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Biomedical subjects

A G Gray

Publications and source records attributed to A G Gray.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Use of photosensitive, antibody directed liposomes to destroy target populations of cells in bone marrow: a potential purging method for autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Liposomes containing the photosensitive dye sulphonated aluminium phthalocyanine (AlSPc) were coupled to polyclonal sheep anti-mouse-Ig antibody and bound to cells coated with specific mouse monoclonal antibody. When illuminated with red light, the AlSPc in the liposomes was activated to produce singlet oxygen and the antibody and liposome targeted cells were destroyed. DW-BCL cells (an Epstein Barr virus immortalised B-cell line) were targeted with an anti-B-cell antibody (8A) and killed specifically, both alone and in the presence of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-cells), without phototoxic effects on the untargeted bone marrow CFU-GM progenitor cells. The presence of an excess of non-target cells did not interfere with antibody and liposome binding, or light access to target cells. Similar results were obtained with T-lymphocytes as target cells using anti-CD3 antibody. Specific targeting to the B-cells was demonstrated in the cell mixtures by use of fluorescent microscopy combined with a sensitive technique to detect low levels of AlSPc fluorescence, a cooled charge couple device (CCD) camera. This was also able to show low levels of non-specific background binding of AlSPc to BM-cells and a small population of cells that took up AlSPc in the absence of antibody. The latter were shown to be monocytes by flow cytometry.

Bone Marrow

Enhanced fluorescence in indirect immunophenotyping by the use of fluorescent liposomes.

Small unilamellar liposomes were optimised for cell phenotyping by indirect immunofluorescence. This involved selection and covalent attachment to the liposome of a polyspecific ligand for cell-bound antibody. For this purpose sheep anti-mouse antibody was preferred to protein A because of its ability to attach to cell-bound IgG1 as well as IgG2 at physiological pH. The maximally fluorescent concentration of encapsulated carboxyfluorescein was determined to be 20 mM and liposomes thus comprised gave up to a nine-fold increase in mean cell fluorescence when compared with sheep anti-mouse antibody conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate. There was no parallel increase in background fluorescence. Liposomes retained their targeting and fluorescence properties after 3 months storage. They could be sterilised and were as versatile in use as FITC-antibody conjugates.

Animals

Specific targeting and toxicity of sulphonated aluminium phthalocyanine photosensitised liposomes directed to cells by monoclonal antibody in vitro.

A partially purified fraction of the water soluble photosensitive dye sulphonated aluminium phthalocyanine (AlSPc) was encapsulated in liposomes which were then linked to a targeting monoclonal antibody 791T/36 using a heterobifunctional linking agent. The photocytotoxic effects of the liposomes were determined on two cell lines bearing an antigen with which the targeting antibody binds: 791T, an osteosarcoma and C170, a colorectal carcinoma; and a control cell line not bearing the antigen; DW-BCL, an Epstein-Barr virus immortalised B-cell line. Antibody dependent cytotoxicity was observed in 791T and C170 cells and was proportional to the number of antigens on the cells, the AlSPc concentration and the time of exposure to activating red light. No significant toxicity was seen using untargeted liposomes, control cells or free AlSPc fraction under similar conditions. Targeted cells and controls kept in the dark also showed no significant toxicity. A possible mechanism of action is postulated and simple adaptations which demonstrate the versatility of the model are discussed. Some suggestions as to the clinical situations to which this system might be applied in the form of photodynamic therapy (PDT) are made.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Mixed function oxidase and UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities in the human Hep G2 hepatoma cell line.

In cultured human hepatoma cells phenolphthalein glucuronidation was increased 3-fold by 2 mM phenobarbitone (PB) in the culture medium but not by 25 microM benz(a)anthracene (BA), while 1-naphthol glucuronidation was not increased by either PB or BA. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) was increased 15-fold by BA but not by PB, while the O-dealkylations of pentoxyresorufin (PROD) and benzyloxyresorufin (BROD) were increased by either PB or BA. The BROD activity increased by BA was sensitive to inhibition by alpha-naphthoflavone whereas that induced by PB was not. This suggests induction of different cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes. Control Hep G2 cells had similar glucuronide conjugation and cytochrome reductase activities to freshly isolated human adult hepatocytes, but had lower O-dealkylation and elevated microsomal epoxide hydrolase activities.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

Alpha-interferon therapy for essential thrombocythaemia.

18 patients with symptomatic essential thrombocythaemia were treated with recombinant alpha interferon (2a or 2b). Subcutaneous dosage regimens, which were well-tolerated, selectively lowered the platelet count and relieved symptoms in all patients, whether previously treated or untreated. Recombinant alpha-interferon may offer a non-leukaemogenic alternative therapy for these patients.

Adult

Uptake of antibody directed cytotoxic liposomes by CD3 on human T cells.

Using polyclonal human T cells and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies we have shown that small unilamellar liposomes covalently coupled with protein A become bound to T cells and not to B cells and that the binding was a specific liposome-antibody-receptor interaction. Intracellular delivery of liposome contents was demonstrated by the use of encapsulated carboxyfluorescein and flow cytometry and the transfer of membrane-bound liposomal carboxyfluorescein was virtually complete in 30 min. Liposomes containing methotrexate inhibited the growth of PHA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes by 90%, after 48 h incubation. Potential applications are proposed in the study of the behaviour of surface membrane components and in T cell depletion and purging of bone marrow.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte