Biomedical subjects

K Hariharan

Publications and source records attributed to K Hariharan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Indications for and technique of first metatarsophalangeal joint arthroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopy of the great toe metatarsophalangeal joint has been used for a variety of indications, ranging from synovitis to osteochondral defects. The purpose of the present study was to define the indications for arthroscopy, assess its efficacy, and demonstrate the limitations of this procedure. METHODS: Hallux metatarsophalangeal joint arthroscopy was used in 20 patients (25 feet). Indications included degenerative disease with early osteophytosis, chondromalacia, osteochondral defects, loose bodies, arthrofibrosis, synovitis, gouty arthritis, first metatarsophalangeal joint pain with no obvious findings clinically and radiographically in young adults, and intra-articular fracture of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. All patients had a minimal followup of 2 years and were evaluated clinically and radiographically. RESULTS: Arthroscopic surgery resulted in pain free first metatarsophalangeal joints in 95% (19 of 20 patients). Patients with degenerative disease had a pain-free joint for a minimum of 2 years. The patients with gouty arthritis and intra-articular fracture had good functional outcomes. Arthroscopy also helped in identifying the pathology in painful joints with no obvious radiographic features that included conditions such as 'meniscoid' and other impingement lesions. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopy of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is not suitable for patients with extensive degenerative changes and large osteophytes and those that require cheilectomy or arthrodesis. Arthroscopic management of certain painful hallucal metatarsophalangeal joints is a specialized technique, which if performed for the right indications, gives a favorable outcome with minimal complications.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Modification of the Fc region of a primatized IgG antibody to human CD4 retains its ability to modulate CD4 receptors but does not deplete CD4(+) T cells in chimpanzees.

Keliximab, a Primatized IgG1 CD4 mAb, was reconfigured to an IgG4 antibody. The gamma4 constant region was further modified by substituting glutamic acid for serine at position 235 in the CH2 domain (IgG4-E), to remove residual binding to Fcgamma receptors, and substitution of serine with proline at position 228 in the hinge region (IgG4-PE) for greater stability. Pharmacokinetic analysis in rats gave a t(1/2) of approximately 4 days for IgG4-E and 9 days for IgG4-PE, consistent with a greater stability of the IgG4-PE molecule. The effects on T cell subsets were assessed in chimpanzees given escalating doses of IgG4-PE: 0.05 mg/kg on Day 16, 1.5 mg/kg dose on Day 43, and 15 mg/kg on Day 85. Receptor modulation was observed at the two highest doses, but no depletion of T cells at any dose. The in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate the potential of this IgG4-PE mAb for use in human trials.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2001

Steroids in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a prospective assessment of adverse reactions, response to therapy, and survival.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the risk and potential benefit of high-dose corticosteroid therapy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 41 patients with previously untreated, biopsy-proven idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Before treatment, we calculated clinical, radiographic, and physiologic severity-of-illness scores for each patient. We scored high-resolution computerized tomographic (CT) scans for ground glass and interstitial opacity. We determined the extent of cellular infiltration, interstitial fibrosis, desquamation, and granulation in open lung biopsy samples. Patients were monitored monthly for steroid-related side effects, response to therapy at 3 months, and mortality. RESULTS: All patients experienced at least one steroid-induced side effect. Eleven (27%) patients were nonresponders, 11 (27%) were responders, and 19 (46%) remained stable. Of the 19 patients who died during a mean (+/- SD) follow-up of 3.3 +/- 2.3 years, 8 (42%) lost weight during the initial 3 months of steroid therapy; only 3 (14%) of the 22 patients still living (P = 0.08) experienced weight loss. In a multivariate analysis, greater fibrosis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.4 per unit increase; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0 to 1.9; P = 0.03) and cellularity (RR = 1.9 per unit increase; 95% CI: 1.3 to 2.8; 3, P <0.001) in the biopsy sample and whether a patient was classified as a responder (RR = 0.4 versus nonresponder; 95% CI: 0.2 to 1.0; P = 0.05) or stable (RR = 0.2 versus nonresponder; 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.6, P <0.001) after steroid therapy were associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Corticosteroid treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is associated with substantial morbidity. Patients who remain stable or respond to corticosteroid therapy have better survival than those who fail to respond. Whether this difference reflects an effect of treatment or less severe disease can be determined only in a randomized trial.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed2001

A humanized anti-human CD154 monoclonal antibody blocks CD154-CD40 mediated human B cell activation.

