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Biomedical subjects

M D Boyle

Publications and source records attributed to M D Boyle.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Interaction of bovine immunoglobulin gamma 2 (IgG2) with staphylococcal protein A: evidence for IgG2a and IgG2b sub-subclasses in the bovine.

The reactivity of bovine IgG with protein A is confusing with respect to which of the bovine IgG class and subclasses are reactive. We have, therefore, re-examined the interaction of bovine immunoglobulins with protein A. The results presented in this paper indicated that at pH 8.0 protein A binds only immunoglobulin of the IgG2 subclass. The bound IgG2 can be readily recovered from an immobilized protein A column at pH 5.0. Furthermore, the antigenic IgG2 eluted demonstrated two charged species which could readily be separated by ion-exchange chromatography. These results indicate that IgG2 in the bovine exists in two sub-subclasses, IgG2a and IgG2b. The two sub-subclasses of IgG2 could be rapidly isolated with a good yield in two-steps namely protein A affinity chromatography followed by ion exchange chromatography.

Animals↗

Interaction of bacterial Fc receptors with goat immunoglobulins.

The interaction of type I (staphylococcal protein A) and type III (streptococcal FcRc) bacterial Fc receptors with goat immunoglobulins has been studied. Staphylococcal protein A bound poorly to the majority of goat immunoglobulins at all pHs tested. There was some evidence that protein A bound IgG2 better than IgG1, particularly at pH 8 and above. One of 10 sera tested demonstrated a high level of reactivity with protein A and this was shown to correlate with the presence of a natural antibody to protein A. The streptococcal Fc receptors, FcRc, bound efficiently to all goat IgG and goat sera tested. Both goat IgG subclasses reacted efficiently with the FcRc between pH 6 and 8. Inhibition of binding of 125I-FcRc to immobilized goat IgG enabled levels of IgG in goat serum to be estimated. These results suggest the streptococcal FcRc will be of value as an immunochemical reagent in studies involving isolation and quantitation of goat immunoglobulins.

Animals↗

Evidence for an anticomplementary factor associated with human bone marrow cells.

Complement (C)-mediated lysis of antibody-sensitized sheep erythrocytes was inhibited by the addition of human bone marrow cells. The anticomplementary activity could be attributed to a soluble factor that was released from the bone marrow cells. This factor inhibited at an early stage in the C-cascade and showed the characteristics of a factor that accelerates decay of C2. The release of such a factor by bone marrow cells would present an obstacle to the use of antibody and C to purge tumor cells from bone marrow that is to be used for autologous transplantation.

Animals↗

Nerve growth factor: a chemotactic factor for polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vivo.

Previous studies have shown that mouse submandibular gland nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulates chemotactic migration of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro. The results of the present study demonstrate that subdermal injection of NGF in mice also stimulates rapid and marked chemotactic recruitment of leukocytes. This property of NGF is manifest in the nanomolar range of concentrations, it requires the known serine class protease activity of the growth factor, and it does not require participation of the fifth component of complement. Another, as yet unrecognized, C5-independent pathway must be involved. Chemotactic stimulation of cells involved in the early inflammatory response to injury may help to explain earlier observations that NGF can accelerate the rate of contraction of experimentally induced wounds in mice.

Animals↗

A rapid technique for measuring leukocyte chemotaxis in vivo.

A modification of connective tissue air bleb technique was used to develop a model system in inbred strains of mice for the study of chemoattractants in vivo. The method was developed using the well characterized n-formylated chemotactic peptide, f-Met-Leu-Phe, as the positive control. Injection of 0.1 ml of f-Met-Leu-Phe solutions from 10(-7) to 10(-10) M resulted in an influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes within 2 h. Study of the kinetics of the response showed that the number of infiltrating cells reached a peak within 8 h and slowly declined over a 2-day period. The predominant infiltrating cell type during the first 24 h was the polymorphonuclear leukocyte. Between 24 and 48 h the polymorphonuclear leukocytes were replaced by monocytes. By utilizing an inbred mouse strain (DBA-1J and 2J) sufficient or deficient in C5 it was possible to distinguish compounds that were directly chemotactic from those that worked indirectly, or whose chemotactic potential could be enhanced by generation of the chemotactic complement split product C5a. The method was found to be technically simple, reproducible and semi-quantitative and represents a good model system to facilitate the comparison of chemotactic responses in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗

Is the membrane attack complex of complement an enzyme?

