[Problems of expert opinion in cases of viral hepatitis].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B Mach.
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Using a mouse cell line transformed with and expressing a single HLA DR-alpha and DR-beta chain gene, we present evidence that the product of the DR-beta chain gene carries a supertypic determinant, BR3, previously defined by serology. The amino acid sequence of this beta chain gene is determined from the DNA sequence. Another DR-associated supertypic specificity defined by monoclonal antibody MCS7 was not encoded by this DR-beta chain gene. This provides formal proof that a supertypic specificity can be associated with a product of a distinct DR-beta locus. We propose that haplotypes sharing such specificities are evolutionarily related.
We have analyzed a set of heterozygous mutants with deletions that encompass parts of HLA and surrounding regions of chromosome 6p. By a combination of Southern blotting, serologic, enzymatic, and cytogenetic analyses, we have ordered eight independent deletion break points into a sequence that divides chromosome 6p into six regions. The deletion mutants have been used in conjunction with the Southern blot technique to map HLA and other 6p gene probes into those regions. On the basis of these and other data we propose a genetic and physical map of HLA and surrounding regions of chromosome 6p. We find that for HLA probes, most of which hybridize with more than one gene, the multiple copies recognized by single probes map to single regions. Any chromosome 6p gene can now be regionally mapped by using these mutants.
The predominant class II, or Ia, antigen of the human major histocompatibility complex is HLA-DR. It consists of an alpha and a beta chain, the latter being responsible for the remarkable polymorphism of these Ia antigens. Studies with cloned genes had shown the existence of more than one DR beta-chain locus. We have isolated about 100 kilobases of the HLA-DR beta-chain gene region from a cosmid library generated from a consanguineous homozygous B-cell line of the DR3 haplotype. Three HLA-DR beta-chain genes have been characterized. They are arranged in a head-to-tail orientation. One of the genes lacks the region encoding the first domain of the DR beta chain. The two other genes are transcribed, as shown by RNA blot hybridization analysis. A striking restriction site homology has been found within the DR beta-chain gene cluster, suggesting a recent duplication event involving at least 25 kilobases of DNA. Moreover, the molecular map of DR beta chain genes cloned from B-cell lines of two other HLA-DR haplotypes shows extensive homology between alleles of a given DR beta-chain locus.
Patients with an autosomal recessive combined immunodeficiency are characterized by an HLA negative phenotype of activated T and B lymphocytes. To determine the molecular basis of this syndrome we have studied the biosynthesis of class I and II antigens and the expression of relevant genes in these patients. The synthesis of the HLA A, B, and C heavy chain is markedly decreased, while beta 2 microglobulin is made in normal amounts. Biosynthesis of HLA-DR alpha-chain and beta-chain is abolished in the lymphocytes of these patients and there is a total absence of mRNA for either alpha-chains or beta-chains of HLA-DR. This indicates that the lack of class II antigen on these lymphocytes results from a block in the expression of HLA-DR genes. The Ii-chain, the invariant polypeptide associated intracellularly with HLA-DR, and its mRNA are made in normal amounts. Since the structural genes coding for class II polypeptides do not seem to be affected, the reported genetic defect in the patients concerns the regulation of the expression of HLA-DR genes.
Class II (Ia) antigens are coded for by a family of genes located in the human MHC (HLA). These genes are regulated in a complex manner, being constitutively expressed, inducibly expressed, or not expressed, depending on the cell type examined. 6.1.6 is a variant of a normal B lymphoblastoid line that has lost expression of all class II molecules and has previously been shown to have a defect in the regulation of class II genes. In this report, we have examined those genes by Southern and Northern blotting and have found that 6.1.6 is severely deficient in mRNA for all class II genes examined, although the genes are structurally intact. P30, a partial revertant of 6.1.6, re-expresses mRNA for a subset of class II genes. mRNA for the class II-associated invariant chain is substantially reduced but not absent in 6.1.6.
Molecular genotyping of the HLA-D/DR region in a family correlated with serologic and cellular typing data. It was further possible to predict a subtle difference in SB region-related functions from such molecular studies. A family that included an individual who inherited an HLA haplotype with a paternal recombination between HLA-B and the HLA-D/DR region was identified by classic HLA typing techniques. Segregation of HLA-D/DR region genes in this family was studied by Southern blot analysis using cDNA probes for DR alpha, DR beta, DC alpha, DC beta, and SB beta. Restriction enzyme fragment polymorphisms observed for every gene tested were in concordance with assigned HLA haplotypes (including the individual known to have inherited a paternal recombinant haplotype) with one exception: two HLA identical siblings were observed to have different SB beta restriction fragment patterns. Further testing revealed that one individual inherited a maternal HLA haplotype recombinant between the HLA-D/DR region and SB beta. Although both maternal SB alleles typed as SB4, allelic differences could be detected cellularly by primed lymphocytes and by the differential expression of a class II cell surface antigen using monoclonal antibody. Therefore, predicted and nonpredicted recombinant haplotypes were detected in a family by molecular genotyping.
