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Biomedical subjects

J Gerdes

Publications and source records attributed to J Gerdes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Production of a monoclonal antibody (IND.64) identifying a cell cycle-associated antigen using spleen cells from nude mice bearing Ichikawa tumour.

Using spleen cells from athymic nude mice grafted with Ichikawa tumour, we have generated the monoclonal antibody IND.64, which detects a proliferation-associated nuclear antigen. Immunoblotting analysis with IND.64 showed a double band with apparent molecular weights of 395 and 345 kD. In normal human tissues, the antigen detected by IND.64 was expressed only by the nuclei of proliferating cells, such as germinal centre cells of reactive lymph nodes, cortical thymocytes, the basal layer of the skin, and proliferative compartments of the stomach, small intestine, and colon. IND.64 did not react with cells known to be non-proliferative or to show only a low turnover, such as cells of the kidney, liver, smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and brain. The expression of this antigen during the cell cycle was determined using two approaches: IND.64 immunostaining of synchronized adult bovine aortic endothelial cells and flow cytometric analysis of double-labelled PHA-stimulated peripheral mononuclear blood leucocytes with a DNA marker and IND.64. The antigen recognized by IND.64 was found to appear in the late G1 phase, and persisted in phases S, G2, and M, but was absent in the G0 and early G1 phases. IND.64 was further investigated in different tumour types to evaluate the correlation between the percentage of IND.64-positive cells (IND.64 index) and the histological grade. In non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, an excellent correlation was found between the percentage of IND.64-positive cells and the cytomorphological grade. In nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease, a high number of Reed-Sternberg cells were positive with IND.64. The non-lymphoid neoplasms investigated showed a variable percentage of positive cells. IND.64 appears to be a promising tissue marker to complement the evaluation of prognosis in human cancer.

Animals

Monoclonal antibodies against recombinant parts of the Ki-67 antigen (MIB 1 and MIB 3) detect proliferating cells in microwave-processed formalin-fixed paraffin sections.

The monoclonal antibody Ki-67 reacts with a human nuclear cell proliferation-associated antigen that is expressed in all active parts of the cell cycle. Recently we have raised monoclonal antibodies, MIB 1-3, against recombinant parts of the Ki-67 antigen. These antibodies are true Ki-67 equivalents, as demonstrated by immunostaining of fresh specimens, biochemistry, and molecular biological techniques. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections routinely processed for immunohistochemistry failed to stain for Ki-67 and MIB 2. Antibodies MIB 1 and MIB 3 labelled mitotic figures, while non-mitotic proliferating cells were negative under these conditions. However, when dewaxed microwave oven-processed paraffin sections of formalin-fixed tissues were used, MIB 1 and MIB 3 gave strong nuclear staining of those cells presumed to proliferate under a variety of normal and neoplastic conditions. Moreover, routine decalcification or depigmentation techniques did not alter the immunoreactivity of MIB 1 and MIB 3 with microwave-processed paraffin sections. This method is highly reproducible, easy to perform at low cost, and no additional technical skill is needed because after microwave treatment just routine immunohistochemical methods are used. Since we have successfully applied this new method to sections obtained from paraffin blocks stored for a long time (in one case more than 60 years), the assessment of cell kinetics through the detection of Ki-67 antigen is now possible on archival material collected in histopathology departments all over the world.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Immunobiochemical characterization of the antigen detected by monoclonal antibody IND.64. Evidence that IND.64 reacts with the cell proliferation associated nuclear antigen previously defined by Ki-67.

The immunohistochemical characteristics of the monoclonal antibody IND.64 are very similar to those of the monoclonal antibody Ki-67. The aim of this study was to further characterize this new antibody and to compare it with Ki-67 using immunobiochemical methods. Our results demonstrate that the similarity between the antibodies holds true even at the molecular level. Immunoblot analysis of IM-9-cell lysates with both antibodies showed a double band with apparent molecular weights of 395 kD and 345 kD, respectively. Competition ELISAs using a synthetic peptide derived from the thus far determined Ki-67 cDNA sequence as competitor, indicate that IND.64 may recognize the same epitope as Ki-67. The IND.64 epitope resides at least within a 20 amino acid sequence which also contains the Ki-67 epitope. Since IND.64 is of the IgG2b subclass, while Ki-67 is of the IgG1 subclass, the two antibodies may be useful for double immunostaining. In addition, IND.64 may help in determining the still unknown function of the antigen it recognizes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Follicular dendritic cells and their role in HIV infection.

