Prevention of murine cryoglobulinemia and associated pathology by monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody

A murine IgG3 mAb, clone 6-19, derived from non-manipulated autoimmune MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr mice is a rheumatoid factor specific for IgG2a and is able to generate cryoglobulins via nonspecific IgG3 Fc-Fc interaction. Intraperitoneal passive transfer of ascites containing the 6-19 mAb into BALB/c mice induces, within 18 h, remarkable pathology characterized by skin vasculitis and acute glomerulonephritis associated with cryoglobulinemia. In order to evaluate the possibility of modulating the development of tissue lesions by an anti-Id antibody, we have raised an IgG2b anti-Id mAb specific to the 6-19 mAb. The cryoprecipitation of 6-19 mAb was completely inhibited in the presence of excess amounts of anti-Id mAb in vitro. In vivo, pretreatment of BALB/c mice with anti-6-19 anti-Id mAb inhibited development of skin vasculitis and glomerulonephritis induced by the 6-19 mAb. The cryoglobulin formation was markedly diminished due to enhanced elimination of the 6-19 mAb from the circulation. In contrast, pretreatment with an IgM anti-IgG3 rheumatoid factor mAb neither protected nor aggravated the development of tissue lesions. These results suggest possible implications in the anti-Id treatment of similar vascular diseases in man.     

Action of Thiobacillus thiooxidans on Sulphur in the Presence of a Surfactant Agent and its Application in the Indirect Dissolution of Phosphorus

The addition of a surfactant agent (Tween 80) to a medium containing sulphur and a culture of Thiobacillus thiooxidans increased the attachment of bacteria to sulphur, the rate of sulphur oxidation and sulphuric acid production. This acid was used to dissolve phosphorus from calcium phosphate. The yield was higher than reported for other microorganisms although dissolution was not increased significantly by Tween addition.     

A cytochemical approach to the wound repair mechanism inUdotea petiolata (Siphonales)

Summary When injured, the thalli of the coenocytic algaUdotea petiolata undergo a rapid sealing process mainly due to the extrusion of two successive plugs. In the first, external and transitory plug, sulphated polysaccharides are the predominant components. In the second, permanent and internal plug, roundish bodies having a complex polysaccharidic composition are embedded in a fibrillar matrix of still unknown nature. The sulphated sugars were identified and located by means of Alcian Blue staining and X-ray microanalysis. A periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate technique proved useful especially in the study of the roundish bodies and in the compositional and structural comparison of the siphon wall with the wound wall. Phosphotungstic acid at low pH was used to evidentiate an extensive plasma membrane activity in the repairing cytoplasm.Supported by a grant of C.N.R.     

Antifungal properties of some pyrazolyl-alkyl-sulfides

Four 5-amino-4-alkylthio-pyrazoles were synthesized and their antifungal activity was evaluated in vitro in Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum cookei and Candida albicans. The compounds slightly influenced the growth kinetics of the yeast, but at concentrations ranging from 20 to 40 g/ml completely prevented the mycelial growth of the two dermatophytes cultivated on Sabouraud's agar medium. An electron microscopic study, undertaken by using the most active compound, showed that in C. albicans mitochondria were the only cell targets affected whereas in the dermatophytes cell wall, plasmalemma and the main cytoplasmic organelles were damaged in various degrees. Since the most remarkable alterations were connected with membrane abnormalities, the cytological changes observed were tentatively interpreted as a consequence of the compound intrusion into the lipid bilayer of the membranes, since the drug is lipophilic in nature.Investigations supported by a grant from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche of Italy (Contract No. 79.01871.04)     

X-ray structure analysis of 3,11,17-trioxoandrostane-5 alpha-carbonitrile and of 17 alpha-ethoxycarbonyloxy-3-oxoandrost-4-ene-17-carbonitrile.

The crystal and molecular structures of the title compounds were determined by x-ray diffractometric analysis. Torsion angles and puckering parameters are reported for both compounds. In 1 the 5 alpha-cyano group influences the A-ring conformation. The carbonate ester 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic P2(1) space group with two molecules (I and II) in the asymmetric unit. The D-ring conformation is to some extent different between I and II.     

