Anti-PD1 antibody and not anti-LAG-3 antibody improves the antitumor effect of photodynamic therapy for treating metastatic breast cancer

Photodynamic therapy(PDT)has limited effects in treating metastatic breast cancer.Immune checkpoints can deplete the function of immune cells;however,the expression of immune checkpoints after PDT is unclear.This study investigates whether the limited e±cacy of PDT is due to upregulated immune checkpoints and tries to combine the PDT and immune checkpoint inhibitor to observe the e±cacy.A metastatic breast cancer model was treated by PDT mediated by hematoporphyrin derivatives(HpD-PDT).The anti-tumor effect of HpD-PDT was observed,as well as CD4þT,CD8þT and calreticulin(CRT)by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.Immune checkpoints on T cells were analyzed byflow cytometry after HpD-PDT.When combining PDT with immune checkpoint inhibitors,the antitumor effect and immune effect were assessed.For HpD-PDT at 100 mW/cm2 and 40,60 and 80 J/cm2,primary tumors were suppressed and CD4þT,CD8þT and CRT were elevated;however,distant tumors couldn't be inhibited and survival could not be prolonged.Immune checkpoints on T cells,especially PD1 and LAG-3 after HpD-PDT,were upregulated,which may explain the reason for the limited HpD-PDT effect.After PDT combined with anti-PD1 antibody,but not with anti-LAG-3 antibody,both the primary and distant tumors were signi-cantly inhibited and the survival time was prolonged,additionally,CD4þT,CD8þT,IFN-þCD4þT and TNF-þCD4þT cells were signi-cantly increased compared with HpD-PDT.HpD-PDT could not combat metastatic breast cancer.PD1 and LAG-3 were upregulated after HpD-PDT.Anti-PD1 antibody,but not anti-LAG-3 antibody,could augment the antitumor effect of HpD-PDT for treating metastatic breast cancer.

Effects of Nogo-neutralizing antibody and neurotrophin-3 on axonal regeneration following spinal cord injury in rats

BACKGROUND： Recent studies have suggested that regeneration of the central nerve fiber following spinal cord injury occurs under specific conditions. OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of Nogo-neutralizing antibody （IN-1）, in combination with neurotrophin-3 （NT-3）, on axonal regeneration and motor function following spinal cord injury in the rat. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal study combining immunohistochemistry was performed at the Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of Xiangya Medical College, and Central Laboratory of Xiangya the Third Hospital, Central South University from January 2006 to December 2007. MATERIALS： Eighteen healthy, Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, with six rats per group： control, IN-l, and IN-1/NT-3. Hemisectioned spinal cord injury models were established by cutting the posterior 2/3 of spinal cord, which is equivalent to the Ts level. METHODS： A polyethylene tubing was inserted through into subarachnoid cavity, equivalent to the superior margin at the T8 level. Saline, IN-1, and IN-1/NT-3 were respectively injected into control, IN-1, and IN-1/NT-3 groups, three times/day for seven consecutive days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： At 2 weeks post-surgery, biotin dextran amine （10%） was injected into the right sensorimotor cortex area. At day 28 post-surgery, spinal cord tissue was prepared for frozen sections Positive astrocytic expression was observed with glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP） immunohistochemical staining whose proliferation level was represented by gray value, i.e. the higher the gray value was, the less the positive cells were, and growth of positive fibers was observed with a biotin dextran amine histological reaction. Motor function was measured according to BBB scores pre-operatively, as well as at days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-operatively. RESULTS： Three rats died during experimentation. By random supplement, a total of 18 rats were included. GFAP-positive astrocytes were observed in all the three groups. In the control group, astrocytes were characterized according to active function, hyperplasia, proliferation, hypertrophy, and increasing processes as compared to IN-1 group and IN-1/IN-3 group. Astrocyte hyperplasia represented by gray value in the IN-1 group was less than the control group. Gray value of GFAP-positive products in the IN-1/IN-3 group was higher than other two groups （P 〈 0.05）. Biotin dextran amine tracing demonstrated no corticospinal tract fiber outgrowth following spinal cord injury; the fibers were incapable of passing through the glial scar in the control group. Several fibers were distributed in the proximal scar tissue region in the IN-1 group, and the regenerated fibers were disarranged. Many nerve fibers were distributed throughout the scar tissue, and even several biotin dextran amine-positive fibers were observed at the distal end of the injured segment. Post-operative Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scores were greater than pre-operative ones, while Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scores in the IN-1/NT-3 group were significantly greater than the other two groups at days 14, 21, and 28 post-surgery （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： IN-1, in combination with NT-3, promoted axonal regeneration following spinal cord injury, inhibited the colloidal effect, and enhanced the correlation between proximal and distal processes to recover motor function. The recovery effect of IN-1/NT-3 on motor function was superior that of to IN-1 alone.

