had their immunoglobulin levels measured by enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 3 stages, at presentation and two follow-ups.ResultsOf the 297 patients recruited, 139 (46.8%) were males while 158 (53.2%) were females. IgA and IgM levels were found not to have risen above the previously reported levels in healthy individuals in all stages. On the contrary, IgE level increased from 209.51 ± 32.30 KU/L to 303.58 ± 37.11 KU/L from baseline to stage 3 while IgG level rose from 12.26 ± 0.43 mg/mL to 17.17 ± 1.68 mg/mL for baseline and stage 3 respectively all above previously reported levels in healthy individuals.ConclusionThis study establishes a potential for the use of IgE and IgG in disease diagnosis as well as the prognostic implications. However, further study is needed to identify the role of infection or medications in relation to the rise of both IgE and IgG with advancement of age and progression of disease severity which may inherently confound the observed results.