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Biomedical subjects

E Brandt

Publications and source records attributed to E Brandt.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Detection of interleukin 1 with human dermal fibroblasts.

A fibroblast proliferation assay was developed for the detection of interleukin 1 (IL 1). Proliferation was measured by thymidine incorporation and by staining of cellular proteins with crystal violet. Response of fibroblasts was optimal at cell numbers of 4,000 to 9,000 cells/culture and an incubation period of four days. Serum content of the culture medium, ranging from 1 to 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), enhanced the proliferative response in a concentration-dependent manner, while higher concentrations of FCS did not lead to further increase. Both detection methods were equally suitable for the measurement of IL 1 biological activity in purified and crude preparations. In contrast to the conventional thymocyte comitogenic assay, the fibroblasts in this assay did not proliferate in response to IL 2 or IL 6. Fibroblasts were weakly stimulated by recombinant (rec) tumor necrosis factor (rec TNF-alpha); they did, however, not proliferate in response to mitogens, lipopolysaccharide, rec granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rec GM-CSF), macrophage-CSF, rec interferon-gamma, insulin or transferrin. The detection of IL 1 activity by crystal violet staining of human dermal fibroblasts was easier and faster than by measurement of thymidine incorporation of fibroblasts or mouse thymocytes; without loss of sensitivity, the sample capacity of the IL 1 assay could be enhanced, and the use of experimental animals was avoided.

Cell Count↗

Functional and molecular characterization of a monoclonal antibody against the 165-186 peptide of human IL-1 beta.

A synthetic peptide of human recombinant interleukin 1 beta (hrIL-1 beta) 165-186, which exhibits biological activity in the human fibroblast assay, was used as an immunizing antigen to obtain a murine monoclonal antibody (MoAb) termed FIB 1. This MoAb, an IgG1, reacts specifically with hrIL-1 beta, but not with hrIL-1 alpha, as measured in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The MoAb FIB 1 detects the characteristic 17 kDa IL-1 protein in Western blots. Binding to the antigen is specific, as deduced also from the close correlation of ELISA immunoreactivity with IL-1 biological activity. The anti-IL-1 beta 165-186 Ab specifically neutralizes the biological activity of hrIL-1 beta and native IL-1, as measured by the IL-1-induced proliferation of murine thymocytes and human fibroblasts and the IL-1-dependent IL-2 production by murine T cells (EL4-6.1). Fifty per cent of hrIL-1 beta activity (25 U/ml, or 0.25 ng/ml) has neutralized by less than 30 micrograms/ml of MoAb. Furthermore, FIB 1 recognizes intracellular IL-1 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The anti-IL-1 beta 165-186 Ab does not react with the shorter IL-1 beta fragment 161-173 in solid-phase ELISA, therefore the binding region seems to be localized in the amino acid sequence VALGLKEKNLYLS. A sandwich-ELISA, using a polyclonal sheep anti-IL-1 beta 251-269 Ab as the capture antibody and an anti-IL-1 beta 165-186 MoAb as the detecting probe, allowed the determination of IL-1 beta from crude culture supernatants.

Animals↗

Characterization of a platelet derived factor modulating phagocyte functions and cooperating with interleukin 1.

During experiments aiming at the generation of monoclonal antibodies against native human interleukin 2 an antibody of different specificity was obtained, recognizing a polypeptide contaminant within the antigen preparation used for immunization. This antigen was shown to represent a release protein from human blood platelets. Amino acid sequence analysis of the immunopurified antigen revealed its identity as beta-thromboglobulin antigen. Depending on the source of antigen (freshly lysed platelets, platelet containing cell culture supernatants) various forms of the polypeptide, differing in the degree of N-terminal truncation, were found. Beta-thromboglobulin antigen preparations differing in peptide composition also had different capacities for modulating spontaneous as well as Fc-receptor dependent chemiluminescence of human monocytes and granulocytes. In contrast to former reports, no mitogenic activity for human dermal fibroblasts was found with beta-TG antigen (CTAP III) alone, but only in combination with human interleukin 1 and heparin, the three molecules acting synergistically. These findings indicate that beta-TG antigen could play a functional role in linking the blood clotting system to the immune system.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Functional and molecular characterization of a monoclonal antibody against human interleukin 2.

Human recombinant interleukin 2 (r-IL2) was used as an immunizing antigen to yield a murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) termed BO-7. Although the antibody binds to r-IL2 more avidly, it also reacted strongly with IL2 from natural sources in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), allowing the detection of the purified lymphokine at sensitivity levels closely approaching those found with the IL2 biological assay. Binding to the antigen is specific, as deduced from the close correlation of ELISA immunoreactivity with IL2 biological activity and from immunoblot analysis of electrophoretically separated IL2 from various sources. Binding studies with synthetic IL2-derived peptides revealed the location of the epitope, which is recognized by mAb BO-7: A peptide representing amino acid residues 59-72 (peptide 84) is strongly reactive with the antibody, while an overlapping peptide (residues 48-69) is not. Peptide 84, moreover, can be applied for immunopurification of mAb BO-7 and competes for binding to the antibody with the intact IL2 molecule. In turn, another monoclonal anti-IL2 antibody (35H10), showing the same reactivity pattern with peptides, competes with mAb BO-7 for binding to IL2. The application of mAb BO-7 as a specific reagent for the quantitation of IL2 in a sandwich-type ELISA is demonstrated.

