Biochemical Characterisation and Localization in Brain of a Human Brain-Leucocyte Membrane Glycoprotein Recognised by a Monoclonal Antibody

Abstract: The F10-44-2 monoclonal antibody was originally shown to interact with a determinant found predominantly in human brain and leucocytes. In this study we demonstrate by quantitative absorption analysis with homogenates of the head of the caudate nucleus, putamen, thalamus, cerebral grey matter, cerebral white matter, corpus callosum and cerebellar folia that the determinant is restricted to the white matter of the CNS. Immunofluorescence studies on frozen sections of the above brain subregions confirm the absorption analyses, showing staining only of white matter. In addition, and unexpectedly, we found very bright staining around blood vessels, particularly in the cerebellum. Biochemical studies established that the molecule in white matter bearing the F10-44-2 determinants is a sialylated membrane glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 90,000, which is similar to but slightly smaller than the T lymphocyte form of the antigen. Developmental studies comparing 16-week foetal and adult cerebrum showed a fivefold increase in F10-44-2 antigen content. Thus, in the human CNS, the F10-44-2 antigen is a medium-sized glycoprotein which is restricted to white matter and shows a marked increase in concentration during development. No such molecule has been described previously.     

d-Aspartate in Human Brain

The presence of the biologically uncommon D-aspartic acid (D-aspartate) in human brain white matter has been previously reported. The earlier study has now been expanded to include D/L-aspartate ratios from 67 normal brains. The data show that the D-aspartate content increases rapidly from 1 year to approximately 35 years of age, levels off in middle age, and then appears to decrease somewhat. The D-aspartate content in gray matter remains at a consistently low level (half of that found in white matter) throughout the human life span. Within the limitations of current analytical methods, there was no detectable difference in D/L-aspartate ratios in white and gray matter of brains with Alzheimer's disease and several other pathologies when compared with brains of normal subjects. However, the presence of a significant D-aspartate level in white matter during the adult life span may lead to changes in protein configuration related to dysfunctions associated with the aging brain.     

Cellular immune responses in Huntington's disease (H.D.). Detection of H.D. and multiple sclerosis (M.S.) brain antigenicity by H.D. but not M.S. lymphocytes.

Lymphocytes from patients with Huntington's disease (H.D.) exhibit a cellular immune response which consists of two components: a minor component directed against antigen common to all human brains, and a major component directed against antigen found thus far only in H.D. and multiple sclerosis (M.S.) gray matter. M.S. lymphocytes exhibit a response to antigen common to all human brains, but fail to show any H.D. or M.S. brain-specific response.     

A monoclonal antibody raised against Alzheimer cortex that specifically recognizes a subpopulation of microglial cells

A monoclonal antibody (MAb), termed AMC30, was raised after in vitro immunization with sonicated neurofibrillary tangle (NFT)-enriched fractions prepared from Alzheimer's brain. The antigen to which AMC30 is directed was expressed by microglial cells in senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglia in the parenchyma surrounding brain tumors or infarctions, multinuclear giant cells, perivascular and parenchymal macrophages throughout the brain of AIDS patients were also labeled. Different non-nervous system lesions in which macrophages participate were also stained. Microglial cells in normal areas of the cortex or white matter were not labeled with MAb AMC30. The antigen to which AMC30 is directed was not detected in normal bone marrow, lymph nodes, lung, or spleen monocytes or macrophages. The epitope recognized by MAb AMC30 was present after formalin fixation and paraffin embedding. Our findings suggest that this MAb is directed against an antigen that is specifically expressed in a subpopulation of microglial cells and macrophages reactive to various pathological conditions.     

Differential localization within human kidney of five membrane proteins expressed on acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

