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J Mestecky

Publications and source records attributed to J Mestecky.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Liposomes containing anti-idiotypic antibodies: an oral vaccine to induce protective secretory immune responses specific for pathogens of mucosal surfaces.

By using a gnotobiotic rat model system to study the induction of protective immune responses by anti-idiotype (anti-id) vaccines specific for antibodies directed at the cariogenic microorganism Streptococcus mutans, it was shown that administration of such an anti-id vaccine provided partial protection against dental caries after challenge with virulent microorganisms. Protective effects were first demonstrated by direct parenteral administration of the anti-id vaccine into salivary gland regions, as determined by reductions in microbial colonization and caries scores. Subsequently, the anti-id was incorporated into liposomes and administered by gastric intubation. Immunization by this regimen also resulted in a significant reduction in caries as well as S. mutans colonization of the oral cavity, with concomitant increases in salivary immunoglobulin A anti-S. mutans antibodies. These data provide evidence that anti-id vaccines specifically targeted at the secretory immune system can induce protective immune responses to pathogens of mucosal surfaces.

Administration, Oral↗

Serum antibody response in adult volunteers elicited by injection of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 12F polysaccharide alone or conjugated to diphtheria toxoid.

Conjugates of an uronic acid-containing capsular polysaccharide (CP), pneumococcous type 12F (Pn12F) bound to diphtheria toxoid (DT), were studied for safety and immunogenicity in adult volunteers. In mice, these conjugates, prepared with the same lot of DT and Pn12F-40234-006, a homogenous CP of high molecular weight, or Pn12-812408, a polydisperse CP with lower-molecular-weight material, were more immunogenic than the Pn12F alone and had T-cell dependent properties (A. Fattom, W. F. Vann, S.C. Szu, A. Sutton, X. Li, B. Bryla, G. Schiffman, J. B. Robbins, and R. Schneerson, Infect. Immun. 56:2292-2298, 1988). Adult volunteers, randomized into three groups, were injected either with one of these two conjugates or with Pnu-Imune, the 23 valent pneumococcus vaccine containing 25 micrograms of Pn12F as one of its components. Volunteers were injected two times, 4 weeks apart, with the Pn12F-DT conjugates and once with the Pnu-Imune. Side reactions following injection of the conjugates of Pnu-Imune were mild and short-lived. At 4 weeks and at 7 months after the first injection, higher levels of Pn12F antibodies were found in the volunteers injected with the conjugates than in the Pnu-Imune group (P less than 0.001). The conjugate prepared with the higher-molecular-weight Pn12F elicited higher levels of antibodies than the conjugate prepared with a lower-molecular-weight Pn12F preparation (P = 0.05). Both conjugates elicited about a 13-fold rise in DT antibodies.

Adolescent↗

Antibody-secreting peripheral blood lymphocytes induced by immunization with a conjugate consisting of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 12F polysaccharide and diphtheria toxoid.

Healthy adult volunteers were injected either with one of two conjugates composed of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 12F polysaccharide (Pn12F) covalently coupled to diphtheria toxoid or with Pn12F alone (as a component of Pnu-Imune, a 23-valent pneumococcus vaccine). The conjugates induced Pn12F-specific antibody-secreting cells in peripheral blood with numbers and isotype distribution similar to those induced by Pnu-Imune, with immunoglobulin A (IgA) as the predominant isotype. The conjugates also elicited high numbers of diphtheria toxoid-specific antibody-secreting cells of the IgG class. There was no distinct booster effect, since a second dose of the conjugates induced antibody-secreting cells at significantly lower numbers than after the first dose. In contrast to the cell numbers, the conjugate vaccines induced higher increases of IgA1 Pn12F antibodies in serum than did Pnu-Imune. However, neither the conjugates nor Pnu-Imune induced a secretory antibody response. Antibody levels in serum and saliva correlated poorly with the frequency of antigen-specific antibody-secreting cells. Circulating antibody-secreting cells present 7 days postimmunization were probably not responsible for the high increase of antibodies in serum but rather represented a population of in vivo-activated B cells with the ability to disseminate the humoral response from the antigen recognition site to distant locations of antibody production.

Adolescent↗

Secretory immunoglobulin A carries oligosaccharide receptors for Escherichia coli type 1 fimbrial lectin.

Type 1 fimbriae with mannose-specific lectins are widely distributed among members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and confer the ability to attach to a range of host cells, including colonic epithelial cells. The mucosal surfaces are protected by secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), which agglutinates microorganisms and prevents their attachment to host epithelial cells. This action has been attributed to a specificity of the antigen-combining site of mucosal immunoglobulins for bacterial and viral surface components. Here, we report a novel mechanism for the antibacterial effect of secretory IgA. Secretory IgA and IgA myeloma proteins, especially those of the IgA2 subclass, were shown to possess carbohydrate receptors for the mannose-specific lectin of type 1-fimbriated Escherichia coli. The presence of the high-mannose oligosaccharide chain Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc correlated with binding activity. The interaction between bacterial mannose-specific lectins and IgA receptor oligosaccharide resulted in agglutination of the bacteria and in inhibition of bacterial attachment to colonic epithelial cells. Thus, this interaction could form the basis for a broad antibacterial function of secretory IgA against enterobacteria regardless of the specificity of antibody molecules.

