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B Diamond

Publications and source records attributed to B Diamond.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The anti-DNA-associated idiotype 8.12 is encoded by the V lambda II gene family and maps to the vicinity of L chain CDR1.

The 8.12 idiotype is an anti-DNA-associated Id present on lambda L chains that are expressed at high titers in 50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Since this Id can be present on as much as a third of a patient's anti-DNA antibodies and is found in renal glomeruli, 8.12 is thought to be a marker for a subset of pathogenic anti-DNA auto-antibodies. A molecular analysis of the 8.12 positive antibodies was designed to explore the genetic basis of this Id. Monoclonal human B cell lines were generated by transformation with EBV and lambda L chain-secreting lines were analyzed for Id expression and V region gene usage. In this panel of Ig lambda cell lines, the 8.12 idiotype is encoded exclusively by members of the V lambda II gene family. The sequences of several 8.12+ and 8.12- V lambda II genes are reported here and are used to map the 8.12 Id to the vicinity of CDR1, as well as to further characterize the large and polymorphic V lambda II gene family.

Amino Acid Sequence

Induction of tolerance to an IgG autoantibody.

Nonautoimmune mice transgenic for the heavy chain of an IgG2b anti-double-stranded-DNA antibody express the transgene in lymphoid organs and display partial allelic exclusion of this gamma 2b transgene. The spleens of these mice are characterized by marked B-cell depletion. Although there are B cells in these mice that express the transgene and recognize double-stranded DNA, they are anergic in vivo. Recovery from the state of anergy occurs in vitro after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Thus this transgenic model demonstrates the induction of self tolerance to an IgG autoantibody.

Animals

Lupus anti-DNA antibodies bearing the 8.12 idiotype appear to be somatically mutated.

Anti-DNA antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sera were analyzed using an antiidiotype designated 8.12 which recognizes a determinant on lambda light chains highly expressed in SLE sera. Eight of ten normal individuals had peripheral blood lymphocytes which produced high-titered 8.12-positive antibodies, following transformation with Epstein Barr virus, implying that the 8.12-reactive sequence originates in the germline gene (GLG). Of 58 SLE sera, 32 contained elevated titers of 8.12-reactive antibodies. Twenty-three of these sera had 8.12-reactive anti-DNA antibodies, suggesting a strong correlation between 8.12 idiotype and DNA binding. Moreover, 20 of 26 8.12-reactive IgG antibodies and only 4 of 10 8.12-reactive IgM antibodies bound DNA (P less than 0.05). These observations strengthen our previous findings in myeloma sera that DNA binding is associated with IgG isotype in the 8.12 idiotype system and suggest that the acquisition of anti-DNA reactivity in antibodies bearing the GLG idiotype 8.12 is achieved by somatic mutation, a feature of an antigen-driven response.

Antibodies, Antinuclear

Revisiting and revising suppressor T cells.

A great deal of experimental evidence supports the phenomenon of immunological suppression. The molecular mechanisms to explain the phenomenology have, however, remained controversial. In this review, the data are reinterpreted in light of the recent advances in the understanding of T-cell subsets, the cross-regulatory properties of lymphokines and the differential presentation capacities of different antigen-presenting cell types.

Animals

Ventricle-to-brain ratio and symptoms at the onset of first-break schizophrenia.

Ventricle-to-brain ratio (VBR) was measured from the computed tomographic (CT) scans of 33 very recent-onset psychotic patients. Illness severity and positive and negative symptoms were also assessed in 21 of these patients with schizophreniform disorder. Forty-five neurology patients served as controls. Analyses revealed no significant differences between the VBR of the psychotic group as a whole, the schizophreniform subgroup, the affective psychotic subgroup, and the controls. Control subjects with a neurological diagnosis of vertigo or syncope had significantly higher VBR than the remainder of the control group and the psychotic group. When the psychotic group was compared to the control group minus those controls with syncope or vertigo, the psychotic group had significantly higher VBR. The schizophreniform subgroup also had significantly higher VBR than the control group minus subjects with vertigo or syncope. In the schizophreniform subgroup, positive symptoms and illness severity were associated with smaller VBR. There was no association between negative symptoms and VBR.

Adolescent

The role of somatic mutation in the pathogenic anti-DNA response.

Anti-DNA antibodies represent a significant autospecificity in systemic lupus erythematosus because they are essentially diagnostic of the disease and they contribute to renal pathology. The molecular genetic characterization of these antibodies from both lupus-prone mice and humans with lupus has shown them to be somatically mutated. In many cases the nature of the mutations suggests that DNA or some structurally homologous molecule is driving the response. In other cases the high replacement-to-silent mutation ratio in framework regions of the antibody suggests selection by idiotype or by some mechanism other than antigen itself. Current studies of immunoglobulin variable region genes encoding anti-DNA antibodies reveal no disease associated polymorphisms. There are also no data suggesting that the nature of the recombination process that forms intact variable region genes or of the process of somatic mutation differs in autoimmune and nonautoimmune strains or kindred. Current data suggest, rather, that a defect in regulation is responsible for auto-antibody production in SLE. The finding that most if not all anti-double stranded DNA antibodies are somatically mutated suggests the defect is in maintenance of peripheral rather than central tolerance.

