Trinitrophenylated Bovine Serum Albumin Research Articles

Purification, quantification, and functional analysis of Complement Factor H.

Complement Factor H (FH) is an abundant, non-enzymic plasma/serum glycoprotein, which has a major role in regulating activation of the complement system. It can be purified from human plasma/serum by affinity chromatography, using a monoclonal anti-FH antibody as ligand. Other affinity chromatography ligands, including cardiolipin and trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA), can be used to purify human FH and also FH from a wide range of vertebrates, including mammals, birds, bony fish. Human FH protein concentration can be quantified by sandwich ELISA. The activity of FH is generally measured by assays which detect the cleavage, by complement factor I, of the complement protein C3b to form iC3b. Cleavage occurs only in the presence of a cofactor, and FH is one of a small number of cofactors for this reaction.

Basophils and mast cells play critical roles for leukocyte recruitment in IgE-mediated cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction

The pathogenic role of IgE has been implicated in a variety of allergic and inflammatory diseases. We have previously established an IgE-mediated cutaneous reverse passive Arthus model in which eosinophil infiltration is a prominent feature. This uniquely provides a model of type III hypersensitivity in which Fc classes of Ig that forms immune complex differentially determine the disease manifestation. To investigate the mechanisms of how mast cells and basophils regulate this IgE-mediated Arthus reaction. IgE-mediated cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction was induced in wild-type C57BL/6 or WBB6F1-+/+ mice and mast-cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/W(v) mice by intradermal injection of IgE anti-trinitrophenyl antibodies followed immediately by intravenous administration of trinitrophenyl bovine serum albumin. Basophils were depleted in vivo using anti-CD200R3 monoclonal antibody prior to the IC challenge. Hemorrhage and infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, and basophils were significantly reduced but were not completely abrogated in WBB6F1-W/W(v) mice compared with those in wild-type WBB6F1-+/+ mice. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice treated by basophil-depleting mAb also showed significantly decreased hemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration, especially that of eosinophils, compared with control mice. Furthermore, basophil depletion in WBB6F1-W/W(v) mice led to nearly complete inhibition of eosinophil recruitment. By contrast, basophil depletion did not further decrease neutrophil infiltration in WBB6F1-W/W(v) mice. While mast cells play a central role, basophils also have an important function, especially for eosinophil recruitment, in IgE-mediated cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction.

Maternal transfer and protective role of antibodies in zebrafish Danio rerio

Maternal transfer of antibodies from mother to eggs has been reported in various species of fishes, and these antibodies have been proposed to play immune roles in developing embryos and larvae. However, firm evidence supporting this remains lacking. In this study, we clearly demonstrated that immunization of female zebrafish with the hapten–carrier complex, trinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA), induced a significant increase in anti-TNP antibody production in the mothers, which in turn induced a marked increase in anti-TNP antibody level in their eggs. Microinjection of anti-zebrafish IgM antibody into early embryos (to neutralize endogenous antibody action) resulted in a remarkable decrease in the resistance of recipient embryos to pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila, whereas injection of BSA or anti-β-actin monoclonal antibody into the same stage embryos had little effect on their resistance to the pathogen. Moreover, the content of endogenous antibodies in eggs was clearly correlated with their antibacterial activity against A. hydrophila. This is the first report showing that maternally transferred antibodies in fish can protect early embyros/larvae from the attack of pathogens like A. hydrophila.

Establishment of Experimental Eosinophilic Vasculitis by IgE-Mediated Cutaneous Reverse Passive Arthus Reaction

Prominent eosinophil infiltration is a characteristic of some forms of vasculitis, such as Churg-Strauss syndrome, also known as allergic granulomatous vasculitis. In the current study, we established a mouse model of cutaneous eosinophilic vasculitis by the cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction using IgE injection instead of IgG. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were injected with IgE anti-trinitrophenyl antibodies, followed immediately by intravenous administration of trinitrophenyl bovine serum albumin. IgE-mediated immune complex challenge induced substantial hemorrhage with marked infiltration of eosinophils in which neutrophils, mast cells, and macrophages were also mixed. This finding contrasted remarkably with the neutrophil-dominant infiltration pattern in IgG-mediated immune complex challenge. In the lesion, the expression level of monocyte chemotactic protein-3 was increased, and anti-monocyte chemotactic protein-3 treatment resulted in a significant but incomplete blockade of eosinophil recruitment. Furthermore, mice lacking E-selectin, P-selectin, L-selectin, or intercellular adhesion molecule-1, as well as wild-type mice that received anti-vascular cell adhesion molecule-1-blocking antibodies were assessed for the IgE-mediated Arthus reaction. After 24 hours, the loss of P-selectin resulted in a significant reduction in eosinophil accumulation compared with both wild-type mice and other mouse mutants. Collectively, the Fc class of immunoglobulins, which forms these immune complexes, critically determines the disease manifestation of vasculitis. The IgE-mediated cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction may serve as an experimental model for cutaneous eosinophilic infiltration in vasculitis as well as in other diseases.