抗桥粒芯蛋白1、3抗体及大疱性类天疱疮180、230抗体联合检测诊断大疱性皮肤病的应用价值

目的 探讨抗桥粒芯蛋白1、3(Dsg1、3)抗体及大疱性类天疱疮180、230(BP180、230)抗体联合检测在大疱性皮肤病临床诊断中的应用价值。方法 自2020年3月至2023年1月,纳入郑州大学第一附属医院收治的经组织病理结果、直接免疫荧光检测确诊的大疱性皮肤病患者88例为观察组,选取本院同期健康体检者76名为对照组。分析两组Dsg1、Dsg3、BP180、BP230抗体的阳性检出情况;分析观察组血清Dsg1、Dsg3、BP180、BP230抗体标本诊断类型占比及观察组不同年龄组大疱性皮肤病疾病类型阳性率占比;绘制ROC曲线分析Dsg1、Dsg3、BP180、BP230抗体单一及联合检测对大疱性皮肤病的诊断价值。结果 两组血清Dsg1、Dsg3、BP180、BP230抗体阳性率比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。据Dsg1、Dsg3、BP180、BP230抗体检测结果,诊断类型:BP、PV、PF、PF+BP、PV+BP阳性率分别为32.95%、20.45%、11.36%、7.95%、3.41%。其中BP阳性率占比最高,PV+BP阳性率占比最低,两者比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。>60岁组BP阳性率高于≤60岁组,PV及PF阳性率低于≤60岁组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。Dsg1、Dsg3、BP180、BP230抗体联合检测对大疱性皮肤病灵敏度、特异度分别为91.02%、88.66%,AUC(95%CI)为0.821(0.745~0.911),均高于上述抗体单一检测(P<0.05)。结论 Dsg1、Dsg3、BP180、BP230抗体在大疱性皮肤病诊断中具有重要参考价值,且联合检测可提高诊断的准确性;大疱性皮肤病患者年龄和抗体类型之间也存在一定的关联,联合检测Dsg1、Dsg3、BP180、BP230抗体有助于大疱性皮肤病进行更精细的诊断和治疗。

Preparation of rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody and study of its expression

BACKGROUND： Studies have shown that the Repeat superfamily, could be related to neural LRRN3, a member of the Neuron Leucine-Rich development, differentiation, information transmission, and other functions, but most studies have focused on nucleic acid levels and few have reported on LRRN3 protein levels. OBJECTIVE： To prepare rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody and to observe protein tissue expression profiles. DESIGN, TIME AND SEI-rlNG： In vitro, molecular, biological experiments were performed from October 2007 to April 2009 in Laboratory of Neurobiology at Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University. MATERIALS： Immunization antigen, namely rat MaI-LRRN3C-His recombinant protein, was provided by the Laboratory of Neurobiology at Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University. METHODS： Rat Mal-LRRN3C-His recombinant protein was used to immunize male, New Zealand rabbits, and rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody was prepared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Antibody purification was conducted using Protein A affinity chromatography, and the LRRN3 anti-serum titer was identified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemical techniques and Western blot preliminary tests were used to determine LRRN3 protein expression profiles in adult rats. RESULTS： A highly purified rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody was obtained. Western Blot results from rat brain total protein revealed a band at 79 kD, which was consistent with the size of LRRN3. Immunohistochemistry results showed that protein was mainly expressed in the central nervous system, and no significant positive signals were observed in other tissues. Positive cells included neurons of cerebral cortex and hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cell layer, and cerebellar Purkinje cells. There was no positive expression in glial cells. CONCLUSION： Rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody was successfully prepared at a high purity from the prokaryotic-expressed MaI-LRRN3C-His recombinant protein, which served as an antigen. Rat LRRN3 protein was primarily expressed in cerebral cortex neurons, hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cell layer neurons, and cerebellar Purkinje cells.

