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Biomedical subjects

K M Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to K M Thompson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Clonally related IgM rheumatoid factors undergo affinity maturation in the rheumatoid synovial tissue.

Using hybridoma technology we established a panel of human monoclonal rheumatoid factors (RF) from the synovial tissues of two patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and one patient with polyarticular juvenile RA. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the V regions of these RF indicates that two independently derived antibodies from one of the RA patients are clonally related. One of these antibodies appears to be close to germ-line configuration, whereas the other has accumulated a total of 36 substitutions in both H and L chains. Measurements of the affinity for human IgG of the two RF show that the extensively mutated RF has 100-fold higher affinity for IgG than the RF close to germline. These findings indicate that IgM RF in RA can undergo affinity maturation and suggest that certain RF may be the product of an Ag-driven immune response.

Amino Acid Sequence

Priming of face matching in amnesia.

Priming was studied in a task that required a speeded response to photographs of faces. On each trial, subjects viewed two faces and decided if the same person was shown twice or if two different people were shown. Both familiar and unfamiliar (i.e., well-known and unknown) faces were used, and some face pairs were repeated with a mean delay of about 10 min. Repetition was associated with faster reaction times in young subjects (Experiment 1) as well as in amnesic patients and age-matched control subjects (Experiment 2). The patients' reaction times were slower overall, although the magnitude of the priming effect did not differ from that in the control subjects. This preservation of a normal reaction-time facilitation in subjects with impaired recognition memory for faces occurred for both familiar and unfamiliar faces, suggesting that amnesia does not necessarily interfere with the acquisition of new information as indexed by this priming effect.

Adult

Differences in the characteristics of human monoclonal and polyclonal anti-D as revealed by immunochemical investigations: human monoclonal antibodies share specificities with natural antibodies.

To determine the basis of the tissue cross-reactions shown by some human monoclonal anti-Rh D antibodies, we have investigated the tissue reactivities of 48 further human monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against D and other Rh antigens, and compared them with those of normal and anti-D sera and immunoglobulin preparations, and affinity-purified polyclonal anti-D antibodies. Although we were unable to detect any tissue reactivities associated with the D-binding fraction of polyclonal antisera or prophylactic immunoglobulin, the non-erythroid cell types identified by the tissue-reactive human anti-Rh mAb of both IgM and IgG class were those recognized by antibodies present in both normal and anti-D sera. These results indicate: (a) that the tissue specificities of human anti-Rh mAb are similar to those of natural antibodies, and (b) that there are immunochemical differences between polyclonal and monoclonal anti-D antibodies, at least of IgG class, which may be relevant to the use of the latter in the prevention of haemolytic disease of the new-born by immune prophylaxis.

Animals

Monte Carlo techniques for quantitative uncertainty analysis in public health risk assessments.

Most public health risk assessments assume and combine a series of average, conservative, and worst-case values to derive a conservative point estimate of risk. This procedure has major limitations. This paper demonstrates a new methodology for extended uncertainty analyses in public health risk assessments using Monte Carlo techniques. The extended method begins as do some conventional methods--with the preparation of a spreadsheet to estimate exposure and risk. This method, however, continues by modeling key inputs as random variables described by probability density functions (PDFs). Overall, the technique provides a quantitative way to estimate the probability distributions for exposure and health risks within the validity of the model used. As an example, this paper presents a simplified case study for children playing in soils contaminated with benzene and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP).

Carcinogens, Environmental

Human monoclonal antibodies specific for blood group antigens demonstrate multispecific properties characteristic of natural autoantibodies.

A panel of 72 human monoclonal antibodies with specificities for blood group antigens, A, Rh D, Rh C, Rh c, Rh E, Rh e, Rh G, Jka and Jkb, has been established from the peripheral blood of deliberately immunized donors. Previous work has established that the antibodies are highly specific for their respective blood group antigens, and a number of them are in routine clinical use as blood grouping reagents. This panel was screened for reactivity against six unrelated foreign and autoantigens by ELISA, for rheumatoid factor activity by ELISA and agglutination techniques, and for reactivity with a number of different tissues by immunofluorescence. Binding of the monoclonal antibodies to unrelated exo- and autoantigens was commonly seen amongst the antibodies of the IgM class, and to a lesser degree amongst the IgG class, with reaction patterns similar to those given by natural autoantibodies. Only five of the IgM antibodies failed to demonstrate any unexpected cross-reactivities and these included 1/13 anti-D, 2/7 anti-E, 1/13 anti-c and 1/2 anti-A. We propose that rather than natural autoantibodies representing a distinct population of immunoglobulins, multispecificity (polyspecificity, or polyreactivity) may be a feature of antibodies produced in response to exogenous antigens. The implications of this for the study of autoantibodies are discussed.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the V regions of two IgM cold agglutinins. Evidence that the VH4-21 gene segment is responsible for the major cross-reactive idiotype.

