Immune Function in Multiple Myeloma: Impaired Responsiveness to Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin

Twenty-three patients with multiple myeloma, four patients with treated localized plasmacytoma and 14 normal subjects were immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). When compared to the normal subjects, the myeloma patients showed a prolonged induction time for IgM antibody formation, a more rapid switch from IgM to IgG production and a decline in the titre of total antibody produced. In vitro lymphocyte responses to KLH following immunization were reduced in the myeloma group and tended to decline with time in a manner similar to the serum antibody concentration. Most of the myeloma patients tested developed delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions to KLH, but these reactions were smaller than those of the control subjects. The patients with myeloma had also reduced in vitro lymphocyte responses to streptolysin-O and vaccinia. Immune function of the plasmacytoma patients was similar to that of the control subjects.Both humoral and cellular immunity in response to a newly encountered antigen, KLH, is impaired in patients with multiple myeloma.     

Cosolvents Induced Unfolding and Aggregation of Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of 2,2,2 trifluoroethanol (TFE) and acetonitrile (ACN) on the stability, behavior, and structural characteristics of giant multimeric protein Keyhole Limpet hemocyanin (KLH) by combining the circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence measurements of KLH solution. In concentration range 20–50 % (v/v) TFE, protein at pH 7.4 shows visible aggregation while no aggregation was observed in the entire concentration range of TFE at molten globule (MG) state (pH 2.8) and resulted in stable α-helix. Our result shows that in the presence of 80 % (v/v) and 40 % (v/v) TFE, at native (pH 7.4) and MG state (pH 2.8) occurred in a highly helical state referred to as TFE denatured state I and II, respectively. However, in case of ACN, aggregation starts above 40 % (v/v) for pH 7.4 and at 80 % (v/v) for acid-induced MG (pH 2.8) state, which was dominated by β-sheet structure and referred to as ACN denatured state III and IV. An important object of our investigation is to get more detail study of efficiency of cosolvents in inducing structural changes in KLH. The dependence of scattering intensity and the R _h on alcohol concentrations was investigated at 25 °C.     

Genetic and Non-Genetic Inheritance of Natural Antibodies Binding Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin in a Purebred Layer Chicken Line

Natural antibodies (NAb) are defined as antibodies present in individuals without known antigenic challenge. Levels of NAb binding keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in chickens were earlier shown to be heritable, and to be associated with survival. Selective breeding may thus provide a strategy to improve natural disease resistance. We phenotyped 3,689 white purebred laying chickens for KLH binding NAb of different isotypes around 16 weeks of age. Heritabilities of 0.12 for the titers of total antibodies (IgT), 0.14 for IgM, 0.10 for IgA, and 0.07 for IgG were estimated. We also estimated high, positive genetic, and moderate to high, positive phenotypic correlations of IgT, IgM, IgA, and IgG, suggesting that selective breeding for NAb can be done on all antibody isotypes simultaneously. In addition, a relatively substantial non-genetic maternal environmental effect of 0.06 was detected for IgM, which may reflect a transgenerational effect. This suggests that not only the genes of the mother, but also the maternal environment affects the immune system of the offspring. Breaking strength and early eggshell whiteness of the mother’s eggs were predictive for IgM levels in the offspring, and partly explained the observed maternal environmental effects. The present results confirm that NAb are heritable, however maternal effects should be taken into account.     

Enzyme-labeled Antigen Method: Histochemical Detection of Antigen-specific Antibody-producing Cells in Tissue Sections of Rats Immunized With Horseradish Peroxidase, Ovalbumin, or Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin

The enzyme-labeled antigen method is a histochemical technique that visualizes antigen-specific antibody-producing cells in tissue sections, originally documented in 1968. In this study, we attempted to reemerge this hidden but potentially useful method in rat models immunized with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), ovalbumin (OA), or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). After repeated immunization in footpads, popliteal, groin, and axillary lymph nodes and spleen were sampled. Paraformaldehyde-prefixed frozen sections were incubated with HRP, biotinylated OA, or biotinylated KLH. Proteinase K pretreatment and the secondary use of HPR-labeled streptavidin were applied in the latter two situations. Plasma cells producing antigen-specific antibodies were visualized. Proportions of antigen-specific antibody-producing cells in total plasma cells shown with the immunoperoxidase method for rat immunoglobulins were evaluated. The percentage of antigen-specific plasma cells reached ∼50% of total plasma cells in the regional lymph nodes. The specificity was confirmed by (a) negativity in non-immune rat tissue, (b) negativity with indifferent antigen probes, and (c) abolishment of the reactivity with the corresponding rat serum. In buffered formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, fewer plasma cells were labeled for HRP and KLH antibody reactivity after strong proteolysis and prolonged incubation. Expectedly, this method allows us to observe antigen-specific antibody-producing cells under varied pathological conditions. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:101–111, 2009)     

Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin Type 2 (KLH2): Detection and Immunolocalization of a Labile Functional Unit h

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) is a mixture of two hemocyanin isoforms, termed KLH1 and KLH2. Within KLH1 eight oxygen-binding functional units (FUs), 1-a to 1-h, have been identified, in contrast to KLH2, which was previously thought to be organized in seven FUs (2-a to 2-g). By limited proteolysis of KLH2 subunits, isolation of the polypeptide fragments, and N-terminal sequencing, we have now identified an eighth FU of type h, with a molecular mass of 43 kDa. This is unusually small for a FU h from a gastropodan hemocyanin. It is also shown that KLH2 didecamers can be split into a stable and homogeneous population of decamers by dialysis against 50 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.5, in the absence of divalent cations. Electron microscopic immunolocalization using a specific monoclonal antibody reveals that FU KLH2-h is located at the collar of the decamer.     

HCV/HBV复合抗原基因的克隆、表达及免疫应答研究

为探讨ＨＣＶ／ＨＢＶ 复合疫苗的可行性,将合成的丙型肝炎病毒（ＨＣＶ）复合多表位抗原基因ＰＣＸ与ＨＢｓＡｇ 基因连接成ＰＣＸＳ基因,与β－半乳糖苷酶（ＧＺ）基因融合后在大肠杆菌及减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌中获得表达．目的蛋白ＧＺ－ＰＣＸＳ可被抗－ＨＢｓ 及抗－ＨＣＶ 抗体所特异识别．ＧＺ－ＰＣＸＳ抗原皮下注射免疫ＩＣＲ小鼠后,诱发了较高水平的抗－ＧＺ－ＰＣＸＳＩｇＧ反应．构建的重组减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌ＳＬ３２６１（ｐＷＲ／ＰＣＸＳ）口服免疫小鼠后,诱发了高水平的ＣＤ８＋ Ｔ细胞增殖反应及抗ＧＺ－ＰＣＸＳＩｇＧ反应．所有免疫小鼠均未见明显的毒副作用．该研究揭示,ＨＣＶ／ＨＢＶ 复合抗原可诱发特异性体液免疫及细胞免疫应答,而活菌苗口服可能是理想的免疫途径,为ＨＣＶ／ＨＢＶ 双价疫苗研究提供了一定的理论及实验依据．     

Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin: 9-Å CryoEM Structure and Molecular Model of the KLH1 Didecamer Reveal the Interfaces and Intricate Topology of the 160 Functional Units

