Maturation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of male Syrian hamsters.

Light-microscope immunocytochemistry (ICC) was used to investigate postnatal changes in the morphology of LHRH neurons in the brains of male Syrian hamsters and to relate these changes to more overt maturational developments within the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. The animals were maintained under long-day photoperiods (14L:10D), and groups of 6-7 were killed at 10-day intervals from Day 15 to Day 65. Their brains were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, sectioned sagittally with a vibratome (75 microns), and processed for ICC using monoclonal LHRH antibody HU4H. Throughout the study period, the hamsters showed a progressive increase in plasma gonadotropin levels, closely followed by an increase in testicular weight and plasma testosterone levels. Histology of the testes revealed that spermatogenesis was already qualitatively completed by Day 35 and quantitative aspects were established by Day 45. Within the brain, LHRH neuronal perikarya were distributed primarily in the medial septal-preoptic area and the diagonal band of Broca; morphologically, these immunopositive neurons were either monopolar or bipolar. The total number of LHRH neurons detected in the areas examined was approximately 440 throughout the developmental period, and the relative proportions of monopolar and bipolar subtypes (86% and 14%, respectively) remained unchanged. In contrast, the area of the perikarya, as determined by autoimage analysis, showed a highly significant age-related increase, both for the monopolar and bipolar neurons. It is suggested that these developmental changes in the LHRH neurons reflect an increase in LHRH synthesis and may, therefore, provide a neuroendocrine trigger for the onset of puberty.     

Structural requirement for the recognition of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) by monoclonal and conventional anti-LHRH antibodies

Immunochemical studies on monoclonal and conventional anti-LHRH antibodies have been reported. The association constants (Ka) were in the order of 10(9)-10(10) L/mol when calculated from Scatchard and Steward-Petty plots. Heterogeneity indices (a) calculated from Sips plot were nearly 1.0, indicating the homogeneous nature of monoclonals. Most of the conventional anti-LHRH produced by monkey, baboon, rabbit, and dog, by immunization using LHRH linked to tetanus toxoid by the carbodiimide condensation method, showed a single slope in Scatchard analysis (except two dog antisera) and a values were nearly 1.0. Monoclonals and conventionals reacted most strongly with native LHRH(NH2). Monoclonals showed poor reactivity with LHRH free acid and LHRH fragments containing free acid. The C-terminus tetrapeptide 7-10 showed 10 times more reactivity than tripeptide 4-6. The heptapeptide 4-10 showed 100 and 1000 times more reactivity than the tetra- and tri-peptide, respectively. Introduction of the tripeptide pGlu-His-Trp-OH to heptapeptide 4-10 caused five times more inhibition in reactivity than the heptapeptide. Conventional anti-LHRH antibodies manifested specificity to the C-terminus of LHRH. These sera did not react with LHRH free acid and LHRH fragments of sequence 4-6, 7-10, and 4-10. The complete loss of reactivity of conventional antibodies and poor reactivity of monoclonal antibodies was partly regained when LHRH free acid was coupled to Lys, Lys-MDP, or (Ala)2-tuftsin, suggesting that for monoclonals and conventionals the antigenic determinant was confined to the conformation involving the C-terminus amide of LHRH.     

Identification of nuclear type II [(3)H]estradiol binding sites as histone H4

[3H]Luteolin binds covalently to uterine nuclear type II sites [B. Markaverich, K. Shoulars, M.A. Alejandro, T. Brown, Steroids 66 (2001) 707] and was used to identify this protein(s). SDS-PAGE analyses of [3H]luteolin-labeled type II site preparations revealed specific binding to 11- and 35-kDa proteins. The 11-kDa protein was identified as histone H4 by amino acid sequencing. Western blotting confirmed that the 11- and 35-kDa proteins were acetylated forms of histone H4. Anti-histone H4 antibodies (but not H2A, H2B, or H3 antibodies) quantitatively immunoadsorbed type II binding sites from nuclear extracts. Binding analyses by [3H]estradiol exchange, using luteolin as a competitor, detected specific type II binding activity to histone H4 (but not histones H2A, H2B, or H3) generated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate translation system and confirmed that histone H4 is the type II site.     