Agglutination↗

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) polymerization sites in human immunocytes: immunoelectron microscopic study.

The cytoplasmic affinity of polymeric IgA for secretory component (SC) and the expression of joining (J) chain were examined in pokeweek mitogen (PWM)-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to determine, on the ultrastructural level, the polymerization sites of human IgA. SC-binding was found in 5.7% of transformed PBL on day 7 of culture; SC-binding was observed in a high proportion of IgA-producing cells. A low proportion of IgM-producing cells also bound to SC, while there was virtually no SC-binding by IgG-producing cells. A high proportion of IgA- and IgM-producing cells expressed intracellular J chain, while approximately half of the IgG-producing cells were positive for J chain. The number of J chain-positive cells exceeded the number of SC-binding cells among transformed PBL on day 7 of culture. Immunoelectron microscopic study of the sites of SC-binding, and of IgA and J chain expression, revealed that polymerization of human IgA and the addition of J chain occur in the perinuclear space and endoplasmic reticulum, prior to immunoglobulin secretion.

Adult↗

Secretory immune system of the female reproductive tract. II. Local immune system in normal and infected fallopian tube.

The existence of a secretory immune system in the female genital tract has been demonstrated by the predominance of immunoglobulin (Ig)A-producing plasma cells in human fallopian tube, uterine cervix, and vagina. Epithelium lining fallopian tubes expresses a receptor for IgA, secretory component (SC), and thus resembles other secretory tissues such as intestine, mammary, lacrimal, and salivary glands. The present study extends the characterization of the local immune system in the fallopian tube and assesses its response to infection. We examined normal and infected fallopian tubes from surgical specimens, obtained at tubal ligation and abdominal hysterectomy, for the presence of Ig-producing cells, T cells, and natural killer cells. All tubular segments contained a predominance of IgA plasma cells in the subepithelial lamina propria. The epithelial cells were strongly positive for SC. Luminal contents stained positively for IgA, SC, and J chain, suggesting that this material contained secretory IgA. Submucosal plasma cells of IgM and IgG classes were less frequent than IgA. T cells were present in numbers approximately twofold greater than plasma cells in normal fallopian tubes. T-suppressor (CD8+) cells, which may function in the induction of immune tolerance, were present in the intraepithelial spaces. Infected segments of fallopian tubes demonstrated six- to tenfold increased numbers of plasma cells of all classes. These data suggest that a local immune system is functioning in the human fallopian tube and may provide a first line of defense against tubal infection and the prevention of tubal factor infertility.

Epithelium↗

In defense of mucosal surfaces. Development of novel vaccines for IgA responses protective at the portals of entry of microbial pathogens.

A common mucosal immune system occurs in mammalian species, where antigen stimulation of BALT and GALT induces an exodus of specific lymphocytes that home to the various mucosal effector sites. These responses are finely regulated and T cells and cytokines are of central importance for ultimate plasma cell differentiation and for production of S-IgA antibodies in our external secretions. The current need for vaccines, including those to respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tract infections as well as the universal efforts to develop immunity to HIV and AIDS, compels us to continue to better understand how we can use the common mucosal immune system to advantage for eventual prevention of infectious diseases. This article summarizes the various antigen delivery strategies and progress of oral vaccines for induction of protective mucosal immune responses to various viral and bacterial diseases.

Administration, Oral↗

IgA-induced eosinophil degranulation.

Eosinophils play an important role as effector cells in allergic, parasitic, and other conditions. The mechanism(s) by which eosinophils mediate their effector functions was studied by incubation of human normodense eosinophils with Sepharose beads coupled to various Ig isotypes as targets. Controls included eosinophils incubated alone or incubated with uncoated beads, human serum albumin-, or OVA-coated beads. An eosinophil granule protein, the eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), was measured as an indicator of eosinophil degranulation. Eosinophils released eosinophil-derived neurotoxin when incubated with Sepharose beads coupled to Ig of the IgG or IgA isotypes, as well as IgA-Fc fragments. Mixtures of IgG and IgA on beads did not act synergistically. Secretory IgA (sIgA) provided the most potent signal for eosinophil degranulation and was two to three times more potent than IgG. Furthermore, 2 to 17% of the normodense eosinophils bound to IgG- or IgA-coated beads, whereas 24 to 27% of the eosinophils bound to sIgA-coated beads. Thus, sIgA may be the principal Ig mediating eosinophil effector function at mucosal surfaces in helminth infections and hypersensitivity diseases, especially bronchial asthma.