Animals

TNF in combination with GM-CSF enhances the differentiation of neonatal cord blood stem cells into dendritic cells and macrophages.

We describe dendritic cell progenitors within the CD34+ stem cell compartment in neonatal cord blood and identify growth factors contributing to their differentiation. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), although mainly promoting the growth and differentiation of monocyte-macrophages (mono-m psi s), also induced the differentiation of cells with the distinctive morphological features of dendritic cells (DCs). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in combination with GM-CSF promoted further growth of both cell types but most notably increased the DC content. In situ analysis revealed that the cells exhibiting DC morphology were positive for class II major histocompatibility complex antigens but were CD14 negative, did not exhibit nonspecific esterase activity, and were nonphagocytic. Moreover, the mixed leukocyte reaction stimulatory capacity of cultures with the higher DC content was greater. TNF, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was inactive in promoting stem cell proliferation or DC morphology. IL-1 or PDGF synergized with GM-CSF to increase mono-m psi-associated cell proliferation but did not increase the DC content. The development of a common DC-monocyte precursor was suggested by the presence of colony-forming unit-like clusters containing mono-m psi s and DCs and one sharp proliferative peak. The loss of DC morphology after 21 days, coupled with increases in mono-m psi-associated markers and a constant number of viable cells, further suggests that DC morphology may fluctuate in culture or is a transient feature acquired by certain cells of the mono-m psi lineage.

Cell Differentiation

Autoimmune demyelination in transgenic E alpha d-positive A.CA mice. Comparison with E-negative A.CA mice.

A body of literature exists implicating the major histocompatibility complex class II E molecule in development of immune tolerance and/or immunosuppression. To define better the regulatory mechanisms underlying susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an autoimmune condition displaying major histocompatibility complex-II dependence, disease was induced in transgenic mice expressing a major histocompatibility complex-II E alpha d-transgene. This was compared with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced in age-matched E-negative, non-transgenic mice of the same strain. The results showed that experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis could be induced by adoptive transfer methodology in both transgenic and non-transgenic mice of the A.CA (H-2f) strain. Virtually no differences were observed between the two mouse types with regard to disease onset, course, and neuropathology. The main difference noted was within nonirradiated recipient subgroups where the nonirradiated transgenic A.CA mice demonstrated greater inflammation and demyelination than the nonirradiated, non-transgenic mice throughout the disease course. Thus, the results did not support the idea that the E molecule, per se, is involved in the induction of tolerance or immunosuppressive mechanisms protecting against autoimmunity. In addition, histologic changes in the central nervous system of the A.CA strain, both transgenic and non-transgenic, differed in several respects from the changes observed in other more commonly studied susceptible strains. In A.CA mice, polymorphonuclear cells were a more prominent component of the acute inflammatory infiltrate and in chronic disease, large aggregates of lipid-laden macrophages and cholesterol clefts were present within white matter lesions. The present approach, using genetic manipulation of the immune system, may have relevance to the study of disease mechanisms in other putative autoimmune demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

Animals

Molecular characteristics of antibodies bearing an anti-DNA-associated idiotype.

Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies are the hallmark of the disease systemic lupus erythematosus and are believed to contribute to pathogenesis. While a large number of anti-DNA antibodies from mice with lupus-like syndromes have been characterized and their variable region genes sequenced, few human anti-DNA antibodies have been reported. We describe here the variable region gene sequences of eight antibodies produced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cells that bear the 3I idiotype, an idiotype expressed on anti-DNA antibodies and present in high titer in patients with systemic lupus. The comparison of these antibodies to the light chains of 3I+ myeloma proteins and serum antibodies reveals that EBV transformation yields B cells producing antibodies representative of the expressed antibody repertoire. The analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of these antibodies suggests the first complementarity determining region of the light chain may be important in DNA binding and that paradigms previously generated to account for DNA binding require modification. The understanding of the molecular genetics of the anti-DNA response requires a more complete description of the immunoglobulin germ line repertoire, but data reported here suggest that somatic diversification is a characteristic of the anti-DNA response.

