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Biomedical subjects

D Blohm

Publications and source records attributed to D Blohm.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Monoclonal antibodies to human tumor necrosis factor alpha: in vitro and in vivo application.

Three stable murine hybridoma cell lines, which secrete monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), were established. None of the monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with lymphotoxin, interleukin 2 (IL 2) or Interferon gamma (IFN gamma). The highly species-specific monoclonal antibody, designated as mAb 195, neutralizes the cytotoxic activity of human and chimpanzee TNF alpha. This antibody was further used during in vivo studies to neutralize human TNF alpha in a murine animal model. The mAb 114 is a weakly neutralizing antibody that binds to a different epitope of TNF alpha than mAb 195. mAb 114 shows a wide range of cross-reactivity with TNF alpha of the following species: dog, pig, cynomolgus, rhesus, baboon and chimpanzee. The mAb 199 binds to human TNF alpha, but does not neutralize the cytotoxic activity. The epitope recognized by this mAb is in close proximity to mAb 114. A reproducible, sensitive immunoassay for human TNF7 alpha has been developed using the antibodies mAb 199 and mAb 195. The test is performed within 6 hr and detects TNF7 alpha in serum samples, with a limit of detection of 5 to 10 pg/mL.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Functional consequences of monocyte IL-2 receptor expression. Induction of IL-1 beta secretion by IFN gamma and IL-2.

The generation of an immune response involves the interaction of monocytes and T cells, but the events which regulate this interaction are not well understood. Culture of human peripheral blood monocytes in vitro induces low level surface expression of the p55 protein of the IL-2R and the expression of this receptor can be enhanced significantly by exposure to IFN-gamma. The addition of IL-2 to IFN-gamma-treated monocytes was shown to augment subsequent IL-1 beta secretion in the presence or absence of LPS. These effects could be partially blocked by anti-p55-IL-2R mAb. Nuclear "run on" assays and Northern analysis to probe for IL-1 beta transcripts showed enhanced IL-1 beta gene transcription and mRNA accumulation by monocytes treated with IFN-gamma and IL-2 but not in cultures that were obtained from monocytes treated with IL-2 alone. These results suggest that the T cell lymphokines IFN-gamma and IL-2 may act in a sequential fashion on monocytes to amplify the immune response by establishing a positive feedback circuit.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1989

Antibodies to CD4 in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The attachment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to target cells is mediated by a specific interaction between the viral envelope glycoprotein (gp120) and the CD4 receptor. Here we report that approximately 10% of HIV-1-infected individuals produce antibodies that recognize the extracellular portion of the CD4 molecule. Carboxyl-terminal deletions of CD4 that do not affect HIV-1 gp120 binding eliminate recognition of CD4 by patient antisera. In contrast, mutations in the amino-terminal domain of CD4 that attenuate HIV-1 gp120 binding do not diminish CD4 recognition by patient antisera. These results suggest that HIV-1 infection can generate antibodies directed against a region of the viral receptor distinct from the virus-binding domain.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Human tumor necrosis factor is a potent activator of the oxidative metabolism in human polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes: comparison with human lymphotoxin.

Besides their cytotoxic effects, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and Lymphotoxin (LT) were shown to modulate distinct PMN functions. Therefore, in the present study we evaluated the effect of recombinant human TNF and LT on the oxidative metabolism of isolated human PMN. In addition ultrastructural changes upon stimulation were evaluated. For detection of granulocyte activation different assay systems were used: 1) lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence (CL), 2) superoxide-dismutase (SOD) inhibitable cytochrome C-reduction (superoxide), 3) horseradish peroxidase-mediated oxidation of phenol red (hydrogen peroxide), 4) release of myeloperoxidase, 5) ultrastructural detection of hydrogen peroxide-production, 6) scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). TNF at concentrations as low as 10(-3) U/ml induced a distinct CL response, whereas LT appeared to be less active. PMN preincubated with TNF or LT for 150 min were completely deactivated to renewed stimulation with TNF, LT, and with GM-CSF, but responded to other triggers of the oxidative burst. Moreover, stimulation with f-met-leu-phe resulted in an enhanced response after preincubation with TNF or LT. The CL response was significantly inhibited by SOD, but not by catalase, D-mannitol, and DMTU, suggesting that mainly .O2- is responsible for the CL signal. The effect on PMN could be completely blocked by antibodies to TNF. Significant release of reactive oxygen species upon stimulation with TNF was also demonstrated by cytochrome C reduction and by detection of H2O2 using functional and ultrastructural assays. Only minimal amounts of peroxidase were released. Activation of PMN could be visualized by SEM and TEM. After addition of TNF at concentrations as low as 10(-1) U/ml PMN adhered to the substratum and were typically polarized within 15 min. Stimulation with LT resulted in comparable results, but based on its biologic activity in the cytotoxicity assay LT, in comparison to TNF, was significantly less active. Based on the data presented LT and, particularly, TNF appear to be potent activators of PMN oxidative metabolism.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Tumor necrosis factor/cachectin-induced intravascular fibrin formation in meth A fibrosarcomas.