Human blood peripheral monocyte/macrophages release in culture a mononuclear cell factor (MCF) which stimulates the production of collagenase and prostaglandin E2 by human rheumatoid synovial cells and dermal fibroblasts. These two products play a role in connective tissue destruction. MCF has an apparent molecular weight of approximately 15 000 and is biologically and biochemically indistinguishable from interleukin 1. MCF therefore belongs to the well-documented nonimmune biological activities attributed to interleukin 1. Studies on the mechanisms of production and action of such monokine(s) have been difficult in view of the minute quantities produced by freshly isolated cells or from human monocytic lines. Starting from lectin-stimulated human blood mononuclear cells, we have isolated poly(A)+ RNA and studied its translation following microinjection into Xenopus laevis oocytes. The mRNA translation products stimulated collagenase and prostaglandin E2 production in human rheumatoid synovial cells and dermal fibroblasts. The size of MCF-mRNA was estimated to be 10 S. The mRNA of a member of the interleukin 1 family can now be studied in a system based on a specific and direct relevant biological assay and eventually compared with those of other monokines.
A non-polymorphic polypeptide is associated intracellularly with the alpha and beta chains of murine Ia antigens and of human HLA-DR antigens. The exact role and the structure of this invariant chain have not been determined so far. A cDNA clone encoding the 33 000 dalton human invariant chain has been isolated. The nucleotide sequence of a near full-length cDNA clone, together with the sequence of the 5' portion of the mRNA determined by primer-extension, are reported here. The protein structure deduced from that sequence shows an unusual feature: the presence of a hydrophobic transmembrane region near the NH2 terminus, and of two glycosylation sites near the middle, indicates that the invariant chain has a polarity of membrane insertion which is inverted relative to histocompatibility antigens and most transmembrane proteins.
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The key steps in the development of a malaria vaccine through gene cloning are the identification of the proteins involved in host protective immunity and the cloning, identification, and expression of the genes coding for these proteins. Recent data have indicated that certain proteins synthesized at the late schizont-merozoite stage of Plasmodium falciparum play a major role in malaria immunity. This paper reports the identification, in a cDNA library, of recombinant clones corresponding to genes expressed specifically during the late schizont-merozoite stage of P. falciparum development. The 132 cDNA clones thus identified out of 10,000 were found to correspond to only 12 different genes, probably representing most of the major schizont-merozoite specific genes. The stage-specific cDNAs can be efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The protein products of some of these clones are recognized by monoclonal antibodies specific for late schizont-merozoite proteins. We conclude that only a small set of genes is specifically induced in the schizont-merozoite stage and that the stage-specific cDNA clones we have isolated are very likely to include the genes coding for the immunologically relevant proteins of P. falciparum.
The class II products of the major histocompatibility complex, also called Ia antigens, are composed of two polypeptide chains, the alpha and beta chains, both encoded within the major histocompatibility complex. In man, the class II antigens can be divided into three biochemically distinct groups called HLA-DR, HLA-DC, and HLA-SB. Our isolation of cDNA clones for the polymorphic beta chain of HLA-DR and HLA-DC has allowed us to study the organization of the class II genes. Here we identify the HLA-SB beta-chain gene in recombinant clones from a cosmid library generated from a consanguineous homozygous B-cell line. The SB beta-chain gene is linked to the SB alpha-chain gene and the two genes are in opposite orientation. A second SB beta-chain gene, corresponding to a new SB beta II locus, has also been identified and cloned. The SB beta-chain genes show much less allelic restriction site polymorphism than the genes for the beta chains of HLA-DR or HLA-DC.
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An important question concerning the mechanism of somatic mutation of immunoglobulin variable (V) genes is whether it involves all of the numerous V genes in a differentiated B cell, independent of location, or if it is restricted to a particular chromosomal site. Comparison of the sequence of two alleles of a given V gene shows that the mutations are limited to the rearranged V gene, while the same V gene on the other chromosome has not undergone mutation. This indicates that a V gene sequence alone is not sufficient for somatic mutation to take place. The mutation is therefore restricted to the rearranged V gene and consequently does not occur before rearrangement.
