Maintenance of B-cell memory by long-lived cells generated from proliferating precursors

A basic feature of T-cell dependent antibody responses is the generation of memory: on a second contact with an antigen a secondary response is produced in which somatically mutated antibodies with increased affinity are synthesized. Memory can persist for long periods of time. This has classically been ascribed to the generation of long-lived memory B cells. However, it is also possible that persisting antigen, on which memory may depend, maintains a population of cycling memory cells under continuous selection or continuously recruits newly generated B cells into the memory B-cell compartment. To discriminate between these mechanisms we have now directly analysed the proliferative activity in the memory B-cell compartment of the mouse by measuring bromodeoxyuridine incorporation in vivo. We show that after an initial phase of extensive proliferation after primary immunization, memory cells can persist in the organism for extended periods of time in the absence of cell division.     

硬骨鱼IgM结构和功能及其体液免疫应答

经典免疫学理论有2个基本模式阐述抗体免疫反应的发展和功能:（1）亲和力成熟依赖于机体本身的和通过突变形成的高亲和力抗体的抗原驱动选择过程；（2）抗体的生物效应功能是由抗体的类型所决定的.最近研究发现硬骨鱼的免疫系统通过调控结合抗原的亲和力大小来改变分泌的IgM抗体同质异构体结构的比例，从而影响其抗体在血清中的半衰期.这种独特性质的发现是对经典免疫学理论的补充和扩展.文章概述了硬骨鱼IgM抗体结构和功能的亲和力驱动调节，并介绍维持体液免疫记忆的长寿命浆细胞和记忆性B细胞的性质以及抗体分泌细胞（如原浆细胞、浆细胞）在体液免疫应答中的作用.了解硬骨鱼IgM结构和功能的关系，以及不同分化阶段B细胞维持体液免疫反应的机制，将有利于探索构建硬骨鱼免疫评价体系，并为高效的渔用疫苗开发和疫苗效果精确性评价奠定理论基础.     

HLA-DQ is epistatic to HLA-DR in controlling the immune response to schistosomal antigen in humans

Antigens that produce an antibody response in some members of a species may fail to do so in others. The response to an antigen is controlled by a gene termed the immune response (Ir) gene, which is transmitted as a single dominant trait. We have provided evidence for similar immune suppression (Is) genes which control non-responsiveness through the antigen specific suppressor T cell. The non-responsiveness is also dominantly inherited and the Is genes are linked to the histocompatibility (HLA) antigen system. Here we report that the HLA-DR2 molecule from a non-responder haplotype (HLA-Dw12-DR2-DQwl) is required for the proliferative T cell response to schistosoma japonicum (Sj) antigen, as a restriction element, indicating that the HLA-DR2 is the product of the Ir gene, and that the HLA-DQwl molecule of the non-responder haplotype is important in the antigen-specific suppression of the response to this antigen, suggesting that it is the product of the Is gene. We therefore conclude that the HLA-DR and DQ molecules, which are controlled by the distinct genes in the MHC multigene family, regulate immune response and immune suppression and that the gene for HLA-DQ is epistatic to that for HLA-DR in controlling the immune response to schistosomal antigen in humans.     

Antigenic peptides recognized by T lymphocytes from AIDS viral envelope-immune humans

T-lymphocyte immunity is likely to be an important component of the immune defence against the AIDS virus, because helper T cells are necessary for the antibody response as well as the cytotoxic response. We have previously predicted two antigenic sites of the viral envelope protein gp120 likely to be recognized by T lymphocytes, based on their ability to fold as amphipathic helices, and have demonstrated that these are recognized by T cells of mice immunized with gp120 (ref. 1). A peptide corresponding to one of these sites can also be induce immunity in mice to the whole gp120 protein. Because many clinically healthy seropositive blood donors have already lost their T-cell proliferative response to specific antigen, we tested the response to these synthetic peptides of lymphocytes from 14 healthy human volunteers who had been immunized with a recombinant vaccinia virus containing the AIDS viral envelope gene and boosted with a recombinant fragment. Eight of the 14 responded to one peptide, and four to the other peptide, not included in the boost. These antigenic sites recognized by human T cells may be useful components of a vaccine against AIDS. We also found a correlation between boosting with antigen-antibody complexes (compared to free antigen) and higher stimulation indices, suggesting a more effective method of immunization.     

Making antibody fragments using phage display libraries

To by-pass hybridoma technology and animal immunization, we are trying to build antibodies in bacteria by mimicking features of immune selection. Recently we used fd phage to display antibody fragments fused to a minor coat protein, allowing enrichment of phage with antigen. Using a random combinatorial library of the rearranged heavy (VH) and kappa (V kappa) light chains from mice immune to the hapten 2-phenyloxazol-5-one (phOx), we have now displayed diverse libraries of antibody fragments on the surface of fd phage. After a single pass over a hapten affinity column, fd phage with a range of phOx binding activities were detected, at least one with high affinity (dissociation constant, Kd = 10(-8) M). A second pass enriched for the strong binders at the expense of the weak. The binders were encoded by V genes similar to those found in anti-phOx hybridomas but in promiscuous combinations (where the same V gene is found with several different partners). By combining a promiscuous VH or V kappa gene with diverse repertoires of partners to create hierarchical libraries, we elicited many more pairings with strong binding activities. Phage display offers new ways of making antibodies from V-gene libraries, altering V-domain pairings and selecting for antibodies with good affinities.     

以减毒猪霍乱沙门菌为载体的抗O型口蹄疫病毒重组活菌苗在家兔体内免疫应答的初步研究

将含有口蹄疫病毒疫苗基因的真核表达质粒pBO1经过中间宿主鼠伤寒沙门菌LB5010修饰后,电转化到减毒的猪霍乱沙门菌C500中,构建成抗O型口蹄疫病毒的重组活菌苗pBO1／S．cho．血清凝集实验验证,筛选到的转化菌仍然具有猪霍乱沙门菌的血清学特性,即具有免疫原性．采用口服方式免疫家兔,检测重组菌在家兔体内诱导的免疫应答．家兔免疫后8周,分离脾脏T细胞,检测T细胞增殖情况．结果显示,口服DBO1／S．fho的家兔T细胞在FMDV特异性抗原的刺激下有明显的增殖反应,刺激指数SI〉11;免疫后2周和8周分别取家兔静脉血,用液相阻断ELISA法检测血清中针对FMDV的特异性抗体,pBO1／S．cho组家兔产生的抗体效价为1／32。     

基于银钯铂复合纳米材料标记的癌胚抗原免疫传感器的研制

合成了中空囊状银钯铂复合纳米材料,并以此为标记物,研制了一种标记型癌胚抗原(CEA, Carcinoembryonic Antigen)免疫传感器用于CEA的快速检测.首先利用Au-SH键将CEA抗体(anti-CEA)固定在金电极表面,与CEA抗原免疫结合后,再与银钯铂复合纳米材料标记过的anti-CEA结合,制成夹心型的免疫传感器.考察了免疫传感器的电化学特性,同时研究了培育时间和抗体固定浓度等实验条件对传感器性能的影响.该传感器在CEA抗原质量浓度为0.1～40 ng/mL的范围内有良好的线性关系,检测下限为0.03 ng/mL.实验结果表明: 该免疫传感器操作简便、灵敏度高、选择性好,具有良好的重现性和稳定性.     

两性糖体液免疫应答机制的研究

分别从抗体水平和细胞水平上探寻两性糖与中性糖、糖蛋白诱发的免疫反应的差异.在抗体水平上采用间接ELISA法测定抗体效价及相对亲和常数,在细胞水平上采用MTT法测定细胞增殖情况.与中性糖相比,两性糖能明显刺激机体表达IgG类抗体,促进脾细胞增殖.两性糖表现出与糖蛋白相似的免疫应答特性,初步判断两性糖能诱使淋巴细胞的基因发生重排,出现抗体同型转换.     

重组猪生长激素抗体的制备与纯化

为了获得重组猪生长激素抗体,对重组猪生长激素融合基因的真核表达产物进行免疫印迹(Western blot)检测,将利用DNA重组技术构建的重组质粒pPGH020在大肠杆菌(E.coli)BL21中进行诱导表达.表达产物经Ni+亲和层析柱纯化,获得纯化的重组猪生长激素融合蛋白.然后以此为抗原免疫新西兰大白兔,获得多克隆抗体,抗体再经硫铵沉淀、透析和亲和层析纯化.Western印迹结果表明,该纯化抗体显示了良好的免疫反应,其灵敏度比兔抗rpGH抗血清提高50倍,为猪生长激素融合基因在真核细胞的表达及功能鉴定奠定了基础.     