The reactivity of a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) produced against non-T, non-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells was investigated by immunoperoxidase staining of sections of normal human kidney. The antigens of kidney reactive with the MAb were isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography and were purified further by immunoprecipitation. Two MAb, 44D7 and 44H9, reacted with determinants found exclusively on the basolateral membranes of proximal convoluted tubules. The 44D7 antigen isolated from kidney was biochemically similar to that isolated from leukemic cells. It was resolved as a multimeric complex with an apparent m.w. of 120,000 when analyzed by SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions. The 44H9 antigen has not yet been purified from kidney. MAb 50B4 reacted with components of the interstitium and with the mesangium of glomeruli. It immunoprecipitated a polypeptide chain of apparent m.w. 85,000, similar to that of the 50B4 antigen isolated from leukemic cells. MAb 44G4 also reacted with the mesangium of glomeruli and with the interstitium of the kidney. However, the endothelium of glomerular capillaries and of interstitial blood vessels has also reacted with MAb 44G4. The kidney antigen recognized by MAb 44G4 was characterized as a major polypeptide band, 95,000 m.w. (reduced) and 125,000 m.w. (nonreduced), a subunit structure analogous to the 44G4 antigen isolated from leukemic cells. MAb 44E3 reacted with all cellular elements of glomeruli, tubules, blood vessels, and interstitium. Two polypeptide chains of apparent m.w. 94,000 and 90,000 were immunoprecipitated from kidney by MAb 44E3, while a single polypeptide chain of 94,000 m.w. was precipitated from leukemic cells. Our results describe five new antigens with distinctive cellular distributions within kidney.     

A comparison of the glycoproteins and the proteins from multiple sclerosis and normal brain tissue

Two highly sensitive techniques were used to identify glycoproteins and proteins in several tissue fractions from two normal brains and five brains from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Comparison of glycoproteins and proteins in white and gray matter, myelin and a myelin-related fraction between normal and MS brains not only showed the presence in all fractions of many more minor components than has previously been reported, but also subtle differences in some of these components. However, no change was unequivocally MS-specific. This provides additional evidence that MS is a demyelinating rather than a dysmyelimating disorder and may lead to some insight into the etiology and/or progression of this disease. Moreover, this study has served to characterize further the proteins and glycoproteins of human brain tissue.     

Brain ceramide hexosides in Tay-Sachs disease and generalized gangliosidosis (GM1-gangliosidosis)

The carbohydrate composition was determined for ceramide hexosides isolated from brains of patients with Tay-Sachs disease and generalized gangliosidosis (hereby named GM1-gangliosidosis). Gray matter of patients with each disease showed a characteristic abnormal ceramide hexoside pattern. In Tay-Sachs gray matter, ceramide trihexoside is the major component, whereas ceramide tetrahexoside is barely detectable. In GM1-gangliosidosis, ceramide tetrahexoside is the major ceramide hexoside, while ceramide trihexoside is present only in small amount. These two major components have been characterized as the asialo derivatives of, respectively, the "Tay-Sachs ganglioside" (GM2-ganglioside) and the normal major monosialoganglioside (GM1-ganglioside). In both diseases, more than half the ceramide monohexoside of gray matter was glucocerebroside. Gray matter ceramide dihexoside, present in both diseases at higher than normal levels, was mostly ceramide lactoside, with possibly a small amount of ceramide digalactoside. Sulfatide contained only galactose. The abnormal ceramide hexoside pattern is limited to gray matter: white matter showed normal ceramide hexosides, i.e. a preponderance of monohexosides and sulfatide, with no detectable glucocerebroside.     

A microtubule-associated protein (MAP1) which is expressed at elevated levels during development of the rat cerebellum.

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) G10 labels a single high mol. wt. (HMW) band on Western blots of microtubule preparations from 2 day old rat brain. The G10 antigen is thermolabile and co-migrates with microtubule-associated protein (MAP)1 from young rat brain on low percentage (5%) polyacrylamide-SDS gels. The G10 antigen decreases by about five times from birth to adulthood in the rat cerebellum. The same single band is labelled on Western blots of homogenates of whole neonatal rat brain but no labelling is found using neonatal or adult kidney, lung or liver. We have therefore identified a brain-specific MAP1, designated MAP1(x). Immunofluorescence microscopy using MAb G10 on parasagittal sections of rat cerebella shows labelling of the newly formed molecular layer in 6 day old rats. Only a narrow band close to the pial surface is labelled in 18 day old animals, which disappears in the adult. Labelling of the cerebellar white matter found in young rats also disappears. Neurones but not flat cells in cerebellar cultures label with MAb G10. All staining patterns are consistent with an axonal distribution of the antigen. MAP1(x) may be part of a developmentally regulated microtubule structure.     

The immune system preferentially clears Theiler's virus from the gray matter of the central nervous system.

