Specificity studies of an antibody developed against a mucin-type glycoprotein

The specificity of a new anti-epiglycanin antibody (AE-3) which recognizes a mucin-type glycoprotein, the Human Carcinoma Antigen, found in the blood of patients with carcinomas, was studied. Information regarding the chemical nature of the antibody binding site was obtained by altering the structure of epiglycanin by chemical or enzymic means and testing the product in a competitive binding assay for inhibition of the binding of AE-3 to epiglycanin. The need for a high molecular weight antigen containing clustered T disaccharide, Gal1-3GalNAc, was demonstrated. The specificity was further explored by inhibition studies with glycopeptides having one to three mono- to disaccharides. The results were interpreted using computer graphics molecular modeling which predicted the specific recognition of hydroxyl groups on oligosaccharides on adjacent amino acids. Thus T antigen O-linked glycopeptide tumour markers can be designed to be distinguished by antibodies by the amount of clustering of their oligosaccharides.     

Location of an epitopic site on epiglycanin by molecular immunoelectron microscopy.

Antibodies of the IgM type present in rabbit anti-epiglycanin antiserum were purified by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and by ion-exchange, affinity and gel-filtration chromatography. After papain treatment of this fraction, followed by gel filtration, the fraction with highest apparent Mr was incubated with epiglycanin, and the antigen-antibody complexes separated by gel filtration. These were examined by electron microscopy, using rotational shadow casting, and the photographs of the complexes were mapped for the locations of the antibody molecules on the extended epiglycanin molecules. Distribution of the frequency of attachment of immunoglobulin showed a strong tendency toward binding at one end of epiglycanin, suggesting the probable presence of only one epitope, probably a glycopeptide structure containing a beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose chain.     

Antigen binding diversity of affinity purified autoantibodies against DNA.

Naturally occurring autoantibodies against native DNA (nDNA) in SLE sera showed diverse antigen binding characteristics. The antibodies isolated by affinity chromatography using nDNA linked to Sepharose 4B exhibited specificity towards nDNA and showed strong reactivity with DNA-psoralen photoadduct by direct binding assay and competitive ELISA. The anti-DNA antibody belong to both IgG and IgM immunoglobulin classes and their ratio was 5:1. The possible significance of altered conformation of nDNA in the etiology of SLE has been discussed.     

Evidence for the presence of an N-acetyllactosamine-type chain in epiglycanin

Mannose-labeled epiglycanin was prepared by incubation of TA3-Ha ascites cells with [2-3H]mannose, removal of the epiglycanin by incubation of viable cells with L-1-p-tosylamino-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone-trypsin, and isolation of the large epiglycanin glycopeptides by gel filtration. Purification of epiglycanin glycopeptides was performed by wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography. Extensive incubation of epiglycanin with Pronase, followed by passage through a calibrated column of Bio-Gel P-4 (Column P-4), gave three fractions. The fraction of lowest apparent molecular weight, about 5000, upon incubation with a purified extract from F. meningosepticum containing an N-glycosyl hydrolase and an endo-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (T.H. Plummer et. al. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 10700-10704) and passage through Column P-4 gave a peak of radioactivity at apparent Mr 3000. Incubation of nonlabeled epiglycanin under similar conditions with the same enzyme preparation followed by passage through Column P-4, gave two peaks, based upon total mannose content. One of these, partially deglycosylated epiglycanin, was present in the void volume. Its composition indicated that approximately 80% of the mannose content of epiglycanin had been removed by the enzyme treatment, whereas no change was noted in the proportion of the other carbohydrate components. The effluent volume of the second peak coincided precisely with the peak obtained from the Pronase-cleaved fraction. Its composition and apparent Mr were consistent with those of an N-lactosamine-type chain with four antennae, Man3Gal4GlcNAc5NeuAc2-3.     

A characterization of the BALB/c lambda and kappa class antibodies to alpha (1,3) glycosidic linkages

The avidity relationships of kappa and lambda antibodies with specificity for the glucosyl-alpha (1,3)-glucose disaccharide epitope were compared using a solid-phase hapten inhibition assay. The kappa class antibodies, induced by the T-cell-dependent antigen, nigerosyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (N-KLH), and the lambda class antibodies, induced by the T-cell-independent antigen, Dextran B1355, were only marginally distinguishable (approximately equal to 10-fold) on the basis of hapten inhibition using the free disaccharide, nigerose, as inhibitor. Analysis of the binding site sizes of antibodies induced by N-KLH through inhibition with oligosaccharides of different sizes showed that the disaccharide protein antigen did not select for antibodies with smaller binding site sizes. The cellular basis for these findings is discussed.     

