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Serum Antibodies (serum + antibody)
Terms modified by Serum Antibodies Selected AbstractsSerum IgG reactivity to subgingival bacteria in initial periodontitis, gingivitis and healthy subjectsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 7 2000A. C. R. Tanner Abstract Background/aims: Established periodontal diseases may be associated with antibody responses to periodontal pathogens, but it is not known at which stage of disease this antibody response is initiated. This study aimed to characterize the host systemic response in initial periodontitis, gingivitis, and periodontal health, to evaluate whether elevated serum antibodies to subgingival species could be detected in initial periodontitis. Method: Human systemic immune response were evaluated to 40 subgingival bacterial species in 16 healthy, 21 gingivitis, 11 initial periodontitis and 5 progressing recession adults. Subjects had minimal periodontal attachment level (AL) loss at baseline. Disease categories were determined after 12 months monitoring at three-month intervals. Increased AL loss 1.5 mm (disease activity) at interproximal sites defined initial periodontitis, recession was characterized by AL loss at buccal sites. Serum IgG antibodies were evaluated semi-quantitatively by immunoblot from blood taken at baseline, active and final visits. Results: No antibody was detected from 55% of reactions. When detected, levels were below those reported for advanced periodontitis subjects. There were no major differences in serum antibody levels between healthy, gingivitis and initial periodontitis subjects, despite differences in the subgingival microbiota. Serum antibodies for more species were detected in recession subjects, compared with the other study subjects. No changes in antibody levels were detected between baseline, active, and final visits. No systematic association between species colonization and presence of systemic antibody was observed. Conclusions: This study did not detect differential elevation of mean serum antibody levels in initial periodontitis subjects, suggesting that serum antibody levels are not sensitive risk markers for initial periodontitis. [source] Cytokine responses in a severe case of glandular fever treated successfully with foscarnet combined with prednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulinJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 1 2009Christine Ma Abstract Viral loads and cytokine responses Epstein,Barr virus (EBV) were measured in an 18-year-old boy with severe glandular fever complicated by a mild anaemia, severe thrombocytopaenia and neutropaenia. Hepatosplenomegaly was detected by abdominal ultrasound in the presence of significant hepatitis. Cytokine testing demonstrated elevated cell-mediated Th1 (IFN-,, IL-12, sTNFR1, CXCL10, CXCL9 and CCL3) and humoral Th2 (IL-4) immune responses. Serum antibodies to EBV virus capsid antigen (VCA) IgM and IgG antibodies were detected, together with a raised EBV DNA level (up to about 70,000 DNA copies/mL) in the acute phase of the illness. This EBV DNA load decreased rapidly in response to treatment with a combination of foscarnet, intravenous immunoglobulin and prednisolone, and the boy's symptoms settled eventually after approximately 50 days of illness, following this combined antiviral and immune-modulating therapy. Detailed immunological, virological, haematological and biochemical laboratory parameters are presented to document this patient's severe EBV disease and eventual recovery. J. Med. Virol. 81:99,105, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Salivary gland delivery of pDNA-cationic lipoplexes elicits systemic immune responsesORAL DISEASES, Issue 6 2002V Sankar OBJECTIVE: To test the ability of two cationic lipoplexes, Vaxfectin and GAP-DLRIE/DOPE, to facilitate transfection and elicit immune responses from plasmid DNAs (pDNAs) after retrograde instillation into salivary glands. METHODS: Two pDNA expression vectors encoding either the influenza NP protein or human growth hormone (hGH) were complexed with the cationic lipid transfection reagents, GAP-DLRIE/DOPE or Vaxfectin, and delivered to the submandibular glands of rats. Samples from rats receiving the influenza NP protein pDNA and cationic lipoplexes were analyzed for anti-influenza NP-specific IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b in serum, and IgA in saliva, by an enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytotoxic T-cell lymphocyte (CTL) assays were also performed. Transgene protein expression (hGH) was determined from extracts of submandibular glands of rats receiving hGH lipoplexes. RESULTS: Serum antibodies (IgG) against the NP protein developed and were highest in all rats vaccinated with GAP-DLRIE/DOPE or Vaxfectin. The major serum IgG subclass stimulated by this route of immunization was IgG2b, followed by IgG2a. CTL assay results showed statistically significantly higher percentage killing in the Vaxfectin group than controls (P < 0.05). No rats developed IgA antibodies to NP protein in saliva. Animals receiving plasmid encoding hGH and either lipoplex expressed significantly higher amounts of hGH compared with those receiving the hGH plasmid and water. Although hGH expression was higher in the animals receiving pDNA/Vaxfectin (, 30-fold > pDNA/water), the difference with those receiving pDNA/GAP-DLRIE/DOPE (,10-fold > pDNA/water) was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Retrograde instillation of pDNA complexed with Vaxfectin into the salivary glands can stimulate cytotoxic and humoral responses to the influenza NP protein antigen. Optimization of the conditions required to stimulate humoral and secretory antibody formation may facilitate use of this tissue for specific clinical applications of pDNA immunization. [source] Comparison of a Stool Antigen Test and Serology for the Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Mass SurveyHELICOBACTER, Issue 2 2009Tadashi Shimoyama Abstract Background: Serum antibody to Helicobacter pylori is tested in mass screening for gastric cancer along with the level of serum pepsinogens (PG) I and II. Recently, stool antigen tests have been developed as a new non-invasive test. We examined H. pylori infection by both serology and stool antigen test in a mass survey and compared the results to estimate