Maternal transfer of antibodies to eggs in Xenopus laevis

The immune system of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, includes nearly the full repertoire of lymphoid organs and immune cell types found in mammals. In contrast to the mammalian immune system, the development of the amphibian immune system occurs in the open environment. Oviparity necessitates a rapid ontogeny of the immune system. X. laevis larvae become immunocompetent about 2 weeks after fertilization of the egg. During this 2-week window, larvae cannot mount an adaptive immune response to potential pathogens and presumably must depend on innate responses. In the present study, the possibility of maternal transfer of antibodies to eggs was examined. Adult female X. laevis were injected three times at weekly intervals with the hapten–carrier complex, trinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA). The sera of immunized frogs demonstrated antibody activity to BSA, TNP-BSA, and, importantly, trinitrophenylated ovalbumin (TNP-OVA) when examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reactivity to TNP-OVA confirmed that antibodies were produced against TNP. The adult female frogs were induced to lay eggs by injection of human chorionic gonadotropin. Next, membrane-free extracts of the eggs were treated with protease inhibitors in order to prevent proteolysis of proteins found in the eggs. On analysis by ELISA, it was found that TNP-specific antibodies were present in the egg extracts. This demonstrated the transfer of antigen-specific antibodies from adult females to eggs in X. laevis.

Aging reduces the primary humoral response and the in vitro cytokine production in mice

Aging is accompanied by a decrease in several physiological functions that make older individuals less responsive to environmental challenges. In the present study, we analyzed the immune response of female BALB/c mice (N = 6) of different ages (from 2 to 96 weeks) and identified significant age-related alterations. Immunization with hapten-protein (trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin) conjugates resulted in lower antibody levels in the primary and secondary responses of old mice (72 weeks old). Moreover, young mice (2, 16, and 32 weeks old) maintained specific antibodies in their sera for longer periods after primary immunization than did old mice. However, a secondary challenge efficiently induced memory in old mice, as shown by the increased antibody levels in their sera. The number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleen increased until 8 weeks of age but there was no change in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio with aging. Splenic T cells from old mice that had or had not been immunized were less responsive to concanavalin-A and showed reduced cytokine production compared to young mice (IL-2: 57-127 vs 367-1104 pg/mL, IFN-gamma: 2344-12,836 vs 752-23,106 pg/mL and IL-10: 393-2172 vs 105-2869 pg/mL in old and young mice, respectively). These data suggest that there are significant changes in the organization of the immune system throughout life. However, the relevance of these alterations for the functioning of the immune system is unknown.

Phenotypic and immunoregulatory characteristics of monocytic iris cells

The introduction of antigen into the anterior chamber of an eye induces the antigen-specific suppression of cell-mediated immunity and the antigen-induced production of immunoglobulin G2 antibodies. To define further the role of iris monocytic cells in the systemic suppression of cell-mediated immunity that follows the entry of foreign antigen into the anterior chamber, murine iris wholemounts or cell suspensions of iris cells were stained with fluorescent anti-F4/80 and/or anti-CD11c, anti-CD11b antibodies and examined by confocal microscopy or flow cytometry, respectively. Monocytic cells in iris cell suspensions were recovered from mice receiving an injection of trinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA) into an anterior chamber and Percoll-enriched iris cells separated into cells expressing F4/80 or CD11c were injected intravenously into TNP-BSA-immunized or naive recipients. The recipients were challenged to induce delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) or were provided with splenocytes or thymocytes that transfer the suppression of DTH. The homing of monocytic bone marrow cells to the iris was determined by the intravenous injection of bone marrow cells from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic donors into C57 mice, and the staining of recipient iris wholemounts with anti-F4/80 antibodies. Iris cells with a dendritic morphology expressing both F4/80 and/or CD11c and CD11b, some cells expressing only F4/80 or CD11c, were detected. The irides of irradiated GFP- mice that received intravenous GFP+ bone marrow cells contained GFP+ F4/80+ cells. F4/80+ and CD11c+ cells from the irides of donors that received intracameral TNP-BSA transferred the suppression of DTH when injected intravenously into TNP-BSA-immunized recipients, activated immunoregulatory thymocytes and activated antigen-specific splenic regulatory effector cells. These results support the hypothesis that iris monocytic cells may participate in the systemic induction of regulatory T cells.