Immunization to a syngeneic sarcoma by a monoclonal auto-anti-idiotypic antibody

Idiotypic networks regulate the immune response to a variety of antigens. Antibodies generated against other antibodies, called anti-idiotypic antibodies, can themselves mimic antigen and elicit a specific immune response. They have been shown to induce delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to model antigens in the mouse. As anti-idiotypic antibodies are thought to be involved in the response to tumour-associated antigens we tested whether injection of monoclonal antibodies derived from mice hyperimmunized to a syngeneic, chemically induced sarcoma could mimic antigen and induce DTH to the sarcoma in naive mice. One of the monoclonal antibodies, 4.72, primed BALB/c mice for DTH to the sarcoma but not for DTH to another sarcoma or to sheep erythrocytes. Antibody 4.72 did not induce DTH in mice of immunoglobulin allotype congeneic strains nor did it bind to the sarcoma cells. As antibodies specific for this sarcoma have not been detected, we do not know whether idiotype on immunoglobulin molecules is recognized by antibody 4.72. However, as the response induced by antibody 4.72 was both antigen-specific and allotype-restricted, analogous to those induced by anti-idiotypic antibodies in other systems, we propose that antibody 4.72 is an anti-idiotypic antibody.     

Immune secondary response and clonal selection inspired optimizers

The immune system's ability to adapt its B-cells to new types of antigen is powered by processes known as clonal selection and affinity maturation. When the body is exposed to the same antigen, immune system usually calls for a more rapid and larger response to the antigen, where B cells have the function of negative adjustment. Based on the clonal selection theory and the dynamic process of immune response, two novel artificial immune system algorithms, secondary response clonal programming algorithm (SRCPA) and secondary response clonal multi-objective algorithm (SRCMOA), are presented for solving single and multi-objective optimization problems, respectively. Clonal selection operator (CSO) and secondary response operator (SRO) are the main operators of SRCPA and SRCMOA. Inspired by the clonal selection theory, CSO reproduces individuals and selects their improved maturated progenies after the affinity maturation process. SRO copies certain antibodies to a secondary pool, whose members do not participate in CSO, but these antibodies could be activated by some external stimulations. The update of the secondary pool pays more attention to maintain the population diversity. On one hand, decimal-string representation makes SRCPA more suitable for solving high-dimensional function optimization problems. Special mutation and recombination methods are adopted in SRCPA to simulate the somatic mutation and receptor editing process. Compared with some existing evolutionary algorithms, such as OGA/Q, IEA, IMCPA, BGA and AEA, SRCPA is shown to be able to solve complex optimization problems, such as high-dimensional function optimizations, with better performance. On the other hand, SRCMOA combines the Pareto-strength based fitness assignment strategy, CSO and SRO to solve multi-objective optimization problems. The performance comparison between SRCMOA, NSGA-II, SPEA, and PAES based on eight well-known test problems shows that SRCMOA has better performance in converging to approximate Pareto-optimal fronts with wide distributions.     

GnRH-a抗原的制备及不同剂量免疫的效果研究

目的:探讨促性腺激素释放激素类似物(GnRH-a)对动物免疫去势的效果和作用机理.方法:以EDC.HCL为偶合剂,将GnRH-a与BSA连接为复合物,再加入弗氏不完全佐剂制成抗原乳剂;给16只兔子分三组注射不同剂量的抗原,用间接ELISA法测定GnRH抗体效价.结果:制备的GnRH-a抗原为乳白色均匀悬液,物理化学性状稳定良好,安全可靠,无任何不良反应;以50μg/mL、100μg/mL、150μg/mL剂量的抗原乳剂分别对3个实验组动物进行免疫接种,各组动物均在免疫后两周内检测到GnRH-a抗体,并第4周左右达到高峰,ELISA效价分别为1∶800、1∶1600和1∶1600,说明100μg/mL、150μg/mL剂量的抗原产生的抗体效价致相同,故实践可用100μg/mL的剂量.但抗体达到高峰后持续时间短,下降很快.结论:GnRH-a抗原具有良好的免疫原性,为了延续抗体的高峰水平,有必要加强免疫.     