Hemocyanins are blue copper-containing respiratory proteins in the hemolymph of many arthropods and molluscs. Molluscan hemocyanins are decamers, didecamers, or multidecamers of a 340- to 400-kDa polypeptide subunit containing seven or eight globular functional units (FUs; FU-a to FU-h), each with an oxygen-binding site. The decamers are short 35-nm hollow cylinders, with their lumen narrowed by a collar complex. Our recently published 9-Å cryo-electron microscopy/crystal structure hybrid model of a 3.4-MDa cephalopod hemocyanin decamer [Nautilus pompilius hemocyanin (NpH)] revealed the pathway of the seven-FU subunit (340 kDa), 15 types of inter-FU interface, and an asymmetric collar consisting of five “arcs” (FU-g pairs). We now present a comparable hybrid model of an 8-MDa gastropod hemocyanin didecamer assembled from two asymmetric decamers [isoform keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) 1 of the established immunogen KLH]. Compared to NpH, the KLH1 subunit (400 kDa) is C-terminally elongated by FU-h, which is further extended by a unique tail domain. We have found that the wall-and-arc structure of the KLH1 decamer is very similar to that of NpH. We have traced the subunit pathway and how it continues from KLH1-g to KLH1-h to form an annulus of five “slabs” (FU-h pairs) at one cylinder edge. The 15 types of inter-FU interface detected in NpH are also present in KLH1. Moreover, we have identified one arc/slab interface, two slab/slab interfaces, five slab/wall interfaces, and four decamer/decamer interfaces. The 27 interfaces are described on the basis of two subunit conformers, yielding an asymmetric homodimer. Six protrusions from the cryo-electron microscopy structure per subunit are associated with putative attachment sites for N-linked glycans, indicating a total of 120 sugar trees in KLH1. Also, putative binding sites for divalent cations have been detected. In conclusion, the present 9-Å data on KLH1 confirm and substantially broaden our recent analysis of the smaller cephalopod hemocyanin and essentially solve the gastropod hemocyanin structure.     

Identification of Peptide Leads to Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus: Inhibitory Effect of Plectasin Peptide Against Hepatitis C Serine Protease

The emerging of hepatitis C virus (HCV) resistant strains has been considered as a main drawback of the available drugs. Since HCV has a large inactive surface, we would like to hypothesis that the mutation occur in HCV is minimal and causing less resistance against inhibition. In this study, a short peptide inhibitor of HCV namely plectasin was identified by HCV NS3-4A serine protease assay. Plectasin peptide showed considerable inhibition against HCV NS3-4A serine protease. Enzymatic activity of the recombinant NS3-4Apro was analysed by fluorescence release from several fluorogenic peptide substrates which resembling the dibasic cleavage site sequences of the flavivirus polyprotein precursor. Of all amc-labelled peptides, Pyr-RTKR-amc was the most efficiently cleaved substrate with the lowest Km value of 20 µM. The kinetic assay showed that plectasin peptide inhibited NS3-4Apro activity with an IC₅₀ value of 4.3 μM compared to the aprotinin as a standard proteases inhibitor with an IC₅₀ of 6.1 μM. From the results, plectasin peptide also demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of HCV replication with a considerable reduction in RLuc activity at 15 µM using HCV replicon- containing Huh-7 cells. Our study has identified a unique natural peptide that can be used to highlight novel structures for the development of drug derivatives with high efficacy of HCV NS3-4A protease inhibitors.     

HCG抗原决定簇与乙肝病毒核心抗原的融合表达

利用ＰＣＲ方法获得编码人绒毛膜促性腺激素β链羧端３７肽基因片段（ＨＣＧ－β－３７－ＣＴＰ）,并将其分别和乙肝核心抗原的氨端（第１位）、羧端（第４５４位）、中间（第７５～８３位）以及中间和羧端同时融合,构建Ｔ４个重组融合表达克隆：ｐＣｎ－ＨＣＧ、ｐＣｃ－ＨＣＧ、ｐＣｍ－ＨＣＧ和ｐＣ－ＨＣＧ２,在大肠杆菌中实现了表达。对表达产物中的乙肝核心抗原和ＨＣＧ抗原的抗原性和表达水平、融合蛋白的颗粒性及其免疫原性进行了分析。其中ｐＣｍ－ＨＣＧ和ｐＣｃ－ＨＣＧ能形成颗粒。用ｐＣｍ－ＨＣＧ免疫小鼠能产生高滴度的抗ＨＣＧ抗体,说明核心抗原的中间部位是合适的融合位点。     

