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A cryoglobulin with cold agglutinin and erythroid stem cell suppressant properties.

A 93-year-old woman presented with profound anemia (hematocrit 23% [0.23]); there was clumping of her red cells in test tubes and on peripheral blood smears. There was also a marked decrease in erythroid precursors in the bone marrow and reticulocytopenia in the peripheral blood. An IgM kappa monoclonal gammopathy was found in low concentration (approximately 1%) in her serum, and the cold agglutinins had a titer of 2560. However, the cold agglutinin titer of the supernatant after cryoglobulin precipitation was 40. Redissolving the cryoglobulin in the supernatant resulted in a cold agglutinin titer of 1280. Moreover, the addition of the patient's whole serum inhibited erythroid colony formation in culture. The inhibition was removed by cryoprecipitation of the cryoglobulin. The patient was given steroid therapy, to which she responded with reticulocytosis and an elevation of hematocrit. By 3 months, the cold agglutinin titer had fallen to 10. She remained well 4 years later. Whereas reports of cryoprecipitable cold agglutinins are rare, this case is unique because there have been no previous reports that these cold active proteins also have erythroid stem cell-suppressant properties.

Aged↗

A Waldenström macroglobulin that is both a cold agglutinin and a cryoglobulin because it binds N-acetylneuraminosyl residues.

A purified human monoclonal IgM(kappa) (cold agglutinin MKV) has been characterized as both a cold agglutinin and a cryoglobulin. Since its reactivity with human erythrocytes but not with dog erythrocytes is reduced by treatment of the cells with ficin and its reactivity with both is abolished by treatment of the cells with neuraminidase, it has by definition Pr(2) specificity [Roelcke, D. (1974) Clin. Immunol. Immunopath. 2, 266-280]. Presumably, the membrane receptors for cold agglutinin MKV are sialic acid-containing glycoproteins in human cells and sialic acid-containing glycolipids in dog cells. Agglutination of erythrocytes is specifically inhibited by II(3)-N-acetylneuraminosyllactosylceramide (GM(3)) and N-acetylneuraminosylparagloboside but not by their N-glycolylneuraminosyl forms or by lactosylceramide or paragloboside, and the reactivity of neuraminidase-treated cells can be restored by allowing them to absorb either GM(3) or N-acetylneuraminosylparagloboside. When large amounts of ganglioside are absorbed, the cells are agglutinated not only in the cold, but also at 37 degrees , showing that the density of receptor sites on the erythrocyte surface can influence the thermal amplitude of cold agglutinins. Liberation of sialic acid from cold agglutinin MKV by treatment with neuraminidase (acylneuraminosyl hydrolase; EC 3.2.1.18) does not affect its agglutinating properties but the asialoprotein is no longer a cryoglobulin. Apparently the physical basis for its precipitation in the cold is the intermolecular immune binding of N-acetylneuraminosyl residues.

Adult↗

Purification and analysis of RNA polymerase II transcription factors by using wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography.

We recently found that many RNA polymerase II transcription factors are modified with N-acetylglucosamine residues. These sugar moieties confer upon transcription factors an ability to bind the lectin wheat germ agglutinin. We have taken advantage of this interaction to devise a purification procedure for the "GC-box" binding transcription factor Sp1. Crude nuclear extracts are first subjected to wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography and then subjected to sequence-specific DNA affinity chromatography. The Sp1 protein purified by this procedure is at least 95% pure, and the overall recovery is greater than 80%. In addition to yielding larger quantities of Sp1 than conventional schemes, the new purification procedure is also simpler and more rapid. We show that wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography can also be used to purify the glycosylated forms of the CCAAT-binding transcription factor. Thus, wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography may aid the purification of other transcription factors that bear N-acetylglucosamine residues. Furthermore, the ability to separate glycosylated forms of transcription factors from their unglycosylated counterparts by wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography should facilitate investigations into the role of N-acetylglucosamine residues in the functioning of transcription factor proteins.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Structure of the Chlamydomonas agglutinin and related flagellar surface proteins in vitro and in situ.

