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S Witt

Publications and source records attributed to S Witt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Characterization of the F(ab')2 and Fab' fragments prepared from a mouse monoclonal insulin antibody.

In this report, optimum conditions were determined for the production of immunoreactive fragments from a mouse monoclonal insulin antibody, and their immunochemical characterization is described. Stable fragments can be obtained in good yield from the purified IgG 1, first by cleavage with pepsin and then by reducing the disulfide bonds with cysteine and subsequent alkylation with iodoacetamide. F(ab')2 and Fab' fragments having molecular weights (Mr) of about 108,000 (108 K) and 55 K, respectively, were produced. Ligand binding assay as well as indirect immunofluorescence on mouse pancreas section demonstrated their reactivity with free and tissue-bound insulin antigen. These results provide methods for the production and characterization of defined fragments of insulin antibody useful in experiments where non-specific interactions mediated by the Fc portion of the whole immunoglobulin may occur.

Animals↗

Detection of islet cell specificity of monoclonal islet cell surface antibodies by means of double-staining immunofluorescence.

We have generated monoclonal antibodies (mcab) reactive with islet cell surface antigens. 10 different mcab were characterized regarding their islet cell binding specificity by means of a modified double immunofluorescence test. At this assay, the monoclonal islet cell surface antibodies were visualized on rat islet cells by indirect immunofluorescence with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled antibodies against mouse immunoglobulin. The alpha and beta cell specificity was determined by indirect immunofluorescence using anti-glucagon or anti-insulin serum and a tetramethyl rhodamine isothiocyanate-labelled second antibody. The target islet cell suspension used contained 61% beta and 23% alpha cells. The monoclonal antibody K28D6 preferentially reacted with alpha cells. The binding of K29aC6 and K56aF3 indicates a high specificity against beta cells. The remaining 7 antibodies were reactive with alpha as well as with beta cells.

Animals↗

Heterogeneity of monoclonal antibodies against pancreatic beta cells.

Sixteen murine hybridoma-secreting monoclonal antibodies against pancreatic islet cell surface antigens (mc-ICSA) have been produced by the cell fusion technique using splenocytes from xenogeneic islet cell- or RIN cell-immunized Balb/c mice. In addition, some mice were autoimmunized by subdiabetogenic doses of the beta cell toxin streptozotocin in combination with complete Freund's adjuvant. Isotyping of the mc-ICSA revealed that 13 of the antibodies belong to the class IgM, and 3 to the subclass IgG1. The specificity of these mc-ICSA has been detected by means of the indirect immunofluorescent technique using primary rat islet cells suspensions, following a procedure of double immunostaining for pancreatic insulin and glucagon. Furthermore, the cross reactivity of these mc-ICSA was studied using endothelial, neuroblastoma and fibroblast cell lines and primary rat splenocytes. One out of the 10 mc-ICSA tested was alpha cell-specific, 2 were beta cell-specific and 7 out of 10 were reactive with both alpha and beta cells. Eleven mc-ICSA showed no cross-reactivity with the 5 other cell types tested. The binding of one mc-ICSA was blocked by 6 of the ICSA-positive human sera which were tested, suggesting that this monoclonal recognizes the same antigenic determinant. The same mc-ICSA diminished the glucose- and arginine-stimulated insulin secretion of isolated rat islets.

Animals↗

Monoclonal islet cell surface antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity mediated by rat splenocytes with the RIN cell line as target.

A new method is described for testing monoclonal islet cell surface antibodies for their ability to mediate cellular immune effector mechanisms (ADCC). For the first time an IgM mediated cellular cytotoxicity is demonstrated. By using the RIN cell line as target the method was reproducible and easy to perform. The significance of such definition of monoclonal ICSA's to experimental diabetes research is discussed.

Animals↗

Islet beta-cytotoxic monoclonal antibody against glycolipids in experimental diabetes induced by low dose streptozotocin and Freund's adjuvant.

Diabetes was induced in BALB/c mice by four injections of a subdiabetogenic dose (40 mg/kg) of streptozotocin in combination with CFA. The treatment increased the plasma glucose from 5.8 +/- 0.1 to 22.1 +/- 1.3 mmol/liter (n = 9). The diabetic animals had circulating islet cell surface antibodies (75%), and a monoclonal islet cell surface IgM antibody, K56aF3, generated from one of the diabetic BALB/c mice, mediated C-Dependent cytotoxicity against insulin-producing cells and inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin release from isolated rat islets. Solid phase assay on thin layer chromatograms showed no binding of the K56aF3 antibody to glycolipids prepared from relevant cells. However, testing against a series of glycolipids of various non-pancreatic origins showed a preferential binding to a nine-sugar glycolipid isolated from human erythrocytes carrying an unusual blood group A determinant (type 3). It is suggested that this mAb may be associated with the development of diabetes following a combination of polyclonal activation and non-diabetogenic doses of streptozotocin.

Animals↗

Identification of monoclonal antibodies to pancreatic islet cells by immunoperoxidase staining.

Immunoperoxidase staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to identify monoclonal antibodies that reacted with pancreatic islet cells. All monoclonal antibodies produced against isolated human or rat pancreatic islets including one mouse autoantibody reacted with pancreatic islets in formalin-fixed pancreas sections, but not with rat kidney or thyroid. Reactivity was also found with suspensions of normal rat islet cells and rat insulinoma cells using a 3-stage immunoperoxidase procedure and an ELISA technique. Differences were observed in staining intensity between the various antigenic substrates tested suggesting variable cross-reactivity and/or number of epitopes. The sensitivity of the immunoperoxidase technique proved to be favourable for identification of monoclonal antibodies that recognize cellular constituents such as islet cell antigens present in low concentrations.

Animals↗

Screening monoclonal islet cell surface antibodies (ICSA) by radioimmunoassay--detection of crossreactivity with ICSA from insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic patients.

A radioimmunoassay for the detection of monoclonal islet cell antibodies was developed using rat insulinoma cells as antigen carriers and 125I-labeled affinity-chromatographically purified anti-mouse Ig antibodies for detecting cell-bound mouse Ig. Prior to the assay cells had been attached to glass tubes by poly-dimethyl-diallyl ammonium chloride thus allowing to perform the assay as easy as a solid-phase immunoassay. Incubation protocol and cell number were chosen to ensure a high sensitivity of the assay. Results compared well with immunofluorescence findings. Of seven monoclonal islet cell antibodies tested for crossreactivity only one was displaceable by islet cell surface antibodies from diabetic sera. This antibody was induced by immunization with human islets whereas all others were from mice which had been autoimmunized with streptozotocin and complete Freund's adjuvant.

Animals↗

[Production and use of monoclonal glucagon and insulin antibodies--reduction of pancreatic insulin in rats by treatment with complete Freund's adjuvant].

Murine monoclonal antibodies against glucagon and insulin were generated by somatic cell hybridization and partially characterized. The monoclonal glucagon antibody K79bB10 exhibited no cross-reaction with gut glucagon. This antibody and the insulin antibody K36aC10 were found of very high concentration in ascites. An ascites dilution of 1:5,000 was used for immunohistochemical staining of insulin and glucagon on Bouin-fixed pancreatic tissue sections. By indirect immunofluorescence technique we could demonstrate a reduction of pancreatic insulin in Lewis rats after treatment with complete Freund's adjuvant. The glucagon staining was not altered. The results were confirmed by radioimmunoassay analysis of pancreatic insulin and glucagon content.

Animals↗

Distal femoral fixation of the iliotibial tract.