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 antibodies that mask membrane proximal region epitopes: antibody binding kinetics, induction, and potential for regulation in acute infection

Two human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (2F5 and 4E10) against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope g41 cluster II membrane proximal external region (MPER) broadly neutralize HIV-1 primary isolates. However, these antibody specificities are rare, are not induced by Env immunization or HIV-1 infection, and are polyspecific and also react with lipids such as cardiolipin or phosphatidylserine. To probe MPER anti-gp41 antibodies that are produced in HIV-1 infection, we have made two novel murine MAbs, 5A9 and 13H11, against HIV-1 gp41 envelope that partially cross-blocked 2F5 MAb binding to Env but did not neutralize HIV-1 primary isolates or bind host lipids. Competitive inhibition assays using labeled 13H11 MAb and HIV-1-positive patient plasma samples demonstrated that cluster II 13H11-blocking plasma antibodies were made in 83% of chronically HIV-1 infected patients and were acquired between 5 to 10 weeks after acute HIV-1 infection. Both the mouse 13H11 MAb and the three prototypic cluster II human MAbs (98-6, 126-6, and 167-D) blocked 2F5 binding to gp41 epitopes to variable degrees; the combination of 98-6 and 13H11 completely blocked 2F5 binding. These data provide support for the hypothesis that in some patients, B cells make nonneutralizing cluster II antibodies that may mask or otherwise down-modulate B-cell responses to immunogenic regions of gp41 that could be recognized by B cells capable of producing antibodies like 2F5.     

Use of histone antibodies for studying chromatin topography and the phosphorylation of chromatin subunits

Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for histones as well as sera directed against synthetic peptides of histones were used to probe the topography of chromatin subunits. In native chromatin, the regions corresponding to residues 130-135 of H3 and 6-18 of H2B were found to be exposed and able to interact with antibodies whereas the regions 26-35 and 36-43 of H2B and 80-89 and 85-102 of H4 were not. In vitro phosphorylation of H3 and H5 in native chromatin or of H3 in H1/H5-depleted chromatin led to a marked drop in the binding of antibodies specific for residues 130-135 of H3 and 6-18 of H2B. Phosphorylation of H1/H5-depleted chromatin also altered the degree of exposure of certain H2A epitopes but it did not affect the surface accessibility of residues 1-11 of H2B.     

Develope Monoclonal Antibody against Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus A Type

In order to develop an anti-FMDV A Type monoclonal antibody (mAb),BABL/c mice were immunized with FMDV A type.Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 7B11 and 8H4 against Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype A were produced by fusing SP2/0 myeloma cells with splenocyte from the mouse immunized with A/AV88.The microneutralization titer of the mAbs 7B11 and 8H4 were 1024 and 512,respectively.Both mAbs contain kappa light chains,the mAbs were IgG1.In order to define the mAbs binding epitopes,the reactivity of the...     

Host defence against C. albicans infections in IgH transgenic mice with V(H) derived from a natural anti-keratin antibody

Fungal infections have been increasing and life-threatening in recent years, but host immune responses, especially the humoral immunity, to fungi have not been fully understood. In the present study, we report that natural antibodies from unimmunized mice bind to Candida albicans. We established a monoclonal natural antibody, 3B4, which recognized a surface antigen located at germ tubes of C. albicans. The 3B4 antibody protected mice from C. albicans-induced death in passive immunization, by mechanisms involving suppressing germ tube formation and modulating phagocytosis. Interestingly, 3B4 also bound to a self-antigen keratin. To further study the generation and anti-C. albicans activities of natural antibodies in vivo, we constructed a mu chain transgenic mouse (TgV(H)3B4) using the V(H) gene from 3B4. TgV(H)3B4 had elevated serum anti-keratin/C. albicans IgM, and were resistant to C. albicans infections. Analyses of B cell development showed that in TgV(H)3B4, B cells secreting the anti-keratin/C. albicans antibodies were enriched in the B1 B cell compartment. Our findings reveal an important role of keratin-reactive natural antibodies in anti-C. albicans immune responses, and suggest that keratin may function in selecting B cells into the B1 B cell compartment, where natural antibodies are made to fight fungal infections.     

