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Biomedical subjects

B Geiger

Publications and source records attributed to B Geiger.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Immunocytochemical localization of alpha-actinin in intestinal epithelial cells.

alpha-Actinin was localized in chicken intestinal epithelial cells by immunofluorescence and immunoferritin labeling of thin frozen sections. Most of the label of the brush border was confined to the terminal web area. The label there was concentrated mainly along the "roots" of the microvilli core microfilaments and in the vicinity of the zonula adherens. In the latter structure, the narrow electron-dense zones adjacent to the cell membranes, however, were not significantly labeled. This suggests that alpha-actinin does not mediate directly the association of the transverse terminal web microfilaments to the membrane at the zonula adherens. Sparse ferritin labeling was found near the tight junction, whereas the staining associated with the spot desmosome was negligible. The microvilli were not significantly labeled by either immunofluorescence or immunoferritin staining unless the sections were previously treated with detergent. Moreover, alpha-actinin (or a structurally related protein) was not detected in preparations of purified microvillar vesicles, suggesting the possibility that the alpha-actinin staining in the microvilli may be an artificial due to its translocation by the detergent from the terminal web onto the microvilli. The possible roles of alpha-actinin in the organization and function of the brush border are discussed.

Actinin↗
PubMed1979

Selective and unidirectional membrane redistribution of an H-2 antigen with an antibody-clustered viral antigen: relationship to mechanisms of cytotoxic T-cell interactions.

We have studied the co-redistribution of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) antigen and of individual H-2 antigens on the surfaces of mouse cells, and in parallel we have also used these VSV-infected cells as targets in cytotoxic T-cell killing experiments. Antibody-induced patching and capping of the VSV antigen caused an extensive co-patching and co-capping of the H-2Kb antigen but not of the H-2Db antigen. In reciprocal experiments, the antibody-induced patching of the H-2Kb or H-2Db antigen did not result in a co-patching of the VSV antigen. Radioimmunoassays showed that the relative numbers of H-2Kb, H-2Db, and VSV antigens on the surfaces of the cells exhibiting such nonreciprocal co-redistributions were closely similar. Furthermore, the H-2 restricted cytotoxic T-cell lysis of these target cells showed a marked preference for H-2Kb compared to H-2Db compatibility. We propose that the VSV and H-2 antigens are molecularly independent entities in the unpreturbed target cell membrane but that the antibody-induced clustering of the VSV antigen causes a selective and unidirectional co-redistribution (which we designate as syn-capping) of H-2Kb with the VSV antigen clusters. It is suggested that such a T-cell-induced syn-capping process involving an antigen and an H-2 molecule on the target cell may play a critical role in the mechanism of cytotoxic T-cell killing.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1979

Enzyme replacement in Tay-Sachs disease.

Enzyme replacement therapy was attempted with two Tay-Sachs-diseased individuals--a 14-month-old child and a 7-week-old infant. Treatment consisted of repeated weekly intrathecal injections of pure hexosaminidase A. Injection of this enzyme resulted in almost complete disappearance of GM2 from the serum, but did not bring about dissolution of the GM2 membranous cytoplasmic bodies in the brain, as detected by electronmicroscopy. Both patients tolerated the treatment without apparent clinical complications, but no clear-cut improvement was noted as a result of prolonged injections of hexosaminidase A. Since this treatment was initiated in both an advanced stage and a very early stage of the disease, we conclude that enzyme replacement treatment by this route is not beneficial for patients with Tay-Sachs disease.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1979

The use of antibody-coated liposomes as a target cell model for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

A simple model system was developed for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) using antibody-coated synthetic membranes (liposomes) as a target cell model. A synthetic hapten, dinitrophenyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DNP-PE), was incorporated into fluorophore-quencher-loaded liposomes and the latter were coated with pure anti-DNP antibodies. Normal spleen lymphocytes were capable of binding and subsequently lysing these liposomes. This process is dependent upon the presence of an intact (Fc-containing) IgG molecule and independent of exogenous serum complement. The effector lymphocytes are nylon non-adherent, devoid of Thy-1 antigen and present in nude mice, suggesting an identity with K (Fc receptor positive) lymphocytes. These studies indicate that liposomes may be used as a model to study the requirements for the binding and lysis of target cells in this cell-mediated cytotoxic system.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Normal adult with absent HEX A: immunoreactive HEX A is present.

Fibroblasts from a normal adult with absent hexosaminidase A (HEX A) activity were demonstrated to possess immunoreactive HEX A as measured by GM2 beta-D-N-acetylgalactosaminidase activity which precipitated with specific anti-HEX A antibodies. Possible explanations for the molecular defect are presented.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1978

Biochemical and immunochemical characterization of hexosaminidase P.

Hexasaminidase P, the main isozyme of hexosaminidase in pregnancy serum, was isolated and purified 600--700-fold by a two-step purification procedure--affinity chromatography on Sepharose-bound epsilon-aminocaproyl-N-acetylglucosylamine, followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The purified enzyme was subjected to biochemical and immunochemical analysis. Its catalytic property, namely, kinetic behavior, is similar to that of the major isozymes of hexosaminidase, A and B. However, it differs from these isozymes in its electrophoretic mobility and in its apparent molecular weight which is around 150 000 compared with 100 000 of the A and B isozymes. Immunochemical analysis indicates that the P isozymes is antigenically cross-reactive with both A and B isozymes, but it does not contain the A-specific antigenic determinants, and exhibits identical antigenic specificity to hexasaminidase B. Two possible structures are suggested that are compatible with the experimental data: (a) a hexosaminidase B like structure with higher extent of glycosylation; (b) a hexameter of beta chain, possibly arranged as three beta2 subunits.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1978

Antibodies to ganglioside GM1 induce mitogenic stimulation and cap formation in rat thymocytes.

