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G Zenke

Publications and source records attributed to G Zenke.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

High-level expression of a human immunoglobulin gamma 1 transgene depends on switch region sequences.

We describe that chimeric mouse-human immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) genes lacking a switch region and controlled by an IgH promoter and the intronic enhancer are only weakly expressed in transgenic mice. Insertion of part of the human C gamma 1 or murine Cmu switch region into the major intron of the chimeric IgH gene results in a 10(2)-to 10(3)-fold increase in transgene expression. Analysis of B cell hybridoma clones from transgenic mice suggests that switch sequences influence IgH transgene expression at the cellular level. However, the effect of switch region sequences on IgH gene expression observed in vivo is not apparent in transfected B cell lines. These results indicate that switch region sequences which are located proximal to the constant part of the gene and which are normally present in a rearranged IgH gene after class switching represent a novel type of regulatory element that plays a critical role in IgH gene expression in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Developmental regulation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor production during human monocyte-to-macrophage maturation.

Cells of the macrophage lineage are a major source of various cytokines and hematopoietic growth factors. With regard to the growth factors acting on cells of their own lineage, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) has been proven to be secreted by monocytes (MO) and macrophages (MAC), whereas the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by human MO/MAC is under debate. Here we report that in elutriation-purified MO, as well as in MAC derived from cultured MO, GM-CSF m-RNA was regularly induced by LPS. In MO the GM-CSF message was still detectable 18 h after stimulation under serum-free conditions, but in contrast was already lost at this time point in MAC. Secreted GM-CSF protein was detected in the culture medium using a sandwich ELISA. Furthermore, a factor-dependent cell line (M-07) was used for a biological assay. Here, a neutralizing anti GM-CSF antibody specifically blocked the proliferation-inducing activity of MO/MAC supernatants. Whereas only small amounts of GM-CSF were detected in MO, its secretion increased severalfold upon MO-to-MAC differentiation in vitro. A similar increase upon in vitro maturation of MO was observed for the production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The highest amounts of GM-CSF (up to 2.8 ng/10(6) cells) were produced by MAC that had been derived from MO cultured under serum-free conditions in the presence of 0.5 mg/ml albumin as the only medium supplement.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1992

Anti-cyclosporine monoclonal antibodies and their anti-idiotopic counterpart: structure and biological activity.

In order to study the structural and functional mimicry of an antigen by anti-idiotypic antibodies, we generated anti-idiotopic monoclonal antibodies (anti-Id mAbs) against a mAb (R45-45-11) with specificity for the immunosuppressive cyclic undecapeptide cyclosporine (Cs; Sandimmune). Three out of five anti-Id mAbs inhibited the binding of Cs to the anti-Cs mAb R45-45-11. All anti-Id mAbs cross-reacted only with one (anti-Cs mAb V45-271-10) out of 19 anti-Cs mAbs. The anti-Cs mAb V45-271-10 recognizes an epitope on the Cs molecule which is very similar to that recognized by R45-45-11. R45-45-11 and V45-271-10 differ only by one amino acid in the variable region. The anti-Id mAbs which recognize combining site-associated idiotopes (Ids) reverse the blocking effect of the anti-Cs mAb R45-45-11 on Cs immunosuppression in vitro. The sequences of the variable regions of heavy and light chain of one anti-Id mAb were determined. X-ray analysis of the corresponding Fab fragment, either alone or complexed with the Fab fragment of the Id, is currently in progress.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Molecular mechanisms of immunosuppression.

The immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA, Sandimmun, SIM) is currently being evaluated in a variety of autoimmune disorders with some remarkable successes. Despite the wide empiric application of CsA, the precise mechanism of action of this drug remains elusive. To identify the molecular mode of action of CsA in the process of T cell activation, we have compared the biological profile of cyclophilin-binding cyclosporin analogues (CBCA), which lack immunosuppressive properties, with CsA. We have found that CsA binding to its intracellular receptor (cyclophilin) is required but not sufficient for immunosuppression. Moreover, inhibition of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity of cyclophilin does not seem to be relevant for the inhibitory effects of CsA. In analogy to the immunosuppressants FK506 and rapamycin, a specific structure at the 'effector' domain of the CsA molecule different from the immunophilin 'binding' domain determines the biological activity. Overall, a significant understanding of the structure-activity relationship of CsA has emerged. This will have a major impact on the identification of the precise mechanism of action of CsA and its side effects in the process of immunosuppression.

