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T Barington

Publications and source records attributed to T Barington.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Heavy-chain isotype patterns of human antibody-secreting cells induced by Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines in relation to age and preimmunity.

The influence of preexisting immunity on the heavy-chain isotypes of circulating antibody-secreting cells (AbSC) induced by vaccination with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) capsular polysaccharide (HibCP) coupled to tetanus toxoid (TT) or diphtheria toxoid (DT) and by vaccination with TT or DT alone in 51 healthy adults and 9 infants was studied. In adults, the isotypes of TT and DT AbSC were dominated by immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) followed by IgG4 and IgA1. HibCP AbSC were dominated by the isotype IgA1 followed by (in decreasing order) IgG2, IgA2, IgM, and IgG1. The isotype distributions of TT and DT AbSC were independent of whether the toxoids were coupled to HibCP, and the isotypes of HibCP AbSC were not influenced by the nature of the carrier (TT or DT). Furthermore, the isotype distributions were unaffected by recent immunization with components of the conjugates, although this reduced the numbers of AbSC. The heavy-chain gene usage of HibCP AbSC in adults differed clearly from that in infants, which was restricted largely to the genes mu, gamma 1, and alpha 1, all lying upstream in the heavy-chain constant-region gene locus, while the usage in adults also, to different extents, involved the downstream genes gamma 2 and alpha 2. The ratio between the numbers of HibCP AbSC using heavy-chain genes from the downstream duplication unit (gamma 2, gamma 4, and alpha 2) and those using genes from the upstream duplication unit (gamma 3, gamma 1, and alpha 1) correlated with the preimmunization level of natural HibCP antibodies (r = 0.59; P = 0.00002). A possible role of natural exposure for Hib or cross-reactive bacteria on the mucosal surfaces in the shaping of the isotype response to HibCP conjugate vaccines is discussed.

Adult↗

Chronic fatigue syndrome--a controlled cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To look for signs of immunodeficiencies and/or longstanding infections underlying chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). METHODS: Twenty-one patients fulfilling the Centers for Disease Control criteria for CFS were compared to 21 age and sex matched controls. A number of viral antibodies as well as the following tests evaluating the immune system were studied: autoantibody profile, cell surface markers on isolated blood mononuclear cells, cytokine production, lymphocyte proliferative responses, natural killer cell activity and quantitation of immunoglobulin secreting cells. RESULTS: Production in vitro of the predominantly T cell derived cytokines interleukin 2 and interferon gamma was significantly higher in patients with CFS compared to the control group. Furthermore, the serum concentrations of IgA and IgE were lower in patients with CFS; however, this difference was caused by a larger number with values of IgA and IgE above the upper limit of the normal range among the controls than among the patients with CFS. All other variables were similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: A pathogenically significant imbalance of the immune system in patients with CFS cannot be excluded. However, evidence of a causal link between abnormal immunity and CFS was not obtained.

Adolescent↗

Non-epitope-specific suppression of the antibody response to Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines by preimmunization with vaccine components.

Recently, conjugate vaccines containing Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (HibCP) coupled to protein carriers were introduced for use in infants and certain adult risk groups. Similar conjugate vaccines against other capsulated bacteria are currently under development for both children and adults. Despite its potential importance, the possible influence of preexisting immunity to the components of such conjugates on the vaccination response in humans has been addressed by few studies. To study this issue, we randomized 82 healthy adult volunteers into six groups and vaccinated them twice, with a 4-week interval between immunizations. Four groups received tetanus toxoid (TT) or diphtheria toxoid (DT) and then HibCP coupled to TT (HibCP-TT) or DT (HibCP-DT). Two groups received HibCP-TT followed by HibCP-DT or vice versa. The total antibody levels to HibCP, TT, and DT and the anti-HibCP immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2 levels were measured before and 4 weeks after the immunizations. For some of the vaccinees, the number of circulating antibody-secreting cells was evaluated 7 days after immunization. Surprisingly, preimmunization with the relevant carrier protein reduced the subsequent increase in the total HibCP antibody levels (P < 0.05), affecting the IgG1 and the IgG2 subclasses equally. Also, the responses to the carrier portions of the conjugates were suppressed, as demonstrated by the lack of significant increases in the antibody levels (P > or = 0.29) and, for HibCP-TT, by reduced numbers of anticarrier antibody-secreting cells (P = 0.009). Similar non-epitope-specific suppression was seen in the groups receiving both conjugates. Thus, preimmunization with one conjugate reduced the subsequent response to the carrier portion of the other conjugate (HibCP-DT and then HibCP-TT, P = 0.00002; HibCP-TT and then HibCP-DT, P = 0.06) as well as to HibCP itself. Possible mechanisms behind this non-epitope-specific suppression and its relevance for vaccine development are discussed.

