Immunoprophylaxis with attenuated ehrlich ascites tumor cells in admixture with BCG

Summary During propagation in tissue culture, the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma was found to lose some of its tumor-producing capacity (oncogenicity) when implanted IP or SC into CF-1 mice. On the other hand, attenuated cells retained their immunoprotective capacity; immunization of mice with a single dose (1×10⁴) of these cells induced a high degree of resistance against a challenge 1 month later with virulent Ehrlich cells maintained by IP transplantation. The admixture of BCG (1×10⁶ viable units) with attenuated cells further improved their immunogenicity. The immunogenicity of attenuated cells was almost completely abolished by gamma-irradiation (2,500 rads), but this property was significantly restored by the addition of BCG. Some evidence is presented that suggests that attenuated cells have a higher immunoprotective capacity than the corresponding virulent cells.     

Activity of tumor-associated lymphoid cells at short intervals after administration of irradiated syngeneic and allogeneic tumor cells.

After a single intraperitoneal injection of irradiated tumor cells, host cells capable of responding against syngeneic tumors were detected in peritoneal exudates of mice. Although irradiation of the injected tumor prevented its overgrowth, it did not significantly alter the antigenicity of the tumor. Immunologic activities of tumor-associated host cells in the peritoneal cavity were continuously monitored, starting 48 hr after tumor administration. In vitro cell-mediated lysis of syngeneic tumors appeared as early as 3 days after irradiated tumor administration. In addition, peritoneal exudate cells from inoculated mice were capable of adoptively transferring immunity. Purification of these peritoneal exudate cells on nylon wool columns yielded a nonadherent Ig-negative lymphocyte fraction whose cytolysis was tumor-specific and T cell-associated. The macrophage-free lymphocyte fraction exhibited a higher in vitro activity against tumors than unpurified peritoneal exudates. This tumor-host system allowed the study of cells which directly interact with the tumor cells in vivo, starting shortly after tumor administration. The results reported in this paper show that tumor-associated lymphoid cells capable of mounting anti-tumor response in vivo and in vitro can be demonstrated as early as 3 days after tumor inoculation.     

G145R突变后乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原在酵母系统的表达及其免疫学特性分析

为了研究乙型肝炎(乙肝)病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)发生G145R突变后的免疫学特性改变情况,首先利用Pichia pastoris酵母表达系统分泌表达G145R突变后的HBsAg的preS2 S(中蛋白),用重组表达产物免疫小鼠,酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和Western blot实验等研究其抗原性和免疫原性与野毒型HBsAg的异同。从150个阳性表达克隆中筛选出一株表达量最高的克隆株MC23,Western blot检测显示,表达的HBsAg中蛋白单体主带分子量在34kD、37kD左右,表达量约为200μg／L。用不同的HBsAg检测试剂检测其抗原性发现,G145R突变后的HBsAg,用绝大多数试剂都不能很好地检出,检出能力只有野毒型HBsAg的50％或更低,但用美国雅培公司的试剂检出能力可达野毒的98％。G145R突变后的HBsAg中蛋白免疫小鼠后,血清中可检测到1：1600的特异性表面抗体,该抗体与G145R突变后的HBsAg“a”决定簇合成肽P2—145R也能发生交叉反应,反应滴度为1：80。但该抗体和野毒型HBsAg蛋白以及野毒“a”决定簇合成肽P1-wt均不反应。上述结果表明,G145R突变后的HBsAg中蛋白在Pichia pastoris酵母系统得到了分泌表达,表达产物仍具有较好的免疫原性,但和野毒HBsAg相比,其抗原性和免疫原性发生了明显改变。     

Immunogenic changes of murine lymphoma cells following in vitro treatment with aryl-triazene derivatives

A series of dimethyl aryl-triazene derivatives and related monomethyl compounds were studied for their efficacy in mediating a strong increase in immunogenicity (i.e., chemical xenogenization, CX) of murine leukemic cells following in vitro treatment. It was found that all compounds under investigation were able to induce CX. The dimethyl derivatives were able to induce CX only after metabolic activation, whereas related monomethyl compounds were active per se. The antigenicity acquired by triazene-treated leukemic cells was very marked; intact hosts histocompatible with the parental line were able to reject up to 10(7) cells. Antigenic tumor cells retained their immunogenic properties even after a large number of transplant generations in the absence of the drug. This means that marked immunogenicity of triazene-treated cells is a stable and heritable characteristic.     