Triptolide, an active component of the Chinese herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, inhibits production of nitric oxide by decreasing inducible nitric oxide synthase gene transcription.

The ethyl acetate (EA) extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF) and its major active component, triptolide, have been reported to be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Nitric oxide (NO) has been recognized as an important mediator of inflammation. This study was therefore undertaken to examine the effects of the EA extract and triptolide on the production of NO and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) gene expression and transcription in vivo and in vitro. Peritoneal macrophages from C57BL/6J mice treated orally with the EA extract of TWHF were assayed for NO production and iNOS messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The murine fibroblast cell line NIH3T3 was also assessed for NO production and iNOS mRNA expression, as well as for iNOS promoter activation, Oct-1 nuclear binding capacity, and Oct-1 protein content by transient transfection, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and immunoblotting, respectively. NO production and iNOS mRNA expression by macrophages from C57BL/6J mice immunized with trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin in Freund's complete adjuvant were significantly inhibited by oral administration of the EA extract (52.3% and 59.8% of control, respectively, at one-eighth of the dose that is lethal for 50% of the animals [LD(50)] and 21.0% and 38.1% of control, respectively, at one-fourth the LD(50)). Moreover, the EA extract and triptolide significantly inhibited NO production in vitro in activated peritoneal macrophages, which reflected a decreased level of iNOS mRNA. Finally, triptolide inhibited promoter activity of the iNOS gene and induction of the activity of the regulator of iNOS transcription, Oct-1. The EA extract of TWHF and triptolide inhibit transcription of the iNOS gene. This may contribute to the antiinflammatory effects of this traditional herbal remedy.

Immunoglobulin double isotype-producing hybridomas isolated from an autoimmune (NZB x NZW)F1 mouse.

In the sera of (NZB x NZW)F1 (B/W) mice that develop a lupus-like syndrome, increased levels of IgG antibodies (Ab) reacting with TNP have been detected before the appearance of IgG anti-DNA Ab and clinical symptoms. A single injection of trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin (TNP/BSA) in physiological saline into a young B/W mouse (3 months old), followed by fusion of its splenocytes 3 days later, gave rise to hybridomas simultaneously secreting IgM and IgG Ab with anti-TNP reactivity. Both mu and gamma chains were detected in culture supernatants by ELISA, and double isotype-producing cells were labeled by immunofluorescence. Molecular analysis of two of these double isotype-producing hybridomas showed the presence of mRNA coding for both mu and gamma chains of Ig, and this gamma mRNA could be translated in vitro into a gamma heavy (H) chain. Comparison of the H chain variable-region sequences of IgM and IgG revealed 100% homology between mu and gamma V(H) genes in one clone, while mu and gamma V(H) genes showed only 80% homology in the other clone. Both clones produced a single kappa light (L) chain. These two hybridomas, isolated from a B/W mouse, thus represent two different mechanisms of double isotype expression: the first one corresponds to an IgM to IgG switch, while the second one reflects a lack of allelic exclusion.

Immunoglobulin E receptor-activated calcium conductance in rat mast cells.

1. The nystatin perforated-patch method was used to record macroscopic currents from anti-trinitrophenyl (TNP) immunoglobulin E (IgE)-sensitized rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL-2H3) cells at 37 degrees C. 2. An inwardly rectifying Ca2+ current (ICa) was activated upon stimulation with the multivalent antigen trinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA). Induction of ICa was not observed at room temperature. ICa was reversed and reinduced upon cyclical addition of the monovalent hapten dinitrophenyl (DNP)-lysine and multivalent antigen, indicating that a specific interaction of antigen with IgE was required to elicit ICa. 3. The antigen-induced current was also carried by Ba2+ or Sr2+, and to a lesser extent by Na+, in the nominal absence of Ca2+. ICa did not exhibit time-dependent opening (< or = 1 ms) in response to hyperpolarizing voltage steps to -100 mV, although it did accumulate steady-state inactivation of approximately 40-50% over 100 ms. 4. Two inorganic blockers of antigen-stimulated 45Ca2+ influx and secretion, La3+ and Zn2+, inhibited ICa by approximately 50% at concentrations known to produce 50% block of 45Ca2+ influx. In contrast, cromolyn sodium (0.5 mM) and the L-type Ca2+ channel antagonist nitrendipine (5 microM) had no effect on ICa. 5. ICa also was induced by the intracellular Ca2+ mobilizer thapsigargin. Because the actions of thapsigargin and antigen were not additive, IgE receptor cross-linkage appears to activate the recently described capacitative Ca2+ entry channels.