applicability of stool antigen test for mass survey. Methods: A total of 994 healthy adults who received mass survey in April 2005 were tested. There were 379 men and 615 women, and the mean age was 57.7 years old. Stool samples were used to measure a H. pylori- specific antigen by enzyme immunoassay. Serum samples were tested for the prevalence of IgG antibody to H. pylori, and the level of PGs I and II was also measured to determine the presence of atrophic gastritis. Results: Infection of H. pylori was defined as positive 61.4% and 56.4% by serology and stool antigen test, respectively. The concordance of both tests was not affected by gender and age of the subjects but difference was seen in subjects with atrophic gastritis. In particular, positivity of stool antigen test (81.8%) was significantly lower than that of serology (88.7%, p < .05) in 303 subjects with severe atrophic gastritis. Conclusions: Stool antigen test, which detects present but not previous infection of H. pylori, would be applicable to diagnose H. pylori infection in mass survey. Usefulness of stool antigen tests for the screening of gastric cancer should be examined. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Immunocontraceptive Effect of DNA Vaccine Targeting Fertilin , in Male MiceAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Zhongyi Sun Citation Sun Z, Jin F, Li Y, Zhang J. Immunocontraceptive effect of DNA vaccine targeting fertilin , in male mice. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 282,290 Problem, In previous study, two eukaryotic expression plasmids pSG.SS.YL-F,.ECD and pSG.SS.C3d3.YL-F,.ECD were successfully constructed and transfected in HEK293 cells. Now, we want to evaluate the immunocontraceptive effect of these two DNA vaccines that target the extracellular domain (F,.ECD) of sperm antigen fertilin , subunit in Kunming male mice. Method of study, DNA vaccines pSG.SS.YL-F,.ECD and pSG.SS.C3d3.YL-F,.ECD were injected into Kunming male mice three times at 0, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. An antifertility effect was observed. Serum antibody and cytokines were also detected. Results, Both vaccines significantly decreased both the pregnancy rate and the number of newborns. The serum levels of IL-2 and INF-, significantly decreased, whereas the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 significantly increased. Compared with pSG.SS.YL-F,.ECD, pSG.SS.C3d3.YL-F,.ECD was more effective in birth control, and its specific F, -IgG antibody titer in serum was significantly higher and longer. Conclusion, The results indicate that both pSG.SS.YL-F,.ECD and pSG.SS.C3d3.YL-F,.ECD DNA vaccines are effective in birth control of mice. The immunocontraceptive effect of F,.ECD DNA vaccine in male mice is improved with the addition of immuno-adjuvant C3d3. [source] Cerebrospinal fluid and serum antibodies against neurofilaments in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosisEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2010L. Fialová Background:, The aim of the study was to assess autoimmune involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods:, We measured IgG antibodies against light (NFL) and medium (NFM) subunits of neurofilaments using ELISA in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 38 ALS patients and 20 controls. Results:, Serum levels of anti-NFL were higher in ALS patients than in controls (P < 0.005). Serum anti-NFL antibodies and intrathecal anti-NFM antibodies were related to patient disability (serum anti-NFL: P < 0.05; intrathecal anti-NFM: P < 0.05). Anti-NFL levels were significantly correlated with anti-NFM levels in ALS (P < 0.001) and the control group (P < 0.0001) in the CSF, but not in serum. Anti-NFL and anti-NFM antibodies significantly correlated between serum and CSF in the ALS group (anti-NFL: P < 0.0001; anti-NFM: P < 0.001) and in the control group (anti-NFL: P < 0.05; anti-NFM: P < 0.05). Conclusions:, Autoimmune humoral response to neurocytoskeletal proteins is associated with ALS. [source] Helicobacter pylori in human oral cavity and stomachEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2008Ralf Bürgers The oral cavity has been suspected as an extra-gastroduodenal reservoir for Helicobacter pylori infection and transmission, but conflicting evidence exists regarding the occurrence of H. pylori in the mouth, independently of stomach colonization. Ninety-four gastric biopsy patients were analysed for the concurrent presence of H. pylori in the mouth and stomach. Samples were collected from different areas within the mouth and H. pylori DNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and verified by sequencing. Helicobacter pylori -specific serology was performed, and stomach colonization was determined by culture. In addition, relevant dental and periodontal parameters, as well as general health parameters, were recorded. Helicobacter pylori was found in the stomach of 29 patients and in the oral cavity of 16 patients. In only six patients was the bacterium detected simultaneously in the stomach and mouth. Notably, the 10 patients in whom the bacterium was found solely in the mouth did not have serum antibodies to H. pylori. The occurrence of H. pylori in the mouth was found to be correlated neither to any general or oral health parameters, nor to any particular site of collection. This study shows that H. pylori can occur in the oral cavity independently of stomach colonization. [source] Detection of Chlamydia species-specific serum antibodies by prior adsorption of common genus-specific antibodiesFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Hiroko Bessho Abstract To establish a method for the detection of Chlamydia species-specific antibodies to the three species of Chlamydia responsible for human disease, the author attempted to remove Chlamydia genus-specific antibodies by prior adsorption with heterologous Chlamydia antigen. The effects of adsorption with heterologous antigen were investigated by the microplate immunofluorescence antibody technique. The Chlamydia genus-specific antibodies in immune animal sera were significantly reduced by prior adsorption with heterologous Chlamydia antigen. Chlamydia pecorum which does not infect humans was found to be useful for the adsorption. A preliminary test using Chlamydia trachomatis -infected human sera showed that this adsorption method