A subset of ulcerative colitis with positive proteinase-3 antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody

A small subset of patients with active ulcerative colitis is non-responsive to major known non-biological therapies. We reported 5 patients with positive serum proteinase-3 antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA) and tried to (1) identify the common clinical features of these patients; (2) investigate the efficacy of a novel therapy using a Chinese medicine compound; and (3) attract more gastroenterologists to be engaged in further study of this subset of patients. The common manifestations of disease in these 5 patients included recurrent bloody diarrhea and inflammatory lesions involving the entire colorectal mucosa. Initial treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone successfully induced remission. Four of these 5 patients were steroid-dependence, and immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine and cyclophosphamide, were in effective. In 3 patients, only the particular Chinese medicine compound could induce and maintain remission. One patient underwent colectomy. No vascular inflammatory lesions were found by histopathological examination. Although more cases are needed for confirmation, our study indicates thatulcerative colitis with positive PR3-ANCA may belong to a subtype of refractory ulcerative colitis. The particular Chinese medicine compound used in our study is by far the most effective in the management of these patients, with additional advantages of having no noticeable side-effects and less financial burden.

Prokaryotic Expression,Purification,Antibody Production of a NH_2-Terminal Fragment of mCLCA3 Protein and Analysis of mClCA3 Protein Expression in Asthmatic Mouse Lung

mCLCA3 is a member of calcium activated chloride channel（CACC） family that may play an important role in mucin packaging and secretion in asthmatic and cystic fibrosis lung. To study the protein structure and expression of mCLCA3 in asthmatic mouse lung, an N-terminal 269 amino acid peptide of mCLCA3 was expressed in E. coli, purified to homogeneity and rabbit polyclonal antibodies against this peptide were generated. Immunohistochemistry of asthmatic mouse lung using the antibody indicated exclusive mCLCA3 expression in mucin granules of goblet cells in airway surface and lumen, Immunoblot analysis of lavage fluid from asthmatic mouse lung revealed a single 90 kDa protein form of mClCA3. The results demonstrate that the 90 kDa N-terminal peptide, neither the flail-length protein nor the reported N-terminal 35 kDa cleaved form of mClCA3 is the major functional form involved in the packaging and exocytosis of mucin granules in asthmatic goblet cells.

Preparation of Polyclonal Antibodies against NS3 Protein of Japanese Encephalitis Virus

Japanese encephalitis （JE） is a central nervous system disease caused by Japanese encephalitis virus （JEV）, which can infect human and a variety of animals and cause irreversible nerve damages. NS3 protein plays an important role in the process of JEV polyprotein hydrolysis, which is essential for JEV replication. Therefore, NS3 protein may be used as a potential drug target to treat Japanese encephalitis. In this study, the pET-28a-NS3 plasmid was successfully constructed and expressed in E. coli BL21 （ DE3 ） under IPTG induction. The molecular weight of the expressed recombinant protein was 55 ku, which was consistent with the expected result. The positive serum was prepared by immunizing BALB/c mice with NS3 protein and identified by indirect immunofluorescence （IFA）. The results showed that there was a fluorescence reaction between the prepared positive serum of NS3 protein and cells infected with JEV.

