Mapping of specific and promiscuous HLA-DR-restricted T-cell epitopes on the Plasmodium falciparum 27-kilodalton sexual stage-specific antigen

We have characterized HLA-DR-restricted T-cell epitopes on the 27-kDa protein (Pfg27), a sexual stage-specific antigen, of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in subjects with a history of malaria. Pfg27, expressed early in the sexual stages, is recognized by monoclonal antibodies capable of reducing the infectivity of gametocytes in mosquitoes. By using 16 Pfg27-specific CD4(+)-T-cell clones derived from three donors, seven different T-cell epitopes were identified. Among them, P11 (amino acids 191 to 210 of the Pfg27 sequence, IDVVDSYIIKPIPALPVTPD) was found to contain a previously described binding motif for multiple HLA-DR allotypes. Indeed, P11 was found to be promiscuous in that it could be recognized by T cells in the context of at least five different HLA-DR molecules. The cytokine profile of the clones was mixed. Seven of nine T-cell clones exhibited a Th0-like cytokine profile, producing high levels of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) upon stimulation with specific peptides and mitogens. The other two clones had a Th1-like cytokine profile with high expression of IFN-gamma and no IL-4. Identification of a promiscuous epitope in Pfg27 could play a significant role in the design of a subunit vaccine for suppressing malaria transmission.     

A new method for cytodestruction of bladder epithelium using protamine sulfate and urea

Bladder epithelium relies primarily on the presence of a surface glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer and the structural integrity of cell-cell contact to maintain impermeability to toxic urinary wastes. Previous clinical studies evaluating bladder permeability characteristics in interstitial cystitis patients had indicated that epithelial desquamation occurs after treatment with protamine sulfate (PS) followed by hypertonic urea. The following study was performed using rabbits to further investigate this finding. The urinary bladder was evaluated for optimal treatment conditions for epithelial removal. Protamine sulfate (1 to 10 mg./ml.) and urea (100 to 200 gm./ml.) were instilled into the bladder at volumes ranging from 5 to 60 ml. to that required for near maximum distention. After incubation at room temperature for 15 minutes, the bladders were fixed and evaluated histologically for epithelial removal. The maximum epithelial removal occurred when the bladders were distended, and when PS concentration was 5 to 10 mg./ml. and urea at 200 gm./l. There was greater epithelium removal after repeated treatments. Epithelial cells that were removed were not viable based on Trypan blue staining. There was no significant increase of C14 labeled urea in the plasma after 15 minutes. Rabbits that were followed for 6 weeks after treatment did not show any histological evidence of increased collagen deposition and/or fibrosis. This procedure may have important clinical value since it may remove sufficient bladder epithelium in patients with transitional cell carcinoma to have therapeutic benefit. This offers a realistic option for selective, nontoxic destruction of bladder epithelium.     

Differential effects of load stiffness on matching pinch force, finger span, and effort

(1) The effects of the neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine on the levels of soluble proteins and enzyme activities in various tissues of Japanese quail were investigated. (2) SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that in the brain the soluble proteins with a molecular mass corresponding to 18 kDa were increased in quail treated with this toxin. The soluble liver proteins with the largest molecular masses (200, 120, 98, 80.5 and 58 kDa) were either missing or present at lower concentrations in the treated group compared to those in the controls while those of lower molecular mass (62, 55, 45, 36.5 and 24 kDa) were found to be present in higher concentrations. Similarly, treatment with 3-acetylpyridine tended to decrease the concentration of soluble proteins in pectoral muscle having a high molecular mass (160, 98, 60, 33, 30.5, 22 and 14 kDa) and to increase those having a low molecular mass (26, 20, 19.5 and 16 kDa). (3) There was a marked reduction in the treatment group in the concentration of NAD in pectoral muscle but not in other tissues. A similar observation was also made with total RNAs levels. (4) The specific activity of malic enzyme and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was markedly reduced in the liver and pectoral muscle of the treatment group but was not affected in other tissues. The specific activity of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was significantly lower in the liver only, and that of lactic dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase was not affected in any of the tissues examined. (5) The results suggest that the metabolic actions of 3-acetylpyridine are quite distinct from those shown by niacin deficiency and its analog such as 6-aminonicotinamide.     