Cold agglutinins are human autoantibodies, usually of the IgM class, which agglutinate RBC at low temperature. The major subset recognizes the I/i carbohydrate Ag, and many of these antibodies bear cross-reacting idiotypic determinants. An anti-idiotypic mAb that is specific for one of the idiotopes largely confined to cold agglutinins has been used to identify and monitor tumor cells that secrete these molecules in two patients. The tumor cells were immortalized with EBV and the idiotope-positive lines used to investigate the utilization of the VH and VL genes by these antibodies. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the two cold agglutinins (FS-1 and FS-2) revealed the utilization of a single common gene segment, VH4-21. Serologic analysis documented that only human antibodies utilizing the VH4-21 gene segment were reactive in the idiotope assay, other VHIV antibodies as well as a panel of antibodies derived from other VH families being negative. The DH, JH, VK, and JK gene segments of FS-1 and FS-2 were structurally distinct. These data suggest that the structural basis for the cross-reactive idiotope as well as cold agglutinin activity is the VH4-21 gene segment. A nucleotide change in H chain CDR1 of both cold agglutinins results in the substitution of an aspartic acid residue for glycine at position 31, suggesting that this amino acid might be critical to recognition of the red cell Ag.

Aged

Human monoclonal antibodies against blood group antigens preferentially express a VH4-21 variable region gene-associated epitope.

An anti-idiotypic antibody has been raised which recognizes human immunoglobulins with cold agglutinin activity of anti-I/i specificity. The pattern of reactivity of the antibody indicates that the structural basis for the epitope is located in the VH4-21 gene segment of the VHIV family, which is preferentially utilized by these cold reactive antibodies. Using this antibody, epitope expression was investigated in a panel of 72 human monoclonal allo-antibodies specific for human blood group antigens, as compared with a control panel of 39 randomly selected human monoclonal IgM antibodies of unknown specificities. The anti-blood group panel included 44 IgM and 28 IgG monoclonal antibodies against a variety of blood group antigens including the A antigen, Rh C, c, D, E, e, G antigens, and the Kidd antigens Jka and Jkb. The epitope was expressed by 64% (28/44) of the IgM anti-blood group antibodies and by 21% (6/28) of the IgG antibodies, but by only 7.7% (3/39) of the control IgM antibodies. These data indicate that the human alloimmune response to blood group antigens is biased in the use of VH gene families, with a preference for the VH4-21 gene segment of the VHIV family, or closely related gene segments. The fact that this mirrors the findings for the autoimmune cold agglutinins suggests a link in immunoglobulin gene usage between antibodies against structurally diverse antigens on the red cell surface.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Parametric distributions for soil ingestion by children.

This note presents parameterized distributions of estimates of the amount of soil ingested by children based on data collected by Binder et al. (1986). Following discussions with Dr. Binder, we modified the Binder study data by using the actual stool weights instead of the 15 g value used in the original study. After testing the data for lognormality, we generated parameterized distributions for use in risk assessment uncertainty analyses such as Monte Carlo simulations.

Data Interpretation, Statistical

Human monoclonal rheumatoid factors derived from the polyclonal repertoire of rheumatoid synovial tissue: incidence of cross-reactive idiotopes and expression of VH and V kappa subgroups.

A panel of 14 human monoclonal and monoreactive IgM rheumatoid factors (RF) derived from the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients was studied for the expression of cross-reactive idiotopes (CRI) and variable heavy (VH) and variable kappa (V kappa) subgroups. Four of the twelve kappa RF expressed light chains of the V kappa III subgroup. Three of these were characterized as belonging to the V kappa IIIb sub-subgroup, and expressed the V kappa IIIb associated CRI, 17.109. None of the RF expressed the V kappa IIIa-associated CRI, 6B6.6. One of the fourteen RF expressed the VH-associated CRI, G6, and five expressed either or both the VHIII-associated CRI, B6 and D12. Seven RF bound to protein A (SpA), which indicates the expression of VHIII subgroup V regions. Together the data indicated that 9/11 RF express VHIII regions and 2/11 express VHI regions. There was no obvious correlation between V region usage or CRI expression and fine specificity of the RF for human IgG subclasses. These data indicate a difference in V gene usage by RF derived from RA patients compared with RF paraproteins derived from non-RA patients. There is not a bias towards variable chains of the V kappa III subgroup, but a marked preference for variable heavy chains of the VHIII subgroup is seen. Further studies may elucidate the pathological significance of these findings in RA.

Animals

Aglycosylation of human IgG1 and IgG3 monoclonal antibodies can eliminate recognition by human cells expressing Fc gamma RI and/or Fc gamma RII receptors.

