Thermal Stability Threshold for Amyloid Formation in Light Chain Amyloidosis

Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a devastating disease characterized by amyloid deposits formed by immunoglobulin light chains. Current available treatments involve conventional chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant. We have recently concluded a phase III trial comparing these two treatments. AL amyloidosis patients who achieve hematological complete response (CR) do not necessarily achieve organ response regardless of the treatment they received. In order to investigate the possible correlation between amyloid formation kinetics and organ response, we selected AL amyloidosis patients from the trial with kidney involvement and CR after treatment. Six patients were selected and their monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains were characterized. The proteins showed differences in their stability and their kinetics of amyloid formation. A correlation was detected at pH 7.4, showing that less stable proteins are more likely to form amyloid fibrils. AL-T03 is too unstable to form amyloid fibrils at pH 7.4. This protein was found in the only patient in the study that had organ response, suggesting that partially folded species are required for amyloid formation to occur in AL amyloidosis.     

IgG and IgA with Potential Microbial-Binding Activity Are Expressed by Normal Human Skin Epidermal Cells

The innate immune system of the skin is thought to depend largely on a multi-layered mechanical barrier supplemented by epidermis-derived antimicrobial peptides. To date, there are no reports of antimicrobial antibody secretion by the epidermis. In this study, we report the expression of functional immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA), previously thought to be only produced by B cells, in normal human epidermal cells and the human keratinocyte line HaCaT. While B cells express a fully diverse Ig, epidermal cell-expressed IgG or IgA showed one or two conservative V_HDJ_H rearrangements in each individual. These unique VDJ rearrangements in epidermal cells were found neither in the B cell-derived Ig VDJ databases published by others nor in our positive controls. IgG and IgA from epidermal cells of the same individual had different VDJ rearrangement patterns. IgG was found primarily in prickle cells, and IgA was mainly detected in basal cells. Both epidermal cell-derived IgG and IgA showed potential antibody activity by binding pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, the most common pathogenic skin bacteria, but the microbial-binding profile was different. Our data indicates that normal human epidermal cells spontaneously express IgG and IgA, and we speculate that these Igs participate in skin innate immunity.     

Exposure and effects assessment of persistent organohalogen contaminants in arctic wildlife and fish

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) encompass an array of anthropogenic organic and elemental substances and their degradation and metabolic byproducts that have been found in the tissues of exposed animals, especially POPs categorized as organohalogen contaminants (OHCs). OHCs have been of concern in the circumpolar arctic for decades. For example, as a consequence of bioaccumulation and in some cases biomagnification of legacy (e.g., chlorinated PCBs, DDTs and CHLs) and emerging (e.g., brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and in particular polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) found in Arctic biota and humans. Of high concern are the potential biological effects of these contaminants in exposed Arctic wildlife and fish. As concluded in the last review in 2004 for the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) on the effects of POPs in Arctic wildlife, prior to 1997, biological effects data were minimal and insufficient at any level of biological organization. The present review summarizes recent studies on biological effects in relation to OHC exposure, and attempts to assess known tissue/body compartment concentration data in the context of possible threshold levels of effects to evaluate the risks. This review concentrates mainly on post-2002, new OHC effects data in Arctic wildlife and fish, and is largely based on recently available effects data for populations of several top trophic level species, including seabirds (e.g., glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus)), polar bears (Ursus maritimus), polar (Arctic) fox (Vulpes lagopus), and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), as well as semi-captive studies on sled dogs (Canis familiaris). Regardless, there remains a dearth of data on true contaminant exposure, cause-effect relationships with respect to these contaminant exposures in Arctic wildlife and fish. Indications of exposure effects are largely based on correlations between biomarker endpoints (e.g., biochemical processes related to the immune and endocrine system, pathological changes in tissues and reproduction and development) and tissue residue levels of OHCs (e.g., PCBs, DDTs, CHLs, PBDEs and in a few cases perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs)). Some exceptions include semi-field studies on comparative contaminant effects of control and exposed cohorts of captive Greenland sled dogs, and performance studies mimicking environmentally relevant PCB concentrations in Arctic charr. Recent tissue concentrations in several arctic marine mammal species and populations exceed a general threshold level of concern of 1 part-per-million (ppm), but a clear evidence of a POP/OHC-related stress in these populations remains to be confirmed. There remains minimal evidence that OHCs are having widespread effects on the health of Arctic organisms, with the possible exception of East Greenland and Svalbard polar bears and Svalbard glaucous gulls. However, the true (if any real) effects of POPs in Arctic wildlife have to be put into the context of other environmental, ecological and physiological stressors (both anthropogenic and natural) that render an overall complex picture. For instance, seasonal changes in food intake and corresponding cycles of fattening and emaciation seen in Arctic animals can modify contaminant tissue distribution and toxicokinetics (contaminant deposition, metabolism and depuration). Also, other factors, including impact of climate change (seasonal ice and temperature changes, and connection to food web changes, nutrition, etc. in exposed biota), disease, species invasion and the connection to disease resistance will impact toxicant exposure. Overall, further research and better understanding of POP/OHC impact on animal performance in Arctic biota are recommended. Regardless, it could be argued that Arctic wildlife and fish at the highest potential risk of POP/OHC exposure and mediated effects are East Greenland, Svalbard and (West and South) Hudson Bay polar bears, Alaskan and Northern Norway killer whales, several species of gulls and other seabirds from the Svalbard area, Northern Norway, East Greenland, the Kara Sea and/or the Canadian central high Arctic, East Greenland ringed seal and a few populations of Arctic charr and Greenland shark.     