At least three polymorphic class II antigens are encoded in the human major histocompatibility complex (HLA): DR, DC and SB. cDNA clones encoding beta chains of HLA-DR antigen, derived from mRNA of a heterozygous B-cell line, were isolated and could be divided into four subsets, clearly distinct from cDNA clones encoding DC beta chains. Therefore, at least two non-allelic DR beta chain genes exist. The complete sequence of one of the DR beta chain cDNA clones is presented. It defines a putative signal sequence, two extracellular domains, a trans-membrane region and a cytoplasmic tail. Comparison with a DC beta chain cDNA clone revealed a homology of 70% between the two beta chains and that the two genes diverged under relatively little selective pressure. A set of amino acids conserved in immunoglobulin molecules was found to be identical in both DR and DC beta chains. Comparison of the DR beta chain sequence with the amino acid sequence of another DR beta chain revealed a homology of 87% and that most differences are single amino acid substitutions. Allelic polymorphism in DR beta chains has probably not arisen by changes in long blocks of sequence.
The Daudi cell line is characterized by an absence of HLA antigen on its surface. This has been attributed to a lack of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) while the heavy chain of HLA is present intracellularly. Karyotype analysis of Daudi cells has shown a deletion involving one of the beta 2-microglobulin alleles. It was generally believed that the absence of beta 2-microglobulin in that cell line resulted from an absence of expression of the remaining gene. We report here the unexpected finding of a normal amount of beta 2-microglobulin messenger RNA in Daudi cells. This was demonstrated by "Northern blot" hybridization with cDNA plasmid clones as a probe. This mRNA, however, when purified by hybridization-selection with beta 2-microglobulin plasmid DNA, is unable to function as messenger in protein synthesis and is therefore an inactive mRNA. The finding of a translationally inactive beta 2-microglobulin mRNA provides a new explanation for the absence of beta 2-microglobulin and therefore of HLA antigens in Daudi cells.
Different cDNA clones have been isolated that encode each of the three chains of HLA-DR antigens: alpha, intermediate and beta, as well as another beta chain, most likely DC. Whereas the DR alpha and intermediate chains seem encoded by single genes, the DR and DC beta chains are most likely encoded by multiple genes; furthermore, their polymorphism can be readily detected by restriction analysis of cellular DNA. Several genomic DNA clones were isolated for the DR and DC beta chain genes and for the intermediate chain gene. The sum of all distinct cDNA clones and genomic DNA clones for HLA-DR beta chains, isolated from a heterozygous cell line, represent five genes. This implies the existence of at least three nonallelic DR beta chain genes in addition to the DC beta chain genes. The complete sequence of one of the DR beta chains is presented. A genomic DNA clone for a DR beta chain was transferred into mouse L cells and found to be expressed into RNA of the same size as DR beta mRNA. The finding, among the genes for class II antigens, of multiple genes for the beta chain of HLA-DR, distinct from those of other known subregions such as DC, emphasizes the importance of gene transfer experiments, where individual genes can be expressed and tested for their functional role in the immune response.
HLA-DR antigens are polymorphic cell surface glycoproteins involved in the control of the immune response in man. They consist of two subunits, the alpha and the beta chains. In addition, an invariant glycoprotein of Mr 33,000 (DRp33) is associated intracellularly with HLA-DR antigens. A cDNA clone for DRp33, called 33-10, was isolated. Because no amino acid sequence has yet been determined for DRp33 the identification of cDNA clone 33-10 was based on selection of mRNA by hybridization, subsequent translation in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate supplemented with microsomes, and translation in microinjected Xenopus oocytes followed by immunoprecipitation with an anti-DR antiserum. The translation products assembled with DR alpha and beta chains in oocytes coinjected with all three mRNAs. Assembly of DR alpha and beta chains was also observed in the absence of DRp33 mRNA. Furthermore, when compared with DRp33 immunoprecipitated from a human B-cell line, translation products of the hybrid-selected mRNA showed (i) identical migration in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, (ii) identical apparent molecular weight in the absence of N-linked glycosylation, and (iii) a very similar two-dimensional peptide map. Transcription of the DRp33 gene into a mRNA 1,400 nucleotides long was observed in B cells but was undetectable in T-cell lines and was very low in liver. Thus, DRp33 appears to be coordinately expressed with DR alpha and beta chains. Hybridization to DNA of mouse-human somatic cell hybrids showed that DRp33 is encoded by a gene that is located outside the major histocompatibility complex.