Aglycosylated human IgG1 and IgG3 monoclonal anti-D (Rh) and human IgG1 and IgG3 chimaeric anti-5-iodo-4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenacetyl (anti-NIP) monoclonal antibodies produced in the presence of tunicamycin have been compared with the native glycosylated proteins with respect to recognition by human Fc gamma RI and/or Fc gamma RII receptors on U937, Daudi or K562 cells. Human red cells sensitized with glycosylated IgG3 form rosettes via Fc gamma RI with 60% of U937 cells. Inhibition of rosette formation required greater than 35-fold concentrated more aglycosylated than glycosylated human monoclonal anti-D (Rh) antibody. Unlabelled polyclonal human IgG and glycosylated monoclonal IgG1 and anti-D (Rh) antibody inhibited the binding of 125I-labelled monomeric human IgG binding by U937 Fc gamma RI at concentrations greater than 50-fold lower than the aglycosylated monoclonal IgG1 anti-D (Rh) (K50 approximately 3 x 10(-9) M and approximately 6 x 10(-7) M respectively). Similar results were obtained using glycosylated and aglycosylated monoclonal human IgG1 or IgG3 chimaeric anti-NIP antibody-sensitized red cells rosetting with Fc gamma RI-/Fc gamma RII+ Daudi and K562 cells. Rosette formation could be inhibited by the glycosylated form (at greater than 10(-6) M) but not by the aglycosylated form. Haemagglutination analysis using a panel of murine monoclonal antibodies specific for epitopes located on C gamma 2, C gamma 3 or C gamma 2/C gamma 3 interface regions did not demonstrate differences in Fc conformation between the glycosylated or aglycosylated human monoclonal antibodies. These data suggest that the Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII sites on human IgG are highly conformation-dependent and that the carbohydrate moiety serves to stabilize the Fc structure rather than interacting directly with Fc receptors.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Demonstration of seven epitopes on the Rh antigen D using human monoclonal anti-D antibodies and red cells from D categories.

The agglutination patterns have been established for the reaction between 29 monoclonal antibodies with specificity for the Rh antigen D and red cells of D categories IIIa, IIIc, IVa, IVb, Va, Vc, VI and VII, which are known to lack certain epitopes on the D polypeptide. Six different agglutination patterns were recognized and interpreted to indicate the recognition of seven different epitopes. These epitopes are termed epD1 through to epD7. The separate existence of epD6 and epD7 is deduced from previous observations in inhibition studies using purified 125I-labelled antibodies; they cannot yet be distinguished in agglutination tests. The number of epitopes lacking from cells of each category varied between two and five. As all the antibodies agglutinated cells of categories IIIa, IIIc and VII and cells of categories II, IIIb and Vb were not available, it is probable that there are epitopes other than the seven presently recognized. Eighteen out of the 29 antibodies which were examined recognized epitopes epD6/7 and it is suggested either that antibodies recognizing these epitopes predominate in polyclonal anti-D sera, or that the lymphocytes producing these antibodies are preferentially selected during establishment of cell lines.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Effects of early alcohol use on adolescents' relations with peers and self-esteem: patterns over time.

Strain or problem-solving models posit that deviance persists because it enhances youths' psychosocial properties and is therefore functional for adolescents. However, empirical tests of this assumption have been limited to determining whether a moderately social activity like delinquency produces time-ordered changes in self-esteem. This research examines whether a highly social activity like alcohol use improves adolescents' relations with peers and self-esteem over time. The results of a four-year panel study show that the effects of early alcohol use are limited to enhancing peer relations only among adolescents who use alcohol in order to be part of the group. Early alcohol consumption also has a delayed effect on boosting self-esteem, but this effect is restricted to youths who equate drinking with sophistication. The lack of generality of these findings and how the psychological functions of drinking might cancel these effects are discussed.

Adolescent

Human monoclonal rheumatoid factors derived from the polyclonal repertoire of rheumatoid synovial tissue: production and characterization.

A panel of 20 human monoclonal antibodies was produced from cells derived from the synovial tissue of two rheumatoid arthritis patients and one polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patient. Fourteen IgM monoclonal antibodies were classical rheumatoid factors (RFs) with specificities restricted to IgG and included twelve kappa and two lambda proteins. Two of them were pan-specific for IgG and reacted with all four human subclasses. Nine showed the Ga specificity, i.e. they reacted with IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 subclass proteins. Two showed the 'new Ga-related' specificity, i.e. they reacted with IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 subclass proteins, and also with the Ge3m(st) allotype proteins. One RF demonstrated an anti-G3m(u) anti-allotypic specificity. Five IgM(lambda) monoclonal antibodies and one IgM(kappa) monoclonal antibody demonstrated polyreactivity against various antigens including DNA, human thyroglobulin, human serum albumin and tetanus toxoid.

Antibodies, Monoclonal