Humanized anti-CD154 antibody, IDEC-131, had a slightly, but reproducibly, better binding affinity for CD154 (Kd = 5.6 nM), compared to the parent antibody 24-31 (Kd = 8.5 nM). Otherwise it was indistinguishable from the murine parent antibody in its ability to bind to CD154, block CD154 binding to CD40 and inhibit T cell-dependent B cell differentiation. The latter activity was independent of FcR binding as the Fab'1 fragment of IDEC-131 had an equivalent biological activity to that of the whole antibody. IDEC-131 blocked soluble CD154 from inducing proliferation of purified B cells, and blocked T cell dependent anti-tetanus toxoid specific antibody production by human B cells in vitro. IDEC-131, gamma1, kappa, had strong Fc gammaRI, Fc gammaRII and C1q binding, but was unable to induce complement dependent (CDC) or antibody dependent cell-cytotoxicity (ADCC) of activated peripheral blood T cells, which express relatively low levels of CD154. IDEC-131 antibody inhibited both primary and secondary antibody responses to ovalbumin in cynomolgus monkeys at a dose of 5 mg/kg. In non-immunized animals, treatment with IDEC-131 at 50 mg/kg weekly for 13 weeks induced no change in any of the measured lymphocyte subsets, including B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Similarly, a safety study in chimpanzees showed no discernible safety related issues at 20 mg/kg, including B and T cell subsets. These results show that the humanized anti-CD154 antibody, IDEC-131, has retained the affinity and functional activity of its murine parent antibody, is unlikely to deplete CD154 positive lymphocytes in humans, and is safe and effective in blocking antibody production in monkeys. Based on its safety and efficacy profile, IDEC-131 is being developed for therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

In vitro IgE inhibition in B cells by anti-CD23 monoclonal antibodies is functionally dependent on the immunoglobulin Fc domain.

CD23, the low affinity receptor for IgE (FcvarepsilonRII), is involved in regulation of IgE synthesis by B-lymphocytes. Five monoclonal antibodies to human CD23 were generated from cynomolgus macaques immunized with purified soluble CD23 (sCD23). Four of the five primate antibodies blocked the binding of IgE complexes to CD23 positive cells and also inhibited the production of IgE in vitro by IL-4 induced human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The variable domains of several primate antibodies were utilized to construct chimeric macaque/human (PRIMATIZED((R))) monoclonal antibodies. PRIMATIZED((R)) p5E8G1, containing human gamma 1 constant region, inhibited IgE production in vitro as efficiently as the parent primate antibody, but the human gamma 4 constant version, PRIMATIZED((R)) p5E8G4, was not as effective in IgE inhibition. An F(ab')(2) of p5E8G1 did not inhibit IgE production but did interfere with IgE inhibition by the intact anti-CD23 antibody in a dose dependent fashion. The murine monoclonal antibody MHM6 recognizes human CD23 at a different epitope than primate antibody 5E8, and inhibits IgE production by IL-4 induced PBMC. As with the F(ab')(2) of p5E8G1, the F(ab')(2) of MHM6 also failed to inhibit IgE production. These data imply that the mechanism by which anti-CD23 antibodies inhibit IgE production requires cross-linking of CD23 to an IgG receptor. These data also imply that neither bivalent cross-linking of CD23 alone or inhibition of CD23 binding to its natural ligands is sufficient to inhibit IgE production.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Identification of murine cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes of bovine herpesvirus 1.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules present endogenously derived viral peptides to CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs). The objective of this study was to identify the H-2Dd- and H-2Kd-restricted CTL epitopes of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1), based on the allele-specific peptide motifs (ASPMs) of the above class I molecules. Nine sequences conforming to the H-2Dd and H-2Kd ASPMs were identified on BHV-1 proteins, and the respective peptides were synthesized. Five of these peptides exhibited moderate to strong binding to the Dd molecule. CTLs generated by BALB/c mice immunized with BHV-1 proteins emulsified in a suitable adjuvant effectively lysed peptide-pulsed syngeneic targets, indicating that these epitopes were generated in vivo. Mice immunized with these peptides emulsified in a suitable adjuvant also developed anti-BHV-1 CTLs. These CTLs identified three veritable CTL epitopes among the "potential epitopes" synthesized based on the ASPMs. The elucidation of the CTL epitopes of BHV-1 should aid in the development of efficacious vaccines against this virus.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1998

Development and application of PROVAX adjuvant formulation for subunit cancer vaccines.

A major challenge facing the development of subunit vaccines comprised of well-defined recombinant antigens is their weak immunogenicity and inability to induce effective cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses. Adjuvants aimed at increasing the immunogenicity of recombinant antigens remain a focus in vaccine development. The potency of an adjuvant is linked to specific stimulation of T cell responses, involving TH1 and TH2 subsets of CD4(+) T helper cells and CD8(+) CTL and B cell-mediated antibody responses. As a result of the existence of two distinct intra-cellular pathways for antigen processing, immunization with exogenous antigens often shows a greater propensity for T helper and antibody responses, but not CD8(+) CTL responses. However, existing experimental evidence suggests that CD8(+) CTLs, which are critical in the elimination of viral-infected and neoplastic cells, can be elicited with soluble antigens when delivered in appropriate formulations or adjuvants. This review focuses on the properties of PROVAX adjuvant in inducing antigen-specific CTL responses, antibody responses and tumor regression in experimental models and its potential application for the development of recombinant cancer vaccines.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Tumor regression in mice following vaccination with human papillomavirus E7 recombinant protein in PROVAX.

Induction of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for human papillomavirus (HPV) antigens provides an attractive strategy for immunotherapy of HPV-related cancers in humans. In this study, we investigated the potential of utilizing soluble E7 protein of HPV 16 in an adjuvant formulation, PROVAX as a vaccine against a progressively growing E7 transfected K1735-X21 (H-2k) metastatic melanoma cells (HOPE2) in a mouse model. Vaccination of HOPE2 tumor bearing mice (C3H) with E7 protein in PROVAX resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth, compared to mice vaccinated with E7 in Alum or saline. In vivo depletion of CD8+ or CD4+ cells indicated that CD8+ cells are the major effector cells in mediating the anti-tumor activity in this model. Furthermore, E7-specific CTL activity in vitro was detected in tumor bearing mice vaccinated with E7-PROVAX. Our studies suggest that recombinant HPV antigens in combination with PROVAX could serve as an effective subunit vaccine to stimulate tumor specific CD8+ T cell mediated immunity against HPV-related cancers.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1997

Chimeric anti-CD20 (IDEC-C2B8) monoclonal antibody sensitizes a B cell lymphoma cell line to cell killing by cytotoxic drugs.

More than 50% of patients with aggressive B lymphomas and the majority of patients with low grade lymphomas are not cured by current therapeutic strategies. The lymphomas express the B cell antigen CD20 on the cell surface and this antigen serves as target for antibody-directed therapies. Clinical studies with encouraging results have been underway with the use of a chimeric anti-CD20 antibody (IDEC-C2B8), consisting of human IgG1-6 constant regions and variable regions from the murine monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody IDEC-2B8. This study investigated the potential anti-tumor therapeutic value of combination treatment with anti-C2B8 and cytotoxic drugs. The in vitro study examined the sensitizing effect of C2B8 antibody on the DHL-4 B lymphoma line to various cytotoxic agents. Cytotoxicity was determined by the MTT assay. Surface and cytoplasmic proteins were determined by flow cytometry. Pretreatment of DHL-4 with C2B8 resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation and cell death and a fraction of the cells underwent apoptosis. While the DHL-4 tumor cells were relatively resistant to several cytotoxic drugs, pretreatment with C2B8 rendered the cells sensitive to TNF-alpha, ricin, diphtheria toxin (DTX), adriamycin and cisplatin but not to VP-16. Chemosensitization of DHL-4 tumor cells was not due to downmodulation of either the MDR-1 or bcl-2 gene products. However, treatment of DHL-4 with C2B8 inhibited TNF-alpha secretion. These findings demonstrate that C2B8 antibody potentiates the sensitivity of DHL-4 tumor cells to several cytotoxic agents. Further, the findings suggest that combination treatments with C2B8 antibody and drugs may be of clinical benefit in the treatment of patients with resistant aggressive B lymphomas.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Influence of partial replacement of butter fat with peanut oil (in infant formula) on erythrocyte fatty acids in infants.

Erythrocyte fatty acid composition was studied in infants fed with three different formulae: formula I containing 20% butter fat; formula II containing 10% butter fat and 10% peanut oil; and formula III containing 10% butter fat and 5% peanut oil with a fat content itself reduced to 15%. The linoleic acid levels were 2.5, 18 and 13% in formula I-III, respectively. Analysis of fatty acids at the time of birth, and 3 and 6 months thereafter, indicated that linoleic acid levels could be improved by supplementation with peanut oil. Arachidonic acid levels (20:4, n-6) did not show a proportional relationship with respect to linoleic acid intake. The other ratio such as triene/tetraene, oleic/linoleic, linoleic/arachidonic and arachidonic/linoleic were all within the normal range, indicating normal desaturase and elongase activity. Thus, our present study suggests that peanut oils could be used for enhancing the linoleic acid levels in infants.

Arachis↗

PubMed1996

Effect of high fat diets with and without cholesterol on erythrocyte and tissue fatty acids in rats.

Male weanling wistar rats were fed synthetic diets containing 20% safflower oil (SFO) or palm oil (PO) with and without cholesterol for a period of six weeks. Erythrocyte membranes were isolated and their fatty acid composition were determined at the end of the experiment. Besides the fatty acid composition of the kidney and spleen lipids were also determined. Erythrocyte membrane, kidney fatty acids of rats fed safflower oil (SFO) had in the majority of variants a higher level of n-6 fatty acids when compared to palm oil group. However, in the spleen, the level of n-6 fatty acids in the palm oil groups were higher than in the safflower oil group. In general the arachidonic acid [20:4 (n-6)] levels were higher in the spleen and erythrocytes particularly in the cholesterol fed groups when compared to the kidney levels. Palm oil fed rats had a higher level of palmitic (16:0) and oleic [18:1 (n-9)] acids. Rats fed diets containing cholesterol significantly reduced the level of stearic (18:0) but increased the level of oleic [18:1 (n-9)], linoleic [18:2 (n-3)], and arachidonic acids [20:4 (n-6)]. The ratios such as 18:1 (n-9)/18:2 (n-6), 18:1 (n-9)/18:0, 18:2 (n-6)/20:4 (n-6) and 20:4 (n-6)/18:2 (n-6) are all indicative of the normal activity of enzymes involved in the desaturation and elongation. Thus these studies indicate that addition of cholesterol can modify the fatty acid composition in erythrocytes, kidney and spleen lipids.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

The induction of cytotoxic T cells and tumor regression by soluble antigen formulation.

CTLs specific for tumor antigens play a major role in the immunity against cancer. We have shown that class I-restricted CTLs can be induced by injecting soluble antigens mixed in an antigen formulation (AF) that consists of squalane, Tween 80, and Pluronic L121 (S. Raychaudhuri et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89: 8308-8312, 1992). In this study, using ovalbumin and the ovalbumin-expressing transfectoma (EG7) as a tumor model system, we examined the in vivo antitumor effect of antigen-AF mixture. Vaccination of mice with ovalbumin in AF 2 or 3 days after EG7 tumor challenge showed significant inhibition of tumor growth compared to mice vaccinated with ovalbumin in alum or in saline. Depletion of CD8+ cells at the time of immunization completely abrogated the AF-induced tumor protection, indicating that CD8+ T cells are the major effectors in tumor protection in vivo. Depletion of CD4+ cells led to a marginal loss of tumor protection, which may be the result of inhibition of ovalbumin-specific CTL response due to the lack of T-helper activity. Our results demonstrate that AF can be used in subunit vaccines to stimulate CTLs and tumor regression in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Effect of long term feeding of rice bran oil upon lipids and lipoproteins in rats.