猪圆环病毒3型Cap蛋白单克隆抗体的制备及阻断ELISA检测方法的建立

旨在建立检测猪圆环病毒3型(PCV3)抗体的阻断ELISA方法,本研究利用原核表达的PCV3Cap重组蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠制备获得了一株分泌阻断效果良好抗体的杂交瘤细胞株2E6。以重组Cap蛋白作为包被抗原,以辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)标记的2E6单克隆抗体作为检测抗体,经条件优化后建立了一种检测PCV3抗体的阻断ELISA方法。用建立的阻断ELISA方法检测50份临床阴性血清,计算阻断率(PI)的临界值,以此来确定该方法的判定标准:当PI≤28.30%时,判定结果为阴性;当PI≥35.05%时,判定结果为阳性;当28.30%<PI<35.05%时,判定为可疑,重复一次试验后如果结果仍为可疑,则判定为阳性。特异性试验表明该方法与猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)、猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)以及猪瘟病毒(CSFV)的阳性血清均无交叉反应;敏感性试验表明其检测效价可达到1:128;重复性试验表明批内与批间的变异系数均小于10%;符合性检验表明该方法与PCV检测金标准免疫过氧化物酶单层试验(IPMA)比对的Kappa值达0.9,具有高度的一致性。综上所述,本研究建立的阻断ELISA方法具有良好的特异性与较高的符合率,可用于后期进行PCV3抗体的检测,为PCV3的流行病学调查与临床诊断提供技术支持。

A Case of Exfoliation of Oral Mucosal Epithelium in a Patient with Anti-Desmoglein 1 Antibody-Positive and Anti-Desmoglein 3 Equivocal Antibody

Pemphigus is an autoimmune bullous disease observed with lesions in the skin and mucosa. Pemphigus is classified by antibodies against desmogleins, which is cadherin type intercellular adhesion factors involved in adhesion between epidermal cells. In this case, because erosion of the oral mucosa was the primary symptom, a relationship with membrane-dominant pemphigus vulgaris was strongly suspected. And in terms of histopathology, findings not conflicted with pemphigus vulgaris were observed, but given all these different findings, the results did not correspond with bullous pemphigoid in clinical findings, and with pemphigus foliaceus and pemphigus vulgaris in various testing results, leading us to believe this represented a very rare case. We started oral health care, and when application of steroid ointment to the entire surface of the mucosa was continued, symptoms disappeared within approximately 2 months. In this case, relapse has not yet occurred and periodic follow-up was continued.

Detection of Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii by ELISA with Recombinant Microneme Protein 3

[Objective] To develop a new method for serodiagnosis of swine toxoplasmosis. [Method] With the purified recombinant microneme protein 3 （rMIC3） as coating antigens, an indirect ELISA was developed for detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii. [ Result] The optimal working concentration of rMIC3 was 3. 40 ug/ml, and the optimal degree of dilution of sera was 1：160. Cross-reaction was not observed between the Toxoplasma gondii-positive sera and the positive sera against classical swine fever virus or some other pathogens. The developed ELISA had 92.56% coincidence rate with latex agglutination test. [ Conclusion] The developed ELISA is sensitive, rapid, specific and reproducible, and thus it can be applied in serodiagnosis and seroprevalence investigation of swine toxoplasmosis.

Role of GM3 ganglioside in the pathology of some progressive human diseases and prognostic importance of serum anti-GM3 antibodies

Glycosphingolipids(gangliosides)have been characterized as important biological molecules with a key role as regulators in many physiological processes on cellular,tissue,organ,and organism levels.The deviations in their normal amounts,production,and metabolism are very often related to the development of many multi-factor socially important diseases.GM3 ganglioside,as a small molecule,plays important roles in the cascade regulatory pathways in the pathology of many disorders like neurodegenerative diseases,autoimmune diseases,inflammation,diabetes,malignant transformation,and others.Ganglioside GM3 and its derivatives are membrane-bound glycosphingolipids composed of an oligosaccharide head structure containing one sialic acid residue.These molecules transduce signals involved in cell surface events,including the phosphorylation of transmembrane receptors.This ganglioside is the most widely distributed among tissues,and it serves as a precursor for most of the more complex ganglioside species.GM3 inhibits the function of fibroblast growth factor receptor,and cell growth is regulated by GM3-enriched microdomain.GM3 is thought to inhibit immunologic functions,such as the proliferation and production of cytokines by T cells.On the other hand,the anti-ganglioside antibodies(AGAs)are important in many acquired demyelinating immunemediated neuropathies,like Multiple sclerosis(MS),Guillain–Barrésyndrome(GBS)and its variation,Miller–Fisher syndrome(MFS)and could be suggested as important diagnostic and prognostic markers about the describe diseases and their etiology.We show that the complexes of anti-ganglioside antibodies to GM3(detected by ELISA)may be useful diagnostic and prognostic tool markers for autoimmune diseases,neurodegenerative disorders,malignancy,diabetes,and inflammation.Our pilot studies suggest increased serum IgG anti-GM3 antibodies titers in patients with secondary progressive MS(SPMS),throat cancer,elder people with diabetes(89–96 years),old Lewis rats(30–33 months),and in the serum of subjected on lead intoxication BALB/c mice treated by salinomycin.We observed no changes in the titers in healthy elder people(89–96 years),in 70-year-old woman on dialysis,in relapsing-remitting MS(RRMS)patients on long-term treatment with Glatiramer acetate,Laquinimod,and Interferons,as well as in 18–22 months old Wistar rats and subjected on lead intoxication BALB/c mice treated by monensin and dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA).Considerable decrease of serum GM3 in early MS correlate with early damage and severe destruction of the blood–brain barrier,which provides impetus to initiate early therapy.