with C. pecorum is applicable to the serodiagnosis of human Chlamydia infections. [source] Serum Antibodies to Helicobacter pylori and its Heat-Shock Protein 60 Correlate with the Response of Gastric Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma to Eradication of H. pyloriHELICOBACTER, Issue 3 2004Ryuta Takenaka ABSTRACT Background and aims., Eradication of Helicobacter pylori leads to regression of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. In this study, we measured serum antibodies to H. pylori and H. pylori- recombinant heat-shock protein 60 (rHSP60) in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma to determine whether humoral immune responses to the bacterial antigens correlate with the efficacy of eradication therapy. Methods., Serum samples were obtained from 33 patients with H. pylori -positive gastric MALT lymphoma before undergoing therapy to eradicate the bacteria. Anti- H. pylori antibodies were measured in a commercial assay and in immunoassays to lysates and rHSP60 which were prepared from ATCC 43504 strain. Results.,Helicobacter pylori were eradicated in all 33 patients, and the lymphoma completely regressed histologically in 26 patients (79%). Pre-treatment titers of serum antibody to H. pylori and to rHSP60 in the patients whose tumor regressed were significantly higher than titers in patients whose tumors did not regress (p = .0011 and .035, respectively). By logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio = 0.88, 95% confidence interval = 0.80,0.99), endoscopic appearance (0.053, 0.004,0.65), titers of anti- H. pylori antibodies (67.6, 2.5,1800), and titers of anti-rHSP60 antibody (6.4, 1.2,36) were identified as significantly associated factors with the outcome of MALT lymphoma. Conclusions., Measurement of serum antibodies to H. pylori and HSP60 might be useful for predicting the response of gastric MALT lymphoma to eradication of H. pylori. [source] Lack of association between serum antibodies of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and the risk of lung cancerINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 10 2008Jennifer S. Smith No abstract is available for this article. [source] Role of anti-transglutaminase (anti-tTG), anti-gliadin, and anti-endomysium serum antibodies in diagnosing celiac disease: A comparison of four different commercial kits for anti-tTG determinationJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2001D. Basso Abstract The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the diagnostic efficacy for celiac disease (CD) diagnosis of serum determination of anti-gliadin (AG) (IgA and IgG) and anti-endomysium (AE) with that of anti-transglutaminase (AtTG); and (2) to compare the accuracy of four different assays to measure AtTG. We studied 72 children: the histological diagnosis of CD was made in 38 cases and excluded in the remaining 34 children. In fasting sera we measured AE, AG-IgA and IgG, and AtTG, the latter with four different commercial kits (Eurospital, Medipan, Inova, Arnika). Moreover AtTG was measured in a group of 58 CD children after a gluten-free diet. AE was positive in all but 1 case of CD patients (sensitivity = 97%); false positive results were found in 1/34 controls (specificity = 97%). When a specificity of 95% was fixed, the sensitivities were 97% for AE, 83% for AG-IgA, and 63% for AG-IgG; the sensitivities of anti-tTG were 90, 84, 84, and 75% when measured with Eurospital, Medipan, Inova, and Arnika kits respectively. The new AtTG seems to be accurate enough to be proposed as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for CD diagnosis; the 4 kits analyzed showed similar diagnostic efficacy. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:112,115, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Serum IgG reactivity to subgingival bacteria in initial periodontitis, gingivitis and healthy subjectsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 7 2000A. C. R. Tanner Abstract Background/aims: Established periodontal diseases may be associated with antibody responses to periodontal pathogens, but it is not known at which stage of disease this antibody response is initiated. This study aimed to characterize the host systemic response in initial periodontitis, gingivitis, and periodontal health, to evaluate whether elevated serum antibodies to subgingival species could be detected in initial periodontitis. Method: Human systemic immune response were evaluated to 40 subgingival bacterial species in 16 healthy, 21 gingivitis, 11 initial periodontitis and 5 progressing recession adults. Subjects had minimal periodontal attachment level (AL) loss at baseline. Disease categories were determined after 12 months monitoring at three-month intervals. Increased AL loss 1.5 mm (disease activity) at interproximal sites defined initial periodontitis, recession was characterized by AL loss at buccal sites. Serum IgG antibodies were evaluated semi-quantitatively by immunoblot from blood taken at baseline, active and final visits. Results: No antibody was detected from 55% of reactions. When detected, levels were below those reported for advanced periodontitis subjects. There were no major differences in serum antibody levels between healthy, gingivitis and initial periodontitis subjects, despite differences in the subgingival microbiota. Serum antibodies for more species were detected in recession subjects, compared with the other study subjects. No changes in antibody levels were detected between baseline, active, and final visits. No systematic association between species colonization and presence of systemic antibody was observed. Conclusions: This study did not detect differential elevation of mean serum antibody levels in initial periodontitis subjects, suggesting that serum antibody levels are not sensitive risk markers for initial periodontitis. [source] Antibody response of two populations of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., exposed to koi herpesvirusJOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 4 2009S St-Hilaire Abstract Common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., exposed to koi herpesvirus (KHV) may become persistently infected and populations containing such virus-infected individuals may transmit the virus to other fish when co-habited. Detection of virus-infected fish in a population is thus critical to