Analysis Of Surface Antigens Research Articles

Viral hepatitis among Danish oral surgeons

The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of previous clinical hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the prevalence of HBV markers in Danish oral surgeons, to estimate the annual HBV infection rate, and to assess whether the use of hepatitis B vaccine is to be recommended for this group. The total study population comprised 40 individuals occupied with oral surgery. A questionnaire and a request for a blood sample were sent to all dentists employed at the Danish hospitals and the departments of oral surgery at the 2 dental colleges. 36 (90%) answered a questionnaire, whereas only 27 (67.5%) had a blood sample taken for analysis of hepatitis surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs), antibody to hepatitis core antigen (anti-HBcAg), antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV), and serumtransaminases. One had been clinically ill from HBV infection and was positive for anti-HBs. The prevalence rate was thus 3.7% (95% confidence limits: 0.1%–19.0%) and the annual attack rate was 0.3%. The prevalence was not higher than among Danish dentists in general, and they are not considered a high-risk group in Denmark. Even with due statistical consideration to the present small sample, Danish oral surgeons do not seem to belong to a high-risk group like other surgeons in different medical specialities. It is concluded that the use of a hepatitis B vaccine is not recommended at present for this group of dentists.

Simultaneous analysis of cell surface antigens, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and DNA content

A method has been developed for correlating the presence of cell surface markers with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) uptake. We have found that paraformaldehyde fixation will maintain immunofluorescent cell surface staining through acid denaturation that is necessary for anti-BrdUrd reactivity to single-stranded DNA. In addition, the forward angle light scattering was maintained, even though the cells had been exposed to 2N HCl and detergent. The protocol was tested on three model systems: mouse thymus, a human cell line (CCRF-SB), and peripheral blood leukocytes. It was found that there was no specific loss of lymphocyte subsets.

Human mononuclear phagocyte differentiation: a study of the U-937 cell line by ultrastructural cytochemistry and surface antigen analysis.

U-937 represents a well-established permanent human haematopoietic cell line, which exhibits characteristics of the monocyte/macrophage series. U-937 cells were investigated by peroxidase ultrastructural cytochemistry in order to determine the normal developmental stage to which they correspond. This study was performed in non- and TPA-stimulated cells, in conjunction with surface analysis by monoclonal antibodies. It is concluded: (1) peroxidase-positive U-937 cells are monoblasts and promonocytes involved in myeloperoxidase synthesis; (2) TPA-stimulation caricatures transformation of these cells into monocytes but not into resident macrophages, as far as peroxidase cytochemistry is concerned; (3) the reactivity of myeloperoxidase present in the endoplasmic reticulum of synthesizing cells is inhibited by glutaraldehyde fixation.

Phorbol ester induces a differential effect on the effector function of human allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte and natural killer clones.

Six-day allosensitized human peripheral blood lymphocytes treated for 12-18 hr with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) were found to lose the capacity to kill the specific target in a standard cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) assay, but they were still effective in their ability to kill the tumor cell line K562. We investigated which antigens on the cell membrane involved in alloimmune recognition might be modified by PMA, since it was found that in a lectin-dependent CML assay, the lytic mechanism was not impaired. For this purpose, T3+, T4+ allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones and either T3+ or T3- natural killer (NK) clones were generated from 6-day allostimulated lymphocytes. The results indicated that PMA inhibited the cytolytic function of both alloimmune CTL and NK T3+ clones. In contrast, PMA did not modify the effector cell function of T3- NK clones. Phenotypic analysis of T-cell surface antigens from T3+ clones showed that T3 molecule expression on the cell membrane was reduced by 80-90% after PMA treatment, whereas expression of both accessory T4 molecules, involved in antigen recognition, and receptor for interleukin 2 was increased. Moreover, the loss of function was transitory and could be restored 4 days after PMA treatment when the T3 molecules were fully reexpressed at the cell surface. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that (i) PMA prevents cell-mediated cytotoxicity by modulating the disulfide-linked heterodimer associated to T3 and described as the receptor for antigen on the cell surface of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and non-MHC specific CTL clones, without affecting the lytic mechanism per se, and (ii) the expression of the receptor for the antigen present on the tumor cell line K562 is not decreased on T3- NK clones after PMA treatment and must be different from that on T3+ T-cell clones.

Detection of distinct subpopulations of Langerhans cells by flow cytometry and sorting.