Immunogenic changes of murine lymphoma cells following in vitro treatment with aryl-triazene derivatives

Summary A series of dimethyl aryl-triazene derivatives and related monomethyl compounds were studied for their efficacy in mediating a strong increase in immunogenicity (i.e., chemical xenogenization, CX) of murine leukemic cells following in vitro treatment. It was found that all compounds under investigation were able to induce CX. The dimethyl derivatives were able to induce CX only after metabolic activation, whereas related monomethyl compounds were active per se.The antigenicity acquired by triazene-treated leukemic cells was very marked; intact hosts histocompatible with the parental line were able to reject up to 10⁷ cells. Antigenic tumor cells retained their immunogenic properties even after a large number of transplant generations in the absence of the drug. This means that marked immunogenicity of triazene-treated cells is a stable and heritable characteristic.     

Self-assembly polymerization enhances the immunogenicity of influenza M2e peptide

The extracellular domain of Influenza M2 protein (M2e) was considered as a promising target for universal influenza vaccine development. Several M2e-based influenza vaccines have been developed and many of them used a mutant M2e peptide, in which the two conserved cysteine residues were substituted by serine residues. In this paper, we compared the antigenicity and immunogenicity of wild type and cysteine-mutant M2e peptides. We found that the cysteine substitution slightly affected the antigenicity of M2e epitope, but greatly reduced the immunogenicity of M2e peptide. The cysteine substitution also disabled the M2e peptide from inducing protection against influenza virus challenge in mice. Further analysis revealed that the immunogenicity of M2e peptide was enhanced by the self-assembly of the peptide through inter-peptide disulfide bonds. These results provide new information to improve the design of M2e-based vaccines against potential influenza pandemics.     

Tumor-Specific Transplantation Resistance in Mice after Treatment of Initial Tumors with Streptococcus thermophilus

Antitumor activity observed by treatment with Streptococcus thermophilus was further investigated. The mice cured from fibrosarcoma by treatment with heat-killed preparation of S. thermophilus, when challenged with fibrosarcoma failed to take up the tumor. However, these cured mice when challenged with sarcoma-180 or Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, did not show significant changes in tumor take and/or survival compared to their respective controls. Similarly, mice cured from sarcoma-180 were challenged with fibrosarcoma, sarcoma-180 or Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Though there was no change in the mean survival time (MST) of the dying mice regarding sarcoma-180 or Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, there was 50 and 30% increase in the number of mice that showed total regression respectively over controls. However, there was no difference in the growth rate of fibrosarcoma. Similar observations were made with mice cured from Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, challenged with these tumors. These findings thus suggest that the antitumor response was tumor-specific and that tumor-associated antigens may have a role in imparting this specificity. Bacterial treatment non-specifically augmented this primary response.     

The modelling of the growth of Ehrlich carcinoma and teratoma T-36 with ascitic fluid and tumor-cell dialysate]

The study of the effect of ascitic fluid and dialysate of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (M.m. less than 15 kDa) on the growth of Ehrlich carcinoma and teratoma T-36 has shown that both the ascitic fluid and dialysate can protect tumor cells in vivo. The number of animals with tumors increased from 0% in control animals to 60 and 20%, respectively, in experimental ones after transplantation i.m. of 20 x 10(3) Ehrlich tumor cells into mice. Compared to control, ascitic fluid and dialysate of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells increased the rate of tumor growth to 195 and 153%, respectively. It is suggested that this test-system simulates the effect of tumor humoral factors in vivo.     

Antigenicity of erythrocytes as analyzed in terms of their cross-reactivity.