surveillance and control programmes for KHV. A study was therefore designed to detect anti-KHV serum antibodies, with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in common carp following experimental exposures to KHV under varying environmental conditions. The study determined that a proportion of fish within a population experimentally exposed to KHV (at least 10,25%) develop high antibody titres (1/1600 or greater) to the virus, and this immunological response was detectable for several months (observed at the termination of the experiments at 65, 46 and 27 weeks post-exposure). Furthermore, this response was detected in one population of fish that did not succumb to a high level of mortality when maintained at water temperatures that were non-permissive for KHV. Elevating the water temperatures to permissive conditions for KHV resulted in recurrence of disease despite the presence of anti-virus antibodies, suggesting that serum antibodies alone are not protective under the conditions of our trials. [source] Can the serological status of "anti-HBc alone" be considered a sentinel marker for detection of "occult" HBV infection?JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 4 2008Francesco Vitale Abstract Some individuals have "occult" infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), defined as presence of HBV genome in the serum or liver tissue without HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum antibodies against HBV core antigen in isolation ("anti-HBc alone") are a useful marker of "occult" HBV in patients with or without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. "Anti-HBc alone" was detected in the sera of 119/6,544 (1.8%) asymptomatic outpatients referred to the diagnostic laboratory for routine testing for viral hepatitis, 62/607 (10.2%) drug users, and 42/195 (21.5%) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Using three in-house nested-PCR amplification assays to detect HBV preS-S (S), precore-core (C), and Pol viral regions, respectively, "occult" HBV sequences were found in 9 of the 223 sera (4.0%) with "anti-HBc alone." The highest prevalence of "occult" HBV sequences (5.9%) was detected in "anti-HBV alone" sera of individuals referred to the diagnostic laboratory without HCV antibodies. Direct sequencing of all PCR products confirmed the specificity of the PCR reactions and revealed the predominance of HBV genotype D. The data presented in this study suggest that detection of "anti-HBc alone" could reflect unrecognized "occult" HBV infection and that physicians should consider investigating such patients with HBV molecular tests. J. Med. Virol. 80:577,582, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Poly(,-glutamic acid) nanoparticles as an efficient antigen delivery and adjuvant system: Potential for an AIDS vaccineJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 1 2008Xin Wang Abstract Antigen delivery systems using polymeric nanoparticles are of special interest as stable protein-based antigen carriers. In the present study, novel biodegradable poly(,-glutamic acid) (,-PGA) nanoparticles were examined for their antigen delivery and immunostimulatory activities in vitro and in vivo. The uptake of ovalbumin by dendritic cells was markedly enhanced by ,-PGA nanoparticles, and the ovalbumin was gradually released from ,-PGA nanoparticles into the cells. In addition, ,-PGA nanoparticles appeared to have great potential as an adjuvant, because they could induce the maturation of dendritic cells. Although not only ovalbumin-encapsulating nanoparticles (OVA-NPs) but also a simple mixture of ovalbumin and nanoparticles induced dendritic cell maturation, the only dendritic cells exposed to OVA-NPs could strongly activate antigen-specific interferon (IFN)-,-producing T cells. Subcutaneous immunization of mice with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) p24-encapsulating nanoparticles activated antigen-specific IFN-,-producing T cells in spleen cells and induced p24-specific serum antibodies, as compared to immunization with p24 alone. Like ovalbumin, a mixture of p24 and nanoparticles also induced antigen-specific serum antibodies but did not activate IFN-,-producing T cells in spleen cells, suggesting that nanoparticles play a critical role in inducing cellular immune responses. Furthermore, ,-PGA nanoparticles had a capacity comparable to that of the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in inducing p24-specific serum antibody. However, unlike CFA, they predominantly activated p24-specific IFN-,-producing T cells. Thus, ,-PGA nanoparticles encapsulating various antigens may have great potential as novel and efficient protein-based vaccines against infectious diseases, including HIV-1 infection. J. Med. Virol. 80:11,19, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Toxoplasma gondii, HCV, and HBV seroprevalence and co-infection among HIV-positive and -negative pregnant women in Burkina FasoJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 6 2006Jacques Simpore Abstract Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infections can cause serious complications in HIV-infected pregnant women, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects (e.g., mental retardation, blindness, epilepsy etc.) and could favor or enhance the mother-to-child transmission of HCV, HBV, and HIV vertical transmission. From May 20, 2004 to August 3, 2005, 336 18,45 years aged pregnant women, were enrolled for an investigation of the prevalence of serum antibodies against T. gondii, HCV, HBV, and HIV using ELISA. The prevalence of T. gondii, HCV, and HBV in pregnant women was 25.3%, 5.4%, and 9.8%, respectively and the HIV serostatus (61.6%) seems to be associated with greater prevalence rates of both T. gondii (28.5% vs. 20.2%) and HBV (11.6% vs. 7.0%). Without taking into account HIV, only 65.5% (220 of 336) of the women were not infected with these agents. The co-infection rate between HIV-infected and -negative women was different statistically: T. gondii/HBV 0.048 versus 0.015, T. gondii/HCV 0.014 versus 0.008, and HCV/HBV 0.005 versus 0.008, respectively. The elevated co-infection rate in HIV-positive women demonstrated that they are exposed to T. gondii, HCV, and HBV infections prevalently by sexual contact. J. Med. Virol. 