Adult↗

Rapid analysis of rearranged kappa light chain genes of circulating polysaccharide-specific B lymphocytes by means of immunomagnetic beads and the polymerase chain reaction.

Analysis of rearranged immunoglobulin genes used by B lymphocytes of known specificity is an important tool for the study of diversity and selection of B lymphocytes. Usually hybridoma cell lines are used for such analyses, but they are difficult to obtain from humans and may not be representative of the B lymphocytes activated in vivo. Here, we present a method for rapid analysis of the rearranged kappa light chain genes used by human circulating antigen-specific B lymphocytes. After vaccination with Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (HibCP) conjugated with protein, the HibCP-specific B lymphocytes were isolated by antigen-coated immunomagnetic beads. After the purification, at least 98% of the immunoglobulin-secreting recovered cells were HibCP specific. The RNA was isolated and amplified by cDNA synthesis using a kappa constant region primer followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using in addition a degenerate kappa light chain signal peptide region primer. The PCR product was cloned into the M13mp18 phage. The cloning efficiency was 100-600 clones/ml of blood. Of the 86 clones sequenced, 90% represented rearranged kappa light chain genes from different antibody-secreting cells. Examples of rearranged kappa genes used by HibCP-specific antibody-secreting cells from 4 adult vaccinees are given, representing the 3 largest of the 4 kappa variable region families. This method is a new tool for the investigation of vaccine-induced antibody responses with special reference to immunoglobulin gene usage and variability.

Base Sequence↗

A simplification of the enzyme-linked immunospot technique. Increased sensitivity for cells secreting IgG antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide.

A simplified enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) technique is described for the detection of cells secreting antibodies to tetanus toxoid (TT), diphtheria toxoid (DT) or Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (PRP). By combining the cell suspension with the enzyme-linked secondary antibodies in one incubation, the second incubation and washing procedure could be omitted from the original technique. The simplified assay had the same sensitivity for anti-TT and anti-DT spot-forming cells as the ordinary ELISPOT assay. The IgG anti-PRP spots were, however, improved both in quality and in quantity (median: 40% more spots), while the detection of IgM and IgA anti-PRP spot-forming cells was the same in the two techniques. This simplified technique can probably also be used to save time in other antigen systems and should be considered when designing ELISPOT assays for the detection of polysaccharide-specific antibody-secreting cells.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Quantitation of human IgG subclass antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide. Results of an international collaborative study using enzyme immunoassay methodology.

An international collaborative study was conducted at ten sites to examine the performance of enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for the quantitation of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4 and total IgG anti-Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) capsular polysaccharide in human serum. All groups used the same reagents: microtiter plates coated with polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) conjugated to poly-L-lysine (PLL), reference, control and test human sera, biotin-conjugated International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS)-documented monoclonal anti-human IgG1-4 and IgG Pan detection antibodies, avidin-peroxidase and TMB substrate. Initial mixing of soluble PRP antigen or an equal volume of buffer with the 20 test sera prior to analysis confirmed PRP antigen specificity in all five EIAs with greater than 80% competitive inhibition at most sites. Positive correlation between the total IgG anti-Hib and sum of IgG1-4 anti-Hib was demonstrated (r2 = 0.99, Y = 1.13X -0.15). Good agreement was shown between the total IgG anti-Hib as measured by EIA and the total Hib-specific antibodies measured by the current radiolabeled antigen binding assay (r2 = 0.97, Y = 4.6X -5.8). Assay parallelism was demonstrated with an average interdilutional %CV of 22% and parallel dose-response curve slopes. The interdilutional %CVs were calculated as an average per sample of the variation of microgram/ml (corrected for dilution) at different dilutions per laboratory for all participating sites. The interlaboratory variation was the only performance parameter studied that exceeded the target level of 35% CV in all IgG1-4 and total IgG anti-Hib assays. IgG subclass distributions in the test sera demonstrated a predominance of IgG1 anti-Hib in the pediatric serum pools and IgG2 anti-Hib in the adult sera, with low but detectable levels of IgG3 and IgG4 anti-Hib in each group.