Binding of immunogenic peptides to Ia histocompatibility molecules

Most cellular interactions essential for the development of an immune response involve the membrane glycoproteins encoded in the major histocompatibility gene complex. The products of the I region, the class II histocompatibility molecules (Ia molecules), are essential for accessory cells such as macrophages to present polypeptide antigens to helper T cells. This interaction, antigen presentation, is needed for T-cell recognition of the antigen and its consequent activation. How the Ia molecules regulate the immune response during antigen presentation is not known, although it is commonly thought to result from their association with the presented antigen. Recent studies, including the elucidation of the structure of the T-cell receptor, favour recognition of a single structure, an antigen-Ia complex. Here we report attempts to determine whether purified Ia glycoproteins have an affinity for polypeptide antigens presented by intact cells in an Ia-restricted manner. We first identified the epitope of a peptide antigen involved in presentation. Several laboratories have shown that globular proteins are altered (processed) in intracellular vesicles of the antigen-presenting cell before antigen presentation. A major component of the T-cell response is directed toward determinants found in the unfolded or denatured molecule, and our laboratory has shown that the determinant of the hen-egg lysozyme protein (HEL), presented in H-2k mice to T cells, is a sequence of only 10 amino acids. This portion resides in an area of the native molecule partially buried inside the molecule, in a beta-sheet conformation. To be presented, intact or native HEL must first be processed in acidic intracellular vesicles. Having isolated the peptide responsible for T-cell recognition of HEL, we sought a physical association of this peptide with purified, detergent-solubilized I-Ak molecules from B-hybridoma cells. We have found such an association, which may explain the role of the Ia glycoproteins in cellular interactions.     

Functional and molecular organisation of an antigen-specific suppressor factor from a T-cell hybridoma

Thymus-dependent (T) lymphocytes have been shown to have antigen specificity. The antigen receptor on T lymphocytes, in contrast to that on B lymphocytes, does not appear to be of the conventional immunoglobulin (Ig) type. Studies on the antigen-specific factors derived from helper and suppressor T cells (Ts) demonstrated that they possess determinants with antigen binding affinity and products of genes in the H-2 complex (MHC). Furthermore, antibodies against the variable region of Ig heavy chains or idiotypes have been shown to react with T-cell antigen receptors as well as antigen-specific helper and suppressor T-cell factors (TsF). It is, therefore, conceivable that at least two gene products are involved in the structural entity of these receptors: one each coded for by genes in either. To establish the molecular nature of the recognition component of T cells we have used homogeneous TsF from a T-cell hybridoma with a specific function. We report here that the antigen binding and I-J coded molecules on TsF are independently synthesised in the cytoplasm, and are secreted as an associated form of the two molecules; this association is required for antigen-specific suppression of antibody response.     

Memory B-cell persistence is independent of persisting immunizing antigen

Immunological memory in the antibody system is generated in T-cell-dependent responses and carried by long-lived memory B cells that recognize antigen by high-affinity antibodies. But it remains controversial whether these B cells represent true 'memory' cells (that is, their maintenance is independent of the immunizing antigen), or whether they are a product of a chronic immune response driven by the immunizing antigen, which can be retained in the organism for extended time periods on the surface of specialized antigen-presenting cells (follicular dendritic cells). Cell transfer experiments provided evidence in favour of a role of the immunizing antigen; however, analysis of memory cells in intact animals, which showed that these cells are mostly resting and can persist in the absence of detectable T-cell help or follicular dendritic cells, argued against it. Here we show, by using a genetic switch mediated by Cre recombinase, that memory B cells switching their antibody specificity away from the immunizing antigen are indeed maintained in the animal over long periods of time, similar to cells retaining their original antigen-binding specificity.     

T cells with receptors for IgD

The role of IgD in the immune response has been elusive, although its predominance on the cell surface suggests a receptor function. We have shown previously that euthymic but not athymic BALB/c mice, injected with IgD before antigen, exhibit enhanced antibody responses which can be transferred by T cells. Isotype-specific T cells have been reported to have both upward and downward immunoregulatory effects. Here we demonstrate the existence of T cells with receptors for IgD, and show that exposure to IgD in vivo or in vitro significantly increases the number of T delta cells in the spleen and lymph nodes but not in the thymus. The kinetics of T delta-cell appearance in vivo parallels that of the immunoenhancing effect which occurs after injection of IgD. These T delta cells are of the Lyt 1+2- T-cell phenotype.     

