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Biomedical subjects

J Wijdenes

Publications and source records attributed to J Wijdenes.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Clinical and immunological follow-up of patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma treated with an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody.

Ten AIDS patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (four in stage II A, four in stage III A, one in stage III B and one in stage IV of the disease) were treated for 14 days with B-E8, an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody (IgG1), at a daily dose of 10 mg. No side-effects were observed, but no patients experienced a complete or partial response. No modification was noted in the analysis of lymphocyte subsets, except for a transient decline in the number of cells expressing CD56, accompanied by altered NK activity in four of the seven evaluable patients. Anti-IL-6 mAb prevented the binding of IL-6 to its cell membrane receptor, as documented by the decline in C reactive protein levels. However, anti-IL-6 mAb induced the circulation of significant amounts of IL-6, probably in the form of monomeric immune complexes. The sera, analysed on B9 cell line, demonstrated a stimulating activity, indicating that hypersensitive cells were able to cleave these complexes. This observation, together with the clinical inefficacy of the treatment, should prompt us to be careful with the use of unmanipulated single monoclonal antibodies, especially in cancer patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Expression of CD28 and CD40 in human myeloma cells: a comparative study with normal plasma cells.

CD28 and CD40 are important activation pathways for T and B lymphocytes, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine the phenotype of plasma cells (PCs) and the expression of these two molecules, CD28 and CD40. Therefore, we have compared their expression on normal PCs from bone marrows and tonsils with that of freshly explanted malignant PCs from 31 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and those from 12 human myeloma cell lines. For this purpose, we first described a new approach to identify plasma cells in bone marrow using two-color immunofluorescence analysis with anti-CD38 and B-B4 antibodies. B-B4 specifically recognizes all PC; all B-B4 cells are located within the CD38 bright fraction and vice versa. CD19 and CD56 expression, which was previously shown to discriminate normal from malignant PCs, was also evaluated. In the current report, we show that normal PCs express CD19, CD40, and CD56 (weakly as a subset) and lack CD28. Regardless of whether they express CD19, CD56 is clearly upregulated during the medullary chronic and accelerated phases of MM, but is absent in patients with extramedullary involvement. Although the level of CD40 expression is variable, only patients in accelerated phases expressed high CD40 levels. Finally, whereas CD28 was negative in chronic phase (as in normal PCs), it was expressed in 63% of the patients in accelerated phases and 100% of cell lines. Our data strongly suggest that both disease activity and medullary homing (or not) are correlated with the expression of CD19, CD40, CD28, and CD56 on human myeloma cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Administration of an anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody to patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and lymphoma: effect on lymphoma growth and on B clinical symptoms.

Increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) production and expression by malignant cells of the IL-6 receptor has been evidenced in a subgroup of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, suggesting that this cytokine plays a role in lymphoma growth and in B clinical symptoms. In this study, the effect of the administration of an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) was analyzed in 11 patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus-1 and suffering from an immunoblastic or a polymorphic large-cell lymphoma. The antibody (BE-8, 10 to 40 mg/day) was administered for 21 days. Neutralization of in vivo IL-6 effect was assessed by monitoring C-reactive protein levels in the serum. In 5 patients, the lymphoma progressed during treatment. Among them were the 2 patients in whom endogenous IL-6 effect was not neutralized. Five patients experienced a stabilization, and 1 a partial remission. This effect on lymphoma growth lasted for 8 to 28 weeks. The anti-IL-6 MoAb had a clear effect on lymphoma-associated fever and cachexia. The mean body weight increase was 1.4 +/- 0.5 kg between day 1 and day 21, and reached 12 kg in 120 days in 1 patient who received three courses of treatment. Side effects were a consistent but moderate thrombocytopenia, and an occasional and moderate decrease of neutrophil counts. Immunization against the MoAb was observed in only 2 patients. These results indicate that in some cases of lymphomas growth of malignant cells may be partially IL-6-dependent and that neutralizing endogenous effect of IL-6 completely abrogates B clinical symptoms.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Role of IL-6 in promoting growth of human EBV-induced B-cell tumors in severe combined immunodeficient mice.