The anatomy of the distal femoral fixation of the iliotibial tract was studied in 100 knee joints. A fiber bundle system with three main parts was isolated: (a) the supracondylar bundle oriented from proximal-lateral to distal-medial and fixed to the supracondylar area of the femur; (b) the fibers near to the septum with transverse course between superficial tract and dorsolateral femur; (c) the retrograde tracts which connect Gerdy's tubercle with the dorsolateral femur and form an arc bridging the knee joint. Distance measurements over the range of motion of the knee joint revealed isometric conditions only for the insertion point on the dorsolateral femur. The retrograde fibers are believed to be static stabilizers of the lateral side of the knee, and their insertion point on the dorsolateral femur is the correct site for refixation or reefing of the distal iliotibial tract.

Femur↗

Generation and partial characterization of monoclonal antibodies reactive with islet cell antigens.

Islet cell antibodies have been detected in more than 60% of newly diagnosed type I diabetics. Their pathogenetic role is still unclear. We have generated monoclonal antibodies (mc-ab) reactive with islet cell antigens by fusing mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells from Balb/c mice immunized with pancreatic islet cells. Hybridomas producing islet cell surface antibodies (ICSA) were detected by indirect immunofluorescence on viable cells from rat islets or rat insulinoma. Cytoplasmic islet cell antibodies (ICA) were detected by indirect immunofluorescence on Bouin-fixed sections of mouse pancreas. The ICSA- and/or ICA-producing hybridomas were cloned twice by limiting dilution. This paper describes six different mc-ab. All hybrid cell lines obtained produced IgM antibodies. Four of them mediate complement-dependent cytotoxicity to viable rat islet cells. In the present study the heterogeneity of circulating ICSA is demonstrated. Also, a monoclonal beta cell surface autoantibody K56aF3 was produced by fusion of spleen cells from a mouse treated with sub-diabetogenic doses of streptozotocin in combination with complete Freund's adjuvant. It was cytotoxic against islet cells up to a dilution of 1:1,000 and it could inhibit the insulin secretion from neonatal rat islets cultured in RPMI 1640 as stimulated by glucose or by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine common with glucose. The latter effect was reversible as indicated by the recovery of insulin secretion in a subsequent culture period without mc-ab. These results suggest that circulating ICSA in type I diabetics may alter beta cell function and thereby contribute to the pathogenesis of type I diabetes.

Animals↗

Islet cell surface antibodies (ICSA) in subjects with a previous mumps infection--a prospective study over a 4 year period.

It has been suggested that the mumps virus may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of Type-I diabetes mellitus. Most studies have analyzed this relationship retrospectively. We, however, carried out a prospective study over a 4 year period after a mumps infection in two age groups (16 years and under [group A no = 32] and over 16 years [group B no = 18]). These subjects with "diabetic risk factors" (impaired glucose tolerance, low insulin response, ICSA and/or HLA-DR3/DR4) were selected from 1581 registered cases, in whom an antecedent mumps infection had occurred in 1980 and 1981. Glucose tolerance and insulin secretion did not change significantly during 4 years after a mumps infection. Overt diabetes was not observed in any of the cases. One year after a mumps infection 35% of children and 63% of adolescents/adults exhibited ICSA (control subjects = 5%; a serum was considered ICSA-positive if more than 25% of the intact rat islet cells showed distinct cell surface immunofluorescence). After 4 years the percentage of subjects with ICSA decreased significantly to 13% and 14%, resp. Only 21% of ICSA-positive sera were found to be cytotoxic on rat islet cells (51Cr-release assay). No relationship could be evaluated between complications resulting from a mumps infection and the appearance of ICSA. There was no correlation between ICSA, glucose tolerance, and insulin secretion. In fact, our prospective study did not reveal any relationship between a mumps infection and Type-I diabetes. ICSA would seem to be of no predictive value.

Adolescent↗

[Optimal production of murine monoclonal antibodies in ascites of syngeneic mice by a single whole body irradiation].