Prokaryotic Expression and Polyclonal Antibody Preparation of PRL3

Phosphatase of regenerating liver 3 （ PRL3 ）, which belongs to the superfamily of protein tyrosine phosphatases （PTPs）, represents a group of low molecular weight PTPs that participate in tumorigenesis and metastasis processes. Presented here are the results of cloning, prokaryotic expression, purification, and polyclonal antibody preparation of PRL3. To obtain a specific polyclonal antibody against PRL3, the authors have prepared GST-PRL3 to immunize rabbits and purify an anti-PRL3 polyclonal antibody by negative selection affinity columns. Western blot analysis shows that the anti-PRL3 polyclonal antibody has a specific binding ability with PRL3 protein. The anti-PRL3 polyclonal antibody provides a good tool to further study the function of PRL3.

Anti-VDAC3 recombinant antibody decreased human sperm motility and membrane integrity: A potential spermicide for contraception

Objective:To express recombinant protein that comprises an important fragment of human sperm specific voltage dependent anion channel 3 (VDAC3) protein as a potential molecule for generation of antibody, which can affect sperm function, aiming at spermicide development. Methods: The produce of VDAC3 recombinant protein encoded by cDNA sequence of human VDAC3 exon 5-8, based on experimental design of VDAC3 knock-out mice study. And after the purification of various human sperm VDAC3 recombinant proteins, epitope has been predicted in our recombinant protein determined by ElliPro program. Polyclonal antibody was produced for 14 wk. Then anti-VDAC3-exon 5-8 recombinant antiserum was inoculated to human sperm. After the process, antibody VDAC3 protein in human sperm was incubation with anti-VDAC3 recombinant antibody. Finally evaluation the effect of VDAC3 antiserum to human sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity was proceeded.Results: Human VDAC3 recombinant protein was successfully over-expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography method. Purified human sperm VDAC3 recombinant protein could stimulate immune response in rabbit producing an antibody against VDAC3. Anti-VDAC3 recombinant antibody recognized VDAC3 antigen in human sperm could decrease human sperm motility and membrane integrity significantly.Conclusions:Anti-VDAC3 recombinant polyclonal antibody that we produced in rabbit by ourselves could decrease sperm motility and sperm membrane integrity. The authors suggest this polyclonal antibody could be used as a candidate agent for male contraception in the future. Furthermore, the authors intend to explore the effect of this antibody into sperm function aiming at male contraceptive vaccine development.

Effect of bovine pellucid zone 3 monoclonal antibodies on B cell lymphoma 2 expressions of granulosa cell and mice (Mus musculus) follicle diameter

Objective:To evaluate the effects of pellucid zone 3 monoclonal antibodies against B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) expression and mice follicle diameter at various time periods.Methods:The animal model of this study was 36 Balb/c mice (Mus musculus). A true experimental design was used with a post-test only control group approach. BCL-2 expression was observed using immunohistochemistry, while the follicle diameter was observed by haematoxylin-eosin staining. The data was analyzed using nested ANOVA to compare the results of the mean expression of BCL-2 on the 5th and 20th day of observation in the pre-antral and antral follicle between the control and treatment groups.Results:No significant differences were found in BCL-2 gene expression. There were also no significant differences in BCL-2 expression on the 10th day of pre-antral follicle analysis. Moreover, there were no significant differences between the mean follicle diameter on the 5th, 10th, and 20th day of pre-antral and antral follicle development between the control and treatment groups. The addition of bovine pellucid zone 3 (bZP3) monoclonal antibodies on the 5th and 20th day of observation did not decrease the expression of BCL-2 gene in the pre-antral and antral follicle of mice. Administering bZP3 monoclonal antibodies on the 10th day of observation did not affect BCL-2 expression in the pre-antral follicle but did decrease BCL-2 expression in the antral follicle. Supplying bZP3 monoclonal antibodies on the 5th, 10th and 20th day did not affect the diameter of pre-antral and antral follicles of the mice.Conclusion: The monoclonal antibodies bovine zona pelusida 3 has the potential to be developed as a safe immunocontraception preparation.