Using the quick-freeze, deep-etch technique, we compare the structure of the cane-shaped plus and minus sexual agglutinin molecules purified from gametes of Chlamydomonas reinhardi. We also describe the structure of three additional gamete-specific fibrillar molecules, called short canes, loops, and crescents, which are structurally related to the agglutinins. Four non-agglutinating mutant strains are found to produce the three latter fibrils but not canes, supporting our identification of the cane-shaped molecule as the agglutinin. The heads of the plus and minus canes are shown to differ in morphology. Moreover, two treatments that inactivate the plus agglutinin in vitro--thermolysin digestion and disulfide reduction/alkylation--bring about detectable structural changes only in the head domain of the cane, suggesting that the head may play an indispensible role in affecting gametic recognition/adhesion. We also present quick-freeze, deep-etch images of the flagellar surfaces of gametic, vegetative, and mutant cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardi. The gametic flagella are shown to carry the canes, short canes, loops, and crescents present in in vitro preparations. The cane and crescent proteins self-associate on the flagellar surface into stout fibers of uniform caliber, and they align along the longitudinal axis of the flagellum. The short canes and loops co-purify with flagella but, in the presence of mica, dissociate so that they lie to the sides of the flagella. The agglutinin canes of both mating types are oriented with their hooks at the membrane surface and their heads directed outward, where they are positioned to participate in the initial events of sexual agglutination.

Agglutinins↗

Physical properties of the red cell agglutinins in acquired hemolytic anemia.

The sera of 8 patients with acquired hemolytic anemia associated with elevated levels of cold agglutinins were studied by various procedures of zone electrophoresis. The agglutinating activity was found associated with proteins of variable mobility in the different cases. The majority represented "fast" gamma-globulins. The 4 sera with the highest titers of cold agglutinins showed distinguishable abnormal electrophoretic components. The titers correlated with the height of the abnormal components. Ultracentrifugal analysis of the electrophoretic fractions indicated that the cold agglutinins were associated with proteins having a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 19 S. The abnormal component from the serum with the highest biological activity showed almost no contamination with lower molecular weight proteins. The amount of 19 S material found correlated with the titer of agglutinating activity. The high molecular weight character of the cold agglutinins was confirmed by procedures of density gradient zone centrifugation. The biological activity sedimented with proteins of the 19 S class in all the sera including those of relatively low titer with which no abnormal electrophoretic components were observed. Dissociation of the abnormal high molecular weight components was possible by means of certain sulfhydryl compounds. This resulted in disappearance of cold agglutinin activity. Some of the cases could be classified as macroglobulinemias because of the very large content of high molecular weight components. However, the same disease picture occurred without recognizable elevation of these components. The sera of 3 patients with severe acquired hemolytic anemia of the warm type associated with warm incomplete antibodies failed to show similar abnormal electrophoretic components and the antibody activity sedimented with proteins of the 7 S class.

Agglutinins↗

Origin of anti-human blood group B agglutinins in white Leghorn chicks.

While anti-human blood group B agglutinins are present in the majority of ordinary White Leghorn chicks by the age of 30 days, none could be demonstrated in germfree chicks up to the age of 60 days. Anti-B agglutinins in trace amounts were first found in germfree chicks 66 days old and increased to an average titer of about 1:2 by 91 days of age. This titer amounts to about 10 per cent of that found in ordinary chicks. The appearance of antibody in low titer is attributed to trace amounts of non-living antigenic contaminants penetrating the germfree barrier. The necessity of appropriate absorption in order to obtain well defined specificities was pointed out. Several means commonly used to differentiate between normal and immune antibodies were employed in this investigation. None showed a difference between anti-B agglutinins from ordinary chicks and from germfree chicks intentionally immunized with blood group B active E. coli O(86) or with B active preparations from human meconium. The implications of these findings on the origin of natural agglutinins are discussed. It is concluded, that measurable anti-human blood group B agglutinins in White Leghorn chicks are acquired early in life and are not inherited. The possibilities as well as limitations of present day germfree technique for this kind of immunological research have been considered.