Recent studies on the functional activities of the membrane attack complex of complement, C5b-9, are reviewed. A new speculative hypothesis has been advanced to account for the ability of complement to mediate lysis of various targets. This hypothesis has three major elements: 1) that the membrane attack complex is an enzyme; 2) that the substrate for this putative enzyme is a membrane constituent; 3) that the substrate specificity of the putative enzyme is dependent on the species source of individual complement components within the C5b-9 complex.

Animals↗

Solid-phase radioimmunoassay for the detection of immunoglobulins against bovine Brucella abortus.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay for the detection of Brucella abortus antibody is described. The assay, performed in flexible 96-well microplates coated with Brucella abortus antigens, utilizes 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A to detect antibody to Brucella abortus. The parameters of the assay have been analyzed using well recognized statistical methods. Least squares analysis of antigen concentration, antiserum dilution, antigen by antiserum and replicates within antigen by antiserum, estimated an r2 of 0.98, a coefficient of variation of 3.58 and a standard deviation of 0.10. Results of regression analysis of serum dilution versus antigen concentration (ranging from 635 micrograms/ml to 6.35 ng/ml) indicated that an antigen concentration of 6.35 micrograms/ml was the most efficient for describing antibody variability (r2 = 0.98, with a coefficient of variation = 3.28). Regression analysis also revealed a closer correlation between the radioimmunoassay with complement fixation test (r2 = 0.98) than with the standard tube test (r2 = 0.84). Detection of specific antibody assessed by radioimmunoassay was 4 to 64 fold more sensitive than the standard tube test titer and 16 to 32 fold more sensitive than the complement fixation test titer. The results described here indicate that this radioimmunoassay is very sensitive and may be capable of discriminating between false positives and false negatives, thereby, improving the diagnostic efficiency of Brucella serologic tests.

Animals↗

Restoration of complement function in vivo by plasma infusion in factor I (C3b inactivator) deficiency.

The serum complement activities of a 1-year-old infant with recurrent life-threatening bacterial infections and persistent C3-Coombs-positive red blood cells were investigated. The patient's serum had a depressed serum level of CH50, C3, factor B, and factor H as well as undetectable antigenic or functional factor I. The complement profile of the parents was normal, with the exception of factor I, which was approximately 50% of normal in each parent. The Coombs positivity of the patient's red blood cells could be reversed in vitro by incubation with normal serum containing factor I. Infusion of normal plasma into the patient resulted in increased levels of CH50, with concomitant increases in serum C3, factor B, and factor H levels. The patient's red blood cells became transiently Coombs negative. At no time after plasma infusion was factor I detectable in the patient's serum. All complement functions and the C3 Coombs reactivity of the patient's red blood cells returned to preinfusion levels within 14 days. These findings are consistent with an inherited deficiency of factor I and emphasize the critical role this protein plays in the regulation of the alternative complement pathway. Plasma therapy may be an adjunct to the management of acute infection in patients with factor I deficiency.

Afibrinogenemia↗

Effect of mouse passage on Fc receptor expression by group A streptococci.

The expression and stability of receptors for the Fc region of human IgG on the surface of group A streptococci was studied. Two strains were sequentially passed in mice 22 times. The Fc-receptor expression on one group A strain, 529, was unaltered while the expression of Fc receptor on a second, 64, was enhanced and approached the level of Fc-receptor expression of the protein A-rich Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain. The level of Fc-receptor expression on this organism remained stable for over 18 months of laboratory subculture. Mouse passage did not result in the production of a soluble Fc receptor from either of the streptococcal strains. Heat extraction of the Fc-receptor-positive group A strain resulted in solubilization of an Fc-receptor activity which was functionally distinct from either staphylococcal protein A or the Fc receptor isolated from a group C streptococcus.

Animals↗

Streptococcal Fc receptors. I. Isolation and partial characterization of the receptor from a group C streptococcus.

A receptor for the Fc region of immunoglobulin G was extracted from a group C streptococcus, purified and physicochemically characterized. The Fc receptor was extracted in high yield by lysis of the bacteria after infection with bacteriophage. The soluble receptor was purified to functional homogeneity by sequential chromatography on cellulose phosphate, DEAE, and selective elution from a column of immobilized human IgG. Four hundred micrograms of the functionally pure protein was obtained per gram (wet weight) of bacteria extracted. The affinity-purified receptor was functionally homogeneous in binding to the Fc region of human IgG; however, the product was heterogeneous on both non-denaturing and SDS polyacrylamide gels. Four major protein bands were observed, with the predominant form of the Fc receptor having an m.w. of 64,000 daltons. Antibody prepared against the major Fc receptor protein ( FcRc -II) was capable of reacting with all the fractions and completely inhibiting functional activity. The results of the competitive binding studies suggest that the purified Fc receptor behaves as a single receptor, and that the differences in charge and size were probably due to covalently bound cell wall constituents.