The antigenicity of human erythrocytes of four different ABO blood groups and sheep erythrocytes of unknown blood type from different individual sheep were analyzed in terms of their cross-reactivity with antibody-producing cells (plaque-forming cells, PFC) and serum antibody in immunized C57BL/6 and C3H/He mice. The antigenicity of human erythrocytes of different ABO blood groups in the C57BL/6 mice, as determined by the number of specific PFC, was, in decreasing order, AB = A greater than B = O (p less than 0.005). The efficiency of immunogenicity of the human erythrocytes in terms of their cross-reactivity with PFC was, in order, AB = A = B greater than O, and the degree of reactinogenicity was, in order, AB greater than A greater than B greater than O. The order of antigenicity of sheep erythrocytes from different animals, SRBC No. 1 - No. 6, was No. 1 (= No. 2) greater than No. 3 = No. 4 = No. 5 greater than No. 6 in C57BL/6 mice and No. 1 = No. 2 = No. 3 = No. 4 = No. 6 greater than No. 5 in C3H/He mice, determined by the number of specific PFC (p less than 0.01). The cross-reactivity of SRBC No. 1 - No. 6 with PFC demonstrates that the order of immunogenicity of SRBC was No. 1 = No. 2 = No. 3 = No. 4 = No. 5 greater than No. 6 in C57BL/6 mice and No. 1 = No. 2 = No. 3 = No. 4 = No. 6 greater than No. 5 in C3H/He mice, and that of their reactinogenicity was No. 1 greater than No. 2 =No. 3 = No. 4 = No. 5 greater than No. 6 in C57BL/6 mice and No. 1 greater than No. 4 = No. 6 greater than No. 2 = No. 3 greater than No. 5 in C3H/He mice. The cross-reactivity at the antibody level was indicative of the immunologic characteristics of blood cells of low antigenicity (human group O erythrocytes and SRBC No. 5 and No. 6). SRBC No. 5 and No. 6 were somewhat opposed to each other regarding antigenicity in C57BL/6 and C3H/He mice. This signifies the presence of different immunogenic components on SRBC No. 5 and No. 6. The production of anti-SRBC No. 1 antibody reached its peak on the third day after secondary immunization. That of anti- SRBC No. 1, cross-reactive with SRBC No. 6, occurred after a longer latent period, reaching its peak on day 6. This indicates that SRBC No. 1 possesses more than one kind of immunogenic component or immunogenic determinant group on its surface.     

Tumor growth, angiogenesis and inflammation in mice lacking receptors for platelet activating factor (PAF)

Tumor growth is associated with angiogenesis and inflammation and the endogenous lipid, platelet activating factor (PAF), is a pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic mediator. We therefore measured tumor growth, angiogenesis and inflammation in normal (WT) mice and those lacking the receptor for PAF, through gene deletion (PAFR-KO). Growth of solid tumors derived from colon 26 cells was not altered but that from Ehrlich cells was markedly (5-fold) increased in the PAFR-KO mice, relative to the WT strain. Angiogenesis, as tumor content of VEGF or hemoglobin, was increased in both tumors from the mutant strain. Inflammation, as neutrophil and macrophage accumulation and chemokine (CXCL2 and CCL2) content of tumors, was decreased or unchanged in the tumors implying an overall decrease in the inflammatory response in the PAFR-KO strain. We also assessed growth of the Ehrlich tumor in its ascites form, after i.p. injection. Here growth (ascites volume) was inhibited by about 30%, but neutrophil and macrophage numbers were increased in the ascites fluid from the PAFR-KO mice. Angiogenesis in the peritoneal wall, which is not invaded by the tumor cells, was increased but leukocyte infiltration decreased in the mutant strain. Our results show, unexpectedly, that tumor-induced angiogenesis was increased in mice lacking response to PAF, from which we infer that in normal (WT) mice, PAF is anti-angiogenic. Further, although growth was still associated with angiogenesis in PAFR-KO mice, growth was not correlated with inflammation (leukocyte accumulation).     

Suppression of Ehrlich ascites tumor growth by immunization with ganglioside GT1b of its origin, its IgM antibody or anti-idiotype of the anti-GT1b IgM.