Agglutinins↗

The correlation of cold agglutinin titrations in saline and albumin with haemolytic anaemia.

Cold agglutinin syndrome (CAS) is usually associated with IgM cold agglutinins with titres exceeding 1000 at 4 degrees C and a thermal amplitude of 30-32 degrees C. Occasionally patients are encountered who although having clinical and laboratory findings compatible with CAS do not have the characteristic serological findings. Thirty-two patients with a positive direct antiglobulin test due to complement sensitization were studied. Thirty-one of these patients had cold agglutinin titres greater than 64. Twenty-eight had haemolytic anaemia, including one patient with a cold agglutinin titre of only 8 against saline-suspended red cells. 53.6% of sera from patients with haemolytic anaemia reacted at 30 degrees C and 7.1% at 37 degrees C when albumin was not present, whereas in the presence of albumin all of the sera reacted at 30 degrees C and 67.9% reacted at 37 degrees C. None of the four patients without haemolytic anaemia reacted at 30 degrees C or 37 degrees C in the presence of albumin, even though one serum reacted to a titre of 1280 at 4 degrees C. Cold agglutinin titres and thermal amplitudes in the presence of bovine albumin were found to correlate better with haemolytic anaemia than reactions without albumin. If bovine albumin is utilized in compatibility testing, multiple cold autoabsorptions may be necessary before alloantibody activity at 37 degrees C can be excluded.

Agglutinins↗

Kappa chain (V kappa III) subgroup-related activity in an idiotypic anti-cold agglutinin serum.

In a search for H- or L-chain-related cross-idiotypic specificity among human anti-I and anti-i cold agglutinins, two idiotypic antisera raised against the IgMkappa cold agglutinin Da were tested for their binding activity to isolated cold agglutinin H and L chains. Negligible H-chain binding activity was found, but there was high-titre L-chain binding activity in one of the antisera. This was an unsuspected VkappaIII subgroup activity which enabled the classification of VkappaIII proteins into three subgroups. The kappa chains of five out of six anti-I and anti-i cold agglutinins belonged to the antigenically most active VkappaIII subgroup. Absorption of the idiotypic antiserum with a Bence Jones protein of this latter subgroup did not appreciably alter the precipitating cross-idiotypic activity of the antiserum when tested with intect cold agglutinins. However, these studies do not rule out the possible existence of a VkappaIII subgroup-associated conformational antigen in an intact Fab region, which is seen as a 'cross idiotypic' antigen by heterologous (rabbit anti-human) antisera.

Agglutinins↗

A cold agglutinin: Om.

An IgM kappa cold agglutinin reacted with cord blood as well as with adult red blood cells (RBC). The agglutinin reacted strongly with papainized and neuraminidase (RDE)-treated RBC. It resembled anti-Me cold agglutinin in these serological findings. However, the activity of this agglutinin against RBC was markedly decreased in the presence of human milk. The data suggest that the agglutinin is directed against a new glycolipid antigen common to human RBC, termed Om antigen.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Specificities of limulin and wheat-germ agglutinin towards some derivatives of GM3 gangliosides.