The effects of feeding two levels of rice bran oil (RBO) on the growth, lipid parameters, and fatty acid composition of the plasma and liver of rats (Wistar strain) were compared with those produced on animals which had been fed the same levels of peanut oil (PNO). The control animals were fed synthetic diets containing 5 and 20% peanut oil (PNO) and the experimental groups were fed similar diets, containing the same level of rice bran oil (RBO). There was no significant difference with respect to the organ weights between the control and the experimental groups. In general, groups fed 20% oil gained more weight than groups fed 5% oil. The animals which received rice bran oil in their diet had, in general, comparatively lower levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids. On the other hand, animals receiving 20% rice bran oil in their diet, showed an increase of 20% in high density lipoproteins (HDL-C), within 18 weeks (p < 0.05), when compared to the animals fed with peanut oil. Similarly, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) were lower in RBO-fed groups, than in the PNO-fed groups. There was, however, no significant differences in the cholesterol/phospholipid (C/P) ratio of the two groups. Analysis of plasma and of liver fatty acids indicated, in a general way, the type of fat consumed. There were no significant difference in the P/S ratio, nor any in the oleic/linoleic, oleic/stearic, palmitoleic/palmitic, oleic/palmitic, and oleic/palmitoleic ratios.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Effect of supplementation of milk fat with peanut oil on blood lipids and lipoproteins in infants.

Three different groups of infants were fed with different formulae based on milk fat. Group I received cow's milk fat formulae with 20% butter fat whereas groups II and III received a formulae which was supplemented with 50 and 33% of peanut oil supplementation in 20% milk fat respectively. Anthropometric measurements, cholesterol, triglyceride, lipoproteins and plasma fatty acids were followed up to a period of 6 months. The results indicated that cow's milk-fed infants had higher cholesterol levels (P < 0.01) than the other two groups. No significant differences with respect to high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) were found, whereas low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDls (VLDls) were found to be increasing up to a period of 6 months. No significant differences were observed with respect to saturated fatty acids and oleic acid (18:1) levels whereas linoleic acid (18:2) clearly showed a proportional relationship between the intake and plasma levels, indicating a positive correlation. Arachidonic acid (20:4) did not, however, show a proprotionate relationship with respect to linoleic acid (18:2) intake. The triene/tetraene, oleic/linoleic, linoleic/arachidonic and total n6 fatty acids were all normal indicating normal activity of desaturase and elongase enzymes for the optimal utilisation of linoleic acid. Thus, the present study suggests that a vegetable oil such as peanut oil could be used in milk fat to improve the essential fatty acid (EFA) status of infants.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Analysis of B cell repertoire specific to the neutralizing epitopes of glycoprotein 120 in HIV-infected individuals.

This study describes the clonotypic analysis of neutralizing anti-gp120 antibodies elicited in HIV-infected individuals by a panel of anti-idiotype monoclonal antibodies (anti-Id MAbs). Sera from 80 HIV-infected individuals at various clinical stages of HIV-infection were tested for reactivity to 19 anti-Id MAbs in ELISA. Anti-idiotype MAbs reacted with between 0 and 26% of sera. Among the 13 idiotypes specific for anti-CD4 site antibodies, 4 were expressed in 15 to 20% of individuals, whereas 2 of 4 idiotypes specific for anti-V3 antibodies were expressed in 15 to 26% of the cases. These data suggest that each HIV-infected individuals has a diverse B cell repertoire to a given neutralizing epitope cluster and that certain clonotypes are more prevalent than others. To correlate the binding activity in ELISA with anti-gp120 specificity, the idiotype-positive antibodies (Id+ Abs) from representative serum samples were isolated by anti-Id MAb-Sepharose affinity columns. In most cases, the epitope specificity and the neutralizing properties of the isolated Id+ Abs correlated with that of anti-gp120 antibodies used for the generation of anti-Id MAbs. We propose that these anti-Id MAbs may be used to identify and measure neutralizing anti-gp120 antibodies of defined specificity in the sera of HIV-infected individuals, HIV-vaccinated individuals, and in HIV-infected mother-infant pairs.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1994

Immunization with a soluble CD4-gp120 complex preferentially induces neutralizing anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 antibodies directed to conformation-dependent epitopes of gp120.