Amino Acid Isomerases↗
PubMed1991

Structure-activity relationship study of human interleukin-3. Identification of residues required for biological activity by site-directed mutagenesis.

Recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhuIL-3) variants were generated by site-directed mutagenesis and expression in Escherichia coli. Amino acid deletions and substitutions were made in the previously identified epitopes of two huIL-3-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The rhuIL-3 variants were analyzed for their ability to bind to the IL-3 receptor and to induce the proliferation of the human IL-3-dependent cell line M-O7. Several deletion mutants spanning the epitopes of these neutralizing mAbs indicated the importance of residues Pro33 and Leu34 for biological activity. Further, substitution of Pro33 with Asn (Asn33) showed an enhanced proliferative activity (4-fold) and a moderate increase in receptor binding (2-fold) compared to wild-type (wt) rhuIL-3. The most remarkable change, however, was seen with variant Gly33, which showed a 14-fold increase in promoting the growth of M-O7 cells without a significant modification in its receptor binding capacity. In contrast, substitution of Leu34 with Gly (Gly34) yielded an IL-3 variant that had a 25-fold decreased receptor binding capacity and proliferative activity, while Glu34 had properties similar to wild-type rhuIL-3. Analysis of the binding of these variants to different rhuIL-3-specific monoclonal antibodies suggested that no major modification had occurred in their conformations. These results indicate that both residues, Pro33 and Leu34, play a critical role in modulating the activity of rhuIL-3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Mapping the epitopes of neutralizing anti-human IL-3 monoclonal antibodies. Implications for structure-activity relationship.

The epitopes of neutralizing mAb were mapped in order to identify a receptor binding site on human IL-3 (huIL-3). To initiate this structure and activity analysis, four neutralizing mAb were selected on the basis of preventing rhuIL-3 stimulated proliferation of peripheral blood cells from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In order to identify continuous epitopes, the neutralizing mAb were assayed in a solid-phase ELISA for their reactivity with either denatured rhuIL-3 or with the peptides generated by digestion of rhuIL-3 by using two different proteinases. Two of the neutralizing mAb recognized single fragments from both digestions. Amino acid (aa) sequence determination showed that these peptides overlap, defining a region of 22 aa (aa 29 to 50 of the mature rhuIL-3 protein). In a competition ELISA, the two continuous epitopes were shown to be linked to one another and to the two discontinuous epitopes, suggesting that all four neutralizing mAb bind to a discrete region of the IL-3 molecule, which might be involved in binding to the IL-3R.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Structure-activity relationship study of human interleukin-3: role of the C-terminal region for biological activity.

A structure-activity relationship study of human interleukin-3 (huIL-3) was performed by functional analysis of huIL-3 deletion and substitution variants combined with epitope mapping of huIL-3 specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Analysis of the huIL-3 variants was accomplished by defining their capacity to compete with wild-type huIL-3 for binding to the huIL-3 receptor and to induce the proliferation of the huIL-3 dependent cell line M-O7. HuIL-3 variants with either 14 amino acids (aa) deleted from the N-terminus or eight aa from the C-terminus retained full biological activity in vitro. An huIL-3 variant, with 18 N-terminal aa deleted, exhibited a greater than 7-fold reduced receptor binding capacity and proliferative activity. No biological activity could be detected with a variant where 22 C-terminal aa have been deleted. Neutralizing mAb recognizing presumed discontinuous epitopes failed to interact with the latter deletion variant indicating a possible location of their epitopes within the C-terminal region. Computer-aided structure prediction and sequence homology analysis of this region indicated the presence of an amphiphilic alpha-helix with highly conserved residues like Lys110 and Leu111. Substitution of Lys110 with either Glu or Ala resulted in variants with a 10-fold reduced activity in the receptor binding assay and the proliferation assay. Further variants, where Leu111 was substituted by Pro or Met, were totally inactive in these assays. Analysis of the binding of the two neutralizing mAb to these substitution variants showed that they did not bind to either of the Leu111 variants suggesting that Leu111 is part of an active site. Based on our results, a possible model for the structure of the huIL-3 molecule can be constructed with two active sites in close proximity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