Lipid vesicles containing derivatives of GM3 ganglioside (II3-N-acetylneuraminosyllactosyl ceramide) were used to study the specificities of two lectins (limulin and wheat germ agglutinin) towards N-acetyl neuraminic acid and N-glycoloylneuraminic acid and some of their natural and chemically modified derivatives. The extent of the lectin binding to the gangliosides was related to the aggregation process of the lipid vesicles which was monitored as an absorbance increase. Limulin binds specifically to lipid vesicles containing N-glycoloyl derivatives of GM3. The hydroxyl group at C-4 and the carboxyl group of neuraminic acid have to be free for the binding to limulin. The side chain of neuraminic acid is not involved in the binding site of limulin. Wheat germ agglutinin binds to GM3 ganglioside only when the hydrophilic tail of the neuraminic group is cut off (C7 analogues). The acetamido group but not the carboxyl group is involved in the binding to wheat germ agglutinin. The wheat-germ-agglutinin-induced aggregation of vesicles containing derivatives of GM3-ganglioside is dependent on the pH, on the ionic strength and on the presence of Ca2+ ions. The dependence on ionic strength and Ca2+ is a consequence of the electrostatic repulsion of the vesicles. The wheat-germ-agglutinin-induced aggregation process of vesicles containing any suitable GM3-ganglioside derivative was reversed by the addition of N-acetylglucosamine showing that the N-acetylneuraminic acid derivatives bind to the N-acetylglucosamine binding site.

Calcium↗

Differentiation of salivary agglutinin-mediated adherence and aggregation of mutans streptococci by use of monoclonal antibodies against the major surface adhesin P1.

The ability to adhere to salivary agglutinin-coated hydroxyapatite beads and to aggregate in the presence of fluid-phase salivary agglutinin was tested by using 25 isolates of mutants streptococci representing eight serotypes. Both adherence and aggregation activity correlated with expression of the Mr-185,000 cell surface antigen P1 on Streptococcus mutans serotype c, e, and f strains. In addition, it was shown that the P1 molecule itself served as the adhesin of S. mutans serotype c, since adherence was significantly inhibited by the presence of recombinant-specified Mr-150,000 P1. The ability of S. sobrinus strains to adhere or aggregate did not correlate with expression of the P1 cross-reactive antigen SpaA. There was also evidence for interaction with salivary agglutinin, as manifested by aggregation but not adherence of S. rattus serotype b, which does not express a P1 cross-reactive antigen. To understand the interaction of P1 with salivary agglutinin at the molecular level, a panel of 11 anti-P1 monoclonal antibodies was tested for inhibitory activity in adherence and aggregation inhibition assays. Overlapping, but not identical, subsets of monoclonal antibodies were found to inhibit adherence and aggregation, indicating that the interactions of P1 with salivary agglutinin which mediate these two phenomena are different. The localization of functional domains of P1 which may mediate the aggregation and adherence reactions is discussed.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Inactivation of the gene encoding surface protein SspA in Streptococcus gordonii DL1 affects cell interactions with human salivary agglutinin and oral actinomyces.

Cell surface protein SSP-5 in the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii M5 binds human salivary agglutinin in a Ca(2+)-dependent reaction (D.R. Demuth, E.E. Golub, and D. Malamud, J. Biol. Chem. 265:7120-7126, 1990). The region of the gene encoding an N-terminal segment of a related polypeptide (SspA) in S. gordonii DL1 (Challis) was isolated following polymerase chain reaction amplification of genomic DNA. The sspA gene in S. gordonii DL1 was insertionally inactivated by homologous recombination of the erythromycin resistance (Emr) determinant ermAM onto the streptococcal chromosome. The SspA polypeptide (apparent molecular mass, 210 kDa) was detected on Western blots (immunoblots) of spheroplast extracts and extracellular culture medium proteins from wild-type strain DL1 but was absent from Emr mutants. One SspA- mutant (designated OB220) was not altered in rate or extent of aggregation by whole saliva or parotid saliva but showed reduced aggregation in the presence of purified salivary agglutinin. Mutant bacteria were unaffected in their ability to adhere to hydroxylapatite beads coated with whole or parotid saliva and were unaltered in cell surface hydrophobicity. However, the SspA- strain OB220 was deficient in binding salivary agglutinin and in binding to six strains of Actinomyces naeslundii. Therefore, expression of SspA polypeptide in S. gordonii is associated with both agglutinin-dependent and agglutinin-independent aggregation and adherence reactions of streptococcal cells.

