Differing reactions of monoclonal anti-A antibodies with oligosaccharides related to blood group A

Inhibition radioimmunoassays with blood group A-related oligosaccharides have been used to investigate the specificities of six monoclonal anti-A antibodies, three of which had been intentionally generated by immunization of mice with blood group A erythrocytes and A-active blood group substance, and three were incidentally produced following immunization of mice with human tonsil cell membranes or a human colon cancer cell line. By hemagglutination, these antibodies are highly specific for human blood group A erythrocytes. However, they differ from one another in their reaction patterns with mono- and difucosyl A antigen structures and the corresponding afucosyl sequences on Type 1 and Type 2 backbone structures. The six antibodies, together with four previously characterized anti-A monoclonal antibodies (originally raised against the receptor for epidermal growth factor) have been classified into five groups. The first two groups consist of antibodies with broad specificities for A-related structures. There are five antibodies in the first group (TL5, 29.1, A17/3D1, MH2/6D4, and MH1/5D1) reacting to varying degrees with the mono- and difucosyl A antigen structures on either type of backbone sequence. In the second group are two antibodies (A15/3D4 and A15/3D3) which are difficult to inhibit with the oligosaccharides tested, but they reacted best with monofucosyl A structure on either type of backbone. Each of the remaining three antibodies had a distinct and more restricted reaction pattern, with a specificity for the difucosyl A antigen on both types of backbone (antibody EGR/G49) or the Type 1-based mono- and difucosyl A antigen structures (antibody MAS 016c) or the Type 2-based monofucosyl A antigen structure (antibody 455). The reactions of four of the antibodies with N-acetylgalactosamine or with oligosaccharides containing the afucosyl sequence GalNAc alpha 1-3Gal suggest that they may react with certain glycoconjugates with alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyl termini ("A-like" structures) that are unrelated to the products of the blood group A gene-specified alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase. Knowledge of the differing reactions of these monoclonal antibodies is important for interpreting their reactions with glycoproteins and glycolipids of diverse origins.     

Evaluation of the rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility loci HLA-DRB1, PTPN22, OLIG3/TNFAIP3, STAT4 and TRAF1/C5 in an inception cohort

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of adalimumab in enthesitis and peripheral arthritis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

Adults with active AS (Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index [BASDAI] ≥ 4) received adalimumab 40 mg every other week with standard antirheumatic therapies in a 12-week, open-label study. Effectiveness in enthesitis was assessed using the Maastricht ankylosing spondylitis enthesitis score (MASES, 0-13) and by examining the plantar fascia in patients with enthesitis (≥ 1 inflamed enthesis) at baseline; effectiveness in peripheral arthritis was evaluated using tender and swollen joint counts (TJC, 0-46; SJC, 0-44) in patients with peripheral arthritis (≥ 1 swollen joint) at baseline. Overall effectiveness measures included Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society 20% response (ASAS20).

Results

Of 1,250 patients enrolled, 686 had enthesitis and 281 had peripheral arthritis. In 667 patients with MASES ≥ 1 at baseline, the median MASES was reduced from 5 at baseline to 1 at week 12. At week 12, inflammation of the plantar fascia ceased in 122 of 173 patients with inflammation at baseline. The median TJC in 281 patients with SJC ≥ 1 at baseline was reduced from 5 at baseline to 1 at week 12; the median SJC improved from 2 to 0. ASAS20 responses were achieved by 70.5% of 457 patients with no enthesitis and no arthritis; 71.0% of 512 patients with only enthesitis; 68.0% of 107 patients with only arthritis; and 66.7% of 174 patients with both.

Conclusions

Treatment with adalimumab improved enthesitis and peripheral arthritis in patients with active AS.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00478660.     

