BLyS-mediated modulation of naive B cell subsets impacts HIV Env-induced antibody responses

Neutralizing Abs provide the protective effect of the majority of existing human vaccines. For a prophylactic vaccine against HIV-1, broadly neutralizing Abs targeting conserved epitopes of the viral envelope glycoproteins (Env) are likely required, because the pool of circulating HIV-1 variants is extremely diverse. The failure to efficiently induce broadly neutralizing Abs by vaccination may be due to the use of suboptimal immunogens or immunization regimens, or it may indicate that B cells specific for broadly neutralizing Env determinants are selected against during peripheral checkpoints, either before or after Ag encounter. To investigate whether perturbation of B cell subsets prior to immunization with recombinant Env protein affects the vaccine-induced Ab response in mice, we used B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), a cytokine that regulates survival and selection of peripheral B cells. We show that the transient BLyS treatment used in this study substantially affected naive B cell populations; in particular, it resulted in more B cells surviving counter-selection at the transitional stages. We also observed more mature naive B cells, especially marginal zone B cells, in BLyS-treated mice. Intriguingly, provision of excess BLyS prior to immunization led to a consistent improvement in the frequency and potency of HIV-1 Env vaccine-induced neutralizing Ab responses, without increasing the number of Env-specific Ab-secreting cells or the Ab-binding titers measured after boosting. The results presented in this article suggest that an increased understanding of BLyS-regulated processes may help the design of vaccine regimens aimed at eliciting improved neutralizing Ab responses against HIV-1.     

Amino acid sequence of a (32P) phosphopeptide from pig liver pyruvate kinase phosphorylated by cyclic 3',5'-AMP-stimulated protein kinase and gamma-(32P)ATP

Pig liver pyruvate kinase (type L) was ³²P-labelled by incubation with (³²P)ATP and cyclic 3′,5′-AMP-stimulated protein kinase from the same source. One major (³²P)phosphopeptide was isolated from a peptic hydrolysate of the enzyme. Its amino acid sequence was Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-(³²P)SerP-Leu.     

SEX RATIO AND DENSITY AFFECT SEXUAL SELECTION IN A SEX‐ROLE REVERSED FISH

Understanding how demographic processes influence mating systems is important to decode ecological influences on sexual selection in nature. We manipulated sex ratio and density in experimental populations of the sex‐role reversed pipefish Syngnathus typhle. We quantified sexual selection using the Bateman gradient (), the opportunity for selection (I), and sexual selection (I_s), and the maximum standardized sexual selection differential (). We also measured selection on body length using standardized selection differentials (s′) and mating differentials (m′), and tested whether the observed I and I_s differ from values obtained by simulating random mating. We found that I, I_s, and , but not , were higher for females under female than male bias and the opposite for males, but density did not affect these measures. However, higher density decreased sexual selection (m′ but not s′) on female length, but selection on body length was not affected by sex ratio. Finally, I_s but not I was higher than expected from random mating, and only for females under female bias. This study demonstrates that both sex ratio and density affect sexual selection and that disentangling interrelated demographic processes is essential to a more complete understanding of mating behavior and the evolution of mating systems.     

Search for the heparin antithrombin III-binding site precursor.

The last step of heparin biosynthesis is thought to involve the action of 3-O-sulfotransferase resulting in the formation of an antithrombin III (ATIII) binding site required for heparin's anticoagulant activity. The isolation of a significant fraction of heparin chains without antithrombin III-binding sites and having low affinity for ATIII suggests the presence of a precursor site, lacking the 3-O-sulfate group. Porcine mucosal heparin was depolymerized into a mixture of oligosaccharides using heparin lyase. One of these oligosaccharides was derived from heparin's ATIII-binding site. In an effort to find the ATIII-binding site precursor, the structures of several minor oligosaccharides were determined. A greater than 90% recovery of oligosaccharides (on a mole and weight basis) was obtained for both unfractionated and affinity-fractionated heparins. An oligosaccharide arising from the ATIII-binding site precursor was found that comprised only 0.8 mol % of the oligosaccharide product mixture. This oligosaccharide was only slightly enriched in heparin having a low affinity for ATIII and only slightly disenriched in high affinity heparin. The small number of these ATIII-binding site precursors, found in unfractionated and fractionated heparins, suggests the existence of a low ATIII affinity heparin may not simply be the result of the incomplete action of 3-O-sulfotransferase in the final step in heparin biosynthesis. Rather these data suggest that some earlier step, involved in the formation of placement of these precursor sites, may be primarily responsible for high and low ATIII affinity heparins.     