Effect of LHRH immunoneutralization on follicular development, the LH surge and luteal function in the stumptailed macaque monkey (Macaca arctoides)

A dose of 100 microliter of a potent ovine LHRH gamma globulin inhibited ovulation in the cyclic rat when administered at 12:00 h on the day of pro-oestrus. A dose of 10 ml of the preparation was administered i.v. to female stumptailed macaques to achieve circulating antibody titres 3-4-fold higher than in the rat. In an ovariectomized macaque, this caused a marked fall in serum concentrations of LH to less than 10% of pretreatment values and also a significant, though less pronounced, fall in FSH. Six monkeys were treated with the LHRH gamma globulin during the mid-late follicular phase of the cycle. In 2 monkeys in which serum oestradiol concentrations were less than 100 pg/ml at the time of antibody administration, the rising oestradiol levels were abruptly suppressed and the normal mid-cycle LH surge failed to occur. Serum concentrations of LH and FSH declined to low levels for 8-10 days after which time normal follicular development occurred. In the remaining 4 monkeys in which follicular development was more advanced as indicated by serum oestradiol concentrations of greater than 100 pg/ml, the antibodies induced either a transient decline or had no effect on the rising serum concentration of oestradiol. An LH/FSH surge followed by a rise in serum progesterone occurred in these macaques. When the antibodies were administered to a further 6 macaques, which had also been treated with oestradiol benzoate during the early follicular phase to induce an LH surge, the neutralization of LHRH again failed to block the surge even when the dose of antibody was increased to 20 ml. The results show that LHRH antibodies were unable to block the LH surge in the macaque. They contrast with results obtained with LHRH immunoneutralization in the sheep, rat, hamster, mouse and bird and suggest that the ability of oestrogen to induce an LH surge by acting directly on the LHRH-primed anterior pituitary gland is more dominant in the primate.     

Induction of foci of phosphorylated H2AX histones and premature chromosome condensation after DNA damage in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia faba</Emphasis> root meristem

Immunocytochemical analysis using antibody raised against human H2AX histones phosphorylated at serine 139 (γ-H2AX) demonstrates that root meristem cells of Vicia faba exposed to UV-radiation or incubated with hydroxyurea (HU) reveal discrete foci at the border of the nucleolus and perinucleolar chromatin or scattered over the whole area of cell nucleus. Western blots detected only one protein band at the position expected for the phosphorylated form of H2AX. The dose-effect relationship was demonstrated following treatment with 2.5 and 10 mM HU. Proteins extracted from root meristems incubated for 2 h either with HU and caffeine or with HU and sodium metavanadate showed unchanged amounts of bound γ-H2AX antibodies, as compared to root meristems treated with 2.5 mM HU. Higher quantities of phosphorylated H2AX histones were detected in proteins extracted from roots treated with HU and 2-aminopurine. All treatments were effective in producing evident aberrations of premature mitosis: broken and lagging chromatids, acentric fragments, chromosomal bridges and micronuclei. Our results show that phosphorylation of H2AX at the carboxy-terminal Ser-Gln-Glu sequence is among the earliest responses to double-strand breaks and, presumably, one of the key ATM/ATR-dependent signals indispensable for the repair of spontaneous and induced DNA damage in plant cells.     