Hybridoma cells injected intraperitoneally into mice induce formation of ascites tumors producing ascites fluid with high levels of monoclonal antibodies. Several parameters affect the growth of the immunoglobulin-producing tumors in vivo. In the present study the average ascites tumor formation rate of 10 different hybridomas could be increased from 32% (n = 338 mice) to 77% (n = 112 mice) by only one whole body irradiation of paraffin-pretreated-Balb/c mice. Production of monoclonal antibodies was better in males because significantly (p less than 0.01) increased volume of ascites fluid. From the increased tumor formation rate in irradiated mice it is suggested that in non-irradiated recipients the tumor growth rate was lowered by immunological reactions against hybridoma cells provoked by cell surface neoantigens revealed by cell fusion and/or tumor-associated antigens of the myeloma parent cells as well as by altered antigen pattern caused by possible mutations in the myeloma cell line and/or Balb/c/K strain.

Animals↗

Kinetic properties of monoclonal insulin antibodies.

We investigated four insulin-specific hybridoma antibodies with respect to their kinetic properties as well as the binding behaviour of some combinations of them. From equilibrium binding data all but one antibodies were shown to bear homogeneous binding sites. They revealed homogeneity of binding sites also by kinetic experiments, thus with high probability being monoclonal. At 0 degree C, two of them showed discrepancies between kinetic and steady state binding data in as much as, at steady state, the measured bound-to-free ratio of tracer insulin was 3-4 times lower than calculated from kinetic data. Thus a simple bimolecular reaction mechanism could possibly not be applicable. Mixing two monoclonal insulin antibodies, neither cooperative nor additive binding to the insulin molecule could be observed but only competitive effects. Especially, no positive cooperativity between two or more antibodies could be detected, which would be able to account for the higher affinity usually observed for polyclonal vs. monoclonal antibodies.

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Inhibition of glucagon release of isolated islets of Langerhans by monoclonal antibodies.

The presence of islet cell cytoplasmic antibodies (ICA) and islet cell surface antibodies (ICSA) at the time of diagnosis of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus has been taken as evidence that autoimmune mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The demonstration that ICSA in the presence of complement are preferentially lytic for beta-cells may be important in defining the role of these autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Because of the polyclonality of the immune response, the ICA and ICSA molecules of diabetic patient vary enormously in their binding parameters. For this reason we have generated monoclonal antibodies (MC-Ab) to islet cell antigens. In this study we investigate the effect of the two MC-Ab K28 A1 and K28 D6 resulted from the same fusion of the P3-X63-Ag8 murine myeloma cell line with the spleen cells of a Balb/c mouse immunized with rat islet cells on the hormone release of isolated rat islet in co-culture with the antibody-secreting hybridomas. The MC-Ab K28 D6 binds to both islet cell cytoplasmic and surface antigens, the K28 A1 is only reactive with cytoplasmic antigens. Surprisingly, in contrast to the monoclonal antibody K28 A1, K28 D6 enhanced the glucagon content and diminished the insulin secretion of the islets. Either the K28 D6 is directed to an epitope occurring on the beta- as well as alpha-cells or the antibody-mediated inhibition of the glucagon release results in a significantly reduced insulin secretion.

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The frequency of islet cell surface antibodies and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of mononuclear cells in HLA-typed patients with high diabetes risk.

To evaluate the significance of ICSA as a prognostic marker for the development of type I diabetes we investigated 66 subjects with first degree relatives of type I (47) and type II (9) diabetes as well as subjects with anamnestical data suggestive of diabetes. Patients were studied for glucose tolerance (oGTT) and IRI-response, ICSA (indirect fluorescence of living rat islet cell suspensions), ADCC (specific 51Cr-release of serum pretreated neonatal rat islets elicited by mononuclear cells) and HLA-antigens. 23 subjects revealed normal glucose tolerance, 17 impaired glucose tolerance and 26 had a prevoius abnormality. The incidence of ICSA varied between 46 and 53 per cent, that of positive ADCC between 22 and 56 per cent, both being highest in subjects with IGT. 87 per cent of all patients revealed diabetes associated HLA-antigens. We found no correlation of ICSA with glucose tolerance, IRI-response, ADCC and HLA-antigens. In conclusion it can be said that ICSA are present in a high percentage in patients with high diabetes risk but their predictive role as a marker for the manifestation must be elucidated in follow-up studies.