巴氏消毒法对乙型肝炎人免疫球蛋白病毒灭活效果的验证

目的以伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)、Sindbis病毒和HIV-1为模型病毒,验证巴氏消毒法对乙型肝炎人免疫球蛋白(HBIG)的病毒灭活效果。方法将模型病毒按1:9(v/v)的比例加入HBIG样品中,60℃水浴保温10h,测定病毒滴度,观察病毒灭活效果,并以放射免疫法测定病毒灭活前后样品抗HBsAg效价的变化。结果病毒灭活后,PRV滴度下降超过5LgCCID50/0.1ml,Sindbis病毒滴度下降超过6LgPFU/ml,HIV-1滴度下降超过4LgCCID50/0.1ml;3批HBIG样品的抗HBsAg效价分别降低了6.5%、6.0%和5.8%。结论巴氏消毒法可以对HBIG样品中的模型病毒进行有效灭活。目的以伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)、Sindbis病毒和HIV-1为模型病毒,验证巴氏消毒法对乙型肝炎人免疫球蛋白(HBIG)的病毒灭活效果。方法将模型病毒按1:9(v/v)的比例加入HBIG样品中,60℃水浴保温10h,测定病毒滴度,观察病毒灭活效果,并以放射免疫法测定病毒灭活前后样品抗HBsAg效价的变化。结果病毒灭活后,PRV滴度下降超过5LgCCID50/0.1ml,Sindbis病毒滴度下降超过6LgPFU/ml,HIV-1滴度下降超过4LgCCID50/0.1ml;3批HBIG样品的抗HBsAg效价分别降低了6.5%、6.0%和5.8%。结论巴氏消毒法可以对HBIG样品中的模型病毒进行有效灭活。     

不同实验条件对静注人免疫球蛋白(pH 4)多聚体含量的影响

目的考察不同实验条件对静注人免疫球蛋白(pH 4)多聚体含量的影响及多聚体含量增加对家兔存活状态的影响。方法取静注人免疫球蛋白(pH 4),经干热破坏试验、湿热加速试验、紫外线照射试验、X射线照射试验及冰冻破坏试验,观察不同实验条件对其多聚体含量的影响;并取湿热加速试验和冰冻处理的样品注射家兔,观察多聚体含量增加对家兔存活状态的影响。结果静注人免疫球蛋白(pH 4)的多聚体含量随贮存温度的升高、时间的延长而增加,紫外线、X射线照射及冰冻处理均不影响多聚体含量;多聚体含量愈高,家兔存活状态愈差,多聚体含量达80%以上时,可致家兔死亡。结论高温可显著影响多聚体含量,多聚体含量增加与家兔存活状态呈负相关。     