Production of auto-anti-idiotypic antibody during the normal immune response: XII. Enhanced auto-anti-idiotypic antibody production as a mechanism for apparent B-cell tolerance in rabbits after feeding antigen

Rabbits fed trinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA) generated fewer anti-TNP plaque-forming cells but greater numbers of hapten (TNP)-augmentable IgM and IgG PFC following immunization with TNP-Ficoll or TNP- Brucella abortus than did animals not previously fed antigen. Spleen and mesenteric and bronchial lymph nodes were similarly affected. In addition more auto-anti-idiotype (Id) antibody (anti-anti-TNP) was eluted by hapten from spleen cells of antigen-fed rabbits than from spleen cells of control rabbits not prefed antigen. Gel filtration studies ruled out the possibility that the Id binding activity in the eluates was due to immune complexes. The isotype of the anti-Id was IgG except in one rabbit where it was IgM. The results are consistent with the interpretation that the production of auto-anti-Id antibody is one of the factors responsible for the specific depression of the IgM and IgG immune responses which follows antigen feeding. In contrast the antigen feeding resulted in priming for an IgA anti-TNP response without detectable hapten-augmentable IgA PFC.

Alterations in production of immunoglobulin classes and subclasses during experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

The spleens of mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi were tested for their contents of cells producing IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 specific for the trinitrophenyl hapten after immunization with trinitrophenyl-Ficoll and trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin at various times during the acute and chronic phases of the disease. Reduced splenic contents of all of these cells was the characteristic of the acute period, and a return to normal levels occurred during the chronic stage. However, the density of IgG2a- and IgG2b-producing plaque-forming cells in the spleen was not restored to normality until 130 days postinfection, i.e., long after the chronic phase had been attained, reflecting a diluting effect of splenomegaly on cells that produce immunoglobulin isotypes known to be cytotoxic for the blood form of the parasite.

Genetic control of the number and avidity of antigen-binding B lymphocytes in the mouse spleen

The content (per 10 nucleated cells) and avidity curves of IgM positive B-lymphocytes forming rosettes with trinitrophenyl-sheep erythrocytes (TNP-RFC) were compared in two mouse lines (BALB/c C57BL/6), F1 hybrids (BALB /c X C57BL/6) and backcross hybrids (F1 X BALB/c, F1 X C57BL/6). Trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin (TNP24BSA) and dinitrophenyl-bonvine serum albumin (DNP23BSA) and sulfanil-BSA (Sulf17-BSA) in different dilutions were used as inhibitors. BALB/c spleen contained by 60% more TNP-RFC than C576/6 spleen. F1 hybrids (F1 X BALB/c) contained on the average by 35% more TNP-RFC than (F1 X C57BL/6). Inhibition curves (avidity curves) were essentially different in the two mouse lines and F1 hybrids. A conclusion was drawn that the TNP-REC content and avidity were under a strong genetic control. Together with the assumption of random expression of V-genes (idiotype genes?) in the lymphocytes the above data suggest that the simplest mechanism of the genetic control could be a definitive ratio between the corresponding groups of V-genes.

Antigen Stimulation of 3H Thymidine Incorporation by Subpopulations of Human Peripheral Blood Cells

Abstract Using human peripheral blood lymphocytes at various stages of purification we have re-examined the question of whether foreign proteins and hapten-protein conjugates to which the cell donor has no known previous immunization can stimulate in vitro 3H thymidine incorporation. Responses were examined in dextran-sedimented mixed leukocytes, purified lymphocytes isolated by isopycnic centrifugation in a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient (FH cells), and FH cells that had been further purified by passage through a short nylon wool column (nylon purified cells). The dextran sedimented, FH, and nylon purified cells were cultured in autologous serum with various antigens for 5 days and the increase in 3H thymidine incorporation was measured. In mixed leukocytes and FH cells all of the antigens examined (bovine serum albumin, bovine γ-globulin, Candida albicans, histoplasmin, trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin, dinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin, and fluorescein-bovine γ-globulin) produced a significant increase in 3H thymidine uptake. Appropriate controls indicated that the response could not be ascribed to endotoxin. Serum protein and fungal antigens stimulated nylon purified cells as well or better than the leukocyte or FH populations. Contrariwise, the three hapten-protein conjugates inhibited 3H thymidine incorporation by nylon-purified cells. Although there are several alternate possibilities, we favor the interpretation that the in vitro response to serum protein and fungal antigens represents a secondary immune phenomenon in which few if any monocytes are required, whereas stimulation by hapten-protein conjugates involves a primary immune (monocyte dependent) response. However, the possibility that the hapten-protein stimulation is a secondary response involving cells sensitized to cross-reacting antigens is by no means excluded. The inhibition of nylon-purified cells by hapten-protein conjugates may conceivably represent an in vitro correlate of tolerance.