An efficient chemical approach to bispecific antibodies and antibodies of high valency

Irreversible chemical programming of monoclonal aldolase antibody (mAb) 38C2 has been accomplished with β-lactam equipped mono- and bifunctional targeting modules, including a cyclic-RGD peptide linked to either the peptide (d-Lys⁶)-LHRH or another cyclic RGD unit and a small-molecule integrin inhibitor SCS-873 conjugated to (d-Lys⁶)LHRH. We also prepared monofunctional targeting modules containing either cyclic RGD or (d-Lys⁶)-LHRH peptides. Binding of the chemically programmed antibodies to integrin receptors α(v)β(3) and α(v)β(5) and to the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone receptor were evaluated. The bifunctional and bivalent c-RGD/LHRH and SCS-783/LHRH, the monofunctional and tetravalent c-RGD/c-RGD, and the monofunctional bivalent c-RGD chemically programmed antibodies bound specifically to the isolated integrin receptor proteins as well as to integrins expressed on human melanoma M-21 cells. c-RGD/LHRH, SCS-783/LHRH, and LHRH chemically programmed antibodies bound specifically to the LHRH receptors expressed on human ovarian cancer cells. This approach provides an efficient, versatile, and economically viable route to high-valency therapeutic antibodies that target defined combinations of specific receptors. Additionally, this approach should be applicable to chemically programmed vaccines.     

Immunization against luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone fusion proteins does not decrease prostate cancer in the transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate model

This study was undertaken to test the effect of immunization against luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) fusion proteins on the development and progression of prostate cancer in the transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Two LHRH fusion proteins, ovalbumin with seven LHRH peptides (OV-LHRH-7), and thioredoxin with seven LHRH peptides (TH-LHRH-7) were used in a cocktail vaccine. Two groups of male TRAMP mice were immunized with the cocktail. Primary immunizations were at either 4 or 8 weeks of age. LHRH immunized mice (n=19) were compared with castrated (n=19) and intact mice (n=18) for testosterone concentration, tumor weight, and lifespan. Immunization against LHRH in the TRAMP mice resulted in significant production of antibodies to LHRH compared with surgically castrated and intact control mice. Testicular weight was significantly reduced in the LHRH immunized groups compared with intact control mice. Serum testosterone was reduced (P<0.05) in the immunized mice compared with intact control mice and was not different from that of castrated mice (P>0.05). Tumor weight was variable and inconsistent throughout all treatment groups. Lifespan was not increased by immunization against LHRH or castration. Intact control mice (lived the longest (227+/-11 days), whereas immunized mice lived 206+/-11 days and castrated mice lived 213+/-13 days. Tumors from immunized TRAMP mice appeared more aggressive than tumors of castrated and intact mice, as demonstrated by 35% expression of gross lung tumors in the immunized mice whereas none were observed in the castrated or intact TRAMP mice. Prostate cancer is initially dependent upon androgens for growth and development, but cells have the ability to escape androgen dependence and progress to an androgen independent state, which was evident in this study. The TRAMP mouse model immunized against LHRH may have utility in future studies and treatments of the androgen independent prostate cancer.     

Effects of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone on gonadotrophins in the hamster

The changes in serum gonadotrophins in male hamsters following one injection of 15 μg luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) (Group A) were compared with those following the last injection of LHRH in animals receiving an injection approximately every 12 hr for 4 days (Group B) or 12 days (Group C). Peak follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (ng/ml) were 1776±218 (Group A), 2904±346 (Group B), and 4336±449 (Group C). Peak luteinizing hormone (LH) values (ng/ml) were 1352±80 (Group A), 410±12 (Group B), and 498±53 (Group C). Serum FSH:LH ratios, calculated from the concentrations measured 16 hr after the last LHRH injections, were higher in Groups B and C than in Group A. Similar injections of LHRH (100 ng or 15 μg/injection) for 6 days elevated the serum FSH:LH ratio in intact males. Five such LHRH injections (100 ng/injection) blunted the rise in serum LH in orchidectomized hamsters. Direct effects of LHRH on gonadotrophin secretory dynamics or altered brain-pituitary-testicular interactions may alter the ratio of FSH to LH in the hamster.     