To investigate the role of IL-6 as a growth factor in EBV-induced B lymphoproliferative disorders in immune-suppressed patients, we analyzed two B cell lines derived from two different patients for IL-6 production, expression of the p80 chain of the IL-6 receptor, and the effects on cell growth in vitro and in vivo of neutralizing mAbs specific for IL-6. One of the cell lines (LCL41) was shown to produce large amounts of IL-6 and to express IL-6 receptors. Its in vitro growth was weakly inhibited by the anti-IL-6 MAb. After inoculation into SCID mice, this cell line provoked human B cell tumors, the growth of which was controlled by the anti-IL-6 mAb. Indeed, four i.v. infusions of 0.1 mg at days 30 to 42 after i.p. inoculation of cells led to complete remission in most mice and long term survival in 40% of cases. In contrast, the other B cell line (LCL48) produced smaller amounts of IL-6; its growth was not inhibited in vitro by the anti-IL-6 Ab and was poorly blocked in vivo in SCID mice (40% of remissions and 20% of long-term survival). In addition, a clone derived in vivo in SCID mice from LCL48 was completely IL-6-independent. These results demonstrate that B cell tumors transformed in vivo by EBV in immune-suppressed patients are heterogeneous with respect to IL-6 requirements for proliferation. An antitumoral effect in some of them can be achieved by neutralizing the IL-6-dependent proliferative loop.

Animals↗

In vivo production of interleukin-10 by non-T cells in rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus. A potential mechanism of B lymphocyte hyperactivity and autoimmunity.

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a potent stimulator of B lymphocytes in vitro. In vivo dysregulation of IL-10 gene expression was therefore analyzed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Spontaneous production of IL-10 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in untreated patients with either RA (n = 10), SS (n = 10), or SLE (n = 10), and in 15 normal control subjects. RESULTS: IL-10 production was dramatically higher in RA, SS, and SLE patients than in controls. In each group, both B lymphocytes and monocytes, but not T lymphocytes, produced IL-10. CONCLUSION: IL-10 production is increased in RA, SS, and SLE. It may play a role in B lymphocyte hyperactivity and in the development of autoimmunity.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Involvement of gp130/interleukin-6 receptor transducing component in interleukin-11 receptor.

The recently cloned interleukin (IL)-11 displays many biological properties in common with those reported for IL-6. In order to analyze the nature and the functionality of the IL-11 receptor we developed a proliferative assay using the human multifactor-dependent cell line TF1. We showed that a blocking monoclonal antibody GPX7 raised against the gp130/IL-6 receptor transducing subunit was also able to inhibit the IL-11-triggered TF1 line proliferation. In addition, involvement of gp130 in IL-11 signaling was demonstrated by an induction of the transducing protein phosphorylation in response to IL-11, as observed for IL-6. In contrast, the blocking monoclonal antibody B-R6, which recognized the gp80/IL-6 binding subunit failed to interfere with the IL-11 proliferative signal in the TF1 cell line. Similarly, we did not observe any competition between IL-6 and IL-11 for a putative common binding site on the cell surface. These results suggest that the IL-11 binding component is different from the gp80/IL-6 receptor. In conclusion, IL-11, along with IL-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M and ciliary neurotrophic factor, belongs to the same family of cytokines, using gp130 as a transducing protein.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The effect of anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody treatment on immunopathological changes in psoriatic skin.