Variability in the Structural Requirements for Binding of Human Monoclonal Anti-Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein Immunoglobulin M Antibodies and HNK-1 to Sphingoglycolipid Antigens

A high proportion of patients with neuropathy have immunoglobulin M (IgM) paraproteins that react with carbohydrate determinants on the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and two sphingoglycolipids, 3-sulfoglucuronyl paragloboside (SGPG) and 3-sulfoglucuronyl lactosaminyl paragloboside. In order to characterize the fine specificities of these human antibodies further, the binding of 10 anti-MAG paraproteins to several chemically modified derivatives of SGPG was compared with the binding to intact SGPG by both TLC-overlay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The following derivatives were tested: the desulfated lipid, glucuronyl paragloboside (GPG); the methyl ester of GPG (MeGPG); the methyl ester of SGPG, 3-sulfomethylglucuronyl paragloboside (SMeGPG); and 3-sulfoglucosyl paragloboside (SGlcPG) produced by reduction of the carboxyl group of the glucuronic acid with sodium borohydride. All 10 IgM paraproteins and the related mouse IgM antibody, HNK-1, reacted most strongly with intact SGPG, but variations in the reactivity with the derivatives revealed striking differences in the structural requirements for binding between the antibodies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Biotin IgM Antibodies in Human Blood: A Previously Unknown Factor Eliciting False Results in Biotinylation-Based Immunoassays

Biotin is an essential vitamin that binds streptavidin or avidin with high affinity and specificity. As biotin is a small molecule that can be linked to proteins without affecting their biological activity, biotinylation is applied widely in biochemical assays. In our laboratory, IgM enzyme immuno assays (EIAs) of μ-capture format have been set up against many viruses, using as antigen biotinylated virus like particles (VLPs) detected by horseradish peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin. We recently encountered one serum sample reacting with the biotinylated VLP but not with the unbiotinylated one, suggesting in human sera the occurrence of biotin-reactive antibodies. In the present study, we search the general population (612 serum samples from adults and 678 from children) for IgM antibodies reactive with biotin and develop an indirect EIA for quantification of their levels and assessment of their seroprevalence. These IgM antibodies were present in 3% adults regardless of age, but were rarely found in children. The adverse effects of the biotin IgM on biotinylation-based immunoassays were assessed, including four inhouse and one commercial virus IgM EIAs, showing that biotin IgM do cause false positivities. The biotin can not bind IgM and streptavidin or avidin simultaneously, suggesting that these biotin-interactive compounds compete for the common binding site. In competitive inhibition assays, the affinities of biotin IgM antibodies ranged from 2.1×10(-3) to 1.7×10(-4 )mol/L. This is the first report on biotin antibodies found in humans, providing new information on biotinylation-based immunoassays as well as new insights into the biomedical effects of vitamins.     

SLE血清中抗-DNA抗体分离和性质的研究

本文用国产高分子树脂(T)接枝小牛胸腺DNA,通过亲合层析从系统性红斑狼疮SLE患者血清中纯化出抗-ds DNA抗体和抗-ss DNA抗体。酶联免疫吸附分析(ELISA)的研究表明:SLE抗-DNA抗体和DNA结合的差异性很大,是高度非均一性的。抗-ss DNA抗体不仅组成成分比抗-ds DNA抗体复杂,ss DNA/抗-ssDNA亲合能力也明显高于ds DNA/抗-ds DNA。纯化的抗-DNA抗体以IgG类抗体占主导,同时也有其它类型抗体存在(例如IgM等)。抗-ds DNA抗体有较抗-ss DNA抗体高的IgG含量(两者的IgG/IgM分别是7.0和4.0),说明IgG抗-DNA抗体更倾向于同dsDNA结合。     

Interaction of LDL, Lp[a], and reduced Lp[a] with monoclonal antibodies against apoB