Adult↗

An improved haemolytic plaque assay for the detection of cells secreting antibody to bacterial antigens.

Recent advances in the development of conjugate polysaccharide vaccines for human use have stimulated interest in the use of assays detecting antibody-secreting cells (AbSC) with specificity for bacterial antigens. Here we present improved haemolytic plaque-forming cell (PFC) assays detecting AbSC with specificity for tetanus and diphtheria toxoid as well as for Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides. These assays were found to be less time consuming, more economical and yielded 1.9-3.4-fold higher plaque numbers than traditional Jerne-type PFC assays. In the case of anti-polysaccharide AbSC of the IgG isotype, the increase was as high as 7.4-11.8 times. Evidence is presented that the pronounced improvement in the detection of the latter is due to the presence of aggregating anti-IgG antibody from the beginning of the assay. It is proposed that in the case of low affinity of anti-polysaccharide antibodies aggregation of secreted monomeric antibody (IgG) is critical for plaque formation and increases the avidity of binding to target cells.

Antibodies↗

Down-regulation of monocyte functions by treatment of healthy adults with 1 alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3.

A number of in vitro studies suggest an immunoregulatory role of 1 alpha,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3). The hormone inhibits production of interleukin-2 and immunoglobulin, and it blocks lymphocyte proliferation. Diverse effects on monocyte functions have been reported. However, immunological effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 have not been substantiated in vivo. Six healthy male volunteers, aged 28-45 yr, were treated orally with 1,25-(OH)2D3 (tabl. Rocaltrol), 1 microgram twice daily for 7 days. Blood and urine samples were collected before and 7 days after initiation of treatment. Blood mononuclear cells from individuals treated with 1,25-(OH)2D3 showed a significantly reduced production of both interleukin-1 alpha (45%) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (58%) (both measured by ELISA). Interleukin-6, production, measured by the B9 cell assay, was reduced in five individuals (78%), and unchanged in one. There was no effect on the release of interleukin-1 beta. There was no measurable effect on interleukin-2, interferon gamma or immunoglobulin production, or on mitogen-induced proliferation of blood mononuclear cells. Serum-osteocalcin and urine excretion of calcium were increased to 131 and 173%, respectively. The serum-calcium and serum-phosphate levels were unchanged.

Administration, Oral↗

Detection of B-lymphocytes secreting antibodies to Dermatophagoides antigens.

An enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELI-spot assay) has been established to count individual cells secreting antibodies to Dermatophagoides spp. allergens. Initial optimization of the assay was performed using Der p I-specific murine hybridoma cell lines. Inhibition with soluble purified allergen demonstrated that spot formation was specific. Addition of cycloheximide showed that spot formation was due to antibodies actively produced and secreted and not caused by preformed surface-associated Ig. An analogous method was used to count immunoglobulin-secreting cells (IgSC) of any specificity, and the number of circulating IgSC was measured in young healthy subjects. The results (means) were 331 IgM-SC, 532 IgG-SC, 850 IgA-SC and less than 1 IgE-SC per 10(6) mononuclear cells (MNC). Initial experiments performed with blood from patients undergoing immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Alutard, showed that 1 week after injection, circulating allergen-specific antibody-secreting cells (AbSC) were detected with this assay. The ranges were between 1 and 13 IgM-, 2 and 20 IgG- and 20 and 55 IgA allergen-specific AbSC per 10(6) MNC. It is expected that this assay will help to understand more thoroughly the basic immunological mechanisms behind the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Adult↗

