CMV-infections are a common and dreadful complication in immunosuppressed patients after kidney transplantation. This randomized, controlled clinical study investigates the influence of CMV-hyperimmune serum (HIS)-prophylaxis on infection incidence and severity of illness with regard to the type of immunosuppression employed. Though the clinical manifestation of the disease is lowered by HIS in cyclosporin-treated patients, there is a higher infection incidence with increased severity in HIS-treated ATG/Imurek patients compared to the respective control.

Antilymphocyte Serum↗

PubMed1984

Partial characterization of a transformation-specific glycopeptide in SSV-NP cells.

An autologous antiserum against simian sarcoma virus-infected nonproducer cells (SSV-NP cells) recognized a SSV transformation-specific glycopeptide (SSV-TrSgp) [H.-J. Thiel, T.J. Matthews, E.M. Broughton, A.M. Butchko, and D.P. Bolognesi (1981) Virology 112, 642-650]. Gel filtration of this component on a Sephacryl S-200 column indicated an apparent molecular weight at about 200,000 (d). This antigen represented a proteoglycan-like molecule, as evidenced by the size of glycopeptides after Pronase treatment and by incubation with chondroitinases. The antigenicity of the SSV-TrSgp was completely destroyed after exposure to different proteases. On the other hand, incubation with neuraminidase or chondroitinases degraded the molecule to some extent, but did not affect its antigenicity as measured by immunoprecipitation. Trypsin and EDTA treatment of intact pulse-labeled cells, as well as surface iodination, indicated that the SSV-TrSgp represents a cell membrane-associated molecule.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

A cross-reacting human idiotype (B17) associated with antibodies to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Specificity, immunoglobulin class association, and distribution in the population.

This report describes the study of the expression of an idiotype in the human population which is associated with antibodies to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) present in most human sera presumably due to streptococcal infections. The idiotype is identified with antisera and monoclonal antibodies prepared against the IgM (kappa) antibody secreted by the Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B cell line B17. At least 90% of 207 individuals tested had immunoglobulin with B17 idiotypic determinants in their sera, as demonstrated with conventional and one monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody. Another monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody reacted with antibodies in only a few of the sera. No correlation was found between the level of expression of different idiotopes in individual human sera, suggesting molecular heterogeneity of the B17-positive antibody population. B17-positive immunoglobulins are to a large extent specific for GlcNAc but represent only a minor population of all GlcNAc-specific antibodies in human sera. B17 determinants are on IgM (kappa) in all human sera and on IgG and IgA in some. In addition, some lambda-bearing Ig was found to react with anti-B17 antisera, suggesting the detection of VH-associated idiotypic determinants in this experimental system.

Acetylglucosamine↗