Recent clinical studies which showed the therapeutic effect of cyclosporin A and of anti-CD4 MoAb emphasized the role of activated CD4+ T cells infiltrating the lesional skin in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The aim of the present study was to analyze the mode of action of anti-CD4 MoAb in 3 psoriatic patients who experienced an anti-CD4 MoAb-induced clinical improvement maximal 3-4 weeks after the onset of an 8-day therapy. We evaluated the effect of anti-CD4 MoAb treatment on the phenotype of resident and passenger inflammatory skin cells in lesional skin samples. We observed a gradual improvement of 3 out of 4 histopathologic features including parakeratosis, papillomatosis and acanthosis. In the dermis there was no modification in the density of the dermal mononuclear cell infiltrate, which consisted mainly of CD3+, CD45RO+, TCR alpha beta+, CD11a+, HLA-DR+T cells with a CD4/CD8 cell ratio of 1.5/1. Therefore as previously observed for peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the number of CD4+ T cells infiltrating the dermis remained unaffected by the treatment. In contrast, CD4 MoAb treatment was associated with drastic changes in the epidermis. These included a decrease in both CD4+ and CD8+ epidermal T cell infiltrate, diminished numbers of ICAM-1+ and HLA-DR+ keratinocytes and restored numbers of CD1a+ epidermal Langerhans cells. We conclude from this study that clinical improvement of psoriasis by anti-CD4 MoAb therapy paralleled: (1) a decrease in epidermal T cells, and (2) a down-regulation of keratinocyte activation markers (ICAM-1 and HLA-DR). These results suggest that the observed changes are secondary to down-regulation of inflammatory cytokine production by T cells in situ.

Adult↗

Soluble interleukin 6 receptor in biological fluids from human origin.

OBJECTIVE: measurement of baseline soluble interleukin 6 receptor (sIL-6R) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in biological fluids in non-pathological conditions. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS: Blood and urine were obtained from healthy volunteers. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and synovial fluid (SF) were obtained from patients during spinal puncture and athroscopy, respectively. Only CSF and SF of patients with proven non-pathological conditions were used in this study. Both sIL-6R and IL-6 were measured using ELISAs. It was shown that neither did sIL-6R interfere with the IL-6 ELISA nor did IL-6 interfere in the sIL-6R ELISA. Moreover, addition of recombinant sIL-6R to the IL-6 bio-assay (B9) did not influence IL-6 recovery. RESULTS: using our sIL-6R ELISA we found baseline levels for sIL-6R in serum of 76.6 +/- 19.3 ng/ml in serum and 3.7 +/- 1.3 ng/ml in urine. In non-pathological conditions sIL-6R concentrations in CSF are 1.6 +/- 0.4 ng/ml, and in SF 11.6 +/- 3.3 ng/ml, while IL-6 concentrations are below detectable ranges in these fluids. CONCLUSIONS: sIL-6R levels are detectable in serum, urine, CSF and SF during non-pathological conditions. sIL-6R levels in serum outrange levels in CSF, urine and SF and large interindividual differences in baseline concentrations for sIL-6R exist.

Biological Assay↗

Humanization of mouse anti-human IL-2 receptor antibody B-B10.

Mouse monoclonal anti-human IL-2 receptor antibody (B-B10) inhibits IL-2-dependent human T-cell proliferation. It has been used in clinical trials in the transplantation field and promising results are being accumulated. Mouse B-B10 antibody was humanized by grafting all CDRs and some framework amino acid residues onto human antibodies, KAS for VH and PAY for V kappa. Nine humanized B-B10s with differently grafted framework residues were constructed and assessed for their biological activities. One of these humanized B-B10, M5, showed nearly the same activity as the mouse B-B10. The 49th residue of V kappa was demonstrated to play a crucial role in the antigen-antibody interaction by 3-D structure analysis with a computer modeling system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human anti-mouse antibody response to the injection of murine monoclonal antibodies against IL-6.

We analysed human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) in 12 patients (six with multiple myeloma (MM) and six with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) who were treated with B-E8, an IgG1 MoAb against IL-6. Efficiency of the treatment was evidenced by the drop in the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), the in vivo production of which is under the control of IL-6. Three patients with MM and the six patients with MRCC became immunized to the injected MoAb. HAMA appeared between days 7 and 15 after the beginning of the treatment. The nine patients made IgG antibodies; four also made IgM. All immunized patients made anti-idiotype antibodies specific to B-E8. Two of them also developed HAMA directed to murine IgG1 isotype; in these two patients B-E8 MoAb cleared rapidly from the circulation with loss of treatment efficiency. In the patients who developed only anti-idiotype antibodies, serum levels of B-E8 remained unchanged and CRP production remained inhibited, indicating that treatment remained efficient in the presence of HAMA. Circulating B-E8 MoAbs were still able to bind to IL-6 and to inhibit IL-6-dependent proliferation despite the presence of anti-idiotypic HAMA. Therefore, in contrast to HAMA produced against MoAb directed against cellular targets, HAMA against anti-IL-6 MoAb idiotopes led neither to clearance nor to functional inactivation of the injected MoAb. This was further shown by resuming the B-E8 treatment with success in a patient who still had anti-idiotypic HAMA.