Interaction of lipoprotein lipase with heparin–Sepharose. Evaluation of conditions for affinity binding

Lipoprotein lipases from a variety of sources have been shown previously to bind to heparin and some related polysaccharides. For the present studies lipoprotein lipase purified from bovine milk was used. 1. In batch experiments binding of the enzyme activity to heparin-Sepharose occurred relatively slowly, so that 30min was required for the system to come to near-equilibrium. In contrast, release of the enzyme activity from heparin-Sepharose by addition of salt to the liquid phase occurred rapidly. 2. Some binding was observed also with unsubstituted Sepharose, but this binding had a low capacity compared with that observed with heparin-Sepharose. High salt concentrations, heparin or deoxycholate decreased the binding to unsubstituted Sepharose. These factors also increase the solubility of the enzyme, which is low. 3. Addition of heparin to the liquid phase caused a concentration-dependent release of enzyme activity from the gel. These results suggested that the binding of the enzyme to heparin-Sepharose was mainly through interaction with heparin. 4. The enzyme activity was also quantitatively displaced to the liquid phase at increased concentrations of salt. Among the positive ions tested the following order of effectiveness was noted: Cs(+) approximately K(+)>Na(+)>Li(+); and among the negative the following: SCN(-)>I(-)> NO(3) (-)>Br(-) approximately Cl(-). The differences were quite large. Thus addition of 0.16m-KSCN (in addition to the 0.32m-NaCl originally present) displaced one-half of the enzyme activity to the supernatant, whereas 0.8m-LiCl only displaced one-quarter. 5. The distribution of heparin in the gel also profoundly influenced the binding. Two series of gels were studied. One series was made by mixing heparin-Sepharose with unsubstituted Sepharose. Results obtained with these gels were those expected from a series of decreasing volumes of heparin-Sepharose. In contrast, a series of heparin-Sepharoses made with different degrees of substitution gave quite different results. With these gels the amount of enzyme activity bound per amount of heparin increased markedly, whereas the salt concentration needed to displace the enzyme activity from the gel decreased markedly with decreased concentration of heparin in the gel. 6. On stepwise elution of small columns of heparin-Sepharose the enzyme activity was eluted over a remarkably wide range of salt concentrations. When enzyme eluted at one salt concentration was re-applied, it gave the same elution profile as enzyme previously eluted at other salt concentrations or the entire enzyme preparation. These and other results suggested that, whereas the enzyme preparation was rather homogeneous in its binding to heparin, the heparin preparation was polydisperse in binding of lipoprotein lipase.     

Escherichia coli K5 heparosan fermentation and improvement by genetic engineering

N-acetyl heparosan is the precursor for the biosynthesis of the important anticoagulant drug heparin. The E. coli K5 capsular heparosan polysaccharide provides a promising precursor for in vitro chemoenzymatic production of bioengineered heparin. This article explores the improvements of heparosan production for bioengineered heparin by fermentation process engineering and genetic engineering.     