Infection of susceptible strains of mice with Daniel's (DA) strains of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (DAV) results in virus persistence in the central nervous system (CNS) white matter and chronic demyelination similar to that observed in multiple sclerosis. We investigated whether persistence is due to the immune system more efficiently clearing DAV from gray than from white matter of the CNS. Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) and immunocompetent C.B-17 mice were infected with DAV to determine the kinetics, temporal distribution, and tropism of the virus in CNS. In early disease (6 h to 7 days postinfection), DAV replicated with similar kinetics in the brains and spinal cords of SCID and immunocompetent mice and in gray and white matter. DAV RNA was localized within 48 h in CNS cells of all phenotypes, including neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and macrophages/microglia. In late disease (13 to 17 days postinfection), SCID mice became moribund and permitted higher DAV replication in both gray and white matter. In contrast, immunocompetent mice cleared virus from the gray matter but showed replication in the white matter of their brains and spinal cords. Reconstitution of SCID mice with nonimmune splenocytes or anti-DAV antibodies after establishment of infection demonstrated that both cellular and humoral immune responses decreased virus from the gray matter; however, the cellular responses were more effective. SCID mice reconstituted with splenocytes depleted of CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes cleared virus from the gray matter but allowed replication in the white matter. These studies demonstrate that both neurons and glia are infected early following DAV infection but that virus persistence in the white matter is due to preferential clearance of virus from the gray matter by the immune system.     

Regional and Subcellular Distribution of Thy-1 in Human Brain Assayed by a Solid-Phase Radioimmunoassay

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay, specific for the monomeric form of human Thy-1, was developed and used for quantitation of the Thy-1 antigen in human brain tissue. Determination of Thy-1 in homogenates of 12 anatomically defined brain regions showed that Thy-1 is present throughout the human brain. However, significant variation was found in the expression of the glycoprotein in different regions. Thy-1 appears to be generally enriched within gray matter: caudate nucleus, cerebral cortex, and putamen were found to contain the highest Thy-1 concentration (approximately 2.5 micrograms Thy-1/mg protein). Interestingly, the cerebellar cortex contained only 25% of the Thy-1 concentration of cerebral gray matter. Cerebral subcortical white matter contained half the amount of Thy-1 compared to cerebral cortex. Determination of Thy-1 in subcellular fractions prepared from human brain biopsy tissue indicated that the highest relative concentration of Thy-1 is associated with synaptosomal membranes and myelin/axonal membrane fractions.     

Association of Parkinson disease-related protein PINK1 with Alzheimer disease and multiple sclerosis brain lesions

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are hallmarks of various neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer disease (AD), and Parkinson disease (PD). Mutations in PINK1, a mitochondrial kinase, have been linked to the occurrence of early onset parkinsonism. Currently, various studies support the notion of a neuroprotective role for PINK1, as it protects cells from stress-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Because information about the distribution pattern of PINK1 in neurological diseases other than PD is scarce, we here investigated PINK1 expression in well-characterized brain samples derived from MS and AD individuals using immunohistochemistry. In control gray matter PINK1 immunoreactivity was observed in neurons, particularly neurons in layers IV-VI. Astrocytes were the most prominent cell type decorated by anti-PINK1 antibody in the white matter. In addition, PINK1 staining was observed in the cerebrovasculature. In AD, PINK1 was found to colocalize with classic senile plaques and vascular amyloid depositions, as well as reactive astrocytes associated with the characteristic AD lesions. Interestingly, PINK1 was absent from neurofibrillary tangles. In active demyelinating MS lesions we observed a marked astrocytic PINK1 immunostaining, whereas astrocytes in chronic lesions were weakly stained. Taken together, we observed PINK1 immunostaining in both AD and MS lesions, predominantly in reactive astrocytes associated with these lesions, suggesting that the increase in astrocytic PINK1 protein might be an intrinsic protective mechanism to limit cellular injury.     

The regional distribution of manganese in the normal human brain

The concentration of manganese per gram dry tissue weight was determined in samples from 39 areas of 8 normal human brains. Manganese was shown to be unevenly distributed with the largest concentrations in the pineal gland and the olfactory bulb. The gray matter yielded a higher content of manganese than the white matter. Significant differences between individuals were found for identical areas of the gray and white matter of the cerebral cortex. Higher levels of manganese were demonstrated in the tail of the caudate nucleus than in the body and the head of the same structure. No significant correlation was shown between the amount of manganese in brain and age.     