Develope monoclonal antibody against foot-and-mouth disease virus a type

In order to develop an anti-FMDV A Type monoclonal antibo by (mAb),BABL/c mice were immunized with FMDV A type.Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 7B11 and 8H4 against Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype A were produced by fusing SP2/O myeloma cells with splenocyte from the mouse immunized with A/AV88.The microneutralization titer of the mAbs 7B11 and 8H4 were 1024 and 512,respectively.Both mAbs contain kappa light chains,the mAbs were IgG1.In order to define the mAbs binding epitopes,the reactivity of these mAbs against A Type FMDV,were examined using indirect ELISA,the result showed that both mAbs reacted with A Type FMDV.These mAbs may be used for further vaccine studies,diagnostic methods,prophylaxis,etiological and immunological research on FMDV.Characterization of these ncindicated that prepared anti-FMDV A mAbs had no cross-reactivity with Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD) or FMDV O,Asial and C Type antigens.Their titers in abdomen liquor were 1:5×106 and 1:2×106,respectively.7B11 was found to be of subtype IgG1,8H4 was classified as IgG2b subtype.The mAbs prepared in this study,are specific for detection of FMDV serotype A,and is potentially useful for pen-side diagnosis.     

Effects of the unilateral nigral modulation of substance P transmission on the activity of the two nigro-striatal dopaminergic pathways.

The effects of the unilateral nigral application of substance P, 4–11 substance P, LHRH and of antibodies against substance P on the release of ³H-dopamine (³H-DA) in the two caudate nuclei (CN) and the two substantia nigrae (SN) were examined in halothane anaesthesized cats. The animals were implanted with four push-pull cannulae and ³H-DA was estimated in successive superfusate fractions during the continuous delivery of ³H-tyrosine. The unilateral nigral application of substance P or of 4–11 substance P resulted not only in a stimulation of ³H-DA release in the ipsilateral CN, but also in a reduction of the ³H-transmitter release from dendrites in the SN. As previously reported, the unilateral nigral application of antibodies against substance P induced opposite effects i.e. a decreased release of ³H-DA from nerve terminals associated to an increase of the ³H-amine release from dendrites. Surprisingly, in contrast to that previously observed during the unilateral nigral application of dopaminergic glycinergic or GABAergic agonists and antagonists neither substance P (or 4–11 substance P) nor antibodies against substance P affected the release of ³H-DA from nerve terminlas and dendrites of the contraletaral dopaminergic neurons. LHRH, a similar sized peptide was without effect on ipsilateral as well as on contralateral dopaminergic.     

Establishment of internal-image anti-idiotype monoclonal antibodies to a human antibody to lung cancer

 Internal-image anti-idiotype antibodies are expected to enhance anticancer effector mechanisms in vivo. The objective of this study was to establish hybridomas producing anti-idiotype monoclonal antibodies against a human monoclonal antibody (hmAb) 4G12 that reacts strongly with lung squamous cell carcinomas. BALB/c female mice 6 weeks old were immunized with 4G12. Splenocytes were hybridized with P3U1 cells and hybrid cells secreting anti-4G12 hmAb were cloned. Two clones reacted with 4G12 hmAb but not with 3H12 IgM hmAb, human IgM, human serum or fetal calf serum. These two Ab2 antibodies (IgG1κ) 2B12 and 2H1 demonstrated 91.5% and 90.3% inhibition in their reactivity with radiolabelled 4G12 on PC10 cells, indicating that 2B12 and 2H1 antibodies were of the Ab2β type. In criss-cross inhibition assays, the binding of 2B12 or 2H1 to 4G12 was not inhibited by 2H1 or 2B12. Thus 2B12 and 2H1 were thought to recognize the different epitopes on the antigen-binding sites. Antisera against 2B12 and 2H1 demonstrated specific reactivity to PC10 cells. The two Ab2β antibodies, 2B12 and 2H1, express internal images of lung squamous cell carcinoma recognized by the 4G12 antibody and may be useful for cancer immunotherapy. Received: 20 September 1996 / Accepted: 2 January 1997     

Endotoxemia and hepatic injury in a rodent model of hindlimb unloading.