Actin organization and fibrin-clot retractile activity of cultured mouse fibroblasts

Summary It is known that human and animal fibroblasts are able to induce the retraction of a fibrin clot. In the present study the correlation between (i) fibrinclot retractile (FCR) activity, (ii) the number of actin stress-lines in mouse fibroblasts during growth in culture, and (iii) the sensitivity of actin stress-lines to a powerful actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF), present in plasma and serum of humans and laboratory animals was investigated. Fibroblasts at early passages (2–4) were tested for these parameters at various intervals after seeding (24, 96, and 168 h). The number of actin stress-lines was progressively higher, while the sensitivity to ADF action was progressively lower in cells cultured from 24 to 168 h; the FCR capacity was significantly decreased at 168 h. These data suggest that cells containing weakly polymerized and/or stabilized actin are more active than those containing highly polymerized and/or stabilized actin in triggering fibroblast contraction.     

Lysis of autologous human melanoma cells by in vitro allosensitized peripheral blood lymphocytes

Summary Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of melanoma patients were sensitized in vitro with lymphocytes of a single donor or with a pool of lymphocytes of 5–20 different donors. After 6–7 days, the cytotoxic activity of the sensitized PBL was tested against cultured autologous tumor cells and lymphocytes in a ⁵¹Cr-release assay. Tumor lysis was observed in 13 of 16 cases in which patients' PBL (Pt-PBL) were stimulated by a pool of allogeneic lymphocytes and in five out of seven cases when single sensitization was performed. In no case was lysis of autologous normal lymphocytes or blasts seen. Cultivation of Pt-PBL with irradiated autologous tumor cells never led to the induction of lymphocytes cytotoxic to melanoma cells. Lysability by pool-activated autologous Pt-PBL of fresh cryopreserved tumor cells was compared to that of short-term cultured tumor cells, and no significant differences were observed. Cold-target inhibition experiments indicated that the cytotoxicity of Pt-PBL was tumor-restricted since only autologous melanoma cells but not lymphocytes were able to inhibit the reaction. These results indicate that activation of Pt-PBL is necessary in order to elicit or amplify their antitumor activity.     

Delayed hypersensitivity and Ig level in 210 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Summary Serum immunoglobulin concentration and skin reactivity to at least three recall antigens were determined in 210 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Immunoglobulin concentration was normal in the great majority of the patients. Skin tests were negative in 50 of 210 cases (24%). No relationship could be demonstrated between skin reactivity, age, time since diagnosis, WBC, lymphocyte count, and splenectomy. Prior antileukemic therapy was a major factor in determining the response to skin tests.S. Tura (Chairman) and M. Baccarani (Secretary), Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università e Servizio di Ematologia dell'Ospedale S. Orsola, Bologna; G. de Sandre, G. Perona, G. Cetto, G. Pizzolo, Istituto di Patologia Medica e Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Verona; P. Rambotti, B. Falini, Clinica Medica dell'Università, Perugia; T. Chisesi, G. Capnist, Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale Civile, Vicenza; A. Cajozzo, P. Citarella, Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Palermo; G. Broccia, Sezione di Ematologia, Ospedale Armando Businco, Cagliari; V. Liso, G. Troccoli, Clinica Medica II dell'Università, Bari; L. Bruzzese, G. Nappi, A. Abbadessa, Clinica Medica (I Facoltà) dell'Università, Napoli; A. Porcellini, C. Delfini, Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedali Riuniti, Pesaro; E. Cacciola, R. Giustolisi, R. Musso, V. Raimondi, Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Catania; G. Torlontano, L. Geraci, Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Chieti, e Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale Civile, Pescara; F. Mandelli, G. Mariani, B. Monarca, N. Petti, Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Roma; R. di Guglielmo, A. Miliani, Clinica Medica dell'Università, Firenze; C. Bernasconi, M. Lazzarino, G. Castelli, Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale S. Matteo, Pavia; A. Alberti, S. Magro, Servizio di Ematologia, Ospedale Generale Regionale, Catanzaro; A. Neri, P. Iacopino, Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedali Riuniti, Reggio Calabria; R. Delsignore, M. C. Baroni, Istituto di Patologia Medica dell'Universita, Parma; E. Bajetta, S. Monfardini, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milano; S. Tognella, Istituto Scientifico di Medicina Interna, Cattedra di Clinica Medica 2R, Università, Genova.     

Reactivity of elementary and reticulate bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis LGV2 with monoclonal antibodies specific for the major outer membrane protein

The reactivity of the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis (LGV2 serotype) with 15 monoclonal antibodies was studied during the course of developmental cycle by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. The monoclonal antibodies reacted in immunoblots with the MOMP of both elementary bodies (EBs) and reticulate bodies (RBs). Using an immunofluorescence test with LGV2-infected cell cultures, the 15 monoclonal antibodies could be divided into 5 groups, according to the time of appearance of their reactivity with the cell culture.