Flow cytometry was found to be a very appropriate tool for the study of Langerhans cells (LC), which represent a minor cell population (2-3%) of human epidermis, and allowed us to obtain new phenotypic, functional, and cell cycle data on these rare cells. The phenotypic analysis of cell surface antigens demonstrates the existence of two subpopulations of LC: the former is HLA-DR+ and OKT 6+ (about 90% of total HLA-DR+ cells) and the latter is HLA-DR+ and OKT 6- (about 10% of total HLA-DR+ cells). These subpopulations of LC are both able to stimulate the proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in the presence of keratinocytes i.e., in mixed skin lymphocyte reaction (MSLR). Analysis of the cell cycle could be performed on OKT 6+ LC. Results show that they can be found in the various phases of the cell cycle, suggesting that the large majority of Langerhans cells are able to proliferate in situ in normal human epidermis.

Analysis of a cell surface antigen associated with mammalian implantation: [formula omitted], [formula omitted], and [formula omitted]. Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J. 08854

Analysis of a cell surface antigen associated with mammalian implantation: [formula omitted], [formula omitted], and [formula omitted]. Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J. 08854

Fluorescent microsphere detection of surface antigens and simultaneous cytochemistries in individual hematopoietic cells.

A method for simultaneous analysis of cell surface antigens, cell morphology, and endogenous cytochemical staining on the same hematopoietic cell has been developed. Individual cells in heterogeneous populations can be tested for cell surface antigens using monoclonal antibodies conjugated to fluorescein-containing microspheres and subsequently stained for myeloperoxidase, Sudan black B, chloroacetate esterase, or alpha naphthyl butyrate. This technic, when applied to mixed cell populations such as normal peripheral blood and leukemic bone marrow samples, provides simultaneous analysis of cell surface antigens and specific cytoplasmic cytochemistries within individual cells. Application of this technic may increase the body of knowledge about hematopoiesis by allowing individual cells to be analyzed simultaneously for multiple lineage-associated characteristics.

Isoenzyme studies in human leukemia-lymphoma cells lines—II. Acid phosphatase

This report describes the qualitative acid phosphatase (acP) isoenzyme profiles detected in permanent human hematopoietic cell lines. The acP activity was separated into its isoenzymes by isoelectric focusing on horizontal thin-layer polyacrylamide gels. The pattern of acP isoenzyme was investigated in a total of 86 cell lines. These cell lines were classified into five groups on the basis of their phenotypes characterized in the multiple marker analysis: 74 leukemia-lymphoma cell lines (26 T-, 34 B-, 6 myelomonocytic, 8 Non-T, Non-B cell lines) and 12 so-called ‘normal’ Epstein-Barr virus transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines. Their immunological features had been analysed in detail by use of a large panel of poly- and monoclonal antibodies which led to a further subclassification into stages of differentiation. A progressive increase in number and staining intensity of the isoenzymes which paralleled the expression of surface markers at different stages of differentiation along their developmental pathway was seen in the T- and B-leukemia-lymphoma cell lines. Some cell lines whose isoenzyme profiles did not correspond to the stage of differentiation as evidenced by surface antigen analysis might represent good examples of deranged gene expression in otherwise normally programmed malignant cells, i.e. in our study a mismatch between the isoenzymatic and immunological phenotypes. The tartrate-resistant isoenzyme was detected in 9 out of 74 leukemia-lymphoma cell lines (4 T-, 2 B-, 1 myelomonocytic, 2 Non-T, Non-B cell lines) and in 10 out of 12 normal B-lyphoblastoid cell lines; the only one studied hairy cell leukemia cell line did not express this isoenzyme. The relative specificity of the tartrate-resistant acP is discussed in detail. No leukemia-lymphoma specific isoenzyme or an additional isoenzyme which was not seen in normal hematopoietic cells could be observed. Nor did we find an isoenzyme or isoenzyme pattern characteristic for a certain cell lineage. This underlines the necessity of a combined analysis using markers from different disciplines in the ‘multiple marker analysis’ in order to accurately characterize normal and malignant blood cells. Furthermore, our results support the concept of maturation arrest at particular stages of differentiation together with the theory of normal gene expression in leukemic cells equivalent to that in their normal counterparts.

Somatic cell genetic analysis of human cell surface antigens: chromosomal assignments and regulation of expression in rodent-human hybrid cells.