Recently, much attention has focussed on the role of follicular dendritic cells as a reservoir of infectious particles in retroviral, particularly HIV, infection. In this report from a recent meeting, Johannes Gerdes and Hans-Dieter Flad describe these studies in the context of a growing awareness of the morphological, phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of the cells.

Antigens, CD

Elastase activity and surfactant protein concentration in tracheal aspirates from neonates receiving synthetic surfactant.

Neutrophil elastase activity and the concentration of surfactant proteins A and B (SP-A, B) were measured in tracheal aspirate fluid from preterm neonates who were treated with the synthetic surfactant Exosurf Neonatal or air placebo in randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials. Elastase activity was transiently reduced in surfactant-treated infants on the second day of life, but the reduction was not sustained. In placebo-treated infants with established respiratory distress syndrome, tracheal aspirate SP-A was low on the first day of life and increased with time as respiratory distress syndrome resolved. In infants with respiratory distress syndrome treated with surfactant, significantly higher levels of SP-A were observed by 2 days after treatment and were maintained through at least the sixth day of life. These data suggest that lung inflammation is not increased and that endogenous surfactant secretion may be stimulated, not suppressed, by treatment with synthetic surfactant.

Drug Combinations

Retrospective search for bleeding diathesis among premature newborn infants with pulmonary hemorrhage after synthetic surfactant treatment. The American Exosurf Neonatal Study Group I, and the Canadian Exosurf Neonatal Study Group.

In an across study analysis of five multicenter, placebo-controlled trials of the synthetic surfactant, Exosurf Neonatal, involving infants with birth weights 700 gm or greater the incidence of clinical pulmonary hemorrhage was 1.9% in treated infants and 1.0% in control infants. To determine whether this apparent increase in pulmonary hemorrhage was the result of a bleeding diathesis, we retrospectively reviewed charts for 39 of 41 infants with clinical pulmonary hemorrhage. The incidence of nonpulmonary bleeding was the same in control- and surfactant-treated infants. Platelet counts, hematocrit values, and the number of transfusions with platelets or red blood cells did not differ between the two groups. There was no evidence that surfactant treatment was specifically associated with a generalized bleeding diathesis.

Double-Blind Method

Cell cycle analysis in lymphoid neoplasia of childhood: differences among immunologic subtypes and similarities in the proliferation of normal and leukaemic precursor B cells.

Cell proliferation in untreated lymphoid malignancies of children was investigated by an in vitro assessment of the 3H-thymidine labelling index (LI), the growth fraction (GF) with the monoclonal antibody Ki-67, and the duration of the DNA-synthesis phase (ts) with a double labelling technique. Mean cell cycle time (tg) was similar in lymphoid malignancies of precursor B cell and T cell origin (115 h and 102 h, respectively), while B cell neoplasias had a mean tg of only 25 h. A positive correlation between the LI and the GF (r = 0.892) and a negative correlation between the LI and tg (r = -0.908) could be detected in childhood lymphoid malignancies. The proliferation of neoplastic precursor B cells was compared with the proliferation of presumably normal terminal transferase (TdT) positive bone marrow cells that, according to the immunophenotype, correspond mainly to normal precursor B cells. Although mean ts was identical in both cell populations (18-19 h), the neoplastic cell population showed a significantly longer mean tg than the normal counterpart (115 h and 65 h, respectively). However, if malignant and normal precursor B cell populations with a similar LI were compared, the difference in tg disappeared. Therefore, a down-regulation of leukaemic cell proliferation by an increasing cell mass is postulated for most cases of untreated precursor B cell ALL.

Adolescent

Modulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced production of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1, and interleukin 6 by synthetic precursor Ia of lipid A.

Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) induces the production of mediators of inflammation, which exerts pathophysiological effects such as fever or shock in mammals. In the present study we have investigated the modulation of LPS by the synthetic non-active tetraacylated precursor Ia of lipid A (compound 406) in the induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and in human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMo). PBMC stimulated with LPS released TNF in a concentration dependent manner. Release of biologically active TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 was first detectable 4 h after LPS stimulation. Compound 406 alone in all concentrations tested did not induce TNF, IL-1 or IL-6 release, intracellular TNF or IL-1 beta, or mRNA for TNF or IL-1. Added to PBMC 1 h before LPS compound 406 enhanced or suppressed TNF release and suppressed IL-1 and IL-6 release depending on the ratio of concentrations between stimulator (LPS) and modulator (compound 406). In contrast to LPS stimulation alone TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 release in presence of compound 406 was delayed and first detectable after 6 to 8 h. Compound 406 was able to suppress LPS-induced intracellular TNF and IL-1 beta in PBMC. Added to PBMo 1 h before LPS it totally inhibited the production of mRNA for TNF and IL-1. When added to PBMC 1 h after LPS, TNF release was suppressed in a concentration-dependent way and release of biologically active TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 could again be detected for the first time after 4 h. Compound 406 was not able to inhibit phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced TNF and IL-1 release in PBMo which suggests that its modulating effect is LPS-specific. This study provides evidence that the modulating effect of compound 406 on the LPS induction of TNF, IL-, 1 and IL-6 could be due to competitive binding.

Animals

Monoclonal antibody JC1: new reagent for studying cell proliferation.

AIM: To characterise a newly developed mouse monoclonal antibody JC1 which recognises a nuclear antigen present in proliferating cells in normal tissues and neoplastic lesions, and which is absent in resting cells. METHODS: The methodology was established using a representative range of frozen sections from normal tissues and from certain tumours which were immunostained with antibodies Ki67 and JC1. The molecular weight of the antigen recognised by JC1 was obtained by western blot analysis and this was compared with that of Ki67. IM-9 cell lysates containing Ki67 derived plasmids were also tested with JC1 antibody. RESULTS: Biochemical investigation indicated that the antigen recognised by JC1 gives two molecular weight bands of 212 and 123 kilodaltons, which is distinct from the well characterised anti-proliferation monoclonal antibody Ki67 (395-345 kilodaltons). In addition recombinant Ki67 protein is not recognised by JC1. Immunohistological reactivity was seen in areas known to contain numerous proliferating cells such as lymphoid germinal centres, splenic white matter, cortical thymocytes and undifferentiated spermatogonia. In tumours many cells from adenocarcinomas, oat cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas of lung, and seminomas were labelled by JC1 with a distribution and proportion similar to that seen with Ki67. In normal tissues the only apparent difference was in testis where JC1 stained a considerably greater number of cells than Ki67. In all cases studied the new antibody showed nuclear reactivity only. JC1 did not show any cytoplasmic crossreactivity with squamous cells as is frequently seen with Ki67. CONCLUSION: Antibody JC1, which recognises a nuclear antigen present in proliferating cells, should provide a useful adjunct to Ki67 as a marker of proliferation especially in those cases such as squamous cell carcinomas where a Ki67 index cannot be determined.

Animals

Long-term immunobiological effects of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin against bladder carcinoma recurrences.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin is a highly effective therapy against superficial bladder cancer recurrences and urothelial carcinoma in situ, the antitumoral effects of which seem to be linked to immunological effector mechanisms. To characterize further these mechanisms which contribute to the long-term effectiveness of BCG therapy, the local mononuclear cell subsets as well as the local cytokine production were assessed in the bladder wall of patients receiving intravesical BCG immunotherapy with special regard to long-term persisting changes, using immuno-enzymatical staining methods. All patients exhibited a significant increase after BCG in the local mononuclear cell population, with a predominance of the helper T-cell subset. Immunocompetent cells expressed activation markers for a prolonged period. Furthermore, a significant increase in the local cytokine production after the initial course of BCG was demonstrable, which persisted even after 12 to 21 months. These changes suggest that the BCG-induced activation of the local immune system persists over a long period after an initial course of intravesical therapy.

Administration, Intravesical

Species-specific assessment of Mycobacterium leprae in skin biopsies by in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction.