Cell-Free System↗

Analysis of human IgG and IgA subclass antibody-secreting cells from localized chronic inflammatory tissue.

The chronic inflammatory diseases in humans have been intensively investigated, however the immune mechanisms underlying diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease, and periodontal disease (PD) remain elusive. In this study, we have analyzed the distribution of IgM, IgG, and IgA secreting cells with emphasis on the IgG and IgA subclasses among mononuclear cell populations isolated from gingiva at different stages of PD. Surgically removed tissues were treated with Dispase to gently dissociate cells and the Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation was used to enrich for viable mononuclear cells rich in lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells. The total numbers of plasma cells increased with the severity of disease. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that most Ig-containing cells were of the IgG isotype; however, significant numbers of IgA-positive cells but few IgM-positive cells were seen. This isolation procedure allowed analysis, at the single cell level, of the distribution of IgG and IgA subclasses of antibody-secreting cells with monoclonal antibodies to human IgG and IgA subclasses. For this, we selected four monoclonal anti-IgG subclass (anti-gamma 1, -gamma 2, -gamma 3, and -gamma 4) antibodies with no subclass cross reactivity for use in the enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Analysis of slight, moderate, and advanced stages of PD showed a progressive increase in spotforming cells (SFC) numbers, and the major isotype of SFC was IgG followed by IgA. The major IgG subclass SFC seen was IgG1 followed by IgG2 whereas similar numbers of IgG3 and IgG4 SFC were observed, a pattern also seen with cells from synovium of RA patients and in mitogen-triggered spleen and PBMC. In terms of the IgA subclass distribution, IgA1 predominated in moderate stages, whereas a selective increase in IgA2 SFC were seen in the more advanced stage of PD. These results show that significant numbers of viable plasma cells/Ig-secreting cells can be isolated from inflamed gingival tissues. Further, careful analysis has shown that IgG subclass responses in gingiva are similar to those found in synovia of RA subjects, and in stimulated PBMC and spleen. However, it should be noted that the number of IgG4- and IgA2-secreting cells increased in the advanced stage of PD.

Antibody-Producing Cells↗

Non-specific mesangial staining with antibodies against cytomegalovirus in immunoglobulin-A nephropathy.

The glomerular staining of a commercial polyclonal antiserum against cytomegalovirus (CMV) and of a mixture of 13 monoclonal anti-CMV antibodies in twelve patients with immunoglobulin-A (IgA) nephropathy was examined. The polyclonal antiserum stained the mesangium in all patients. The CMV staining coincided only partially with that of IgA in five patients and the staining distributions were discordant in six. The monoclonal antibodies stained mesangium in only one patient. Serum levels of IgA and IgG anti-CMV antibodies did not differ between patients and controls. In western blot analysis, the polyclonal antiserum reacted with three proteins in uninfected human fibroblasts. Absorption of the antiserum with uninfected fibroblasts reduced the reactivity on western blot analysis and eliminated glomerular staining in five of six renal biopsy samples. It is concluded that the previously reported binding of anti-CMV antibodies to glomeruli from patients with IgA nephropathy may be the result of contaminating antibodies to human antigens.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Immune responses to influenza virus in orally and systemically immunized mice.

In our studies on the induction of an immune response by oral immunization, we have explored the potential of a novel approach for antigen delivery by microencapsulation. This procedure preserved the immunogenicity of the influenza virus introduced by either systemic or oral routes. Furthermore, the levels of specific antibodies in serum and in saliva were enhanced and lasted longer (up to 4 months) in animals immunized with of antigens in microencapsulated form than in animals immunized with equal doses of free suspension. Preliminary challenge experiments showed a correlation between levels of antibodies and protection. All mice systemically immunized were protected against the virus, while mice orally immunized with lower doses of microencapsulated antigen had better survival rates than those immunized with higher doses. Additional experiments suggested that low doses of immunogen were able to generate better protective immunity than high doses, which may instead be tolerogenic. Further experiments with a well characterized microencapsulated antigen (size of microcapsules, time of release of antigen, as well as its dose and form) will be necessary to establish conditions for optimal immunization protocols applicable for the oral or systemic routes.

Administration, Oral↗

Local production of IgA- and IgM-rheumatoid factors in adult periodontal disease.