78:730,733, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] MYELIN PROTEIN P-0-SPECIFIC IGM PRODUCING MONOCLONAL B CELL LINES WERE ESTABLISHED FROM POLYNEUROPATHY PATIENTS WITH MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHY OF UNDETERMINED SIGNIFICANCE (MGUS)JOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 4 2002M Kvarnstrom Monoclonal expansion of B cells and plasma cells, producing antibodies against ,self' molecules, can be found not only in different autoimmune diseases, such as peripheral neuropathy (PN), but also in malignancies, such as Waldenstroms'macroglobulinaemia and B-type of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL), as well as in precancerous conditions including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). About 50% of patients with PN-MGUS have serum antibodies against peripheral nerve myelin, but the specific role of these antibodies remains uncertain. The aims of the study were to establish, and characterize, myelin-specific B cell clones from peripheral blood of patients with PN-MGUS, by selection of cells bearing specific membrane Ig-receptors for myelin protein P-0, using beads coated with P-0. P-0-coated magnetic beads were used for selection of cells, which subsequently were transformed by Epstein-Barr virus. The specificity of secreted antibodies was tested by ELISA. Two of the clones producing anti-P-0 antibodies were selected and expanded. The magnetic selection procedure was repeated and new clones established. The cells were CD5(+) positive, although the expression declined in vitro over time. The anti-P-0 antibodies were of IgM-lambda type. The antibodies belonged to the V(H)3 gene family with presence of somatic mutations. The IgM reacted with P-0 and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), and showed no evidence for polyreactivity, in contrast to other IgM CD5(+) clones included in the study as controls. The expanded clones expressed CD80 and HLA-DR, which is compatible with properties of antigen-presenting cells. The immunomagnetic selection technique was successfully used for isolation of antimyelin protein P-0-specific clones. The cell lines may provide useful tools in studies of monoclonal gammopathies, leukaemia, and autoimmune diseases, including aspects of antigen-presentation by these cells followed by T cell activation. [source] The serological response to Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli in patients with haemolytic uraemic syndromeLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2004H. Chart Abstract Aims:, To screen sera from 80 patients with clinical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and serum antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli O157, for antibodies to Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) belonging to serogroups O5, O26, O104, O111, O128, O145, O153 and O165. Methods and Results:, Sera were screened by an LPS-based ELISA and SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting. None of the 80 sera contained antibodies binding to long-chain LPS of any of the LPS types employed; however, nine sera contained antibodies binding to R3 LPS-core epitopes. Conclusions:, The presence of patients' serum antibodies to the LPS of E. coli O157, in the absence of antibodies to the LPS of a range of other VTEC, demonstrated that cases of HUS may be caused by strains of O157 VTEC alone and that concurrent infection with multiple strains of VTEC is not a prerequisite for cases of HUS. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Antibodies to long-chain LPS of VTEC other than O157 were not detected, and so there was no evidence of infection with VTEC belonging to more than one serogroup. The results of immunoassays such as ELISAs and micro-agglutinations must take into consideration antibodies binding to R3 epitopes located on LPS-core. [source] Human antibody responses to R3-core epitopes on the lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli O157LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2003F. Dalwai Abstract Aims:, To establish the incidence of serum antibodies binding to the R3-core lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157, in patients with serum antibodies to E. coli O157 LPS, and to characterize the class(es) of antibodies binding to epitopes on the R3-core. Methods and Results:, SDS-PAGE profiles of LPS prepared from VTEC O157 were used in combination with immunoblotting to detect and characterize serum antibodies binding to the R3-core LPS of VTEC O157. Of 417 sera, referred to the Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens (LEP) for routine O157 serology and found to have serum antibodies to long-chain VTEC O157 LPS, 31 had antibodies binding to the R3-core of VTEC O157 LPS. The majority of the 31 sera contained IgA-class antibodies to both long-chain and R3-core LPS epitopes. Patients who did not develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) produced antibodies of the IgM class to R3-core and IgG-class antibodies to long-chain LPS more frequently than patients with HUS. Conclusions:, Only 7·4% of sera received by the LEP, and shown to have antibodies to VTEC O157 LPS, contained antibodies binding to the R3-core of VTEC LPS. Most sera contained IgA-class antibodies to both long-chain and R3-core LPS epitopes. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Patients infected with VTEC O157 produced antibodies binding to the R3-core epitopes of VTEC O157 LPS only rarely, and these antibodies are unlikely to interfere with the serodiagnosis of infections caused by these organisms. [source] Immunization of Macaca fascicularis against experimental periodontitis using a vaccine containing cysteine proteases purified from Porphyromonas gingivalisMOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007R. C. Page Introduction:, Periodontitis is a common infectious disease to which Porphyromonas gingivalis has been closely linked, in which the attachment tissues of the teeth and their alveolar bone housing are destroyed. We conducted a study to determine if immunization using a purified antigen could alter the onset and progression of the disease. Methods:, Using the ligature-induced model of periodontitis in Macaca fascicularis, we immunized five animals with cysteine protease purified from P. gingivalis and used an additional five animals as controls. Alveolar bone loss was measured by digital subtraction radiography. Results:, Immunization