Tumor-specific antigen of murine T-lymphoma defined with monoclonal antibody

A panel of hybridomas was constructed by fusion of P3X63Ag8 myeloma cells with spleen cells from a BALB/c mouse that had been immunized with a C57BL/Ka x-ray-induced lymphoma, C6XL. One of forty-three hybridomas secreting antibodies reactive with the tumor cells was found to be unreactive with normal spleen cells in a radioimmunometric assay. This antibody, designated 124-40, was unreactive with normal adult thymus, spleen, lymph node, or bone marrow cells, or with fetal spleen or thymus cells in radioimmunometric or radioimmunoprecipitation assays. Flow microfluorometric analysis of these nonmalignant lymphoid cells failed to reveal subpopulations reactive with MAb 124-40. The antibody was highly specific for the lymphoma cells used for immunization and did not react with a panel of other spontaneous or x-ray-induced or chemically induced lymphomas. The antigen reactive with MAb 124-40 was isolated by radioimmunoprecipitation and found to be a glycoprotein composed of disulfide-bonded subunits of 39,000 m.w. and 41,000 m.w. A cell surface component of similar structure, but not reactive with MAb 124-40 could be detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis in extracts of purified T cells, but not B cells. These results suggest that the apparently individually specific lymphoma antigen reactive with MAb 124-40 might be a clonally expressed epitope carried by a T cell surface component.     

Lysosulfatide (Galactosylsphingosine-3-O-Sulfate) from Metachromatic Leukodystrophy and Normal Human Brain

The glycosphingolipid pattern was examined in three cases of late infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD): one with a relatively short (2.5 years), one with a long (7.8 years), and one with a very long (13.2 years) survival time. All values were compared with those of age-matched normal controls. The cerebroside concentration was reduced to 25, 12, and 4%, respectively, in the MLD white matter, whereas the sulfatide concentration was increased up to 200% of the control value. The yield of myelin was reduced to less than 15% in the early case and to less than 3 and 1%, respectively, in the two later cases. There was no sign of increased sulfatide proportion in the myelin. The ganglioside pattern was normal in cerebral gray matter, but in the white matter, contents of gangliosides of the lacto series were significantly increased, in particular, the ganglioside suggested by us as being characteristic of reactive astrocytosis. For the first time, lysosulfatide was identified in MLD and normal human brains by mass spectrometry and radioimmunoaffinity TLC using specific monoclonal antibody. Its quantity was found to be similar in normal and MLD brains. These findings support our postulation that the lysoglycosphingolipids are synthesized de novo from sphingosine and that they do not play a key role in pathogenetic mechanisms.     

Human lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1): identification of multiple antigenic epitopes and their relationship to CTL-mediated cytotoxicity

Human lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1, a heterodimeric lymphocyte surface glycoprotein of 177,000 and 95,000 relative molecular weight has been implicated to function in the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector mechanism. Seven mouse hybridoma lines producing monoclonal antibodies (MAb) reactive with this structure were studied. Three unique and 3 partially over-lapping epitopes on human LFA-1 were defined by competitive cross inhibition binding assays using biosynthetically labeled anti-LFA-1 MAb. In contrast, of five rat antimouse LFA-1 MAb, all five recognized a common or shared epitope. An HLA-B7 specific human CTL line expressed 1.1 X 10(5) LFA-1 sites per cell with a direct saturation binding assay. Human CTL expressed two to four times more LFA-1 than peripheral blood lymphocytes or B and T lymphoblastoid cell lines. Titration of each of the anti-LFA-1 MAb in a 51chromium release cytolytic assay revealed quantitative differences in the ability of the different anti-LFA-1 MAb to block cytolysis indicating distinct functional and antigenic epitopes exist on the human LFA-1 molecule. Anti-LFA-1 MAb reversibly inhibited the CTL reaction by slowing the initial rate of cytolysis. These results suggest anti-LFA-1 MAb inhibit CTL function by specific blockade of a functionally relevant molecule.     