Preparation and Characterization of Magnetic Fe3O4-PAMAM-antibody Complex and Its Application in the Removal of Tetracycline from Wastewater

Antigens and antibodies can bind specifically, so antibiotic antibody shows potential biological and environmental applications on the removal of antibiotic. In the present study, novel antibody complex was synthesized from polyamide-amine dendrimer immobilized tetracycline(TC) antibody with the encapsulation of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. As-prepared magnetic Fe3O4-PAMAM-antibody complexes were characterized by different techniques such as Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR), X-ray diffraction(XRD), Nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)and ultraviolet(UV) analysis spectra. The prepared antibody complexes exhibited high adsorption properties for TC from aqueous solutions. These results suggest that the antibody complex expects to be a potential candidate for the wastewater treatment.

Generation of Monoclonal Antibodies against Non-structural Protein 3AB of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

To identify linear epitopes on the non-structural protein 3AB of foot-and-mouth disease virus （FMDV）, BABL/c mice were immunized with the 3AB protein and splenocytes of BALB/c mice were fused with myeloma Sp2/0 cells. Two hybridoma monoclonal antibodies （mAbs） cell lines against the 3AB protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus （FMDV） were obtained, named C6 and E7 respectively. The mieroneutralization titer was 1：1024 for mAb C6, and 1：512 for E7. Both mAbs contain kappa light chains, and were of subclass IgG2b. In order to define the mAbs binding epitopes, the reactivity of these mAbs against FMDV were examined by indirect ELISA. The results showed that both mAbs can react with FMDV, but had no cross-reactivity with Swine Vesicular Disease （SVD） antigens. The titers in abdomen liquor were 1：5×10^6 for C6 and 1：2×10^6 for E7. In conclusion, the mAbs obtained from this study are specific for the detection of FMDV, can be used for etiological and immunological researches on FMDV, and have potential use in diagnosis and future vaccine designs.

Prokaryotic Expression and Purification of HIV-1 Vif and hAPOBEC3G, Preparation of Polyclonal Antibodies

To prepare HIV-1 Vif and hAPOBEC3G and to produce their antibodies, the full length gene fragment of HIV-1 vif was amplified by PCR from a plasmid of HIV-1 NL4.3 cDNA, and the APOBEC3G gene was obtained by RT-PCR from the total RNA of H9 cells. The resulting DNA construct was cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector (pET-32a). Recombinant pET-vif and pET-APOBEC3G were expressed respectively in Eserichia coli BL21 (DE3) as an insoluble protein. The vector also contained a six-histidine tag at the C-terminus for convenient purification and detection. To express and purify the HIV-1 Vif and hAPOBEC3G in E.coli cells, the accuracy of inserted gene and specificity of proteins were detected by the two enzyme digestion method, SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting. Rabbits were then immunized by Vif or APOBEC3G protein and serum samples were tested by indirect ELISA to determine the level of antibodies. Immunoenzyme and immunofluorescence assays were performed to identify the specificity of polyclonal antibodies. The titer of the anti-Vif antibodies was 1:204800, and that of the anti-APOBEC3G antibodies was 1:102400. Thus the antibodies could detect the antigen expression in the cells, demonstrating that fusion proteins with high purity and their corresponding polyclonal antibodies with high titer and specificity were achieved.