Amino Acid Sequence

Characterization of the human Ig V lambda II gene family and analysis of V lambda II and C lambda polymorphism in systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report the cDNA sequence of an expressed human V lambda II gene and present an RFLP analysis of the Ig gene family defined by this clone. This V lambda II gene was expressed in a monoclonal B cell line generated from a patient with SLE by transformation with EBV. The encoded lambda L chain displays the 8.12 Id, an Id common to anti-DNA antibodies from patients with SLE. Using a coding region probe we estimate from Southern blot analysis that the germline V lambda II gene family contains at least 15 members. Many of the V lambda II restriction fragments are polymorphic both in SLE patients and in nonautoimmune individuals. EcoRI, HindIII, and TaqI RFLP analyses of the V lambda II gene family and EcoRI analysis of the C lambda gene family reveal no polymorphisms specific to SLE. Observed V lambda II and C lambda allele frequencies are the same among SLE patients and nonautoimmune individuals, and show no evidence of linkage disequilibrium between the two loci.

Alleles

A novel class of anti-DNA antibodies identified in BALB/c mice.

We have characterized four IgG monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) derived from BALB/c mice that bind double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) with high affinity. The hydridomas were selected for expression of a member of the VHS107 family. Three of the four cell lines use the VH11 gene and one uses the VH1 gene. These antibodies exhibit many characteristics of pathogenic anti-DNA antibodies. They are high affinity and not broadly crossreactive. Unlike the anti-DNA antibodies in autoimmune mice, they exhibit no somatic mutation in their VH genes. These results demonstrate that somatic mutation of VHS107 genes is not necessary for generating high affinity dsDNA binding. The fact that such antibodies have not previously been reported suggests that they are rare and that their expression may be downregulated in both nonautoimmune and autoimmune individuals.

Amino Acid Sequence

Alteration of the T-cell receptor repertoire in A.CA mice expressing an Ead transgene.

In an effort to generate an A.CA mouse expressing Ed, the Ead gene has been introduced into A.CA mice which lack the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II E molecule. Flow cytometric analysis shows cell surface expression of the E alpha chain on lymphocytes and macrophages in the transgenic mice. Analysis of T-cell receptor (Tcr) genes deleted in some E-expressing mouse strains demonstrates that T cells expressing Tcrb-V5 are partially deleted in these transgenic mice while those expressing Tcrb-V8 and Tcrb-11 are not. In addition, the expressed E alpha d chain can promote Mycoplasma arthriditis mitogen (MAM)-induced T-cell proliferation. The expression of the E alpha chain, presumably as an A beta fE alpha d heterodimer, can alter the peripheral T-cell repertoire and T-cell reactivity to a microbial superantigen.

Animals

Antibodies elicited by pneumococcal antigens bear an anti-DNA--associated idiotype.

There is evidence in both murine and human lupus that the production of anti-DNA antibodies may be triggered by environmental antigens. To explore this further, we studied the serum of 10 nonautoimmune individuals immunized with a polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. All 10 patients showed a rise in the titer of antipneumococcal antibodies bearing an anti-DNA-associated idiotype. The antipneumococcal response was specific as no idiotypic antitetanus antibodies were detected. Furthermore, no anti-DNA antibodies were present in postvaccination sera. The molecular analysis of antipneumococcal and anti-DNA antibodies bearing a common idiotype will help elucidate how foreign antigen might lead to the production of anti-DNA antibodies in susceptible individuals.

Antibodies, Antinuclear

Staphylococcus aureus infection of human endothelial cells potentiates Fc receptor expression.

Vasculitis, a recognized complication of staphylococcal-endovascular infections, may result in part, from the expression of FcR by Staphylococcus aureus-infected endothelial cells. FcR were measured using [51]Cr labeled SRBC preincubated with rabbit anti-SRBC IgG. FcR were not detected on uninfected endothelial cells, but were demonstrated on S. aureus infected cells using IgG, but not IgM labeled SRBC. FcR expression was dependent on the initial bacterial density (greater than or equal to 8 x 10(7) cfu/ml) and on phagocytosis of the staphylococci, but not on new protein synthesis. IgG labeled SRBC binding was blocked by aggregated IgG but not IgM. SRBC coated with the F(ab')2 portion of IgG did not bind, thus confirming that FcR were specifically involved in this interaction. FcR are expressed after S. aureus invasion of human endothelial cells and may contribute to the vasculitis which often accompanies S. aureus-endovascular infections.

Cells, Cultured

Identification of a new V kappa gene family that is highly expressed in hybridomas from an autoimmune mouse strain.

We have identified a new murine V kappa family that contains five to seven members, one member of which encodes the L chain V region of an anti-dsDNA antibody produced by a BALB/c hybridoma, C8.5. The cloned C8.5 V kappa gene exhibits highest homology with a human V kappa gene that was cloned from a nonproductive rearrangement but has never been seen in an expressed repertoire. Because this family was first identified in an autoantibody, we studied its expression in an autoimmune mouse strain. This V kappa family is expressed in 20% of hybridomas from NZB mice.

Amino Acid Sequence