Regional distribution of potassium,calcium, and six trace elements in normal human brain

Eight elements (i.e. K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Rb) were measured in 50 different regions of 12 normal human brains by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. The dry weight concentrations of K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Rb were consistently higher for gray than for white matter areas. The K, Zn and Se concentrations for the regions of mixed composition and, to some extent, also the Rb concentrations, were intermediate between the gray and white matter values, and they tended to decrease with decreasing neuron density. The mean dry weight concentrations of K, Ca, Zn, Se, and Rb in the various brain regions were highly correlated with the mean wet-to-dry weight ratios of these regions. For Mn, Fe, and Cu, however, such a correlation was not observed, and these elements exhibited elevated levels in several structures of the basal ganglia. For K, Fe, and Se the concentrations seemed to change with age. A hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that the structures clustered into two large groups, one comprising gray and mixed matter regions, the other white and mixed matter areas. Brain structures involved in the same physiological function or morphologically similar regions often conglomerated in a single subcluster.     

Identification of a family of high molecular weight tumor-associated glycoproteins

The monoclonal antibody (MAb) designated DF3 was prepared against a human breast carcinoma metastatic to liver. This MAb reacts with a high molecular weight glycoprotein detectable in human breast carcinomas and human milk. In contrast, MAb F36/22 was prepared against the MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line, MAb 115-D8 against human milk fat globule membrane (HMFGM) and MAb Ca1 against the HEp-2 human laryngeal carcinoma cell line. These MAb have similar patterns of reactivity with normal tissues and tumors based upon immunoperoxidase staining. In the present study we have monitored reactivity of these MAb against DF3 antigen purified from human breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7, BT-20) and HMFGM. Solid phase immunoassays and immunoblotting demonstrate that MAb DF3, F36/22, 115-D8, and Ca1 all react with the same purified DF3 antigen. Furthermore, immunoblot analysis indicates that the DF3 antigen reactive with these MAb differs structurally in preparations from breast carcinoma cells and HMFGM. We also demonstrate that MAb F36/22 completely inhibits MAb DF3 binding in competitive blocking assays. In contrast, the results indicate that MAb 115-D8 and Ca1 only partially block MAb DF3 reactivity and the extent of this inhibition varies with DF3 antigen purified from breast carcinoma cells and HMFGM. Taken together, these findings with multiple MAb prepared against a variety of immunogens suggest that existence of a family of related but not identical high molecular weight tumor-associated glycoproteins.     

Identification of three antigens in human brain associated with similar antigens on human leukaemic cells.

Monoclonal antibodies prepared against a non-T and non-B acute-lymphocytic-leukaemia cell line were tested for reactivity against human brain tissue. Several of the monoclonal antibodies were found to react specifically with brain fractions. Three antigens, 44H4, 44D7 and 44D10, were identified in white matter. Although 44D10 was absent from grey matter, the levels of 44H4 and 44D7 antigens present in grey matter were 2- and 4-fold higher respectively than in white matter. Fractionation of white matter indicated that all three antigens were absent from the multilamellar compact myelin, but associated with a membrane fraction of higher density. All three antigens, which required detergent for solubilization from the membranes, were purified by affinity to monoclonal antibodies and/or were analysed by immunoblotting. The 44H4 and 44D10 antigens were single polypeptide chains with Mr 94000 and 80000 respectively when resolved by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Monoclonal antibody 44D7 reacted with a complex of a Mr greater than 120000 under non-reducing conditions in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. This complex dissociated on reduction into four bands with Mr values of 80000, 57000, 47000 and 41000. The brain antigens are present on proteins similar to, or identical with, those isolated from acute-lymphocytic-leukaemia cells.     

Increased Neopterin Levels in Brains of Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection

Postmortem levels of native neopterin (D-erythro-neopterin) were measured in cerebral cortical samples from 44 human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected and eight uninfected, nonneurological control patients. Cerebral cortical gray and white matter neopterin levels for the controls ranged from 0.5 to 7.2 pmol/mg of protein in contrast to neopterin levels in brains of the virus-infected patients, which frequently were more than threefold and occasionally more than 30-fold higher than mean control levels. Cortical neopterin levels did not correlate with severity of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome dementia complex, but subcortical levels correlated with the presence of active human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection, as reflected by pathological evidence of multinucleated giant cell encephalitis. Evidence of opportunistic cytomegalovirus infections in approximately 25% of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients was associated with enhanced levels of neopterin in frontal cortex.