induced high titers of specific immunoglobuin G serum antibodies that were opsonic. Total bacterial load, levels of P. gingivalis in subgingival plaque and levels of prostaglandin E2 in gingival crevicular fluid were significantly reduced. Onset and progression of alveolar bone loss was inhibited by approximately 50%. No manifestations of toxicity were observed. Conclusions:, Immunization using a purified protein antigen from P. gingivalis inhibits alveolar bone destruction in a ligature-induced periodontitis model in M. fascicularis. [source] Role of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in the induction of oral tolerance to Actinomyces viscosus in miceMOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006W. Sosroseno Mucosal presentation of Actinomyces viscosus results in the induction of antigen specific systemic suppressor cells in mice. The aim of the present study was to determine the phenotype of the suppressor cells responsible for the induction of oral tolerance to low doses of A. viscosus. When CD8 cell-depleted DBA/2 mice were intragastrically immunized and systemically immunized with A. viscosus, the delayed type hypersensitivity response was suppressed but not the levels of antigen specific serum antibodies. Adoptive transfer of orally tolerized CD4+ cells to CD4+ -depleted mice resulted in suppression of delayed type hypersensitivity response but not of the levels of antigen specific serum antibodies. In contrast, adoptive transfer of orally immunized CD8+ cells to CD8+ -depleted mice resulted in partially suppressed delayed type hypersensitivity response but significantly inhibited the levels of antigen specific serum antibodies. When orally tolerized CD8+ cells were cocultured with systemically immunized CD8+ cell-depleted spleen cells, splenic specific antibodies were inhibited. However, no suppression of splenic specific antibodies could be observed in the cultures containing orally tolerized CD4+ cells and systemically immunized CD4+ cell-depleted spleen cells. The results of the present study suggest that oral tolerance of humoral and cellular immunity induced by low doses of A. viscosus may be mediated by CD8+ and CD4+ cells, respectively. [source] Clinical evaluation and management of myasthenia gravisMUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 4 2004John C. Keesey MD Abstract Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a syndrome of fluctuating skeletal muscle weakness that worsens with use and improves with rest. Eye, facial, oropharyngeal, axial, and limb muscles may be involved in varying combinations and degrees of severity. Its etiology is heterogeneous, divided initially between those rare congenital myasthenic syndromes, which are genetic, and the bulk of MG, which is acquired and autoimmune. The autoimmune conditions are divided in turn between those that possess measurable serum acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and a smaller group that does not. The latter group includes those MG patients who have serum antibodies to muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK). Therapeutic considerations differ for early-onset MG, late-onset MG, and MG associated with the presence of a thymoma. Most MG patients can be treated effectively, but there is still a need for more specific immunological approaches. Muscle Nerve 29: 484,505, 2004 [source] Sensory nerve conduction deficit in experimental monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) neuropathyMUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 6 2001Michael W. Lawlor BS Abstract An emerging body of evidence from in vitro studies and in vivo animal models supports a pathogenic role of antibodies in the development of peripheral neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Although the assessment of motor and sensory nerve fiber function is of clinical importance, it is seldom applied experimentally. We describe the application of an electrophysiologic method for the evaluation of motor and sensory nerve fiber function using an experimental model of MGUS neuropathy. Supramaximal stimulation of the tibial nerve elicited an early motor response (M-wave, 1.7 ± 0.1 ms, n = 10) and a late sensory (H-reflex, 7.8 ± 0.1 ms, n = 10) response that was recorded from the hind foot of anesthetized rats. Intraneural injection of serum antibodies from a MGUS patient with sensorimotor polyneuropathy, but not from an age-matched control subject, produced a marked attenuation of the H-reflex (P < 0.01, n = 10) without affecting the M-wave. Light and electron microscopy of affected nerve showed myelinoaxonal degeneration with sparing of the smaller unmyelinated nerve fibers. The combined electrophysiologic and morphologic findings presented in this study are consistent with a selective sensory conduction deficit in MGUS neuropathy. Selective injury of afferent nerve fibers by this patient's serum antibodies may result from reactivity to neural antigens uniquely expressed by sensory neurons. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 809,816, 2001 [source] Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with multiple organized thrombi accompanied by unusual cholesterin deposition: Autopsy case after long-term follow upPATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 10 2009Masaaki Ichinoe Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is characterized by a reduction in the platelet count and systemic thromboembolism during heparin therapy. Herein is reported a case of HIT with characteristic thrombus formation. A 68-year-old man who had been treated for hypertension for 27 years suffered a brain infarction and was treated with heparin. After this treatment, other new infarctions occurred in multiple organs. Because serum antibodies against heparin/PF4 complex were detected, he was diagnosed as having HIT, and warfarin and argatroban were administered instead of heparin. He died, however, 119 days after the first onset. At autopsy infarction due to organized thrombi with cholesterin deposition in multiple organs were found, similar to usual atherosclerotic emboli, but different to them with regard to clinical course and distribution of thrombi. This case in which organization and frequent cholesterin deposition were found in thromboembolized lesions of multiple organs after relatively long-term follow up, is unusual. The