摘要:
Gene segments of human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) were expressed in E. coli as peptides that are reactive with sera from patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Among recombinant peptides one designated HTLV-III polypeptide 121, contained 85 amino acid residues encoded by a gene segment in the env-lor region of the HTLV-III genome. The polypeptide is strongly reactive with AIDS patient sera. The peptide produced and purified as a fusion protein on a large scale. Solid phase immunoassays employing this recombinant peptide as an immunoabsorbent can reliably and reproducibly detect antibodies in sera of patients with HTLV-III infection. In two representative serum panels, the assay detected the presence of antibodies in 120 of 121 sera from patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC), and only in 1 of 92 normal controls. Based upon HTLV-III polypeptide 121 as immunoreactive agent, sensitive and specific immunoassays for HTLV-III infection have been developed.
摘要:
The invention relates to epitopes which are present on B cell-bound but not secreted IgA, peptide segments which represent such epitopes, and DNA coding for these peptides. These extracellular peptide segments form, entirely or in part, antigenic epitopes unique to membrane-bound but not secreted IgA.
摘要:
Membrane anchoring peptides are attached to the C terminal end of the heavy chain of the various immunoglobulin isotypes (IgM, IgD, IgA, IgE, or IgG). The membrane anchoring peptides span the cell membrane lipid bilayer of B cells thereby affixing the associated immunoglobulin to the cell membrane surface. The extracellular segments of these peptides are unique for different isotypes. Epitopes unique to the B cells which produce each isotype are formed, in whole or in part, by these extracellular segments. These membrane-bound immunoglobulin isotype-specific ("migis") extracellular epitopes are not present on the secreted, soluble form of the immunoglobulins, which are not bound to the cell surface by the membrane anchoring peptides. The antibodies of the invention (and other related products) specifically bind to the extracellular migis epitopes of human .mu. chain, human .delta. chain, or human .gamma. chain. The B cells which express the isotypes IgM, IgD or IgG are labeled for destruction when bound by such antibodies or products, and can be destroyed by the cytolytic or regulatory mechanisms of the immune system in order to cause immunosuppression.
摘要:
Disclosed are immunofluorescence staining methods which increase the likelihood that antibodies expressed by a single B cell selected and sorted by fluorescence activated cell sorting are specific for the antigen of interest, and which also allow selection of B cells expressing antibodies of high affinity for the antigen of interest. The selection for B cells expressing antibodies to specific antigens is increased by labeling B cells with at least two antigen probes, where each antigen probe includes the antigen of interest and is labeled with a different fluorochrome. The positive selection is preferably combined with a negative selection step, in which autofluorescent cells and sticky cells are excluded out. The specificity of sorting of the desired B cells can be further enhanced by staining those antigen-specific B cells which produce the immunoglobulin isotype (typically IgG), with targeting molecules reactive with a B cell marker, such as .gamma. chain and CD19, that are conjugated with a different fluorochrome. Thus, the antigen-specific IgG-producing B cells of interest may be labeled with these unique reagents in four color FACS (including one for negative selection), which can sort the desired antigen-specific B cells at enhanced proportions. After sorting the B cells with FACS, those B cells with high affinity are preferred for analysis by the single cell-PCR procedure to amplify and clone the V.sub.H and V.sub.L segments of interest.
摘要:
Disclosed are monoclonal antibodies and related products which bind to the second variable region of HIV-1 gp120 and synthetic peptides and anti-idiotypic antibodies which induce endogenous production of antibodies with these same properties.
摘要:
Antigenic epitopes associated with the extracellular segment of the domain which anchors immunoglobulins to the B cell membrane are disclosed. For IgE, the epitopes are present on IgE-bearing B cells but not basophils or the secreted, soluble form of IgE. DNA constructs encoding chimeric antibodies, with murine variable regions and human constant regions, which bind to this epitope, can be produced and expressed in transfected mycloma cells.
摘要:
An immunoassay device comprising a support which has a substantially planar surface 14 on which is located an array of small, closely-spaced, discrete, antibody coated areas (spots) 17. A cover 16 is spaced from the support surface 14 and is positioned over the array of antibody coated spots 17. The cover is attached to the support surface to provide an enclosed chamber 30. In the cover there is at least one aperture communicating with the interior of the chamber 30 for introducing a liquid sample into the chamber. In addition, there is at least one additional aperture 34 in the cover, which also communicates with the interior of the chamber to allow air to escape upon introduction of the sample into the chamber. When a cell sample is introduced into the chamber it immediately fills the chamber and cells will settle uniformly over the matrix. The antibody-coated spots function as tiny immunoadsorbents for cells bearing antigens recognized by the antibody. The device can be used to determine the proportion of cells in a sample cell population.
摘要:
The invention relates to methods of treating allergic reactions and of reducing circulating IgE using antibodies which bind to secreted IgE and membrane-bound IgE on the surface of IgE-producing B cells but not to IgE on basophils or mast cells.
摘要:
Disclosed are immunofluorescence staining methods which increase the likelihood that antibodies expressed by a single B cell selected and sorted by fluorescence activated cell sorting are specific for the antigen of interest, and which also allow selection of B cells expressing antibodies of high affinity for the antigen of interest. The selection for B cells expressing antibodies to specific antigens is increased by labeling B cells with at least two antigen probes, where each antigen probe includes the antigen of interest and the difference between the two probes is that each is labeled with a different fluorochrome. The specificity of sorting of the desired B cells can be further enhanced by staining those antigen-specific B cells which produce the immunoglobulin isotype (typically IgG), with targeting molecules reactive with B cell markers, such as .gamma. chain and CD19, that are conjugated with different fluorochromes. Thus, the antigen-specific IgG-producing B cells of interest may be labeled with these unique reagents in three or four color FACS, which can sort the desired antigen-specific B cells at enhanced proportions. The differences in relative intensities between the antigen labels and the isotype labels (e.g., IgG labels) among the different antibodies of the single cells selected can be used to determine the relative antigen binding affinity of those antibodies. For example, the ratio of antigen label to IgG label can be calculated for each labeled B cell. The higher the ratio, the higher the relative affinity of the antibodies on the B cells for the antigen. After sorting the B cells with FACS, those B cells with high affinity are preferred for analysis by the single cell-PCR procedure to amplify and clone the V.sub.H and V.sub.L segments of interest.