The expression of 13 newly defined human cell surface antigens identified by monoclonal antibodies was studied in a panel of reduced rodent-human somatic cell hybrid clones. For each antigenic system the segregation of antibody reactivity was concordant with the segregation of a specific human chromosome, permitting the chromosomal assignment of 13 gene loci determining antigen expression. The antigens can be placed in four groups on the basis of their patterns of control in the hybrid cells. (i) Presence of a single human chromosome is necessary and sufficient for antigen expression; L230 (assigned to chromosome 2), AJ425, K15 (chromosome 3), SR84 (chromosome 5), JF23, Q14 (chromosome 11), SV13 (chromosome 15), and F10 (chromosome 19). (ii) AJ2 (chromosome 10) and J143 (chromosome 17); two antigens coded for by separate human chromosomes but associated as a molecular complex on the surface of AJ2+/J143+ human cells. (iii) F8 (chromosome 19); antigen expression dependent on the growth characteristics of hybrid cells: substrate-adherent cells are F8+, whereas cells growing in suspension are F8-. (iv) AO122 and F23 (chromosome 15); antigen expression controlled by the permissive/inducing vs. nonpermissive/noninducing nature of the rodent fusion partner. Hybrids derived from both antigen-positive and antigen-negative human cells can express AO122 and F23 but only when specific rodent cell types are used for hybridization: N4TG-1 neuroblastoma and L cells, but not RAG renal carcinoma cells, permit AO122 expression, whereas RAG and L cells, but not N4TG-1 cells, permit F23 expression. The rapidly expanding list of monoclonal antibodies defining human cell surface molecules provides a range of markers to probe the genetic regulation of antigen diversity in somatic cells.

Preparation of monoclonal antibody-ferritin conjugates of high specific activity.

125I-monoclonal IgG anti-gamma chain antibodies were conjugated to ferritin using glutaraldehyde as a bifunctional reagent. The molar ratio of IgG:ferritin:glutaraldehyde resulting in the highest yield was determined. Free IgG was separated from IgG bound to ferritin by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation; free ferritin was separated from antibody-ferritin conjugates by differential salt precipitation. The IgF:ferritin molar ratio of the resulting product was 1:1.4, containing over 90% ferritin-IgG "monomers"; 70-90% of the 125I activity bound immunospecifically to sepharose-IgG or aggregated human globulin (AHG). The product was used as an immunologic EM marker for AHG. Monoclonal antibody-ferritin conjugates prepared by this method should prove useful for quantitative ultrastructural analysis of surface antigens.

Basement membrane and apocrine epithelial antigens in differential diagnosis between tubular carcinoma and sclerosing adenosis of the breast.

The distributions of defined basement membrane proteins in nine pure tubular carcinomas, 10 cases of sclerosing adenosis, and 15 ductal adenocarcinomas were compared. Sections of formalin fixed, paraffin embedded specimens were pretreated with pepsin and then immunostained for laminin, type IV collagen, and basement membrane proteoglycan, components specific for basement membranes. In sclerosing adenosis the tubules were surrounded by a continuous intact basement membrane composed of laminin, type IV collagen, and basement membrane proteoglycan, while the epithelium in the tubular carcinomas was negative for these proteins. The tumours were also analysed for the distribution of the apocrine epithelial antigen (AEA). In contrast to the benign lesions the tubular carcinomas expressed the AEA in a distinct non-polar fashion throughout the cell surface. In normal ducts and in adenosis the AEA was confined exclusively to the luminal surface. These studies suggest that there is a disturbance of cell polarity in tubular carcinomas. It is concluded that a combined analysis of basement membrane proteins and luminal surface antigens is a reliable and convenient way to differentiate between tubular carcinoma and sclerosing adenosis of the breast.

Antigenic analysis of woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen with site-specific radioimmunoassays.

Monoclonal antibodies to five nonoverlapping antigenic domains of woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen (WHsAg) were used to develop site-specific radioimmunoassays. The assays were based on the solid-phase sandwich principle in which different combinations of individual domain-specific antibodies were used as immunoadsorbents and radioiodinated probes. Over 85% of the combinations tested were able to detect serum WHsAg, including those using the same antibody as immunoadsorbent and probe. The limits for antigen detection in one site-specific system ranged between 16 and 80 ng of WHsAg per ml. The antigenic similarity of serum WHsAg from 13 colony woodchucks was shown with several combination assay systems. WHsAg was equally immunoreactive in these assay systems whether obtained by immunoaffinity chromatography or standard rate zone centrifugation methods. Further site-specific analysis demonstrated that Formalin treatment of purified antigen did not affect the immunoreactivity of these WHsAg sites.