Five monoclonal antibodies (2A, 9A, 6B, L3, L7) produced in mice against human apolipoprotein B were investigated by competitive and inhibitive electroimmunoassay (EIA) for their reactivity with low density lipoprotein (LDL), lipoprotein[a] (Lp[a]), and reduced Lp[a]. All of the antibodies reacted with apoB of the different lipoproteins indicated by very similar slopes of the binding curves. None of them gave a positive reaction with apolipoprotein[a]. The amount of apoB required for 50% inhibition of antibody binding varied for the different antibodies and lipoproteins. Antibody 9A showed almost the same affinity for LDL, Lp[a], and reduced Lp[a]. Antibodies 2A and 6B bound about twofold better to LDL and reduced Lp[a] than to untreated Lp[a]. Antibodies L3 and L7 needed nearly threefold higher amounts of Lp[a]-apoB for 50% inhibition of antibody binding than of apoB of LDL and reduced Lp[a]. The amount of apoB required for 50% inhibition of antibody binding was somewhat higher in inhibitive assay than in competitive assay. We suggest that apo[a] covers certain epitopes of apoB in native Lp[a] leading to a reduced reaction with the monoclonal antibodies. However, it could also be that the binding of the [a]antigen to apoB via disulfide bridges causes profound conformational changes of the apoB region exposed to the surface.     

Alternative mechanism of protein A-immunoglobulin interaction the VH-associated reactivity of a monoclonal human IgM

The immunoglobulin site(s) that mediates the alternative mechanism of interaction between immunoglobulins and staphylococcal protein A (SpA) was studied by using a monoclonal human IgM. Several IgM fragments were tested for their inhibitory effect in a competitive binding assay of 125I-IgM to SpA. Only those fragments containing Fab mu pieces showed some inhibitory activity. The reactivity of the Fab mu region was retained in some of its subfragments, such as Fv or the VH domain, unlike isolated light chains or VL domains. Furthermore, antibodies specific for the VH domain completely inhibited the SpA-IgM interaction. These results indicate that the alternative SpA-binding site of IgM is located in VH regions.     

Immunological studies on glycated human IgG

AimsTo study the immunogenicity of advanced glycation end product (AGE) modified IgG (AGE-IgG) in experimental animals.Main methodsHuman IgG was subjected to in vitro glycation with glucose and the formation of N^ε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) was evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The immunogenicity of native and AGE-IgG was investigated by raising polyclonal antibodies against them in rabbits. The induced antibodies were purified on a Protein-A agarose affinity column. Specific binding of antibodies was screened by competitive inhibition assay and band shift assay. Cross reactions of induced antibodies with various proteins or amino acids and their glycated conformers were ascertained by competitive inhibition ELISA.Key findingsWe detected the CML formation in AGE-IgG. The AGE-IgG was found to be highly immunogenic due to the generation of neo-epitopes on it. Affinity purified antibodies exhibited high degree of specific binding with AGE-IgG in comparison to the native IgG. Antibodies against AGE-IgG exhibited diverse antigen binding characteristics and the glycated conformers of various proteins and amino acids were found to be effective inhibitors of antibody-immunogen interaction in cross reaction studies. Band shift assay reiterated the results obtained by direct binding and competitive inhibition assay.SignificanceThe induced antibodies against AGE-IgG resembled the diverse antigen binding characteristics of autoantibodies found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IgG modified by AGEs under oxidative stress presents unique neo-epitopes which may be one of the factors for the induction of autoantibodies in RA patients.     

Characterization of two monoclonal antibodies specific for lacto-series type 1 chain Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc-terminal structures

Murine monoclonal antibodies, TE-1 and TE-3, generated by immunization with a biosynthetic reaction product containing a terminal Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc structure have been produced and found to react specifically with underivatized type 1 chain lacto-series carbohydrate structures. Detailed analysis of these antibodies, both IgM, indicates two differing classes of epitope specificity. Antibody TE-1 was found to bind preferentially to longer chain carbohydrate structures containing a terminal Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc disaccharide, indicating that optimal antibody binding involved more than recognition of this disaccharide. In contrast, antibody TE-3 was found to bind strongly carbohydrate structures containing terminal Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc structures irrespective of chain length. Modification of core chain structures by addition of fucose and/or sialic acid residues completely abolished antibody binding with either antibody. TLC immunostaining of neutral glycolipids isolated from a variety of human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines indicated intensely stained bands, particularly with antibody TE-3, which correlated with the level of expression of type 1 chain based glycolipid derivatives. These antibodies are applied to the detailed study of the regulation of synthesis of lacto-series type 1 chain based carbohydrate structures.     