The RCK1 and RCK2 protein kinase genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae suppress cell cycle checkpoint mutations in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The protein kinase-encoding genes RCK1 and RCK2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been identified as suppressors of Schizosaccharomyces pombe cell cycle checkpoint mutations. Upon expression of these genes, radiation resistance is partially restored in S. pombe mutants with checkpoint deficiencies, but not in mutants with DNA repair defects. Some checkpoint mutants are sensitive to the DNA synthesis inhibitor hydroxyurea, and this sensitivity is also suppressed by RCK1 and RCK2. The degree of suppression can be modulated by varying expression levels. Expression of RCK1 or RCK2 in S. pombe causes cell elongation and decelerated growth. Cells expressing these genes have a single nucleus and a 2n DNA content. We conclude that these genes act in S. pombe to prolong the G2 phase of the cell cycle.     

Antithrombin III regulates complement activity in vitro

Heparin, a polyion, exerts its main activity to inhibit coagulation through a serine protease inhibitor, antithrombin III. Previous studies have clearly shown that heparin in the absence of antithrombin III also has the capacity to regulate C activity. The present studies examined the ability of purified human antithrombin III to regulate classical and alternative pathways of C, alone and in the presence of heparin. Antithrombin III alone inhibited generation of both pathways in a dose-related manner; antithrombin III at 8 micrograms/10(7) cellular intermediates inhibited generation of the classical and alternative pathway convertases by 60 and 42%, respectively. Antithrombin III and heparin augmented each other's capacity to inhibit generation of both convertases in a dose-related manner. Antithrombin III did not appear to inhibit on the basis of charge because it is only slightly anionic (isoelectric pH value, 5.0); instead, antithrombin III may have acted as a serine protease inhibitor of the proteolytic enzymes of the C cascades. Antithrombin III acted only to inhibit formation of the alternative pathway convertase but had no activity on terminal lysis by this pathway; similarly, antithrombin III inhibited preformed EAC1,4b,2a,3b but had no activity on classical pathway cellular intermediates containing additional components. Finally, antithrombin III inhibited consumption of factor B hemolytic activity in a reaction mixture that also contained factor D and C3b, suggesting that factor D activity was also inhibited. These studies demonstrate the capacity of antithrombin III to regulate C and suggest that, in concert with heparin, antithrombin III may play an important role in the regulation of C in vivo.     

Dental Status in the Elderly: A Review of the Swedish Literature1

1. Elderly persons living in their own homes have over the past 20 years tended to retain an increased number of natural teeth. This tendency is confirmed especially in the ongoing studies by Tor Österberg, nr 12 and 13. These studies indicate a decreasing edentulous part of the 70-year old cohorts from 1971, 1976 and 1981. 2. Elderly persons dependent on institutional care are edentulous in as high degree today as 20 years ago. According to this criterion, therefore, their dental health has not improved. 3. Dentures worn by elderly persons frequently are defective in fit and function. For the general wellbeing and health in later life, mastication of a well-balanced diet and lack of discomfort from denture-bearing mucosal surfaces are important. Information in this respect and measures to improve masticating function are greatly needed among persons in the higher age groups, whether living at home or in institutional care. 4. Caries activity is increasing among elderly persons. 5. Periodontitis (loosening of the teeth) is very frequently found in elderly persons. 6. Oral hygiene requires improvement. 7. Among the elderly, living in their own homes or in institutions, the need for odontologic care is objectively great, but the demands currently made are remarkably low. 8. Of the aged in institutional care, about 75 per cent are suitable for measures of oral care. A change in dental health seems to be slowly taking place among the elderly, in that increasing numbers keep more of their own teeth longer in life. The demands made by the high age groups on the odontologic services, though increasing, are still very low relative to the objective and consequently great accumulated needs. This contrast is especially pronounced among geriatric patients in institutions. An aggressive, searching approach to both restorative and preventive oral care in the higher age groups is of pressing importance if optimum conditions for eating and chewing late in life are to be achieved. For timely counteraction of the tendency to a more passive attitude t o dental care that commonly accompanies rising age, information on these matters should be energetically disseminated among persons due for retirement or new-l y retired.