Influence of prevaccination immunity on the human B-lymphocyte response to a Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preexisting immunity to components of a polysaccharide-protein conjugate influences the B-lymphocyte response to vaccination with the conjugate. Thirty-two healthy adults were vaccinated once or twice with a conjugate (PRP-D) consisting of Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (PRP) and diphtheria toxoid (DT), and the response was related to the prevaccination levels of PRP and DT antibodies. Positive correlations were found between increases in plasma PRP (median, 32.0 micrograms/ml) and DT (1.14 IU/ml) antibodies and numbers of circulating PRP and DT antibody-secreting cells (AbSC) (postvaccination days 6 to 9). The B-cell responses (antibody response and AbSC) to both PRP and DT correlated positively with prevaccination levels of anti-DT. DT AbSC appeared earlier (peak, day 7) than PRP AbSC (peak, day 8). Individuals whose PRP AbSC peaked early (day 7) had higher prevaccination anti-DT levels than those who peaked later (P less than 0.05). In contrast, the prevaccination levels of anti-PRP did not correlate significantly with the magnitude of the antibody or AbSC response and did not affect the kinetics of the AbSC. Following revaccination with PRP-D, small increases in the level of PRP antibodies (median, 2.9 micrograms/ml; n = 11) were found; no significant increase in the level of DT antibodies was seen. The numbers of PRP AbSC were lower (P = 0.04) and peaked earlier (day 7) than after the first vaccination. The isotype pattern of PRP AbSC, which was dominated by immunoglobulin A (IgA) after the first vaccination, now showed a more equal distribution between IgG and IgA AbSC. It is concluded that after immunization with PRP-D both the magnitude and the kinetics of the antipolysaccharide B-cell response are influenced by prevaccination immunity to the carrier molecule.

Adult↗

Quantitation of antibody-secreting cells in the blood after vaccination with Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine.

The human B-lymphocyte response to protein-conjugated polysaccharide antigens has not previously been studied at the cellular level. In order to do so, we developed and evaluated haemolytic plaque-forming cell assays detecting Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) capsular polysaccharide-specific antibody-secreting cells (AbSC) of the isotypes IgM, IgG, and IgA. The appearance of AbSC in the blood after vaccination of adults with diphtheria toxoid-conjugated Hib polysaccharide was investigated. AbSC were detected from post-vaccination day 5 to day 14. IgA was the predominant isotype among these cells. IgM AbSC peaked slightly earlier (median day 7) than IgG and IgA AbSC (both day 8). On post-vaccination day 8 the numbers of AbSC were: IgA, 1217/10(6) mononuclear cells (median); IgG, 211; and IgM, 30 (n = 11). Similar isotype distribution has earlier been found after vaccination with pure capsular polysaccharides from Hib and pneumococci. The predominance of IgA AbSC in response to both conjugate and pure polysaccharide vaccines is probably due to reactivation of the same clones of IgA-committed memory B cells originally primed at the mucosa by natural exposure to the polysaccharide or cross-reacting antigens.

Adult↗

Distribution of kappa and lambda light chain isotypes among human blood immunoglobulin-secreting cells after vaccination with pneumococcal polysaccharides.

The light chain isotype of immunoglobulin-secreting blood cells was investigated by means of monolayer plaque-forming cell assays allowing direct immunofluorescence staining for cytoplasmic kappa and lambda light chains in centre cells. The study revealed that cultured, polyclonally activated pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), IgM-, IgG- and IgA-secreting cells expressed the kappa light chain isotype in approximately 65% of the cells. IgM- and IgG-secreting cells induced by vaccination with pneumococcal polysaccharides had a similar percentage of kappa light chain-containing cells. In contrast, IgA-secreting cells induced by vaccination with pneumococcal polysaccharides showed a different (bimodal) distribution as regards expression of kappa light chain. The majority (56%) of the investigated individuals expressed kappa light chain in approximately 50% of the cells and the rest expressed kappa light chains in approximately 80% of the cells. The percentage of cells containing kappa light chains among spontaneous IgA-secreting cells in unvaccinated individuals was approximately 50% and thus also differed from the general pattern for mitogen-activated B cells. The light chain pattern of IgA-secreting cells from individuals vaccinated with pneumococcal polysaccharides and from unvaccinated individuals probably indicates that these cells are being derived from B-cell clones with a limited idiotypic heterogeneity, which have been selected and clonally expanded by naturally occurring antigens at the mucosal membranes.