A cocktail of three monoclonal antibodies significantly increases the sensitivity of an enzyme immunoassay for human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

A sensitive and specific two-site ELISA was developed for human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (huGM-CSF) based on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which have been selected for high affinities and different epitope specificities. Using a cocktail of three mAbs, both for coating and, in their labeled form, for detection, a major increase in sensitivity was achieved (20-fold) compared to a two-site assay employing two different mAbs (one for coating and one for detection). The assay is as sensitive as the most sensitive biological assays. Recombinant mammalian cell expressed and natural huGM-CSF can be reliably detected down to 100 pg/ml (7 pmol/l). In contrast to conventional bioassays, the ELISA is highly specific for huGM-CSF and does not detect other human lymphokines. Results from quantification of recombinant and natural huGM-CSF in ELISA and bioassay correlate.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Purification and characterization of natural human interleukin-3.

The human interleukin-3 gene was cloned in 1986 and the biochemical and biological properties of recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhuIL-3) protein were described. In this report we compare rhuIL-3 with nonrecombinant, natural huIL-3, purified from the supernatant of the human T cell leukemia line Jurkat. The main purification step, affinity chromatography, using a selected monoclonal anti-huIL-3 antibody, resulted in an approximately 40,000-fold enrichment of huIL-3. Combination of this step with ion-exchange and reverse-phase chromatography yielded natural huIL-3 of high purity (greater than 98%). A highly sensitive and specific sandwich ELISA, comprising two epitope-mapped monoclonal anti-huIL-3 antibodies, was used to quantitate huIL-3 during purification. Amino acid sequence determination revealed that the 38 N-terminal amino acids of Jurkat-derived huIL-3 are identical to the published sequence deduced from human fetal liver genomic DNA but differ in one residue from that derived from human T cell clones. The degree of glycosylation of Jurkat-derived huIL-3 was similar to Chinese hamster ovary cell-expressed rhuIL-3. Natural huIL-3 showed very similar biological activities to rhuIL-3 in proliferation and receptor binding assays utilizing huIL-3 responsive primary cells and cell lines, as well as in the human bone marrow colony assay.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Interleukin-3 is a differentiation factor for human basophils.

The effect of recombinant human (rh) cytokines, interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4 (IL-4), granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), monocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), interferon-alpha (IF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IF-gamma), and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on differentiation and function of metachromatic cells (MCS) was studied. Among all cytokines tested, rh interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) selectively induced a significant formation of MCS (IL-3: 1.1 +/- 0.6 x 10(5) v control: 0.02 +/- 0.15 x 10(5) MCS/mL suspension) and dose dependent increase in formation of intracellular histamine (IL-3, 100 U/mL: 95 +/- 23 ng/mL v control: 1.8 +/- 0.8 ng/mL) in a bone marrow suspension culture system (analyzed on day 14 of culture). Besides MCS, formation of eosinophils was observed in this culture system in the continuous presence of rhIL-3, whereas IL-3 pulse-stimulation for three hours and subsequent exposure to control medium induced growth of MCS but not of eosinophils. By combined immunofluorescence/toluidine blue staining, MCS were found to express a cell surface marker profile that corresponds to the immunological phenotype of peripheral blood basophils (MY-7(CD13)+, VIM12(CD11b)+, VIM2+, MAX1-, MAX24- and YB5B8-). Furthermore, cultured MCS expressed surface membrane receptors for IgE and could be triggered for nontoxic histamine release by a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody. To evaluate a possible influence of IL-3 on basophil function, studies were extended to freshly obtained blood basophils (healthy volunteers, n = 3). However, like all other cytokines tested, rhIL-3 failed to induce basophil histamine release. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that IL-3 is a differentiation factor for human basophils.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1988

Human immune response to group A streptococcal carbohydrate (A-CHO). II. Antigen-independent stimulation of IgM anti-A-CHO production in purified B cells by a monoclonal anti-idiotopic antibody.