Animals↗

Immunoglobulin production of human lymphocytes stimulated by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I and pokeweed mitogen: differential effects of recombinant interleukin-2.

The number of immunoglobulin-secreting cells (ISC) upon stimulation with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) or Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) in recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-supplemented cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and co-cultures of B and T cells was studied. It has been shown that the addition of rIL-2 to culture can enhance or depress the number of ISC depending on the polyclonal B-cell activator used for culture stimulation. The SAC-induced response was enhanced in the presence of rIL-2, while the number of ISC in PWM-stimulated cultures was depressed. Moreover, in cultures stimulated simultaneously by both activators, the suppressive effect of rIL-2 prevailed, indicating that the reported direct effect of the lymphokine on SAC-activated B cells cannot overcome the suppressive activity of PWM-induced suppressor T cells. rIL-2 could not activate suppressor T cells in the absence of PWM, and has no effect on the number of helper or suppressor cells in the culture.

Antibody-Producing Cells↗

Binding characteristics of a monoclonal antibody against human IL-2 and its application for IL-2 measurement.

A murine monoclonal antibody, obtained by immunization with human recombinant interleukin 2 (r-IL-2), is presented. The antibody, termed BO-7, recognizes r-IL-2 as well as natural human IL-2 from different sources. As deduced from binding studies with synthetic IL-2 derived peptides, the epitope reactive with the antibody is associated with amino-acid residues 59-72 of the intact IL-2 molecule. The application of the antibody as a specific reagent for the quantitation of IL-2 from crude supernatants including samples from lectin-stimulated mononuclear cells in a sandwich-type ELISA is presented.

Animals↗

Assessing diagnostic tests once an optimal cutoff point has been selected.

The specificity and sensitivity of a quantitative diagnostic test depends on the chosen cutoff point. The common practice of selecting a cutoff point that maximizes the specificity plus the sensitivity, as judged from the observed test results, is studied here by simulation. Test performance is on average assessed too optimistically by this procedure--a phenomenon of importance when sample sizes are small. For example, the average positive bias is up to 15% of the test performance for sample sizes of 25. Furthermore, binomial calculated standard errors of specificity and sensitivity estimates are incorrect. A Monte Carlo statistical method--the "bootstrap procedure"--is applied to correct for bias and to estimate standard errors, including the standard error of the optimal cutoff point. Independent and paired comparisons of two diagnostic tests are also considered when optimal cutoff points have been selected. For this purpose, binomial statistical tests behave satisfactorily. Examples of power functions are presented.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Isolation and subfractionation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by density gradient centrifugation on Percoll.

The use of Percoll for isolation and subfractionation of PBMC and T-lymphocytes by discontinuous and continuous density gradient centrifugation is described: PBMC were isolated from human peripheral blood by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation on Percoll. The use of Percoll instead of Ficoll-Isopaque has the advantage that Percoll, in contrast to Ficoll-Isopaque, does not alter the density of monocytes. Therefore, a better separation of lymphocytes and monocytes was achieved after subsequent continuous density gradient centrifugation on Percoll. E-RFC were isolated by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation after a first low speed centrifugation step banding lymphocytes and SRBC on a Percoll-Ficoll cushion, and a subsequent high speed centrifugation step separating high density rosettes and SRBC from low density non-E-RFC. The advantage of this procedure is the short time of performance and that there is no need to resuspend the lymphocyte/SRBC pellet. PBMC, nph.PBMC T-lymphocytes were further subfractionated by continuous density gradient centrifugation on Percoll. The method described here resulted in a good separation of lymphocytes and monocytes. However, to obtain lymphocyte fractions with minute numbers of contaminating monocytes, a depletion of monocytes prior to further subfractionation of the lymphocytes by continuous density gradient centrifugation is recommended. A marker analysis of T-lymphocytes subfractionated by continuous density gradient centrifugation on Percoll shows that high density T-lymphocytes are enriched in ANAE positive lymphocytes of type 1 and depleted of ANAE positive lymphocytes of type 2. Low density T-lymphocytes are enriched in ANAE type 2 cells and depleted of ANAE type 1 cells. On the other hand, no considerable differences were found when analyzing the T-cells from different fractions for differentiation antigens by means of monoclonal antibodies (anti Lyt 3, OKT4, and OKT8). The results may indicate that subfractionation of T-lymphocytes by continuous density gradient centrifugation on Percoll provided T-cells in different functional states rather than T-cells of distinct subclasses.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Chemoprophylactic activity of flubendazole against adult Brugia pahangi transplanted into the peritoneal cavity of jirds.

Jirds were treated by the subcutaneous injection of 100 mg flubendazole per kilogram. They were infected subsequently by the implantation of adult Brugia pahangi intraperitoneally at different times. No adult worms survived in jirds treated 9 wk before infection. Thereafter, increasing numbers of adult worms survived so tht by 21 wk there were almost as many worms in the treated jirds as in untreated controls.

Animals↗