Conventional histopathologic diagnosis of mycobacterial infections are limited to the determination of "acid-fast bacilli". A species-specific diagnosis is thus far impossible. In addition, routine microbiologic assessments of mycobacteria suffer from the major drawback that a species-specific diagnosis is extremely time-consuming and in several cases even impossible. As Mycobacterium leprae cannot be cultured in vitro, we tried to specifically target this obligate intracellular parasite by in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. For this purpose we used a 22 mer oligonucleotide probe recognizing a species-specific sequence of the 16S rRNA of Mycobacterium leprae. Using an immunoenzymatic detection method for in situ hybridization we were able to specifically assess Mycobacterium leprae (a) in long-term cultured macrophages in vitro infected with different mycobacteria species and (b) in frozen sections of skin biopsies obtained from patients suffering from lepromatous leprosy. These results could be confirmed and extended by PCR experiments in which we used conserved oligonucleotide primers for 16S rRNA to amplify bacterial DNA isolated from different eubacterial species and from fresh-frozen as well as from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded and routinely processed mycobacteria-infected tissues. Upon Southern blot analysis, the Mycobacterium leprae-specific oligonucleotide probe exclusively hybridized with PCR products obtained from Mycobacterium leprae-containing samples (including paraffin sections), but not with PCR products obtained from samples containing other mycobacterial species. As species-specific oligonucleotide probes targeted at rRNA are described for a variety of mycobacterial species, these methods may be generally applied for a rapid species-specific assessment of mycobacteria in histologic material.

Base Sequence

Inhibition of endotoxin or lipid A-induced tumor necrosis factor production by synthetic lipid A partial structures in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Most of the toxic reactions during Gram-negative infections are mediated by inflammatory cytokines induced by endotoxin, also termed lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To evaluate the possibility of synthetic derivatives of LPS to antagonize endotoxin-mediated activities, we have examined the effect of synthetic lipid A partial structures, precursor Ia (compound 406 or LA-14-PP) and lipid X (compound 401) on in vitro LPS or lipid A-induced release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In agreement with previous reports it was shown that LPS of Salmonella abortus equi and synthetic Escherichia coli-type lipid A (compound 506 or LA-15-PP) have potent TNF-inducing capacity. The maximum release of TNF was found after stimulation with 1 to 10 ng/ml of LPS or 10 to 1000 ng/ml of lipid A. Synthetic precursor Ia and lipid X failed to induce TNF release, but could inhibit LPS or lipid A-induced TNF release in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition was not due to a shift of the kinetic of cytokine release, and was observed in the early stage of TNF production. Moreover, we found that the synergistic effect of interferon-gamma with LPS in induction of TNF release could also be counteracted by the addition of synthetic precursor Ia. The observation that precursor Ia failed to inhibit the induction of TNF by Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, Staphylococcus aureus cowan I or lipopeptide indicated that specific mechanisms are involved in suppression by lipid A partial structures on LPS-induced cytokine production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Endotoxins

Isolation of normal human follicular dendritic cells and CD4-independent in vitro infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1).

Immunohistological and electron microscopy studies of lymph nodes from patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) demonstrated that follicular dendritic cells (FDC), the antigen-presenting cells of the B cell system, contain and may produce the virus. To elucidate the mode of infection of FDC with HIV-1 in vitro we developed an improved method for the preparation of single-cell suspensions of viable FDC with high purity (greater than 90% FDC). These isolated FDC were subjected to human T cell leukemia virus IIIB infection, which was monitored after 4 days in culture using the polymerase chain reaction. We were able to demonstrate that normal human FDC are highly susceptible to infection by HIV-1. Inhibition experiments with the monoclonal antibody OKT4a demonstrate that this infection is independent of the CD4 molecule.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Ber-MAC3: new monoclonal antibody that defines human monocyte/macrophage differentiation antigen.

A new monoclonal antibody Ber-MAC3 is reported. It recognises a formol sensitive epitope of a not yet clustered monocyte/macrophage specific 140 kilodalton glycoprotein that is expressed on the cell surface and in the cytoplasm. In 30 cases of acute and chronic leukaemia, Ber-MAC3 staining was restricted to 15 myeloid leukaemias of M4 and M5 types. The tumour cells of two cases of true histiocytic malignancies were Ber-MAC3 positive, whereas those of all 280 malignancies of lymphocytic origin were negative. The latter included 52 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 41 cases of Ki-1 positive anaplastic large cell lymphomas which had previously been classified as true histiocytic lymphomas. Ber-MAC3 therefore seems to be of considerable value for selective identification of monocytes and macrophages at a certain stage of differentiation and seems to be suitable for diagnosing myelomonocytic or monocytic leukaemia and neoplasms of true histiocytic origin.

Antibodies, Monoclonal