Aging attenuates the vasodilator response to relaxin

Relaxin, an insulin-like growth factor peptide, increases endothelium-dependent vasodilation and vascular compliance and decreases myogenic reactivity. These vascular effects significantly contribute to the physiological circulatory adaptations in pregnancy, particularly in the mesentery and kidney. Aging predisposes to vascular maladaptation and gestational hypertensive disease. We hypothesized that mild aging reduces the vascular responses to relaxin. In 20 young (10-12 wk) and 20 middle-aged (40-46 wk) female Wistar Hannover rats, vascular responses to chronic exposure of relaxin vs. placebo (5 days) were quantified in isolated mesenteric arteries and kidney. Vascular responses were evaluated using pressure-perfusion myograph, wire myograph, and an isolated perfused rat kidney model. Rxfp1 (relaxin family peptide) gene expression was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In young rats, relaxin stimulated nitric oxide (NO)-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (2.67-fold, from 48 ± 9 to 18 ± 4 μl/min), reduced myogenic reactivity (from -1 ± 2 to 7 ± 3 μm/10 mmHg), and decreased mesenteric sensitivity to (28%, from 1.39 ± 0.08 to 1.78 ± 0.10 μM) but did not change compliance and renal perfusion flow (RPFF). In aged rats, relaxin did not affect any of the analyzed mesenteric or renal parameters. In aged compared with young placebo-treated rats, all mesenteric characteristics were comparable, while RPFF was lower (17%, from 6.9 ± 0.2 to 5.7 ± 0.1 ml·min?1·100 g?1) even though NO availability was comparable. Rxfp1 expression was not different among young and aged rats. Our findings suggest that moderate aging involves normal endothelial function but blunts the physiological endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilator response to relaxin.     

Mass spectrometric characterization of circulating and functional antigens derived from piperacillin in patients with cystic fibrosis

A mechanistic understanding of the relationship between the chemistry of drug Ag formation and immune function is lacking. Thus, mass spectrometric methods were employed to detect and fully characterize circulating Ags derived from piperacillin in patients undergoing therapy and the nature of the drug-derived epitopes on protein that can function as an Ag to stimulate T cells. Albumin modification with piperacillin in vitro resulted in the formation of two distinct haptens, one formed directly from piperacillin and a second in which the dioxopiperazine ring had undergone hydrolysis. Modification was time and concentration dependent, with selective modification of Lys(541) observed at low concentrations, whereas at higher concentrations, up to 13 out of 59 lysine residues were modified, four of which (Lys(190), Lys(195), Lys(432), and Lys(541)) were detected in patients' plasma. Piperacillin-specific T lymphocyte responses (proliferation, cytokines, and granzyme B release) were detected ex vivo with cells from hypersensitive patients, and analysis of incubation medium showed that modification of the same lysine residues in albumin occurred in situ. The antigenicity of piperacillin-modified albumin was confirmed by stimulation of T cells with characterized synthetic conjugates. Analysis of minimally modified T cell-stimulatory albumin conjugates revealed peptide sequences incorporating Lys(190), Lys(432), and Lys(541) as principal functional epitopes for T cells. This study has characterized the multiple haptenic structures on albumin in patients and showed that they constitute functional antigenic determinants for T cells.     

Tumour-associated and differentiation antigens on the carbohydrate moieties of mucin-type glycoproteins

In this report the carbohydrate antigens expressed on the three oligosaccharide domains, core, backbone and peripheral, of mucin-type glycoproteins are briefly reviewed in the light of recent observations with monoclonal antibodies. These have revealed that a number of cell-surface antigens which behave as tumour-associated and differentiation antigens of man or mouse are abundantly expressed on the carbohydrate chains of a variety of secreted mucins of human and animal origins and they belong to an antigen system which also includes the major blood group antigens. Examples are given of the use of well-characterized anti-carbohydrate antibodies to derive structural information on (a) mucin-type glycoproteins of human B lymphocyte membranes, (b) the high molecular weight glycoproteins of the normal human gastric and distal-colon mucosae and (c) tumour-derived glycoproteins from these two organs. Major differences between the antigenicities of the normal stomach and distal-colon, and between their tumour-derived glycoproteins, and the important effect of the secretor status in the expression of these antigens are described. These observations have enabled a better understanding of the individual and tissue differences in the expression of tumour-associated antigens. The possibility is raised that these carbohydrate structures (many of which also occur on certain N-linked oligosaccharides and glycolipids) are components of receptor systems for endogenous ligands. More tangible evidence is cited for the role of certain structures in this family of saccharides as receptors for infective agents.     