Hindlimb unloading (HU) is known to induce physiological alterations in various organ systems that mimic some responses observed after exposure to microgravity. In the present study, the effects of up to 4 wk of HU on the liver were assessed in male Wistar rats and two mouse strains: endotoxin-sensitive C57BL/6 mice and endotoxin-resistant C3H/HEJ mice. Plasma levels of endotoxin, a known stimulator of hepatic injury, were measured in portal and systemic blood samples. Endotoxin was elevated by approximately 50% in portal blood samples of mice and rats but was not detectable in systemic blood. This low-grade portal endotoxemia was associated with hepatic injury in rats and C57BL/6 mice as indicated by inflammation and elevated serum transaminase activities. Blood levels of the cytokine TNF-alpha were increased by approximately 50% in C57BL/6 mice; no significant elevation of this cytokine was detected in rats. Messenger RNA levels of the acute-phase proteins serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, and lipopolysaccharide binding protein were significantly enhanced after 3 wk of HU in endotoxin-sensitive rodents. In contrast, no histological changes or significant increases in serum enzyme activity were detected after HU in C3H/HEJ mice despite portal endotoxin levels of 222 +/- 83.4 pg/ml. At the 3-wk time point, expression of acute-phase proteins was not elevated in C3H/HEJ mice; however, expression after 4 wk of HU was similar to endotoxin-sensitive rodents. In conclusion, these findings indicate that HU induced mild portal endotoxemia, which contributed to the observed hepatic injury in endotoxin-sensitive rodents.     

Epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies for the Deinococcus radiodurans bacteriophytochome

Bacteriophytochromes (BphP) are phytochrome‐like light sensing proteins in bacteria, which use biliverdin as a chromophore. In order to study the biochemical properties of the DrBphP protein, five (2B8, 2C11, 3B2, 3D2, and 3H7) anti‐DrBphP monoclonal antibodies were produced through the immunization of mice with purified full‐length DrBphP and DrBphN (1–321 amino acid) proteins, and epitope mapping was then carried out. Among the five antibodies, 2B8 and 2C11 preferentially recognized the N‐terminal region of BphP whereas 3B2, 3D2, and 3H7 showed preference for the C‐terminal region. We performed further epitope mapping using recombinant truncated BphP proteins to narrow down their target sequences. The results demonstrated that each of the five monoclonal antibodies recognized different regions on the DrBphP protein. Additionally, epitopes of 2B8 and 3H7 antibodies were discovered to be shorter than 10 amino acids (2B8: RDPLPFFPP, 3H7: PGEIEEA). These two antibodies with such specific recognition epitopes could be especially valuable for developing new peptide tags for protein detection and purification.     

Selective production of autoantibodies in graft-vs-host-induced and spontaneous murine lupus. Predominant reactivity with histone regions accessible in chromatin

The injection of (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 mice with parental DBA/2 lymphoid cells leads to a lupus-like disease in which IgG autoantibodies are targeted to certain nuclear and cell surface antigens. To investigate further the extent of antibody diversity in this graft-vs-host (GVH) model, we studied the specificity of antihistone antibodies induced by the GVH reaction. High levels of IgG antibodies to histones H1 and H2B were detected whereas responses to H2A, H3, and H4 were only marginally elevated above pre-GVH levels. Immunoblotting analysis further revealed that the response to H2B was focused on epitopes that most likely reside in the N-terminal region. In contrast, F1 mice immunized with H2B/RNA complexes in adjuvant produced antibodies to the N terminus as well as to other regions of the H2B molecule. Thus, the antihistone response stimulated by the GVH reaction is only a fraction of the potentially activatable B cell repertoire. We also determined whether antibodies that arise spontaneously in genetically predisposed lupus strains were restricted in their histone reactivity. The response to core histones was highly variable among individual animals of the NZB/NZW and MRL-lpr/lpr strains despite their inbred nature. However, nearly all mice exhibited a preferential reactivity for epitopes in histone regions that are lost after partial trypsin digestion of chromatin. These data demonstrating autoantibody responses that are limited to particular histone regions support a mechanism by which B cells are selectively activated in murine lupus. The predominant production of antibodies to histone regions that are exposed in nucleosomes raises the possibility that chromatin is an antigenic stimulus for histone-specific B cells in this disease.     