仔猪猪瘟母源抗体及免疫抗体监测实验研究

由于猪瘟流行性差异,研究制订符合本地实际的猪瘟免疫程序是有效防控猪瘟的关键措施之一,而确定仔猪最佳首免日龄和免疫剂量是研究猪瘟免疫程序的两个重要内容。本文提出应用PPA(酶标葡萄球菌蛋白A)-ELISA法对达县某猪场进行了仔猪猪瘟母源抗体及免疫抗体监测实验研究,实验结果表明25日龄为最佳免疫日龄,1倍剂量为最佳免疫剂量。     

甘油-3-磷酸对甲肝疫苗诱导的体液免疫影响*

目的 研究甘油-3-磷酸对甲肝疫苗诱导的小鼠体液免疫应答的影响。方法 选取49只雌性ICR小鼠,分7组,每组7只,这7组小鼠分别为阴性对照、单纯抗原组、铝佐剂组和4组甘油-3-磷酸组,分别在免疫之后的第4、8、12、16、20周用酶联免疫法(ELISA)测定小鼠血清中的特异性的anti-HAV IgG水平。结果 在小鼠免疫之后的第4、8、12、16、20周单纯抗原组、铝佐剂组和4组不同剂量甘油-3-磷酸组均能检测到特异性抗HAV抗体,并且趋势为先升高后降低,且在免疫后的第8周最高;第4周和第8周的甘油-3-磷酸实验组的结果均高于单纯抗原组,且差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05),并且第4周甘油-3-磷酸组抗体水平均超过铝佐剂组,并具有统计学意义(P<0.05),其中甘油-3-磷酸2 mg为最佳剂量组,其抗体水平在免疫后的第4、8、12、16、20周均高于单纯抗原组,且在第8周抗体水平达到峰值,抗HAV IgG水平为lg(3.064±0.07851),铝佐剂的也是在第8周抗体水平达到峰值,抗HAV IgG水平为lg(3.150 ±0.1382)。结论 甘油-3-磷酸有免疫佐剂的作用,能够有效、迅速地增强HAV诱导的体液免疫应答,是一种潜在、安全有效的新型疫苗佐剂。     

The role of clonal selection and somatic mutation in autoimmunity

Polyclonal activation has been proposed as the reason that autoantibodies are produced during autoimmune disease. This model denies a role for specific antigen selection of B cells and predicts instead a multiclonal population of unmutated or randomly mutated autoantibodies. We have found that the genetic features and clonal composition of spontaneously derived immunoglobulin G (IgG) antiself-IgG (rheumatoid factor (RF] autoantibodies derived from the autoimmune MRL/lpr mouse strain are inconsistent with both the predictions of this model and the actual outcome of experimental polyclonal activation. Instead we have found that MRL/lpr RFs are oligoclonal or even monoclonal in origin. They harbour numerous somatic mutations which are distributed in a way that suggests immunoglobulin-receptor-dependent selection of these mutations. In this sense, the MRL/lpr RFs resemble antibodies elicited by exogenous antigens after secondary immunization. The parallels suggest that, like secondary immune responses, antigen stimulation is important in the generation of MRL/lpr RFs.     

Detection of prokaryotic mRNA signifies microbial viability and promotes immunity

Live vaccines have long been known to trigger far more vigorous immune responses than their killed counterparts. This has been attributed to the ability of live microorganisms to replicate and express specialized virulence factors that facilitate invasion and infection of their hosts. However, protective immunization can often be achieved with a single injection of live, but not dead, attenuated microorganisms stripped of their virulence factors. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are detected by the immune system, are present in both live and killed vaccines, indicating that certain poorly characterized aspects of live microorganisms, not incorporated in dead vaccines, are particularly effective at inducing protective immunity. Here we show that the mammalian innate immune system can directly sense microbial viability through detection of a special class of viability-associated PAMPs (vita-PAMPs). We identify prokaryotic messenger RNA as a vita-PAMP present only in viable bacteria, the recognition of which elicits a unique innate response and a robust adaptive antibody response. Notably, the innate response evoked by viability and prokaryotic mRNA was thus far considered to be reserved for pathogenic bacteria, but we show that even non-pathogenic bacteria in sterile tissues can trigger similar responses, provided that they are alive. Thus, the immune system actively gauges the infectious risk by searching PAMPs for signatures of microbial life and thus infectivity. Detection of vita-PAMPs triggers a state of alert not warranted for dead bacteria. Vaccine formulations that incorporate vita-PAMPs could thus combine the superior protection of live vaccines with the safety of dead vaccines.