Adolescent↗

Metabolic, hormonal, and immunological alterations in subjects with antecedent mumps infection.

Since mumps virus seems to be one of the most likely candidates in viral etiology of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) we studied the possible relationship of glucose tolerance (75 g oGTT), beta cell function, diabetes associated HLA antigens, haptoglobin phenotype, islet cell antibodies (ICA) and islet cell surface antibodies (ICSA) in 125 subjects with antecedent mumps infection. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was diagnosed in 3.2% (n = 4) but onset of diabetes did not appear within 14 months after mumps infection. There was no relationship between glucose tolerance and complications of antecedent mumps infection (e.g. pancreatitis, meningitis, orchitis). The prevalence rate of ICA was 76%. ICSA were detectable in about 36% of children and 62% of the adults tested (p less than 0.01). There was no relationship between ICA/ICSA and diabetes-associated HLA antigens, haptoglobin phenotype or beta cell function (fasting C-peptide and insulin response to 75 g oGTT). However, adults with circulating ICA were characterized by a significantly lower insulin response to glucose. Fifty two "risk" subjects characterized by IGT, diabetes associated HLA antigen(s), ICA or ICSA either alone or combined were studied again 26 months after mumps infection. No symptomatic diabetes appeared and IGT was diagnosed in one case only. ICA and ICSA persisted in more than 50% of subjects in whom ICA or ICSA were present 14 months after mumps infection. Since the used immunological techniques do not clearly distinguish organ-specific from non-organ-specific antibodies the results must be interpreted with caution. To summarize, the preliminary results do not support a close temporal relationship between mumps infection and the onset of IDDM. The pathogenetic role of mumps virus and ICA/ICSA and their possible relation to a slow progressive beta cell destruction has still to be determined.

Adult↗

Complement-dependent cytotoxicity of monoclonal antibodies against islet cells.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies producing cell lines were generated against rat and human islet cells by somatic cell hybridization using the mouse myeloma cell line P3-X63-Ag8. Four hybrid cell lines are growing as ascites bearing tumors. All four monoclonal antibodies reacted with cytoplasmic islet cell antigens as detected by the indirect immunofluorescence technique on Bouin-fixed pancreatic sections of Wistar rats. Besides their binding to cytoplasmic antigens three of them also recognized antigens expressed at the islet cell surface. Moreover, two of these three monoclonal antibodies were capable of mediating complement dependent cytotoxicity against rat islet cells as revealed in a 51Cr-release assay.

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Islet cell antibodies in individuals at increased risk for IDDM.

Islet cell cytoplasmic antibodies (ICA), islet cell surface ( ICSA ) antibodies, HLA phenotypes, glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity were studied in 16 twins of insulin-dependent diabetics as well as in 21 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). 60% of the identical twins and 40% of the non-identical twins were ICSA -positive. The prevalence of ICSA in control persons was only 5%. ICA were found in all identical twins and in half of the non-identical twins. However, ICSA and ICA results were concordant in only 46% of the whole group of twins. There was no correlation between ICSA and either insulin secretion or insulin sensitivity. In the IGT subjects exhibiting low and normal insulin responses ICSA were observed in 67% and 23%, respectively. A high proportion of twins, but not of IGT subjects, had HLA DR3 or DR4 antigens which seem to confer genetic susceptibility to the development of IDDM. In the majority of DR3/DR4 twins, ICSA were also present. This might support the hypothesis of genetically-based autoimmunity, although the precise relationship between HLA and islet cell antibodies has to be clarified in a prospective study.

Adolescent↗