Basis Of Specificity Studies Research Articles

MMP-9/Gelatinase B Degrades Immune Complexes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a common and devastating autoimmune disease, characterized by a dysregulated adaptive immune response against intracellular antigens, which involves both autoreactive T and B cells. In SLE, mainly intracellular autoantigens generate autoantibodies and these assemble into immune complexes and activate the classical pathway of the complement system enhancing inflammation. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels have been investigated in the serum of SLE patients and in control subjects. On the basis of specific studies, it has been suggested to treat SLE patients with MMP inhibitors. However, some of these inhibitors induce SLE. Analysis of LPR−/−MMP-9−/− double knockout mice suggested that MMP-9 plays a protective role in autoantigen clearance in SLE, but the effects of MMP-9 on immune complexes remained elusive. Therefore, we studied the role of MMP-9 in the clearance of autoantigens, autoantibodies and immune complexes and demonstrated that the lack of MMP-9 increased the levels of immune complexes in plasma and local complement activation in spleen and kidney in the LPR−/− mouse model of SLE. In addition, we showed that MMP-9 dissolved immune complexes from plasma of lupus-prone LPR−/−/MMP-9−/− mice and from blood samples of SLE patients. Surprisingly, autoantigens incorporated into immune complexes, but not immunoglobulin heavy or light chains, were cleaved by MMP-9. We discovered Apolipoprotein-B 100 as a new substrate of MMP-9 by analyzing the degradation of immune complexes from human plasma samples. These data are relevant to understand lupus immunopathology and side-effects observed with the use of known drugs. Moreover, we caution against the use of MMP inhibitors for the treatment of SLE.

Two‐dimensional liquid chromatography and its application in traditional Chinese medicine analysis and metabonomic investigation

Two-dimensional liquid chromatography has become an attractive analytical tool for the separation of complex samples due to its enhanced selectivity, peak capacity, and resolution compared with one-dimensional liquid chromatography. Recently, more attention has been drawn on the application of this separation technique in studies concerning traditional Chinese medicines, metabonomes, proteomes, and other complex mixtures. In this review, we aim to examine the application of two-dimensional liquid chromatography in traditional Chinese medicine analysis and metabonomic investigation. The classification and evaluation indexes were first introduced. Then, various switching methods were summarized when used in an on-line two-dimensional liquid chromatography system. Finally, the applications of this separation technique in traditional Chinese medicine analysis and metabonomic investigation were discussed on the basis of specific studies.

The use of 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes to study competition between ruminal fibrolytic bacteria: development of probes for Ruminococcus species and evidence for bacteriocin production.

A total of six oligonucleotide probes, complementary to the 16S rRNA, were evaluated for quantitative and determinative studies of Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. On the basis of specificity studies, probes for R. albus (probe RAL196) and R. flavefaciens (probe RFL196) were selected to quantitate these species in mixed culture. In combination with a Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 subspecies probe (SUB1) and a domain Bacteria (formerly kingdom Eubacteria) probe (EUB338), they were used to quantitate these species competing in mixed cultures for cellobiose as the carbon source. In dicultures containing R. albus 8 and F. succinogenes S85, competition was not observed. However, R. flavefaciens FD-1 eventually outcompeted F. succinogenes S85 when cellobiose was the substrate. When R. albus 8 and R. flavefaciens FD-1 were grown together on cellobiose medium, R. albus 8 outcompeted R. flavefaciens FD-1, resulting in undetectable R. flavefaciens 16S rRNA only 1 to 3 h after inoculation, suggesting production of an antagonistic compound by R. albus 8 during rapid growth on soluble substrates. Further, when R. albus 8, R. flavefaciens FD-1, and F. succinogenes S85 were grown together in a triculture, R. flavefaciens FD-1 16S rRNA was detectable for only 2 h after inoculation, while R. albus 8 and F. succinogenes S85 showed a similar competition pattern to that of the dicultures. The results show that the Ruminococcus probes were effective in the measurement of relative populations of selected R. albus and R. flavefaciens strains during in vitro competition studies with F. succinogenes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Water balance and general circulation parameters deduced from operational satellites: The example of tropical Africa

The capabilities and deficiencies of the present system of operational satellites for retrieving energy and water balance parameters in the tropics are stressed on the basis of specific studies about the African climate performed in LMD : these studies concern the atmospheric phase of the cycle, and specifically convective systems, precipitations, winds and general circulation. It is shown that some improvements can still be made in the processing of existing data, but that more quantitative studies of such important processes as relationships between precipitations, latent heat release and tropical circulations, or cloud-radiation interactions, would require more dedicated space missions, with appropriate instrument groupings.

Highly migratory species and the coordination of fishery policies within certain exclusive economic zones: The South Pacific

Abstract The paper deals with highly migratory species of fish and the coordination of fishery policies within certain Exclusive Economic Zones of the South Pacific Region. The main biological characteristics of highly migratory fishes present in the Region and particularly in the eastern South Pacific are discussed. Highly migratory species fisheries of Ecuador, Peru, and particularly Chile are discussed. The conflictive aspects of highly migratory species and future management problems are pointed out. The need for fishery policies coordination and interregional links are stressed. It is proposed that the coordination of national jurisdiction policies within the Region, in connection with highly migratory fishes, with the goals of mutual advantage and efficiency, could prove to be the most suitable set-up from the point of view of international relations as well as biological and economic considerations. Coordination within the South Pacific Region (eastern and southwestern portions) could be initiated on the basis of specific studies and exchange of information.