Adult↗

Subclass of individual IgA-secreting human lymphocytes. Investigation of in vivo pneumococcal polysaccharide-induced and in vitro mitogen-induced blood B cells by monolayer plaque-forming cell assays.

The subclass of individual human IgA B cells was investigated by means of monolayer plaque-forming cell assays permitting analysis of all IgA-secreting cells as well as of cells secreting IgA anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody. Center cells were examined by indirect immunofluorescence staining with mouse mAb against either of the two IgA subclasses as primary antibodies and FITC-conjugated rabbit anti-mouse Ig as the second antibody. Blood lymphocytes spontaneously secreting IgA (mean 399/10(6) mononuclear cells) produced mainly IgA1 (73%). A similar distribution of subclasses was recorded among IgA-secreting blood cells in PWM- and EBV-stimulated cultures. In contrast, a predominance of IgA2 (54%) was found among IgA-secreting cells (2531/10(6)) isolated from the blood 7 days after in vivo stimulation with pneumococcal polysaccharides, and a similar proportion (51%) of IgA2 producing cells was found among IgA anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide-secreting cells. It was thus confirmed that IgA1 is the predominant subclass of blood IgA-secreting cells in general. However, the high percentage of IgA2-secreting cells found after vaccination with pneumococcal polysaccharides suggests that these Ag have an unusually high ability to activate IgA2 B cells, or that the B cells stimulated originate from lymphatic tissues with a high frequency of IgA2 committed cells.

Adult↗

The role of monocytes and T cells in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 mediated inhibition of B cell function in vitro.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) inhibits immunoglobulin production by human mononuclear cells (MNC) in vitro. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of T cells and monocytes in 1,25-(OH)2D3 induced suppression of B cell functions. The synthetic vitamin D3 analogue MC 903 was examined in parallel. 1,25-(OH)2D3 and MC 903 showed a dose-related inhibition of IgM, IgG and IgA plaque-forming cells in poke-weed mitogen (PWM) activated cultures of MNC. This effect was most likely mediated through impairment of T cell and monocyte functions. First, the inhibitory effect was seen after PWM stimulation, but not after Epstein-Barr virus stimulation which activates B cells independently of T cells and monocytes. Second, 1,25-(OH)2D3 was not effective in T cell and monocyte-depleted cultures. Third, the effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on PWM driven MNC was reversed by addition of the recombinant monokines: interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor alpha (rTNF alpha), rIL-6, as well as the lymphokines: lymphotoxin (rLT) and rIL-2. This is consistent with the finding that 1,25-(OH)2D3 also inhibited IL-1 alpha, TNF alpha and LT production in these cultures. The assumption that B cells are not directly affected by 1,25-(OH)2D3 was further supported by the fact that 24 h of culture with 10(-8) M 1,25-(OH)2D3 failed to reduce immunoglobulin production by in vivo activated B cells.

Antibody Formation↗

Influence of elevated body temperature on circulating immunoglobulin-secreting cells.

This work was designed to investigate the effect of in vivo hyperthermia in man on circulating immunoglobulin-secreting cells. Eight healthy male volunteers were immersed into a hot waterbath (WI) (water temperature 39.5 degrees C) for 2 h, whereby their body temperature rose to 39.5 degrees C. On another occasion they served as their own controls, being immersed into thermoneutral water (water temperature 34.5 degrees C) for 2 h. Blood samples were drawn before immersion, at body temperatures of 38, 39 and 39.5 degrees C, as well as 2 h after WI when their body temperatures were normalized. In the control experiments, blood samples were drawn at identical time points. A significant increase in the number of IgM-secreting cells per fixed number of blood mononuclear cells (BMNC) occurred 2 h after WI, whereas the number of IgA-secreting cells per fixed number of BMNC did not change. When the possible redistribution of BMNC was taken into account, the concentrations of IgM- and IgA-secreting cells (per ml blood) increased non-significantly during WI.

Adult↗