Prostate carcinoma: transrectal US after cryosurgical ablation

The effects of denervation of central noradrenergic system on the interpartner relationships of adult cats were examined in a predatory test in the competitive situation for paired animals. Direct administration of the noradrenaline neurotoxin, N-2-chloroethyl-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP-4 12 microg) into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) of submissive cats changed previously established dominant-submissive relationship. Biochemical analysis demonstrated a significant reduction of noradrenaline (NA) concentration in the hypothalamus (AH), amygdala (AM), hippocampus (HC), and frontal cortex (CTX), and elevation of NA content in the midbrain central gray matter (CG) in MFB-lesioned cats. Simultaneously, DSP-4-induced lesions exerted significant decrease of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG) content in AH, CG, HC and CTX, and increased GABA level in AH, CG, AM, and HC. These results suggest that a coincident decrease of NA metabolism and increase of GABA metabolism led to fear drive reduction.     

Asthmatic exacerbations and environmental pollen concentration in La Comarca Lagunera (Mexico)

In order to determine the correlation between the concentration of environmental pollen and the frequency of asthmatic exacerbations in La Comarca Lagunera (México), a study in a cohort of a 104 diagnosed patients suffering allergic asthma was carried out monitoring monthly from July '93 to July '95 in order to register the existence of asthmatic exacerbations. Environmental samples were taken weekly during the same period of time through a PST high volume collector (Andersen Samplers Inc). The above mentioned samples were processed under acetolysis technics and the pollen grain count under light microscopy. Linear correlation measures were made between the rates of asthmatic exacerbations and the concentration of pollen grain in m3 of air by means of a statistical computer program SAS. There was a 1469 persons/month follow up ('X 15.5) and the correlation between the rates of asthmatic exacerbations and the concentration of environmental pollen was relevant (r = 0.63, r2 = 0.39, p < 0.01). The correlation increased (r = 0.70, r2 = 0.49 and p < 0.01) when the asthmatic exacerbations associated to infectious disease in the upper respiratory system were restricted. The conclusion reached is that the concentration of environment pollen has influence in the development of asthmatic exacerbations in patients with allergic asthma.     

Macrophage-derived chemokine is a functional ligand for the CC chemokine receptor 4

Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) is a recently identified member of the CC chemokine family. MDC is not closely related to other chemokines, sharing most similarity with thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), which contains 37% identical amino acids. Both chemokines are highly expressed in the thymus, with little expression seen in other tissues. In addition, the genes for MDC and TARC are encoded by human chromosome 16. To explore this relationship in greater detail, we have more precisely localized the MDC gene to chromosome 16q13, the same position reported for the TARC gene. We have also examined the interaction of MDC with CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), recently shown to be a receptor for TARC. Using a fusion protein of MDC with secreted alkaline phosphatase, we observed high affinity binding of MDC-secreted alkaline phosphatase to CCR4-transfected L1.2 cells (Kd = 0.18 nM). MDC and TARC competed for binding to CCR4, while no binding competition was observed for six other chemokines (MCP-1, MCP-3, MCP-4, RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta). MDC was tested for calcium mobilization in L1.2 cells tranfected with seven different CC chemokine receptors. MDC induced a calcium flux in CCR4-transfected cells, but other receptors did not respond to MDC. TARC, which also induced calcium mobilization in CCR4 transfectants, was unable to desensitize the response to MDC. In contrast, MDC fully desensitized a subsequent response to TARC. Both MDC and TARC functioned as chemoattractants for CCR4 transfectants, confirming that MDC is also a functional ligand for CCR4. Since MDC and TARC are both expressed in the thymus, one role for these chemokines may be to attract CCR4-bearing thymocytes in the process of T cell education and differentiation.     

Aerosolized staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced pulmonary lesions in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

The pathology of aerosolized staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was studied in the nonhuman primate. Six juvenile rhesus monkeys that received multiple lethal inhaled doses of SEB developed diarrhea and vomiting within 24 hr followed by depression, dyspnea, and shock. Three of 6 animals died by 52 hr. The most striking gross lesion in all 6 monkeys was diffuse severe pulmonary edema. Histologically, edema fluid was present within the peribronchiolar, peribronchial, and perivascular interstitium, alveolar septa, and alveoli. The adventitia of pulmonary vessels was infiltrated by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fewer neutrophils. Numerous large lymphocytes with occasional mitotic figures were within pulmonary vessels, often occluding alveolar capillaries. These cells were strongly immunoreactive with monoclonal antibodies against CD3, establishing them as T cells. Ultrastructurally, endothelial cell junctions were intact, and endothelial cells and type I pneumocytes contained numerous pinocytotic vesicles. Alveolar septal interstitial spaces were expanded by edema. The mechanism of these SEB-induced pulmonary lesions was not determined. We hypothesize that cytokine production by activated T cells may have caused vascular permeability changes leading to widespread pulmonary edema and shock.