丙型肝炎病毒C33_c单克隆抗体的研制和鉴定

用丙型肝炎病毒重组蛋白Ｃ３３_ｃ抗原免疫ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ小鼠,运用杂交瘤技术成功地建立了７株能稳定分泌抗Ｃ３３_ｃ单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞１Ｈ６Ｄ２、２Ｇ１Ａ６、３Ａ４Ａ８、３Ｅ３Ｅ７、４Ｇ１２Ｃ１０、４Ａ１０Ｃ２、５Ｆ４Ｂ６．试验结果表明,７株ＭｃＡｂｓ具有良好的ＨＣＶ特异性,间接ＥＬＩＳＡ法测得小鼠腹水ＭｃＡｂ效价为１：１０￣４－１：４×１０￣４;竞争抑制实验和相加指数测定证实７株ＭｃＡｂｓ识别相关的抗原表位;７株ＭｃＡｂｓ中１株为ＩｇＭ（５Ｆ４Ｂ６）,其它６株为ＩｇＧ（２ａ）。     

应用噬菌体随机肽库技术筛选丙肝病毒NS3抗原模拟表位

以抗 HCVNS3的单克隆抗体作为固相筛选分子 ,对人工合成的噬菌体随机 12肽库进行 5轮“吸附 洗脱 扩增”的筛选过程 ,随机挑取 4 2个克隆 ,经噬菌体酶联免疫吸附法 (ELISA)鉴定并进行交叉反应实验以及竞争抑制性结合实验 ,最后对所选克隆进行DNA序列分析 ,以确定HCVNS3抗原的模拟表位。经噬菌体富集后 ,从随机筛选的 4 2个克隆中得到 11个阳性克隆 ,确定氨基酸序列XXIXXXXMSNXX为HCVNS3的模拟表位。我们用噬菌体12肽库成功筛选得到HCVNS3的模拟表位 ,为开展用HCV模拟表位探索HCV的防治研究创造了条件     

应用噬菌体随机肽库技术筛选丙肝病毒NS3抗原模拟表位

以抗-HCV NS3的单克隆抗体作为固相筛选分子,对人工合成的噬菌体随机12肽库进行5轮"吸附-洗脱-扩增"的筛选过程,随机挑取42个克隆,经噬菌 体酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)鉴定并进行交叉反应实验以及竞争抑制性结合实验,最后对所选克隆进行DNA序列分析,以确定HCV NS3抗原的模拟表位.经噬菌体富集后,从随机筛选的 42个克隆中得到11个阳性克隆,确定氨基酸序列XXIXXXXMSNXX为HCV NS3的模拟表位.我们用噬菌体12肽库成功筛选得到HCV NS3的模拟表位,为开展用HCV模拟表位探索HCV的防治研究创造了条件.     

乙型肝炎病毒前S1抗原检测及其临床意义

目的:探讨乙型肝炎病毒前S1抗原与血清标志物之间的关系,了解其临床意义。方法:采用酶联免疫吸附实验检测乙型肝炎病毒血清标志物及前S1抗原,并采用速率法检测血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶。结果:乙肝表面抗原阳性率为9．2%,乙肝表面抗原阳性人群中前S1抗原阳性率为28．6%;乙肝e抗原阳性及阴性人群中前S1抗原阳性率分别为81．1%、13．9%(p＜0．01);前S1抗原阳性人群ALT(49．5U/L)高于前S1抗原阴性人群(43．2U/L,p＜0．01)。结论:前S1抗原与血清标志物e抗原有较高的一致性,是反映病毒复制的良好指标,能较早发现肝损伤。     

In Silico Design of Multimeric HN-F Antigen as a Highly Immunogenic Peptide Vaccine Against Newcastle Disease Virus

Application of molecular biology techniques to the production of new vaccines against different strains of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has been the subject of recent research reports. Development of improved techniques for genome sequencing has led to the recognition of protective mechanisms and the identification of possible candidate antigens. Such procedures could generate meaningful results regarding the virulence determinants of NDV. This study proposed an in silico approach by assembling potential and conserved epitopic regions of hemagglutinin–neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) glycoproteins of NDV to induce multiepitopic responses against the virus. Epitope predictions showed that the hypothetical synthetic construct could induce immature B and T cell epitopes that expect a high immune response because of their location in four distinct parts of the construct, namely the head, stalk and the heptad repeated regions known as the HRA and HRB domains. Most regions of the chimeric construct were found to have high antigenic propensity and surface accessibility, which further confirmed the strategy for selection of precise continuous and discontinuous epitopes of HN and F antigens. Thermodynamic folding of mRNA structures revealed correct folding of the RNA construct, indicating good stability of the mRNA to increase the efficiency of translation in the target host. The three-dimensional structure of the native HN-F chimeric protein was successfully generated and validated as a proper model which may define reliability, structural quality and conformation.     