findings suggest that HIT accompanied by marked hypercholesterolemia of long duration contributes to a characteristic form of thromboembolism that needs careful management. [source] Frequent overexpression of multiple ErbB receptors by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma contrasts with rare antibody immunity in patientsTHE JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Roberto Bei Abstract In an effort to elucidate the role of ErbB receptors in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), expression abnormalities and subcellular localization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4 were investigated along with EGF and tenascin by immunohistochemistry in 38 carcinomas as compared to adjacent normal mucosa of 24 cases. Although tumour-specific overexpression affected each ErbB receptor (EGFR 47%, ErbB2 29%, ErbB3 21%, ErbB4 26%), EGFR abnormalities were most prevalent. The latter, and overexpression of more than two ErbB receptors in the same tumour, which always included EGFR, correlated with metastatic disease. ErbB products were specifically detected on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm. In contrast, ErbB4 was uniquely localized to the nucleus in 7 carcinomas and a tumour-derived cell line, indicating a role for regulated intramembrane proteolysis resulting in nuclear ErbB4 translocation in HNSCC. Expression of prototype ligand EGF or low-affinity stromal activator tenascin correlated significantly with EGFR overexpression, implying chronic EGFR activation. Simultaneous overexpression of additional ErbB receptors in most of these cases suggested recurrent involvement of receptor heterodimers. In spite of frequent ErbB receptor alterations, autologous ErbB serum antibodies were rare, with only 1 of 38 tumour patients exhibiting an ErbB2-specific immune response. Based on upregulation of several known immunosuppressive molecules, scarcity of ErbB-specific antibodies is consistent with attenuation of natural tumour-specific immune responses in HNSCC. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Prevalence of serum antibodies to canine adenovirus and canine herpesvirus in the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in AustraliaAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2005AJ ROBINSON Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence and aspects of the epidemiology of canine adenovirus (CAdV) and canine herpesvirus (CaHV-1) in European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Australia. Design: Serum samples were collected opportunistically from foxes in 1991,1994 in Western Australia (WA) and South Australia (SA) and in 1980,1984 and 1990,1994 in New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The sera were examined for antibody to CAdV and CaHV-1 using ELISAs. Seroprevalence in the different regions was determined for both viruses and the CAdV data were analysed for interactions between decade of collection, age, season, region and gender using logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of antibody to CAdV was 23.2% (308/1326) but was significantly higher in sera collected in the eastern states of Australia (47%: 233/498) than in WA (9%: 75/828). Overall, in NSW and the ACT, there was a significantly lower prevalence in juveniles than in adults and the prevalence in juveniles in the 1990s was significantly lower than in the 1980s. The prevalence was also significantly lower in the autumn than in the winter for juveniles but the reverse held for adults. The NSW and ACT data were subdivided into eastern (including the ACT) and western regions. This revealed a significantly higher prevalence in the winter than in the autumn for the west and the reverse in the east. In WA, the northern rangeland regions of WA had lower prevalence (1.9%) than the southern agriculture regions (10.7%). Seasonally, there was a peak prevalence in the spring dropping through the summer and autumn and rising again in the winter. This seasonal pattern was also found in the combined data for all sites in the 1990s. There was no gender difference in prevalence of CAdV either overall or in different regions. The overall prevalence of antibody to CaHV-1 was 2.2% (28/1300). The small number of positives allowed only limited statistical analysis that did not reveal any differences in decade of collection, age, season or region. Conclusions: CAdV infection is common in the Australian fox population whereas CaHV-1 infection is rare. For CAdV, the age and seasonal patterns of seroprevalence were generally consistent with the recruitment of young susceptible foxes into the population in the spring and the accumulation of infections with age. The differences in regional prevalences correlated with fox density. The low prevalence of antibody to CaHV-1 suggests that CaHV-1 may be a more suitable vector than CAdV for bait delivery of immunocontraceptive antigens to foxes in Australia. [source] Increased exposure to bacterial antigen RpL7/L12 in early stage colorectal cancer patientsCANCER, Issue 17 2010Annemarie Boleij MSc Abstract BACKGROUND: Intestinal bacteria have long been implicated in colorectal cancer pathology, and many reports point to a close linkage between Streptococcus bovis biotype I (recently renamed Streptococcus gallolyticus) infections and tumors of the human colon. This work aims to investigate the humoral immune response to this bacterium during different stages of colorectal cancer. METHODS: The presence of serum antibodies against S. bovis antigen RpL7/L12, previously assigned as a potential diagnostic antigen, was evaluated in Dutch (n = 209) and American (n = 112) populations using a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The analyses consistently showed that an immune response against this bacterial antigen was increased in polyp patients and stage I/II colorectal cancer patients as compared with asymptomatic individuals. This was not paralleled by increased antibody production to endotoxin, an intrinsic cell wall component of the majority of intestinal bacteria, which implies that the humoral immune response against RpL7/L12 is not a general phenomenon induced by the loss of colonic barrier function. Notably, increased anti-RpL7/L12 levels were not or were only mildly detected in late stage colorectal cancer patients having lymph node or distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are indicative of an increased exposure to antigen RpL7/L12 during early stages of colon carcinogenesis and suggest that intestinal bacteria such as S. bovis constitute a risk factor for the progression of premalignant lesions into early stage carcinomas. Clearly, the current findings emphasize the necessity for further studies on the possible etiologic relationship between intestinal bacteria and human colorectal cancer. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. [source] Serum Antibodies to Helicobacter pylori and its Heat-Shock Protein 60 Correlate with the Response of Gastric Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma to Eradication of H. pyloriHELICOBACTER, Issue 3 2004Ryuta Takenaka ABSTRACT Background and aims., Eradication of Helicobacter pylori leads to regression of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. In this study, we measured serum antibodies to H. pylori and H. pylori- recombinant heat-shock protein 60 (rHSP60) in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma to determine whether humoral immune responses to the bacterial antigens correlate with the efficacy of eradication therapy. Methods., Serum samples were obtained from 33 patients with H. pylori -positive gastric MALT lymphoma before undergoing therapy to eradicate the bacteria. Anti- H. pylori antibodies were measured in a commercial assay and in immunoassays to lysates and rHSP60 which were prepared from ATCC 43504 strain. Results.,Helicobacter pylori were eradicated in all 33 patients, and the lymphoma completely regressed histologically in 26 patients (79%). Pre-treatment titers of serum antibody to H. pylori and to rHSP60 in the patients whose tumor regressed were significantly higher than titers in patients whose tumors did not regress (p = .0011 and .035, respectively). By logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio = 0.88, 95% confidence interval = 0.80,0.99), endoscopic appearance (0.053, 0.004,0.65), titers of anti- H. pylori antibodies (67.6, 2.5,1800), and titers of anti-rHSP60 antibody (6.4, 1.2,36) were identified as significantly associated factors with the outcome of MALT lymphoma. Conclusions., Measurement of serum antibodies to H. pylori and HSP60 might be useful for predicting the response of gastric MALT lymphoma to eradication of H. pylori. [source] Investigation of pre-diagnostic virological markers for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patientsJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 7 2009Mary K. Grabowski Abstract Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe neurological disorder due to JC virus (JCV) infection. Pre-diagnostic biological markers and risk factors for PML are not well understood. We conducted a case,control study nested within the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study to examine the association between JCV viruria and viremia and serum antibody to JCV capsids, in relation to subsequent PML diagnoses, 5 months to 12 years later. Other demographic and immunologic factors were also examined. The study population included 28 incident cases of PML, 26 matched HIV-positive controls, and 50 HIV-negative controls. Prevalence of JCV viruria was 37% in cases, 42% in HIV-positive controls, and 28% in HIV-negative controls (P,=,0.43). Among persons with JCV viruria, persistent viruria was more common in cases (89%) than in HIV-positive controls (33%) (P,=,0.02). Presence of JCV viruria was not related to the time to PML diagnosis (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.8,1.4); however, the urinary concentration of JCV DNA increased with proximity to the date of PML diagnosis in cases. JCV seropositivity did not differ between cases or controls (P,=,0.42). Four cases tested JCV seronegative, including one case only 5 months prior to diagnosis with PML. JCV DNA was detected in the serum of one HIV-positive control. Smoking was the only demographic variable analyzed associated with an increased risk for PML (MOR: 9.0, 95% CI: 1.2,394.5). The results suggest that persistent JCV viruria and increasing urinary concentration of JCV DNA may be predictive of PML for some patients. J. Med. Virol. 81:1140,1150, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Poly(,-glutamic acid) nanoparticles as an efficient antigen delivery and adjuvant system: Potential for an AIDS vaccineJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 1 2008Xin Wang Abstract Antigen delivery systems using polymeric nanoparticles are of special interest as stable protein-based antigen carriers. In the present study, novel biodegradable poly(,-glutamic acid) (,-PGA) nanoparticles were examined for their antigen delivery and immunostimulatory activities in vitro and in vivo. The uptake of ovalbumin by dendritic cells was markedly enhanced by ,-PGA nanoparticles, and the ovalbumin was gradually released from ,-PGA nanoparticles into the cells. In addition, ,-PGA nanoparticles appeared to have great potential as an adjuvant, because they could induce the maturation of dendritic cells. Although not only ovalbumin-encapsulating nanoparticles (OVA-NPs) but also a simple mixture of ovalbumin and nanoparticles induced dendritic cell maturation, the only dendritic cells exposed to OVA-NPs could strongly activate antigen-specific interferon (IFN)-,-producing T cells. Subcutaneous immunization of mice with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) p24-encapsulating nanoparticles activated antigen-specific IFN-,-producing T cells in spleen cells and induced p24-specific serum antibodies, as compared to immunization with p24 alone. Like ovalbumin, a mixture of p24 and nanoparticles also induced antigen-specific serum antibodies but did not activate IFN-,-producing T cells in spleen cells, suggesting that nanoparticles play a critical role in inducing cellular immune responses. Furthermore, ,-PGA nanoparticles had a capacity comparable to that of the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in inducing p24-specific serum antibody. However, unlike CFA, they predominantly activated p24-specific IFN-,-producing T cells. Thus, ,-PGA nanoparticles encapsulating various antigens may have great potential as novel and efficient protein-based vaccines against infectious diseases, including HIV-1 infection. J. Med. Virol. 80:11,19, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||