Characterization of new non-T, non-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines: Analysis of surface antigens by quantitative cellular radioimmunoassay and flow cytometry

Two novel acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines, HOON and HYON, have been established from patients with non-T, non-B ALL. The cell lines have been characterized and shown to express phenotypic markers of non-T, non-B ALL. By indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry they express Ia and common ALL (CALLA) antigens and are reactive with monoclonal antibodies BA-1, BA-2 and OKT-9. However, the cells do not express detectable amounts of B1 antigen or of cytoplasmic μ chain, which are markers of pre-B cells. Quantitation of Ia and CALLA antigens on HOON and HYON cell lines using a cellular radioimmunoassay revealed that both cells bind high levels of anti-Ia antibodies, 110 × 10 4 molecules per cell, and low levels of anti-CALLA antibodies 7 × 10 4 molecules per cell. Although both HOON and HYON carry equivalent amounts of Ia on their surface, only the former is a good stimulator of the one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction.

Ultrastructural immunogold labelling of human Langerhans cells enriched epidermal cell suspension.

Colloidal gold particles are well suited as markers in electron microscopy. Indirect immunogold staining was used to identify cell membrane antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies OKT6 and BL6 on human Langerhans cells (LC) in suspensions. Isolated epidermal cells were obtained by skin trypsinization and enriched or depleted in OKT6 positive on BL6 positive LC using the panning method: incubation of OKT6 or BL6 preincubated cells on immunoglobulin coated dishes. Indirect immunogold staining was then performed after prefixation in 2% paraformaldehyde. In LC enriched suspensions, only LC exhibited a specific membrane labelling with OKT6 or BL6 recognized by the presence of small evently distributed gold granules. Neither Birbeck granules, nor other cytoplasmic organelles, were labelled. No other epidermal cells were found positive. In LC depleted suspensions, no labelling was observed. Immunogold labelling on LC enriched suspensions after panning is now in progress for the qualitative evaluation and the quantitative analysis of cell surface constituents and antigens expressed by human dendritic epidermal cells.

Phenotypic Analysis of New World Primate Mononuclear Cell Surface Antigens

We have applied a panel of monoclonal antibodies against antigens present on the surface of human mononuclear cells to the study of mononuclear cell surface antigens expressed by seven species of New World primates. Antibodies to the sheep erythrocyte receptor (OKT11a) to a thymocyte antigen (OKT10), to the I region of the major histocompatibility locus (OKIa), and to an antigen found on the surface of human monocytes (OKM1) cross-reacted with mononuclear cell surface antigens of most of the species studied. Antibodies to antigens which have been correlated with functional capabilities in the human system (OKT4, OKT5, OKT8, 3A1) were much less reactive with platyrrhine mononuclear cells. These reagents may be quite useful in studies of primate phylogeny and immunology.

Serological analysis of cell surface antigens of HL-60 cells before and after treatment with a phorbol ester tumor promoter

The human HL-60 cell line derived from acute promyelocytic leukemia, consisting of promyelocytic type of cells, was able to differentiate into adherent cells with monocyte-macrophage features by the treatment with 12- O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Cell surface antigens of HL-60 cells before and after TPA treatment were studied with monoclonal antibodies and four hybridoma clones producing IgM antibodies were established. Two antibodies (HL-21 and HL-47) reacted only with the immunizing TPA-treated HL-60 cells, and HL-1 antibody produced against untreated cells was reactive with both TPA-treated and untreated cells, but HL-5 antibody reacted predominantly with the immunizing untreated cells. Serological reactivity against various types of normal hematopoietic cells and acute leukemias (diagnosed by the French-American-British classification) was studied by immune adherence assay and immuno-electron microscopy. HL-21 antibody was reactive with monocytes and most cases of M4 and M5 types of acute non-lymphocytic leukemia cells. HL-47 antibody did not react with the cells of myelocyte-monocyte lineage or mature lymphocytes, but it did react with one-third of acute lymphocytic leukemia (L1 and L2) cases. Since all HL-47 + cases were included in the group of common ALL antigen positive cases, it was estimated that HL-47 is a differentiation antigen present on lymphocyte precursors, from which null-cell type acute lymphocytic leukemia cells generally originate. HL-1 antibody reacted with the cells of myelocyte-monocyte lineage as well as those of most acute non-lymphocytic leukemias. HL-5 antibody reacted with granulocytes and M2 type of acute myelocytic leukemia cases, and also with M5 type of acute monocytic leukemia cases. Serological studies of these antibodies revealed that TPA can induce to differentiate HL-60 cells not only into HL-21 + macrophage-like cells, but also into HL-47 + lymphoid stem cells. In addition, these antibodies were demonstrated to be very valuable for differential diagnosis of acute leukemias.