Production and immunological characterization of a monoclonal antibody to Trichophyton quinckeanum: interaction with phosphorylcholine-bearing components

A monoclonal antibody (Tq-1) that interacts with the phosphorylcholine (PC)-bearing antigens of Trichophyton quinckeanum was produced by fusion of myeloma cells (JKAg-8) with spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with an alum-precipitated fraction of T. quinckeanum cytoplasmic antigen. It was characterized as an IgM class antibody by immunodiffusion using anti-Ig heavy chain specific reagents, ELISA using immunoglobulin-specific peroxidase-conjugated antibodies, and by gel filtration chromatography; it showed high affinity for Staphylococcus aureus protein-A. Interaction of Tq-1 with PC-like antigens of T. quinckeanum was demonstrated by inhibition studies using ELISA, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation and immuno electron microscopy techniques. The binding activity of Tq-1 antibody with a range of dermatophyte proteins was completely inhibited by prior incubation with PC hapten. Moreover, dermatophyte antigens reacting with the monoclonal antibody reacted strongly with sera from chronically infected mice. Dermatophyte antigens derived from both young (24 h) and old (20 d) cultures reacted with Tq-1 and this binding was inhibited by PC, suggesting that Tq-1 target antigen PC appears at an early stage during fungal growth and remains throughout its life.     

Unusual cross-reactions among monoclonal antibodies to bacterial antigens: idiotypic and competitive binding analysis

In a previous study, we have described unusual cross-reactions among monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to bacteria and in particular to the Inaba and Ogawa serotypes of Vibrio cholerae. In this study, the extent to which the binding sites of both antibodies and antigens overlap has been investigated by competitive binding and idiotypic analysis. The competitive binding data indicate that the cross-reactive binding of the Inaba Mabs to the Ogawa vibrios can be abolished by incubation with higher affinity Ogawa Mabs. However, rabbit antiserum raised against the Inaba series does not react with the Ogawa series, indicating that anti-Inaba Mabs do not share idiotypic determinants with anti-Ogawa Mabs. The results therefore suggest that the two sets of antibodies recognise different determinants which are closely related in spatial terms, and which consequently do not permit simultaneous binding of the two types of monoclonal antibody.     

Comparative lectin-binding and agglutination properties of the strain-specific,TA3-St,and the non-strain-specific,TA3-Ha,murine mammary carcinoma ascites sublines. Further studies of receptors in epiglycanin

The complex carbohydrates at the cell surfaces of two TA3, murine mammary carcinoma ascites sublines (the strain-specific, TA3-St subline and the nonstrain-specific, TA3-Ha line) were compared by binding studies with ¹²⁵I-labelled concanavalin A (con A), Ricinis communis agglutinin (RCA), and eel-serum agglutinin (ESA). The TA3-Ha cell bound equal amounts of con A, 1.5-fold more RCA, and 4-fold more ESA than the TA3-St cell. Binding-inhibition studies by these lectins and two others [wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA) and potato lectin (STA)] suggest complementary binding-sites between con A and both RCA and ESA. Quantitative agglutination studies with the five lectins, and inhibition determinations by both neuraminidase-treated and untreated epiglycanin revealed that TA3-St, but not TA3-Ha, cells were agglutinated by con A, and that epiglycanin inhibited this agglutination, as well as the agglutination of rabbit erythrocytes by con A. The presence of a con A receptor on epiglycanin was also suggested by the binding of epiglycanin to con A-Sepharose, and its specific elution with methyl α-d-manno-pyranoside. TA3-St cells were agglutinated at a 10-15-fold lower concentration of either STA or RCA than TA3-Ha cells, but both cells were agglutinated by the same concentration of WGA and ESA. Inhibition by epiglycanin of agglutination of TA3-St cells by either STA or ESA occurred at a concentration lower than that of TA3-Ha cells, but epiglycanin inhibited RCA agglutination of TA3-Ha cells at a concentration     

The role of carbohydrate in the blood group N-related epitopes recognised by three new monoclonal antibodies

The specificity of three new monoclonal anti-glycophorin antibodies, reacting preferentially with blood group N antigen, was characterized by means of untreated, enzymatically and chemically modified M and N glycoproteins. All antibodies recognized the NH₂-terminal Leu residue and its amino group, but differed in some other features, including the role of carbohydrate in the epitopes. One of the antibodies (631/3B4, IgM) showed an unusual two-directional dependence of activity on the degree of antigen desialylation. The progressive desialylation of N glycoprotein first caused a strongly increased binding to the epitope, followed by a complete loss of activity. The epitopes for the two remaining antibodies (648/4B5 and 650/4B5, both IgG₁) showed reactivity independent of sialylation, but dependent on the presence of Gal-GalNAc-units. Release of the disaccharide byO-glycanase treatment of N glycoprotein abolished its reactivity with both antibodies.     