Ehrlich tumor expresses the ganglioside GT1b. The plasma of mice with Ehrlich ascites tumor burden also contains GT1b. The structural identity of plasma GT1b was ascertained by a series of enzymatic degradation and mass spectral analysis. Mice were vaccinated with purified plasma GT1b admixed with Freund's adjuvant (FA). Sixty nine percent suppression of Ehrlich ascites tumor growth was observed in vaccinated mice. The suppression was dose-dependent. It is hypothesized that the tumor growth-suppression is a result of immune response to GT1b Humoral immune response to GT1b was demonstrated by passive hemagglutination assay of the sera of vaccinated mice. To test the hypothesis, the mice were administered with rabbit polyclonal anti-GT1b IgM antibody in varying doses and challenged with Ehrlich tumor. A significant reduction in tumor growth (65%) was observed in mice administered with anti-GT1b IgM antibody. Again, the suppression was dose-dependent. To verify further, another batch of mice was immunized with anti-idiotypic antibodies to rabbit anti-GT1b IgM raised in rat. The polyclonal anti-idiotype antibody is expected to carry the structural image of GT1b. In a dose-dependent manner, a maximum of 82% suppression of tumor growth was observed in mice immunized with the anti-idiotype antibody. This observation further strengthened the hypothesis that ganglioside mediated suppression of tumor growth may be a result of immunogenicity of the target ganglioside. This was also supported by positive reaction of the sera of anti-idiotype vaccinated mice with both anti-idiotype antibody and ganglioside GT1b in passive hemagglutination assay. The results favour the therapeutic potential of immunogenic tumor-associated gangliosides.     

Antitumor activities and tumor necrosis factor producibility of traditional Chinese medicines and crude drugs

Summary The antitumor activities and capacity for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production of traditional Chinese herbal preparations (Zhu-ling-tang, Xiao-chai-hu-tang), crude drugs (Polyporus, Hoelen, Bupleuri radix, Angelica radix, Cnidii rhizoma, Cinnamomum cortex), and Krestin (PSK) were investigated. These drugs were given to DDY mice in the drinking water before and after transplantation of Ehrlich tumors, and the development of the intradermally transplanted Ehrlich tumors and survival rate were observed. A good survival rate and sometimes a complete cure were found in the groups administered Bupleuri radix, Xiao-chai-hu-tang, Angelica radix, or Cinnamomum cortex, while the group given Hoelen showed poor results. To examine the capacity for TNF production these drugs were given to DDY mice PO as initial stimulating agents, to stimulate the reticuloendothelial system (RES) prior to lipopolysaccharide injection. The TNF activity was tested from the cytotoxicity against L cells. Significant differences in capacity for TNF production were observed among the drugs. Relatively high levels of TNF activity were noted in the groups given Angelica radix, Bupleuri radix, Cnidii rhizoma, or Cinnamomum cortex, very low activities in the groups given Xiao-chai-hu-tang, Zhu-ling-tang, or Krestin, and no TNF activities in the groups given Polyporus or Hoelen. The TNF capacity for production broadly paralleled the survival rate of the mice transplanted to Ehrlich tumors. Our findings suggest that one mechanism underlying the antitumor activities of these drugs is based on stimulation of the RES and is closely related of TNF production.This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid from the Ministry of Education, Japan     

Immunological properties of uricase conjugated to neutral soluble polymers.

For a comparative study of immunological properties of protein-polymer conjugates, uricase was modified with (a) poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) 6000 Da, (b) poly(N-acriloylmorpholine) 6000 Da, (c) branched monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) 10000 Da, and (d) linear monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) 5000 Da. Spectroscopic studies performed by UV, fluorescence, and circular dichroism did not show any relevant difference in protein conformation among the native and the conjugates. Immunological studies showed that both uricase antigenicity and immunogenicity were altered by polymer conjugation to an extent that depended upon the polymer composition; in particular, monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) 10000 Da remarkably reduced the protein antigenicity, while unexpectedly, the poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) derivative presented higher antigenicity than the native protein. In Balb/c mice, the native protein elicited a rapid and intense immunoresponse whereas all the conjugates induced a lower production of anti-native uricase antibodies. The rank order of immunogenicity was native uricase > uricase-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) > or = uricase-poly(N-acriloylmorpholine) > uricase-monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) 5000 Da > uricase-monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) 10000 Da. The four conjugates also induced anti polymer immunoresponse. Anti poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) and anti poly(N-acriloylmorpholine) antibodies were generated from the first immunization while low levels of anti polymer antibodies were found with both poly(ethylene glycol) conjugates only after the second immunization.     