The paper describes the induction by a monoclonal anti-idiotopic antibody (anti-Id mAb) of specific antibody production to group A streptococcal carbohydrate (A-CHO) in purified human B cells of several unrelated individuals. The anti-Id mAb, designated 16F498 (anti-Id498), recognizes a recurrent idiotope (Id 498) associated with the combining site of human antibodies to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), the immunodominant group of A-CHO. Id498 is expressed on IgM anti-GlcNAc antibodies but does not occur on IgG antibodies with the same specificity. It occurs also on a minor population of IgM antibodies without specificity for A-CHO. Id498 was found in 19 of 27 sera from unselected healthy donors and thus seems to be frequently expressed within the adult B cell repertoire. The in vitro induction of anti-A-CHO antibodies was analyzed in human B cells extensively depleted for T cells. Specific antibody secretion required cross-linked anti-Id which was achieved by coupling the mAb to agarose beads. No antibody secretion could be induced by soluble anti-Id (1 and 10 micrograms/ml). An optimal response required soluble T cell-derived factors which were added as a mixture of recombinant interleukin 2 with a T cell hybridoma supernatant that augments B cell growth and differentiation. Under these conditions an antigen-independent specific increase of IgM anti-A-CHO production (2.6- to 10-fold, or up to 2000 ng/ml respectively) could be induced in blood B cell populations of four of six normal individuals expressing the Id498 at serum level.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1986

Isotype restriction of idiotopes associated with human anti-streptococcal A carbohydrate antibodies.

Sharing of idiotopes between IgG and IgM antibodies has been described with antibodies of various specificities in the literature. However, this does not seem to be the rule for human IgG and IgM antibodies with specificity to streptococcal A carbohydrate. Six idiotopes were described which are associated either with IgM or with IgG antibodies to one of the two major epitopes of streptococcal A carbohydrate: N-acetyl-D-glucosamine or alpha(1,2), alpha(1,3)-linked rhamnose oligomers. Some of the idiotopes are widely cross-reactive with antibodies of the corresponding specificity in other individuals. They were constantly found to be restricted to either IgM or IgG in all individuals tested so far. We discuss several alternatives to explain this finding and conclude that switching from IgM to IgG is either a very rare event in human B cells of this specificity, or leads to loss and gain of idiotopes and/or specificity due to frequent somatic mutations. The phenomenon of idiotope restriction to certain isotypes might be important if anti-idiotopic monoclonal antibodies are considered for use in therapeutical approaches aimed at the manipulation of antibody production.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1985

Two human IgM myeloma proteins with unusual specificities for streptococcal carbohydrate-associated epitopes.

Five hundred and fifty human sera from patients with IgM myeloma or Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia were screened by a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoassay for binding to the carbohydrate of group A streptococci (A-CHO). Two of them (AC8 and AC179) contained immunoglobulin, which bound specifically to A-CHO even at serum dilutions of 1:10(7). Using synthetic oligosaccharides coupled to protein for inhibition studies, the fine specificities of AC8 and AC179 were determined. AC179 is directed to alpha-linked rhamnose oligosaccharides. AC8 appears to be specific for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) side chains beta(1----2)-linked to rhamnose, whereas GlcNAc side chains in A-CHO are reported to be beta(1----3)-linked to the rhamnose backbone. Naturally occurring anti-A-CHO antibodies consist mainly of low-affinity antibodies to such beta(1----3)-linked GlcNAc. In contrast, both myeloma antibodies show more than 10 times higher relative affinities to A-CHO than antibodies prepared from normal human serum (anti-GlcNAc and anti-A-CHO, respectively) by selection for high affinity in the elution procedure. AC179 induced complement activation in the presence of A-CHO.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1985

Idiotope mapping on the variable region of an antibody clonotype produced by normal (nonmalignant) human B cells.