Recent studies have indicated that TNF can promote activation of the coagulation mechanism by modulating coagulant properties of endothelial cells. In this report, we demonstrate that infusion of low concentrations of TNF (3 micrograms/animal) into mice bearing meth A fibrosarcomas leads to localized fibrin deposition with formation of occlusive intravascular thrombi in close association with the endothelial cell surface. Studies with 125I-fibrinogen showed tenfold enhanced accumulation of radioactivity in tumor within 2 h after TNF infusion. Western blots of tumor extracts subjected to SDS-PAGE and visualized with a fibrin-specific mAb indicated that fibrin forms in the tumor after the TNF infusion. Electron microscopic studies demonstrated fibrin strands, based on the characteristic 21-nm periodicity, which appeared to be adherent to the endothelial cell surface. Further ultrastructural studies indicated that fibrin formation, first evident within 30 min of the TNF infusion, led to occlusive thrombi limited to the tumor vascular bed (i.e., not in the normal mouse vasculature) within 2 h and was associated with an 80% reduction in tumor perfusion based on studies with Evans blue. In view of previous work concerning TNF induction of endothelial cell procoagulant activity, the hypothesis that tumor cell products prime the response of endothelium to this cytokine was tested. Supernatants of cultured meth A fibrosarcomas obtained serum-free conditions, which had no intrinsic procoagulant activity, considerably enhanced tissue factor induction in endothelium in response to submaximal concentrations of TNF. The factor(s) in the tumor-conditioned medium appeared to be distinct from IL-1, fibroblast growth factor, IFN-gamma, TNF, endotoxin, TGF-alpha, and TGF-beta. These studies delineate a novel model of localized clot formation in which thrombosis is initiated by a pathophysiologic mediator, TNF, and provides an opportunity to examine mechanisms in the microenvironment directing clot formation to the tumor vascular bed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces interleukin 1 production by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), which share a common cell lineage with macrophages, could produce factors such as IL-1. We show by Northern blot analysis and bioassays that PMN can be induced to accumulate mRNA specific for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta indistinguishable in size from IL-1 mRNA synthesized by activated human macrophages and consequently to release IL-1-like activity in their culture supernatants, that could be neutralized by a mAb to IL-1. The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was identified as a major physiologic inducer for PMN-IL-1.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Expression of Ti-plasmid DNA in E. coli: comparison of homologous fragments cloned from Ti plasmids of Agrobacterium strains C58 and Ach5.

Fragments of two Ti plasmids from Agrobacterium tumefaciens were cloned and studied for cross-hybridization. Homologous fragments were further investigated for areas of strong homology and mapped with various restriction enzymes. The fragments were inserted in two directions and the recombinant plasmid was brought into E. coli strains producing minicells. About five proteins were found to be coded by those fragments of the Ti plasmids.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1978

Restriction map of the antibiotic resistance plasmid R1drd-19 and its derivatives pKN102 (R1drd-19B2) and R1drd-16 for the enzymes BamHI, HindIII, EcoRI and SalI.

The conjugative R plasmid R1drd-19, mediating antibiotic resistance to ampicillin (Ap), chloramphenicol (Cm), kanamycin (Km), streptomycin (Sm) and sulfonamides (Su) was mapped using the restriction endonucleases BamHI, HindIII, EcoRI and SalI. BamHI generates 5 fragments (A-E) with molecular weights between 46 x 10(6) 0.25 x 10(6) dalton, and HindIII 8(A-H) between 42 x 10(6) dalton (representing mainly the RTF) and 0.25 x 10(6) dalton (representing the main part of the RTF) and 0.1 x 10(6) dalton. EcoRI recognises 17 sites and produces fragments (A-Q) with molecular weights between 11.7 and 0.1 x 10(6) dalton. SalI yields 7 fragments (A-G) of 16.5 to 2.0 x 10(6) dalton. A physical map was constructed from fragments obtained by partial digestion of R1drd-19 with one restriction enzyme, by double and triple digestion of the DNA with two or three enzymes with and without isolation of individual bands from preparative gels. In addition the restriction patterns of several mutants of R1drd-19 were compared with it. Evidence is presented which indicates that the derivatives of R1 investigated are generated by extended deletions, namely the copy mutant pKN102 which has lost the Km resistance, R1drd-16, which has lost all resistances other than Km and the Kms derivative of R1drd-16, which represents the pure RTF. The map of R1drd-19 is remarkably different from those of R100 and R6-5. Its molecular weight was estimated to be 62.5 Md. The circular fragment order for BamHI is: A-C-B-D-E, for HindIII: A-D-C-B-F-H-E-G, for EcoRI: A-C-K-B-F-J-O-D-H-L-G-P-Q-N-I-E-M- and for SalI A-B-C-D-G-F-E.

Ampicillin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Functionalization of covalent DNA-streptavidin conjugates by means of biotinylated modulator components.

Covalent DNA-streptavidin conjugates are versatile biomolecular coupling reagents, since they have binding capacity for both a complementary nucleic acid and four molecules of biotin. The DNA-streptavidin hybrid molecules have been investigated for their capabilities to bind two different types of biotinylated components. Thus, (i) a functional biomolecule, e.g., a single-stranded DNA fragment or an enzyme and (ii) low-molecular weight biotin derivatives ("modulators") were coupled stepwise with the hybrid molecules. Modulators were D-biotin, aminobiotin, and biotin-fluorescein conjugate as well as a lysine-rich 10mer peptide, containing a biotin and a fluorescein substituent. These modulators were chosen to affected the hybridization properties of the DNA-streptavidin conjugates. As investigated by surface-plasmon resonance and microplate solid-phase hybridization measurements, D-biotin, biotin-fluorescein, and aminobiotin decreased the efficiency of hybridization with complementary, surface-bound oligonucleotides to a varying extent. The basic peptide increased the conjugate's hybridization efficiency. Moreover, it was demonstrated in two examples how modulators can be utilized as additional functional domains of streptavidin-based conjugates. First, fluorescein-containing modulators were used as hapten groups, allowing a sensitive detection by means of specific antibodies directed against the modulator. Second, the biotinylated peptide was used as a carrier molecule to attach multiple fluorogenic lanthanide-chelate groups to the streptavidin conjugate, enabling its sensitive detection by time-resolved fluorometry. The applicability of this kind of bioconjugation strategy to generate sensor-probes for gene detection assays was demonstrated.

Biotinylation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antiviral effects of recombinant tumour necrosis factor in vitro.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) was first described as a factor in the serum of mice injected with tubercle bacilli (BCG) and several days later with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The gene encoding TNF has recently been cloned and pure recombinant human TNF is now available. TNF is known for its in vivo antitumour effect and in vitro cytotoxicity on certain transformed cell lines. Similarities in amino acid sequence and biological activity to lymphotoxin and cachectin have been reported, and very recently a growth-factor-like activity on diploid fibroblasts was observed. There is no similarity between these proteins and interferons (IFNs), which are also induced during in vivo induction of TNF. Here we describe the antiviral activity of pure recombinant human TNF in a typical in vitro antiviral assay which we discovered while investigating the possible role of TNF as an inducer of IFN.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