Preservation of the conformation of recombinant gp120 in an adjuvant, enabling it to elicit conformation-dependent, epitope-specific, broadly neutralizing antibodies, may be critical for the development of any gp120-based human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine. It was hypothesized that recombinant gp120 complexed with recombinant CD4 could stabilize the conformation-dependent neutralizing epitopes and effectively deliver them to the immune system. Therefore, a soluble CD4-gp120 complex in Syntex adjuvant formulation was tested with mice for its ability to induce neutralizing anti-gp120 antibody responses. Seventeen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were generated and characterized. Immunochemical studies, neutralization assays, and mapping studies with gp120 mutants indicated that the 17 MAbs fell into three groups. Four of them were directed to what is probably a conformational epitope involving the C1 domain and did not possess virus-neutralizing activities. Another four MAbs bound to V3 peptide 302-321 and exhibited cross-reactive gp120 binding and relatively weak virus-neutralizing activities. These MAbs were very sensitive to amino acid substitutions, not only in the V3 regions but also in the base of the V1/V2 loop, implying a conformational constraint on the epitope. The last group of nine MAbs recognized conformation-dependent epitopes near the CD4 binding site of gp120 and inhibited the gp120-soluble CD4 interaction. Four of these nine MAbs showed broadly neutralizing activities against multiple laboratory-adapted strains of HIV-1, three of them neutralized only HIVIIIB, and the two lower-affinity MAbs did not neutralize any strain tested. Collectively, the results from this study indicate that immunization with the CD4-gp120 complex can elicit antibodies to conformationally sensitive gp120 epitopes, with some of the antibodies having broadly neutralizing activities. We suggest that immunization with CD4-gp120 complexes may be worth evaluating further for the development of an AIDS vaccine.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Identification of a new neutralizing epitope conformationally affected by the attachment of CD4 to gp120.

We have developed a strategy to purify and characterize various anti-gp120 antibody populations in HIV+ sera by using anti-Id mAb. One preparation of human anti-gp120 antibody (ES+ Ab) isolated on an anti-Id mAb (ES)-conjugated immunoabsorbent exhibited a novel neutralizing epitope specificity. The ES+ Ab bound only to the native form of recombinant gp120SF2 and gp120IIIB and not to the third hypervariable region (V3) loop peptide. In contradistinction to other CD4-gp120-inhibiting and V3-specific neutralizing antibodies, ES+ Ab exhibited a dose-dependent enhancement of binding to recombinant gp120 in the presence of recombinant soluble CD4. In addition, flow cytometric analysis revealed a similar increase in the binding of ES+ Ab to the native form of gp120 expressed on the HIV-infected cells. The ES+ Ab competed with CD4 binding site- and V3-specific antibodies in binding to gp120, suggesting that the ES+ Ab epitope is located near the CD4 binding site epitope and the V3 region. The ES+ Ab neutralized six genetically distinct HIV-1 strains. The neutralizing activity of ES+ Ab on HIVIIIB was significantly increased in the presence of human anti-CD4 binding site mAb. These data suggest that the ES+ Ab epitope represents a conserved, conformational, neutralization target on gp120 that may be involved in viral infection in an event after the CD4-gp120 interaction and that is distinct from previously defined neutralizing epitopes of gp120. This finding may be important for the development of an AIDS vaccine and immunotherapy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Influence of long term feeding of palm oil on the lipid composition of perirenal adipose tissue in rats.

The composition of perirenal adipose tissue in Wistar strain of rats fed palm oil (PO) fat at 5% and 20% in diet for a period of 18 weeks was studied. Peanut oil (PNO) at 5% and 20% were used as controls. Under the experimental conditions, the saturation index was higher in animals fed diet containing PO compared to those fed PNO. There was no significant difference with reference to 12:0, 14:0 and 18:1 fatty acid levels, whereas linoleic acid (18:2) showed a proportional relationship between the intake and perirenal adipose tissue levels. There was a significant correlation of dietary intake of linoleic acid and the U/S ratio in the adipose tissue. Linoleic acid (18:2, n6) levels were increased in 20% PNO groups as compared to those fed PO. However, palmitoleic acid (16:1) did not show a proportional relationship between the intake and adipose tissue levels. Thus, our studies show that more saturated fatty acids are incorporated in the PO group than in the PNO groups at the end of 18 weeks feeding.

Adipose Tissue↗