Immunoelectron microscopic analysis of polysaccharide and protein surface antigens in wild strains of group B streptococci

The ultrastructural location of the group polysaccharide, the type-specific polysaccharides and the protein antigens Ibc, R and X of freshly isolated strains of group B streptococci was studied by the direct immunoferritin technique. The results were compared with the findings in prototype strains representing the serological types of Streptococcus agalactiae. In some strains the group antigen was demonstrated over the entire cell surface, but in strains with a large type polysaccharide capsule labelling was confined to the equatorial zone of the cells. If the type polysaccharide was released by extraction, however, the group antigen of these strains was uncovered over the whole surface of the cell. The type polysaccharide capsule was not demonstrated by the conventional electron microscopic technique, but it was visualized after reacting with the homologous type-specific antibody. The extent and density of the polysaccharide capsule were found to differ in strains with the same type antigen. The type polysaccharide did not block demonstration of the simultaneous presence of protein antigens, implying that the two are arranged mosaic-wise inside the capsule.

Cultures of purified human natural killer cells: Growth in the presence of interleukin 2

We have isolated highly enriched populations of LGL, which are virtually devoid of mature typical lymphocytes (as enumerated by morphological and surface antigen analysis using monoclonal antibodies e.g., OKT3) in comparison to T cells which contain greater than 95% sheep erythrocyte-forming cells and are devoid of LGL and NK K activities. Both types of cells grew in the presence of crude or partially purified IL-2. Cultures of LGL could be initiated consistently even in the absence of lectins and the cultured LGL retained their characteristic morphology and cytotoxic activity. However, within 7–10 days after initiation, the cultured LGL changed in surface phenotype to become antigenically indistinguishable from cultured T cells.

Serological analysis of cell surface antigens of null cell acute lymphocytic leukemia by mouse monoclonal antibodies.

Nine antigens systems were defined. Two were related to HLA-A,B,C and to Ia-like antigens; the others could be grouped into three categories. (i) NL-22, NL-1: NL-22 antibody reacted with leukemia cells from 12 to 16 cases of null cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (null-ALL) but not with any other type of leukemia tested or with lymphoid cells of various origins. Among cultured cell lines tested, one (NALM-6) of three null-ALL cell lines was positive, the others were negative. Absorption analysis confirmed the restriction of NL-22 antigen to null-ALL. NL-1 antibody was reactive with leukemia cells from 10 to 16 cases of null-ALL and 3 of 6 cases of chronic myelocytic leukemia in blastic crisis (CML-BC). The antigen was present also on a minor population of normal lymphoid cells. The distribution and molecular weight (100,000; glycoprotein) of the NL-1 antigen resembled that of the previously described common ALL antigen (cALL). (ii) NL-30, NL-4: Both antibodies exhibited almost identical patterns of reactivities against cultured cell lines tested. They reacted with leukemia cells from some cases of null-ALL, adult T-cell leukemia, and CML-BC, although they showed discordance in their reactivities against a panel of leukemia cells, (iii) NL-9, NL-8, NL-25: These three antibodies detect serologically distinguishable determinants on a broad range of leukemias and normal lymphoid and hematopoietic cell types. The antibodies analyzed in this study provide evidence for the heterogeneity of null-ALL by demonstrating a variety of antigen phenotypes on leukemia cells. One of the antigens (NL-22) appears to be restricted to null-ALL.

Identification and analysis of parasite surface antigens and parasite-induced antigens on host cells

In this review a rational approach is presented toward the analysis of parasite surface antigens as they are relevant to problems of vaccination and strain variation. Techniques are described for the identification of surface proteins by radiochemical and immunological methods and the subsequent purification of these molecules. Examples are given where purified parasite surface antigens have been analyzed by radioimmunoassay and by other protein structural techniques to determine whether the antigens vary between different parasite isolates.