Inhibitory Effect of Anti-HER-2 Anti-CD3 Bi-specific Antibody on the Growth of Gastric Carcinoma

To evaluate the effect of anti-HER-2 × anti-CD3 bi-specific antibody（BsAb） on the growth of HER-2/neu-expressing human gastric carcinoma in vitro and in vivo, an MTT assay was carried out to test the inhibitive rates of herceptin, anti-CD3 and BsAb antibodies on SGC-7901 gastric carcinoma cells. Immunocytochemistry methods were used to test the HER-2 level of SGC-7901. Nude mice models were employed to test the effect of HER-2 CD3 BsAh combined with effector ceils（ peripheral blood lymphatic cells of healthy human beings） on the growth of tumors in animals. Compared with that of the untreated control group, the tumor cell growth rates in vitro and in vivo will both be significantly inhibited when treated with effector cells combined with anti-CD3 McAb, herceptin or HER2 CD3 BsAb （p 〈0. 05）, and the growth inhibition is the most remarkable in the group treated with HER2 CD3 BsAb combined with effector cells. The growth of tumor xenografts will also be significantly inhibited in the group treated with HER2 CD3 BsAb combined with effector cells when compared with that in the group treated with anti-CD3 McAb or the group treated with herceptin combined with effector cells（p 〈0. 05）. We can conclude that HER-2/neu is possibly a useful target for immunotherapy of gastric carcinoma, and anti-HER2 × anti-CD3 BsAb has evident anti-tumor efficacy both, in vitro and in vivo.

Evaluation of Antibodies Induced by the Injection of Single Capsid Protein or Purified Virus Particle of Coxsackievirus B3 in Mice

Four capsid proteins (VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4) of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) were expressed as recombinant proteins in an Escherichia coli expression system and used as antigens for subunit vaccines against CVB3 in ICR mice. Antigens were expressed as thioredoxin-histidine (TrxHis)-tagged protein and purified before immunization. Although all VPs other than VP4 induced anti-CVB3 specific antibodies in mice (detected by ELISA and western blotting), they did not neutralize the infectious CVB3 in a virus neutralization assay. Meanwhile, 2 virus strains were purified from CVB3 virus stock on the basis of their plaque size on HeLa cells. ICR mice were infected with the 2 purified virus strains (S-strain and L-strain) and unpurified virus stock (wild type) to analyze the difference in antibody responses against infections of purified and unpurified virus strains. The reactivity of antisera against each virus strain was tested by ELISA, and the results showed that the inoculation of purified virus strain induced a strong antibody response against the inoculated strain. As a result, the antibody response against wild-type and other virus strains was suppressed. These results suggest using unpurified virus stock as an antigen is advantageous for inducing a broad antibody response in inoculated animals.

Anti-M₃Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Evidences have shown that anti-M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor IgG (anti-M3 mAChR IgG) are clinically useful autoantibody that exert a cholinergic pharmacologic effect binding and interacting with M3 mAChR at the level of exocrine gland (salivary and ocular). Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the associations between serum level of anti-M3 mAChR IgG in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoantibodies, serum prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and clinical manifestations. Methods: Serum autoantibodies against M3 mAChR synthetic peptide were measured by enzyme-linked immuno absorbent assay (ELISA) using, as an antigen, a 25-mer peptide K-R-T-V-P-D-N-Q-C-F-I-Q-F-L-S-N-P-A-V-T-F-G-T-A-I corresponding to the amino acid sequence of the second extracellular loop of the human M3 mAChR. Serum levels of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-Smith (Sm) antibodies, anti-phospholipid (APL) antibodies, and PGE2 were determined by ELISA in patients with SLE. Results: We found significantly enhanced titers of anti-M3 mAChR IgG in sera from SLE patients compared with healthy individuals (control). In addition, serum levels of PGE2 were significantly higher in SLE patients than in control patients and were significantly higher in active than in non-active SLE. No correlation was found with other autoantibodies present in SLE. By contrast, a positive correlation was found between anti-M3 mAChR IgG and PGE2 serum levels in SLE. Conclusions: As anti-M3 mAChR antibodies present in the sera of SLE patients may be another factor in the pathogenesis of this disease, and the increment of PGE2 in the sera of SLE has a modulatory action on the inflammatory process, suggesting that the presence of these autoantibodies against M3 mAChR may contribute to sustained immune deregulation and the strong inflammatory component observed in SLE.