A monoclonal antibody against human colonic adenoma recognizes difucosylated Type-2-blood-group chains

A monoclonal antibody C14/1/46/10 showing preferential binding to membranes of human colorectal carcinomas over normal colon mucosae was obtained by immunization of mice with extra-nuclear membranes of a human colonic adenoma. Binding and inhibition of binding assays using blood cells or glycoproteins with known blood-group activities indicated that the antibody recognizes a carbohydrate antigen co-existing with the blood-group-H determinant: Fucα1→2Gal. Inhibition assays with structurally defined oligosaccharides showed that the antigenic determinant involves difucosylated Type-2-blood-group chains with the structure:      

New insights into the chemical and isotopic composition of human-body biominerals. I: Cholesterol gallstones from England and Greece

We have analyzed gallstones from four patients of Europe and particularly from England (including samples from a mother and a daughter) and Greece. According to the XRD, FTIR, NMR and laser micro-Raman results the studied materials correspond to typical cholesterol monohydrate (ChM). The micro-morphology of cholesterol microcrystals was investigated by means of SEM–EDS. The XRF results revealed that Ca is the dominant non-organic metal in all gallstones (up to ～1.95 wt.%) together with Fe, Cu, Pb and Ni (up to ～19 ppm for each metal). Gallstones from England contain additional Mn (up to ～87 ppm) and Zn (up to ～6 ppm) while the sample of the mother contains negligible Zn and Mn, compared to that of her daughter, but significant As (～4.5 ppm). All cholesterol gallstones examined are well enriched in potentially toxic metals (Pb, as well as Ni in one case) and metalloids (As also in one case) as compared to the global average. The position of Zn, which is a characteristic biometal, in the structure of cholesterol, was investigated by molecular simulation using the Accelrys Materials Studio^® software. On the basis of IRMS results, all gallstones examined exhibit a very light δ¹³C signature (average δ¹³C ～?24‰ PDB). Gamma-ray spectrometry measurements indicate the presence of ²¹⁴Pb and ²¹⁴Bi natural radionuclides due to the ²³⁸U series as well as an additional amount of ⁴⁰K.     

The Wnt Inhibitor Sclerostin Is Up-regulated by Mechanical Unloading in Osteocytes in Vitro

Although bone responds to its mechanical environment, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the response of the skeleton to mechanical unloading are not completely understood. Osteocytes are the most abundant but least understood cells in bones and are thought to be responsible for sensing stresses and strains in bone. Sclerostin, a product of the SOST gene, is produced postnatally primarily by osteocytes and is a negative regulator of bone formation. Recent studies show that SOST is mechanically regulated at both the mRNA and protein levels. During prolonged bed rest and immobilization, circulating sclerostin increases both in humans and in animal models, and its increase is associated with a decrease in parathyroid hormone. To investigate whether SOST/sclerostin up-regulation in mechanical unloading is a cell-autonomous response or a hormonal response to decreased parathyroid hormone levels, we subjected osteocytes to an in vitro unloading environment achieved by the NASA rotating wall vessel system. To perform these studies, we generated a novel osteocytic cell line (Ocy454) that produces high levels of SOST/sclerostin at early time points and in the absence of differentiation factors. Importantly, these osteocytes recapitulated the in vivo response to mechanical unloading with increased expression of SOST (3.4 ± 1.9-fold, p < 0.001), sclerostin (4.7 ± 0.1-fold, p < 0.001), and the receptor activator of nuclear factor κΒ ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) (2.5 ± 0.7-fold, p < 0.001) ratio. These data demonstrate for the first time a cell-autonomous increase in SOST/sclerostin and RANKL/OPG ratio in the setting of unloading. Thus, targeted osteocyte therapies could hold promise as novel osteoporosis and disuse-induced bone loss treatments by directly modulating the mechanosensing cells in bone.