Separation of Immunoglobulin G from Cheddar Cheese Whey by Avidin-Biotinylated IgY Chromatography

High-purity immunoglobulins (Ig), which may be useful for immunologic supplementation of food products, were isolated from Cheddar cheese whey in a one-step process using avidin-biotinylated yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) column chromatography. Yolk antibodies specific to bovine IgG (IgY_IgG) were biotinylated with biotinyl amido-hexanoic acid-N-hydroxy-sulfo-succinimide ester without any notable effect on antigen-binding activity, and coupled to immobilized avidin columns. The resulting avidin-biotinylated IgY_IgG columns, with binding capacity of 50–55% (w/w percent ratio of IgG to immobilized IgY_IgG), were used for specific binding of IgG from cheese whey. Elution with a commercially available eluent (Actisep) or 0.1 M glycine-HCl buffer at pH 2.8 yielded IgG with purity of 99% by radial immunodiffusion.     

Growth responses of Escherichia coli to immunoglobulin G from cows immunized with ferric citrate receptor, FecA

Effects of purified immunoglobulin (Ig) G from cows immunized with ferric citrate receptor, FecA, on the in vitro growth of Escherichia coli were investigated. Twenty-one cows were assigned to one of 3 treatments: 1) FecA immunization, 2) E. coli J5 bacterin immunization, and 3) unimmunized control. FecA was derived from E. coli UT5600/pSV66. Immunoglobulin G was purified from pooled colostral whey for each treatment group. The IgG from FecA immunized cows had higher titers against FecA compared with other treatment groups. Bacterial isolates tested were 14 E. coli from intramammary infections and E. coli UT5600/pSV66. Iron depletion decreased the growth of E. coli compared with growth in Fe-replete medium. The presence of IgG further decreased the growth compared with the growth under iron restriction alone. Bacterial growth did not differ among IgG sources nor between IgG concentrations. Replenishing media with exogenous iron overrode the inhibitory effects of the Fe-depletion and IgG. Vaccinating cows with FecA had little effect on the growth inhibitory properties of IgG toward E. coli mastitis isolates cultured in Fe-deplete media.     

抗志贺氏菌IgY的提纯及建立间接ELISA检测志贺氏菌

采用水稀释法提纯抗志贺氏菌IgY,检测10mg/mL纯化抗志贺氏菌IgY的效价为1∶320,并以此IgY为基础建立间接ELISA检测志贺氏菌,测定志贺氏菌纯培养液的检出限为105～106cfu/mL。对蜡样芽孢杆菌等10株不同菌株的检测结果表明,该方法对志贺氏菌有明显的检测特异性,对所测定的其它菌株无交叉反应。     

Inhibitory effects of flavonoid glycosides isolated from the peel of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki Fuyu) on antigen-stimulated degranulation in rat basophilic leukaemia RBL-2H3 cells

We found that two distinct flavonoid glycosides isolated from the peel of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki Fuyu), isoquercitrin (Isq) and hyperin (Hyp), are capable of inhibiting antigen-stimulated degranulation in rat basophilic leukaemia RBL-2H3 cells. In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we examined effects of Isq and Hyp on cellular responses induced by antigen stimulation. Treatment with both Isq and Hyp markedly inhibited antigen-stimulated elevation of intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Isq and Hyp did not affect NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity, but they possessed DPPH radical-scavenging activity similar to that of epigallocatechin gallate, a potent anti-oxidant, Finally, Isq and Hyp showed little or no effects on Ag-stimulated Syk activation or phosphorylation of signalling molecules. These results indicate that inhibition of antigen-stimulated degranulation by Isq and Hyp is mainly due to suppression of intracellular Ca²⁺ elevation, which is caused by direct scavenging of ROS that are generated by NOX. Our findings suggest that Isq and Hyp, isolated from the peel of persimmon, would be beneficial for alleviating symptoms of type I allergy.