Actinomyces↗

Bacterial agglutinins in rat salivary glands: effect of glandular stimulation and calcium dependency.

The secretory pattern of salivary, bacterial agglutinins was studied in the rat. The three major salivary glands were cannulated bilaterally and their secretions collected separately after parasympathomimetic and sympathetic stimulation. The bacterial aggregating activity of the secretions was tested against four strains of bacteria indigenous to the rat. Agglutinin activity was demonstrated in both parasympathomimetic and sympathetic secretions. The parotid glands tended to show the highest total output of agglutinins, with the highest titers found in parotid saliva on sympathetic stimulation. In submandibular and, particularly, parotid saliva, titers tended to increase when stimulation with pilocarpine was followed by sympathetic stimulation. In contrast, titer in sublingual saliva tended to decrease on sympathetic stimulation. When expressed as titer output per minute, sympathetic parotid secretion showed the highest agglutinin activity. Agglutinin activity appeared unrelated to total protein or to duct-derived amidolytic activity. Titers of parotid or submandibular saliva were increased 5- to 10-fold by the presence of 3.3 mM CaCl2 in the reaction mixture. By contrast, the agglutinating activity of sublingual saliva on parasympathomimetic stimulation was unaffected by extraneous CaCl2. Measurements of Ca concentration in similarly obtained rat salivary secretions did not show patterns of Ca concentration that could be related to the varying sensitivity of the agglutinating activity to Ca.

Agglutinins↗

Severe cold agglutinin disease and cryoglobulinemia secondary to a monoclonal anti-Pr2 IgM lambda cryoagglutinin.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of cold agglutinin disease/cryoglobulinemia secondary to a monoclonal anti-Pr2 IgM lambda antibody, and review the literature on the occurrence of this antibody in cold-induced disease and the clinical disease associated with it. METHODS: Cryoantibody characteristics were evaluated by cold precipitation. The antigen specificity of the monoclonal IgM lambda antibody was evaluated using techniques of selective red blood cell absorption. RESULTS: In our patient, we were able to identify an antibody with both cryoglobulinemic and cold agglutinin (cryoagglutinin) properties. This antibody was found to be monoclonal IgM lambda with specificity to the Pr2 antigen on red blood cells. CONCLUSIONS: Monoclonal IgM lambda anti-Pr is a rarely found cold agglutinin antibody. In this report we describe the clinical course of a patient who had this antibody, which not only agglutinated red cells in the cold but also had cryoglobulin properties. The clinical illness of this man was characterized by severe acrocyanosis and digital necrosis with eventual organ necrosis and death. We also review the literature on cold induced disease due to monoclonal anti-Pr IgM lambda antibody. Our patient was found to be unique among the reports reviewed. Our case is the first to report both cold agglutinin and cryoglobulinemic properties with the evaluation of the thermal amplitudes of these activities of the antibody. Also, unlike the lymphoproliferative malignancy observed in the cold agglutinin-associated disease in the other reports, our patient's disease was associated with a monoclonal B-cell expansion on the spectrum between benign monoclonal gammopathy and a low grade lymphoproliferative disorder.

Aged↗

Cold agglutinins in low-grade B-cell lymphoma.

The presence of serum cold agglutinin can be the initial presentation of lymphoproliferative diseases. Conditions with persistent cold agglutinins are a spectrum of diseases that vary from benign lymphoproliferation of the "autoimmune-like chronic cold agglutinin disease" to malignant lymphoma. We report a case of a 72-year-old woman who presented with severe anaemia, hepatosplenomegaly and episodes of peripheral haemagglutination precipitated by cold exposure. The haemoglobin was 5.6 g/dL with a cold agglutinin titer of 1:256 at 4 degrees C and 1:8 at room temperature (30 degrees C). The cold agglutinin showed anti-I specificity and kappa light chain restriction. Peripheral blood showed atypical lymphoid cells with a B-cell immunophenotype. Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement study by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed an amplified band at 100 bp, consistent with a clonal proliferation of B-lymphocytes. We believe that our patient had cold antibody haemolytic anaemia as the initial presentation of a low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The association of cold antibody haemolytic anaemia with low-grade B-cell lymphoma is unusual.