Antibodies towards the ganglioside GM1 [galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-(N-acetylneuraminyl)-galactosyglucosyl ceramide] stimulated DNA synthesis in rat thymocytes. No mitogenic stimulation was observed with the monomeric Fab fragment of anti-GM1, suggesting that cross-linking of the gangliosides or associated components was required for activation by these antibodies. Incubation of thymocytes with anti-GM1 and fluorescein-labeled anti-rabbit IgG at 0 degree C resulted in uniform ring-like or patchy staining that developed into a pronounced cap upon elevation of temperature. The cap had a characteristic uropod form, enriched with intracellular organelles. Sodium azide and cytochalasin B completely inhibited cap formation, while colchicine was without effect. These results imply a possible direct or indirect association between surface gangliosides and submembraneous cytoskeletal assemblies that control modulation of these surface components and may transmit stimuli to the interior of the cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Localization of acetylcholine receptor in excitable membrane from the electric organ of Torpedo: Evidence for exposure of receptor antigenic sites on both sides of the membrane.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was localized in a receptor-rich membrane preparation from the electric organ of Torpedo californica by applying an immunoferritin technique. The membrane preparation was incubated with (Fab')2 fragments derived from specific rabbit antibodies against the purified acetylcholine receptor and subsequently with ferritin-conjugated goat antiserum to rabbit immunoglobulin. More than 50% of the vesicles were found to be labeled with ferritin while the rest remained unlabeled. Ferritin labeling on both sides of the membrane was evident in open membrane vesicles, whereas in closed vescles the labeling was confined to the outer surface due to the inability of the tracer to penetrate the membrane. These data suggest that antigenic sites of the receptor molecule are exposed on both sides of the excitable membrane, and that acetylcholine receptor may be a transmembrane protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Purification, biochemical and immunological characterisation of hexosaminidase A from variant AB of infantile GM2 gangliosidosis.

Variant AB of infantile GM2 gangliosidosis is a fatal disease leading invariably to death within the first few years of life, due to the excessive storage of the glycolipids GM2 and GA2 which occurs in the nervous tissue of the patient. Unlike other variants of this hereditary disease, where a deficiency of hexosaminidase A, the ganglioside-GM2-degrading enzyme, could be demonstrated, the variant AB is characterized by a normal or even elevated level of this enzyme. To examine the possibility of a mutant hexosaminidase A, well capable of hydrolyzing the fluorogenic synthetic substrates but unable to attack the ganglioside, the enzyme was isolated from a patients tissue and characterized biochemically and immunologically in comparison with an enzyme preparation from normal control tissue. No differences between hexosaminidase A from normal and variant AB tissue could be detected indicating that the defect involved in this disease is not at the genetic level of production of either alpha or beta chains of hexosaminidase A.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1978

Hexosaminidase A in amniotic fluid of Tay-Sachs fetuses.

Hexosaminidase A is present in relatively low concentrations in cell-free amniotic fluids from pregnancies with Tay-Sachs fetuses. This isoenzyme was determined by an immunological procedure, radial immunodiffusion, by which hexosaminidase A can be directly and specifically detected, even in the presence of excess amounts of hexosaminidase B. No hexosaminidase A could be detected by the same procedure in Tay-Sachs fetal tissues, implying that this isoenzyme in the amniotic fluid originates from the mother.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1978

The mode of interaction with macrophages of two ordered synthetic polypeptides which differ in their thymus dependency.

The mode of interaction with macrophages of two ordered synthetic polypeptides (Tyr-Tyr-Glu-Glu)-poly(DLAla)--poly(Lys), (T-T-G-G)-A--L, and (Tyr-Glu-Tyr-Glu)-poly(DLAla)--poly(Lys), (T-G-T-G)-A--L, which differ in their requirements for T-B cell co-operation in the process of antibody production, was compared. The binding of the two radiolabelled antigens to the surface of peritoneal adherent cells, their uptake by the cells and the rate of their degradation were investigated. Macrophages were found to be capable of degrading both poly-peptides with the same efficiency. (T-G-T-G)-A--L, the antigen which is less T-dependent, was bound to macrophage surfaces more readily than (T-T-G-G)-A--L, the T-dependent antigen, however, its uptake by the cells was found to be lower. Thus, (T-G-T-G)-A--L remains for a longer period in the form of a membrane bound polyvalent antigen.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Stabilization of human beta-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase A towards proteolytic inactivation by coupling it to poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone).

Human hexosaminidase A was covalently bound to soluble poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), and the effect of this binding on the enzyme inactivation by various procedures was investigated. Whereas the polymer-bound hexosaminidase underwent inactivation to the same extent as the free enzyme, when exposed to heat or acidic pH, the conjugation to polymer appeared to protect the enzyme towards proteolysis. Thus, the polymer-bound enzyme exhibited considerably higher resistance to treatment of both pronase and macrophage cathepsins. The clearance rate from rabbit blood, of the polymer-bound enzyme (expressed as enzyme activity), was shown to be significantly slower than that of the free enzyme.

Drug Stability↗