Human anti-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) antibodies were prepared by affinity chromatography from serum of a healthy donor (MSS). They were heterogeneous but contained a unique antibody clonotype (1A) representing 7% of all anti-GlcNAc antibodies. Out of a series of monoclonal anti-idiotopic antibodies (anti-Id mAb), we identified five antibodies that bound to clonotype 1A as shown by isoelectric focusing and Western blotting. Two of them were specific for clonotype 1A (10F59 and 13F15), thus indicating its clonal origin. However, three anti-Id mAb (16F433, 16F539, and 16F812) bound to various additional portions of anti-GlcNAc antibodies of donor MSS. With the exception of one mAb, all anti-Id mAb have very similar relative affinities to clonotype 1A, so results from competition experiments between the different antibodies and between each antibody and antigen should reveal spatial relationships between the corresponding Id and between each Id and the antigen-combining site. The results show a consistent topography of Id on the V-region of clonotype 1A. Id 59, 812, and 433 were found to be arranged in one cluster (cluster I), whereas Id 15 and 539 belonged to a second cluster (cluster II). Cluster I resides completely in the antigen-combining site, whereas only Id 15 of cluster II weakly overlaps with the binding site. Our study demonstrates an analysis of spatial relationships of Id expressed on a human antibody clonotype. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of Id mapping on antibodies produced by a normal (nonmalignant) B cell clone that should be accessible to regulatory signals. Such analysis may contribute to a more detailed characterization of anti-Id mAb, and may provide additional information for a better understanding of their immunoregulatory effects.

Acetylgalactosamine↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of a major human antibody clonotype (1A) by monoclonal antibodies to combining site-associated idiotopes.

To identify major human antibody clonotypes with specificity to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), affinity-purified antibody preparations of different human individuals were analyzed by isoelectric focusing (IEF). A major clonotype (1A) was identified representing 7% of all anti-GlcNAc antibodies of one donor (no. 371). Anti-GlcNAc antibodies of donor 371 were used as immunogen to prepare monoclonal anti-idiotopic antibodies (mAb). Two anti-idiotopic mAb were specific for the major clonotype 1A, as shown by blotting of the anti-GlcNAc antibodies after IEF in thin-layer agarose to nitrocellulose filters and staining with either iodinated antigen or iodinated anti-idiotopic mAb. The two anti-idiotopic mAb 13F15 and 10F59 were further analyzed with respect to the antigenic determinant which they recognize. Both were directed to combining site-related determinants as shown by inhibition studies. Although 13F15 has a 500-fold higher binding capacity (relative affinity) equal amounts do not inhibit more than 50% of 10F59 binding, suggesting that the two mAb detect two closely related, but not identical, idiotopes in the antigen combining site of clone 1A. Although clonotype 1A is a unique antibody exclusively found in IEF of donor 371, the idiotope 1A.1, defined by mAb 13F15, is a recurrent determinant detectable on different anti-GlcNAc spectrotypes in various human sera.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1982

Structural and functional analysis of an rRNA operon and its flanking tRNA genes from Zea mays chloroplasts.

The complete analysis of an rRNA operon from Zea mays chloroplasts and its comparison with other plastidic or bacterial rRNA operons is presented. The maize operon contains structural genes for 16S, 23S and 4.5S rRNA species, a leader region proximal to the 16S rRNA gene and a 2.4 kb spacer between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes. Within the spacer DNA sequence are two tRNA genes which code for a tRNAIle and tRNAAla species but each gene is split by large intervening sequences of 949 and 806 bp, respectively. 4.5S rRNA is a structural equivalent of the 3' terminal region of bacterial 23S rRNA. The operon is flanked at its 5' side by a tRNAVal gene and at its 3' side by a 5S rRNA gene. Both these genes are probably not included in the large, primary precursor rRNA transcript.

Base Sequence↗