Adult↗

Influence of CD28 co-stimulation on cytokine production is mainly regulated via interleukin-2.

Interaction of CD28 with its ligand B7 plays an important role in the initiation of immune responses. The co-stimulatory signal generated by cross-linking of CD28 molecules results in enhanced T-cell proliferation and augmentation of cytokine production. In particular, mRNA levels of T-helper 1 (Th1)-type cytokines, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) are reported to be strongly increased. We investigated the effect of CD28 co-stimulation on the production of Th2-type cytokines. CD28 mAb induced a strong augmentation of IL-2 secretion in activated T-cell clones. Production of IFN-gamma was also enhanced, but the increase in IL-4 secretion was generally moderate. Augmentation of IL-4 production by CD28 was most pronounced in clones that produced low amounts of IL-2, compared to clones producing high levels of IL-2. It was found that the up-regulation of IL-4 by CD28 co-stimulation was mainly controlled indirectly via an increase of IL-2. Some clones could produce IL-4 in an IL-2-independent manner; in these situations CD28 co-stimulation had no augmenting effect on the production of IL-4. The secretion of IL-4 by peripheral blood CD4+ T cells, that were activated with B7-expressing transfectants, was also found to be dependent on IL-2. Finally, Northern blot analysis confirmed that co-stimulation of CD28 primarily affected IL-2 production, and that inhibition of IL-2/IL-2 receptor interaction abolished the augmenting action of CD28 monoclonal antibody on the production of the Th2-type cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 and of the Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma.

Blotting, Northern↗

Treatment of steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease with an anti-IL-2-receptor monoclonal antibody (BT 563) in children who received T cell-depleted, partially matched, related bone marrow transplants.

Fifteen children with steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD, grade II-IV) were treated with a murine monoclonal antibody (BT 563) specific for the alpha subunit of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R). All had inherited diseases of the bone marrow and had received T cell-depleted marrow from a partially matched related donor. BT 563 antibody was given at a daily dose of 0.2 mg/kg. Treatment was continued until GVHD was controlled and the methylprednisolone administration was tapered to < or = 2 mg/kg/day. No side-effects were noted. Eleven of the 15 patients reached complete remission and a partial remission occurred in two. This good response rate was associated with early treatment (mean time after GVHD onset 7.7 +/- 5.3 days) and prolonged treatment (mean 25.9 +/- 10.6 days) compared with previously published data on BT 563 antibody usage. Relapses occurred in six of the 13 responders but a further remission was induced by the same treatment. Chronic GVHD developed in six cases and one of them died of GVHD-associated infection. Ten of the 15 patients are long-term survivors and are free of chronic GVHD. The results of this pilot study indicate that early and lengthy treatment with anti-IL-2R monoclonal antibody is both safe and effective against steroid-resistant GVHD in young children and indicate that further trials of anti-IL-2R antibody as first-line therapy of acute GVHD are warranted.

Acute Disease↗

Mutations dissociating the inhibitory activity of the pokeweed antiviral protein on eukaryote translation and Escherichia coli growth.

The pokeweed antiviral protein is a ribosome inactivating protein acting on eukaryotic as well as on prokaryotic ribosomes thus is toxic for both cell types. Using the PCR technique to clone the PAP open reading frame, we characterized two cDNAs coding for proteins inhibiting eukaryotic translation process and which are not toxic for Escherichia coli, unlike the wild type protein. The sequence of the two cDNAs showed that the proteins contain only one and two point mutations. This result suggest that the wild type amino acids in the mutated positions participate in the prokaryotic ribosome recognition. These mutants might be useful for the construction of immunotoxins containing the pokeweed antiviral protein as toxin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