Animals↗

Streptococcal Fc receptors. II. Comparison of the reactivity of a receptor from a group C streptococcus with staphylococcal protein A.

The reactivity of a soluble Fc receptor from a group C streptococcus ( FcRc ) was compared antigenically and functionally with the staphylococcal Fc receptor, protein A. Protein A and FcRc were found to inhibit each others' binding to the Fc region of human IgG, indicating that they bind to sites that are in close proximity on the Fc region of human IgG. The two bacterial Fc receptors were antigenically unrelated. Differences were observed in the species and subclass reactivity of the two receptors. The patterns of binding of protein A and FcRc under various conditions suggested that these receptors reacted with distinct regions on the Fc region of immunoglobulins. FcRc bound more efficiently to goat, sheep, and cow IgG, protein A bound more efficiently to dog IgG, and neither receptor bound to rat IgG. Differences were also observed in the reactivity towards human IgG subclasses. The FcRc bound to all samples of the four human IgG subclass standards. Protein A bound to IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4, and to one of two IgG3 myeloma proteins tested. The reactivity of our soluble FcRc corresponds to a type III streptococcal Fc receptor classified by the reactivity of intact bacteria.

Animals↗

Identification of distinct Fc-receptor molecules on streptococci and staphylococci.

The structural similarity between staphylococcal protein A and streptococcal Fc receptors was examined. Antibody to staphylococcal protein A, proven not to bind to protein A through Fc, was used to determine if the Fc receptors on 4 Fc-receptor positive streptococcal strains were antigenically related to staphylococcal protein A. Anti-protein A antibody bound to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, but failed to bind to any of the streptococci. Additionally, when the Cowan strain and 9 other Staphylococcus aureus isolates demonstrating various levels of IgG adsorption capacity were preincubated with antiprotein A antibody, the ability of these bacteria to adsorb IgG was completely inhibited. These results suggest that all the Fc receptors on Staphylococcus aureus are antigenically similar or identical to protein A. Fc receptors on streptococci, while sharing with staphylococcal protein A the capacity to bind to Fc of human IgG, were not antigenically crossreactive with protein A.

Adsorption↗

Detection of receptors for the Fc region of IgG on streptococci.

A semi-quantitative absorption test to measure Fc-reactive proteins on the surface of streptococci is described. The ability of bacteria to remove intact IgG in the presence of an equimolar amount of F(ab')2 fragments was used to identify streptococci with Fc-reactive proteins on their surface. This method was found to be more objective, reproducible and quantitative than the hemagglutination and 125I-labeled IgG binding methods currently in use. Methods for detection of secreted Fc-reactive materials with protein A-like reactivity are also described.

Absorption↗

Nerve growth factor: stimulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis in vitro.

Topical application of mouse nerve growth factor (NGF) to superficial skin wounds of mice has previously been shown to accelerate the rate of wound contraction. Results of the present study reveal that NGF in the presence of plasma is also chemotactic for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro, and the concentration of NGF required for this effect is similar to that which stimulates ganglionic neurite outgrowth. This property does not arise from liberation of the C5a fragment of complement, nor does it require the known enzymic activity of NGF. (NGF inactivated with diisopropyl fluorophosphate is equally active.) We conclude that NGF can display biological effects on cells of nonneural origin and function, and this feature might play a role in the early inflammatory response to injury.

Animals↗

Nerve growth factor: activation of the classical complement pathway by specific substitution for component C1-.

The interaction of homogeneous preparations of mouse submandibular gland nerve growth factor (NGF) with the classical complement pathway was studied. NGF was found to be capable of carrying out the enzyme activities of the first component (C1-) of the classical complement pathway (i.e., the cleavage of zymogen C4 and C2). NGF would not substitute for any other classical pathway component, C2-C9. The C1(-)-like activity of NGF was inhibited by human C1- inactivator. This interaction of NGF with the complement system may account for the previously described ability of NGF to accelerate the rate of contraction of experimentally induced wounds.

Animals↗