戊型肝炎病毒ORF2编码多肽抗原的表达及其特性研究

迄今所发现的唯一的戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）中和表位定位于开放读码框架2（ORF2）编码蛋白的第578和第607氨基酸（aa）之间的区域。将对应此区域的基因片段通过一段柔性的甘氨酸铰链与乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）表面抗原（HBsAg）基因的3′端相连,构建成HBV/HEV融合基因。该融合基因在毕赤酵母细胞内的表达产物物为分子量约29kDa的融合蛋白,具有组装成嵌合病毒样颗粒（VLP）的能力。此嵌合VLP具有与HBsAgVLP相似的特性且保留了天然HBV/HEV双重抗原性。对此嵌合VLP特性的初步研究提示其可能具有HBV/HEV双价重组疫苗的潜在应用前景。     

甲型肝炎、乙型肝炎病毒混合抗原的细胞免疫学研究

评价甲型肝炎病毒和乙型肝炎病毒混合抗原对细胞免疫反应的影响。采用小鼠迟发型超敏反应(DTH)、脾脏淋巴细胞增殖实验和淋巴细胞亚型分群实验 ,对甲肝抗原 (HAAg)、乙肝表面抗原 (HBsAg)和甲乙肝混合抗原 (HAAg +HBsAg)进行检测 ,并进行统计学分析。混合抗原没有降低相应单价抗原的各项细胞免疫反应强度 ,且较单一 ,HBsAg表现出了显著的抗原特异性T淋巴细胞和Th2细胞增殖作用 (P <0 .0 5 )。混合抗原表现出良好的细胞免疫反应原性 ,同时可能辅助B细胞 ,增强体液免疫应答能力。     

大肠杆菌表达的戊型肝炎病毒ORF2多肽对恒河猴的免疫保护研究

在大肠杆菌中表达的一段戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）结构蛋白NE2,纯化后以弗氏佐剂,按0d,10d,30d的方案10μg/针的剂量免疫3只恒河猴,在第2周抗体阳转,第6周时1只滴度达1∶100 000,另2只滴度1∶20 000,此时以106 PCR滴度的HEV病毒粪悬液攻击。对照组3只均出现血清转氨酶（ALT）升高,抗体阳转,粪便持续排毒1月以上;疫苗组无一发病,未检出非疫苗来源的抗体,其中1只始终未检出粪便排毒,另2只仅出现短暂排毒。以一份NE2免疫后猴血清（滴度1∶20 000）与103 PCR滴度的病毒混匀后感染2只恒河猴,结果对照组2只均持续排毒3周以上,抗体阳转,1只ALT明显升高;而抗体中和组2只猴始终未检出粪便排毒,抗NE2抗体缓慢下降,ALT正常。这些结果表明NE2具有良好的免疫原性和免疫保护性,有可能成为有效的戊肝疫苗。     

母乳喂养与婴儿HCV感染关系的研究

目的：探讨母乳喂养与婴儿HCV感染的关系。方法：采用Meta分析方法对中国生物医学数据库、雏普数据库、方正数据库、PUBMED数据库和MEDLINE报道的文献进行分析。纳入标准依据Abdolmaleky HM方法。用RevMan4．2软件对纳入文献计算特异OR值。x^2test检验OR值异质性。联系的强度采用0R值进行评价。结果：共有120篇文献,37篇为综述,只有6篇文献符合纳入标准。Meta分析OR值为0．60（95％CI=0．22-1．60）,证实母乳喂养与婴儿HCV感染无关。结论：母乳喂养不是婴儿感染HCV的危险因素。