Aged↗

VH restriction among human cold agglutinins. The VH4-21 gene segment is required to encode anti-I and anti-i specificities.

We previously reported that human autoantibodies with cold agglutinin activity contained a single human VH gene segment (VH4-21) which was also responsible for the cross-idiotypic specificity characteristic of the cold agglutinin response. To confirm and extend this observation we have analyzed at the nucleotide level the H and L chains of six new cold agglutinin molecules derived from different patients. We found that regardless of whether the antibody recognizes the i or the I red cell Ag, restriction at the VH gene segment level is absolute. We also found that even in the absence of somatic mutation the VH4-21 gene segment can encode both anti-i and anti-I specificities. Finally, although the VH4-21 gene segment is essential for cold agglutinin activity, the other genetic elements that contribute to the V region of the antibody molecules can be extremely diverse. The structural information provided in this report sharply restricts the requirement for encoding pathogenic cold agglutinin activity to one of the components of the H chain V region, specifically the VH gene segment. The implications of this apparently absolute requirement for a single VH gene segment, unprecedented in the human autoimmune response, are discussed.

Aged↗

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the V regions of two IgM cold agglutinins. Evidence that the VH4-21 gene segment is responsible for the major cross-reactive idiotype.

Cold agglutinins are human autoantibodies, usually of the IgM class, which agglutinate RBC at low temperature. The major subset recognizes the I/i carbohydrate Ag, and many of these antibodies bear cross-reacting idiotypic determinants. An anti-idiotypic mAb that is specific for one of the idiotopes largely confined to cold agglutinins has been used to identify and monitor tumor cells that secrete these molecules in two patients. The tumor cells were immortalized with EBV and the idiotope-positive lines used to investigate the utilization of the VH and VL genes by these antibodies. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the two cold agglutinins (FS-1 and FS-2) revealed the utilization of a single common gene segment, VH4-21. Serologic analysis documented that only human antibodies utilizing the VH4-21 gene segment were reactive in the idiotope assay, other VHIV antibodies as well as a panel of antibodies derived from other VH families being negative. The DH, JH, VK, and JK gene segments of FS-1 and FS-2 were structurally distinct. These data suggest that the structural basis for the cross-reactive idiotope as well as cold agglutinin activity is the VH4-21 gene segment. A nucleotide change in H chain CDR1 of both cold agglutinins results in the substitution of an aspartic acid residue for glycine at position 31, suggesting that this amino acid might be critical to recognition of the red cell Ag.

Aged↗

Sperm agglutinins in seminal plasma and serum after vasectomy: correlation between immunological and clinical findings.

The development of sperm agglutinins in serum and seminal plasma in relation to vasectomy was studied in forty-seven men by testing samples taken before vasectomy and on five occasions during the first year after vasectomy. Thirty additional patients were tested only 1 year after vasectomy. One year after vasectomy, sperm agglutinins in the serum in titres from 4 to about 4000 had developed in 62% of the entire group, while antibodies in the seminal fluid detectable by the gelatin agglutination test were present in only 4% of the group, and apart from on unusual case the titres were low here (either 4 or 8). Analysis of the modes of agglutination revealed changing patterns in several patients during the observation period, with a predominance of tail agglutinins after 1 year. In some cases, mixed agglutination was seen with serum but pure tail-to-tail agglutination with seminal plasma. The total number of spermatozoa in a pre-vasectomy ejaculate was found to be correlated with an early immune response and with the titre values after 1 year. The group of patients in whom agglutinins had developed 1 year after vasectomy were found to have significantly larger nodules at the sites of operation than those without sperm agglutinins.

Agglutinins↗