Affinity enhancement of bispecific antibody against two different epitopes in the same antigen.

For the enhancement of antibody binding affinity, a bispecific antibody against two different epitopes in human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, one is in alpha-subunit and the other is in beta-subunit, was prepared by chemical recombination using 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The epitopes recognized by antibodies were investigated by competitive radioimmunoassay, two-site sandwich radioimmunoassay and additivity assay and a proper epitope pair was chosen for preparation of the bispecific antibody. This bispecific antibody has dual specificity and as much as 17.2-fold higher affinity than that of monoclonal antibody with higher affinity by dual antigen binding radioimmunoassay and Scatchard plot analysis.     

Production and characterization of antibody against deoxyverrucarol.

Immunization of rabbits with deoxyverrucarol (DOVE) conjugated to bovine serum albumin resulted in antibodies bound with either tritiated DOVE or diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), but not with T-2 toxin. The affinity of antibodies with DOVE was found to be much higher than with DAS. When [3H] DOVE was used as a marking ligand in the competitive radioimmunoassay, the concentrations causing 50% inhibition of binding radioactivities by unlabeled DOVE, verrucarol, verrucarin A, and 4-monoacetoxyscirpenol were found to be 0.32, 1,070, 9,500, and 10,000 ng per assay, respectively. T-2 toxin, 15-monoacetoxyscirpenol, and deoxynivalenol gave less than 20% inhibition at 10 micrograms per assay. However, when [3H] DAS was used as the marking ligand, the concentrations causing 50% inhibition by DOVE, DAS, and verrucarol were found to be in the 50 to 60 ng per assay range. The antibodies are thus highly specific to DOVE rather than a common trichothecene backbone. The possible use of this antiserum for assay of macrocyclic trichothecenes is discussed.     

Simple method for selecting catalytic monoclonal antibodies that exhibit turnover and specificity

Monoclonal antibodies were raised against a mono-p-nitrophenyl phosphonate ester to elicit catalytic antibodies capable of hydrolyzing the analogous p-nitrophenyl ester or carbonate. Potential catalytic antibody producing clones were selected, by use of a competitive inhibition assay, on the basis of their affinity for a "short" transition-state analogue, a truncated hapten which maximizes the relative contribution of the transition-state structural elements to binding. Of 30-40 clones that would have been examined on the basis of hapten binding alone, 7 were selected and 4 of these catalyzed the hydrolysis of the relevant p-nitrophenyl ester. This competitive inhibition technique represents a general approach for selecting potential catalytic antibodies and significantly increases the probability of obtaining efficient catalytic monoclonal antibodies. Further study of the catalytic antibodies revealed significant rate enhancement (kcat/kuncat approximately 10(4)) and substrate specificity for the hydrolysis of the analogous ester and, for three of the antibodies, of the analogous carbonate. The antibodies displayed turnover, an essential feature of enzymes. Evidence that catalysis occurred at the antibody combining sites was provided by the identity of the binding and the catalysis-inhibition specificity patterns.     

Anti Zn antibodies: cross reactivity and competitive binding with heavy metals

Monoclonal antibodies of IgM class, specific to IDA-Zn were used for evaluating their Zn(2+) binding efficiency in the presence of trace metal ions such as Cr(3+) Cr(6+), Cu(2+) and Cd(2+). In the present work, antibody raised against the hapten IDA-Zn(II) was pre-incubated with different metal ions and the binding capacity to the specific hapten was tested using ELISA and immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) techniques. IMAC was carried out with the free antibody and antibody pre-incubated with selected heavy metal ions using Sepharose IDA-Zn(2+) column and the same samples were tested using a hapten specific ELISA with non-protein hapten carrier. Different effects were observed after pre-incubation with metal ions. Cr(3+) exhibited synergistic binding where as antagonism was detected with Cd(2+). The synergistic effect observed with Cr(3+) suggests involvement of binding sites other than that of zinc and conformational changes that result from Cr(3+) binding. It is probable that, this binding event also increases the accessibility of the zinc binding sites on IgM. On the same lines, the antagonism observed with Cd(2+) could be attributed to structural changes resulting in reduced accessibility to zinc binding sites. In case of Cr(6+), no appreciable change in binding to IDA-Zn was observed while Cu(2+) showed competitive binding.