Antigenicity and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV S protein receptor-binding domain stably expressed in CHO cells

The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) spike (S) protein contains multiple conformation-dependent epitopes that induce neutralizing antibody responses. Here we used CHO-K1 cells to establish a cell line for stable expression of a 193-mer (residues 318-510) RBD (RBD193-CHO) and determined its antigenicity and immunogenicity. We found that RBD193-CHO reacted strongly with a panel of six monoclonal antibodies recognizing various conformational and linear epitopes in RBD, suggesting that this recombinant protein maintains intact conformation and good antigenicity. Immunization of mice with RBD193-CHO resulted in induction of high titers of RBD-specific neutralizing antibodies and potent IL-4-expressing T cell responses. RBD193-CHO induced immunity that protected a majority of the vaccinated mice from SARS-CoV challenge. These results suggest that the recombinant RBD produced in an established stable cell line maintains strong immunogenicity with high potential for use as an effective and economic subunit SARS vaccine.     

多聚唾液酸对L-天冬酰胺酶的修饰及修饰酶特性研究

来源于大肠杆菌 (Ｅ .ｃｏｌｉ)的Ｌ 天冬酰胺酶是治疗淋巴性白血病和恶性淋巴肿瘤的有效酶制剂 ,已应用于临床。该酶与其他蛋白质类药物一样 ,在临床应用中存在两个常见问题 :一是酶制剂在体内易被降解 ,导致半衰期短 ;二是免疫原性。为了解决上述问题 ,人们用亲水性的大分子如血清蛋白、右旋糖苷和单甲氧基聚乙二醇 (ｍＰＥＧ)对该酶进行修饰。其中ｍＰＥＧ[1] 修饰后的Ｌ 天冬酰胺酶的抗原抗体结合能力完全消失 ,免疫原性下降 ,且体内半衰期延长 ;但酶活力只有天然酶的 8%～ 14% ,且ｍＰＥＧ在人体组织中无法降解 ,目前尚难评估长期使用…     

Expression and characterization of hepatitis C virus core protein fused to hepatitis B virus core antigen

Recombinant plasmids were constructed by fusing the gene fragments encoding the full-length (1-191aa) and the truncated (1-40aa and 1-69aa) HCV core proteins (HCc) respectively to the core gene of HBV at the position of amino acid 144 and expressed in E. coli. The products were analyzed by ELISA, Western blotting as well as the immunization of the mice. The results showed that those fusion proteins (B144C191, B144C69, B144C40) possessed the dual antigenicity and immunogenicity of both hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) and hepatitis C virus core protein (HCc). Analysis by electron microscopy and CsCl density gradient ultra-centrifugation revealed that similar to the HBcAg itself, all fusion proteins were able to form particles. Comparison of the antigenicity and immunogenicity of those fusion proteins showed that the length of HCc gene fused to HBeAg had no much effect on the antigenicity and immunogenicity of HBcAg, however, B144C69 and B144C40 induced higher titres antibodies against HCc than B14d     