Epitope scanning reveals gain and loss of strain specific antibody binding epitopes associated with the conversion of normal cellular prion to scrapie prion

We used anti-prion (PrP) monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) in different combinations to scan changes in the availability of antibody binding epitopes--using an epitope scanning assay--in brain homogenates from normal mice, and from mice infected with either ME7 or 139 A strains of infectious scrapie prion (PrPSc). In ME7-infected brains, the epitope detected by the Mab pair 8B4/8H4 is reduced, while the epitope detected by the Mab pair 8F9/11G5 is increased. Mab 8F9/11G5 detect a conformational epitope on PrPSc because the rise in Mab 8F9/11G5 binding is sensitive to a denaturing agent but resistant to proteinase K (PK). While the increase in Mab 8F9/11G5 binding correlates with the presence of PK-resistant PrP and clinical signs of infection, the reduction in Mab 8B4/8H4 binding is detected earlier. Fractionation of the ME7-infected brain homogenate in sucrose gradient revealed that the PrPSc species detected by the epitope scanning assay are heterogeneous in size, with a molecular mass of approximately > or = 2000-kDa. We also investigated whether these findings were applicable to two other strains of PrPSc, namely 87 V and 22 L. We found that the decrease in Mab 8B4/8H4 binding detected in ME7-infected brains was also detected in 87 V-infected brains but not in 22 L-infected brains. In contrast, the increase in Mab 8F9/11G5 binding detected in ME7- and 139 A-infected brains was also detected in 22 L-infected brains but not in 87 V-infected brains. Therefore, each prion strain has its unique conformation, and we can monitor the conversion of normal cellular prion (PrPC) to PrPSc based on the changes in the antibody binding patterns. The epitope can be decreased or increased, linear or conformational, detected late or early during infection, in a strain specific manner.     

Hindlimb unloading induces a collagen isoform shift in the soleus muscle of the rat

To determine whether hindlimb unloading (HU) alters the extracellular matrix of skeletal muscle, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 0 (n = 11), 1 (n = 11), 14 (n = 13), or 28 (n = 11) days of unloading. Remodeling of the soleus and plantaris muscles was examined biochemically for collagen abundance via measurement of hydroxyproline, and the percentage of cross-sectional area of collagen was determined histologically with picrosirius red staining. Total hydroxyproline content in the soleus and plantaris muscles was unaltered by HU at any time point. However, the relative proportions of type I collagen in the soleus muscle decreased relative to control (Con) with 14 and 28 days HU (Con 68 +/- 5%; 14 days HU 53 +/- 4%; 28 days HU 53 +/- 7%). Correspondingly, type III collagen increased in soleus muscle with 14 and 28 days HU (Con 32 +/- 5%; 14 days HU 47 +/- 4%; 28 days HU 48 +/- 7%). The proportion of type I muscle fibers in soleus muscle was diminished with HU (Con 96 +/- 2%; 14 days HU 86 +/- 1%; 28 days HU 83 +/- 1%), and the proportion of hybrid type I/IIB fibers increased (Con 0%; 14 days HU 8 +/- 2%; 28 days HU 14 +/- 2%). HU had no effect on the proportion of type I and III collagen or muscle fiber composition in plantaris muscle. The data demonstrate that HU induces a shift in the relative proportion of collagen isoform (type I to III) in the antigravity soleus muscle, which occurs concomitantly with a slow-to-fast myofiber transformation.