The enzyme-linked immunospot assay was used to enumerate both the number and the frequency of spontaneous IgG, IgA, and IgM immunoglobulin-secreting cells and IgA- and IgM-rheumatoid factor (RF)-producing cells present in the gingivae and peripheral blood of adult periodontitis patients. Cells from 29 patients were incubated on plates coated with human IgG, Fc, or F(ab')2 fragments and on plates coated with class-specific anti-human antibodies and secreted antibodies were subsequently visualized by means of an immunoenzymatic procedure. The data indicate that (1) IgA-RF- and IgM-RF-secreting cells are frequently present in the gingiva of adult periodontitis patients; (2) production of RF in gingivae of adult periodontitis patients occurs in the absence of demonstrable RF production by simultaneously obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells, suggesting that local autoimmune reactions may occur in this disease; and (3) lack of correlation between IgA-RF and IgM-RF production in diseased gingiva suggests that the two RF isotypes are regulated independently of each other.

Adult↗

Distribution of immunoglobulin isotypes including IgA subclasses in adult, juvenile, and rapidly progressive periodontitis.

The plasma cell population in gingival biopsies from 3 groups of patients with adult, juvenile, and rapidly progressive periodontitis was characterized with respect to the distribution of individual immunoglobulin isotypes, including IgA subclasses, by paired immunofluorescence staining. The median ratios of IgG:IgA plasma cells in gingival connective tissue from the 3 groups were 2.7 (range 2.0-6.5), 3.0 (1.4-6.2), and 2.0 (1.2-4.0), respectively. Cells staining for intracellular IgM were found in low numbers in all biopsies (range 0.3-6.3% of all plasma cells). No statistically significant differences were observed between the 3 patient groups. In all 3 groups, the IgA plasma cell population was predominantly of the IgA1 isotype. One function of IgA seems to be to dampen inflammatory side-effects of other immune effector systems. The demonstrated predominance of IgA1 plasma cells indicates that the majority of IgA produced locally in gingivae of patients with periodontal diseases is susceptible to the IgA1-specific proteases excreted by important members of the disease-associated subgingival microflora. This may be an important factor in the apparently uncontrolled inflammation and tissue degradation taking place in the marginal periodontium during active periodontal disease.

Adolescent↗

IgA subclasses of human colostral antibodies specific for microbial and food antigens.

The distribution of total and antigen-specific IgA1 and IgA2 antibodies in human colostrum was determined by ELISA using subclass-specific monoclonal reagents. In 18 samples of colostrum the mean ratio of total IgA1 to IgA2 was found to be 53:47, respectively, but significant individual variations were observed. In two samples we found unusually low levels of IgA1, while IgA2 was in the normal range. IgA1 and IgA2 antibody activities were determined against the following antigens: bovine gamma-globulin and beta-lactoglobulin, tetanus toxoid, protein antigen I/II of Streptococcus mutans, influenza virus vaccine, polysaccharides of pneumococcal, meningococcal and Haemophilus influenzae type b origin, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli K235. The IgA antibody activity directed against the polysaccharides was almost equally distributed between the two subclasses. However, antibody activity specific for protein antigens was found predominantly in the IgA1 subclass while anti-LPS activity was mostly of the IgA2 subclass.

Antibody Specificity↗

Bacteroides-specific IgG and IgA subclass antibody-secreting cells isolated from chronically inflamed gingival tissues.

The emergence of cells that produce IgG and IgA subclass antibodies to Bacteroides gingivalis (Porphyromonas gingivalis) fimbriae and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigens was examined in mononuclear cells isolated from inflamed gingiva of different stages (slight, moderate or advanced) of adult periodontitis (AP). Antigen-specific IgM, IgG (including IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4) and IgA (including IgA1 and IgA2) producing cells were enumerated by the ELISPOT assay and were compared with total Ig-producing cells of each isotype or subclass. In advanced AP, the B. gingivalis fimbriae-specific IgG- and IgA-secreting cells represented 5% of total IgG- or IgA-secreting cells, while those from the moderate stage comprised approximately 1% of these two isotypes. Cells producing antibody specific for B. gingivalis LPS were observed at frequencies of 0.1% and 0.4% for IgG and IgA cells, respectively in the advanced stage. When IgG subclasses were analysed in moderate AP, the anti-fimbriae subclass responses were largely IgG1 (60%), followed by IgG2 (20%), IgG3 (10%) and IgG4 (10%). Fimbriae-specific IgG subclass responses were elevated in the advanced stage of AP, and IgG4 (40%) and IgG1 (30%) were dominant, followed by IgG3 (20%) and IgG2 (10%). IgA1 cells predominated in both the moderate and advanced stages, however a relative increase in IgA2 cells occurred in advanced AP. Mononuclear cells isolated from gingiva of AP patients did not contain cells producing antibody to antigens such as Escherichia coli K235 LPS, cholera toxin or the hapten dinitrophenyl coupled to bovine serum albumin. These results show that local IgG and IgA subclass responses occur to a protein antigen of a major periodontal disease (PD)-associated pathogen, B. gingivalis, and the increase in IgG4 and IgA2 responses may be associated with host protection.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