Effect of trypsin and ribonuclease on the immunogenic activity of ribosomes and ribonucleic acid isolated from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Youmans, Anne S. (Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.), and Guy P. Youmans. Effect of trypsin and ribonuclease on the immunogenic activity of ribosomes and ribonucleic acid isolated from Myobacterium tuberculosis. J. Bacteriol. 91:2146-2154. 1966.-The ribosomal fraction of the attenuated strain, H37Ra, of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was treated with trypsin alone, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) alone, EDTA and pancreatic ribonuclease, or with trypsin and ribonuclease. After each of these treatments, the ribosomal fractions were injected intraperitoneally into male CF-1 mice to test their capacity to produce an immune response to infection with virulent tubercle bacilli, strain H37Rv. Removal of protein with trypsin left the immunogenicity unchanged; EDTA alone reduced immunogenicity in the smaller vaccinating doses; EDTA plus ribonuclease reduced the immunogenicity by approximately 50% in the highest (1.0 mg) vaccinating dose; ribonuclease alone, after treatment with trypsin, reduced immunogenicity also approximately 50%. A crude mycobacterial ribonucleic acid (RNA) was prepared by extraction of the ribosomal fraction with alcohol. This RNA preparation was as effective in producing an immune response as the ribosomal fraction from which it was prepared, unless the RNA was partially or completely degraded during the preparation. The effect of ribonuclease on the immunogenicity of the RNA was similar to that obtained with the ribosomal fractions, except that ribonuclease completely destroyed the immunogenicity of a partially degraded RNA. RNA appears to be an essential part of an immunizing substance in attenuated tubercle bacilli, which produces a high degree of immunity in mice; 50 mug (dry weight) will protect approximately 80% of the mice, and as little as 0.5 mug will protect approximately 30% of the mice. Mycobacterial RNA not incorporated in Freund's incomplete adjuvant was nonimmunogenic. Yeast RNA incorporated in Freund's incomplete adjuvant was not immunogenic.     

O-mannosylation of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Adhesin Apa Is Crucial for T Cell Antigenicity during Infection but Is Expendable for Protection

Glycosylation is the most abundant post-translational polypeptide chain modification in nature. Although carbohydrate modification of protein antigens from many microbial pathogens constitutes important components of B cell epitopes, the role in T cell immunity is not completely understood. Here, using ELISPOT and polychromatic flow cytometry, we show that O-mannosylation of the adhesin, Apa, of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is crucial for its T cell antigenicity in humans and mice after infection. However, subunit vaccination with both mannosylated and non-mannosylated Apa induced a comparable magnitude and quality of T cell response and imparted similar levels of protection against Mtb challenge in mice. Both forms equally improved waning BCG vaccine-induced protection in elderly mice after subunit boosting. Thus, O-mannosylation of Apa is required for antigenicity but appears to be dispensable for its immunogenicity and protective efficacy in mice. These results have implications for the development of subunit vaccines using post-translationally modified proteins such as glycoproteins against infectious diseases like tuberculosis.     

Influence of immune status of host on immunogenicity of tumors induced with two doses of methylcholanthrene

Summary Previous studies by Prehn demonstrated a direct correlation between the dose of carcinogen used for tumor induction and the immunogenicity of the resulting tumors. The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of the host's immune response and the influence of the carcinogen on immune function in this relationship. For that reason, a comparison was made of the immunogenicities of tumors induced with two doses of carcinogen in immunologically normal mice and in mice immunodepressed by adult thymectomy and irradiation. If the direct relationship between dose and immunogenicity demonstrated in normal mice was due to the degree of immunosuppression produced by the carcinogen, this correlation should not be apparent in mice already immunosuppressed. Although there was some increase in the immunogenicity of tumors induced in the immunosuppressed mice, the same relationship between carcinogen dose and immunogenicity was observed in both groups of mice. These results indicate that the degree of immunogenicity of tumors induced with both high and low doses of carcinogen was influenced by immunoselection, but in addition another, non-immunologic factor was significant in the relationship between carcinogen dose and immunogenicity. Abbreviations used: B6, C57BL/6J; CBy, BALB/cByJ; IP, intraperitoneal; IR, Immunogenicity Ratio; IV, intravenous; LP, latent period; MCA, 3-methylcholanthrene; SC, subcutaneous; TXB, adult thymectomized, lethally irradiated, and injected with 2×10⁶ syngeneic bone marrow cells; TXR, thymectomized and sublethally irradiated; WBI, whole-body irradiation