Detection of leukotriene receptor CysLT1R in inflammatory diseases by molecular imaging with near-infrared fluorescence-based contrast agents.

As leukotriene D4 receptor CysLT1R upregulation is an early event in inflammatory processes, specific detection of CysLT1R via molecular imaging might be a promising diagnostic tool for inflammatory diseases. We coupled a specific anti-CysLT1R IgG antibody to near-infrared (NIR) hemicyanine fluorophore DY-734. The fluorophore was also coupled to unspecific rabbit-IgG antibody or corresponding Fab fragments.

RAGE and ICAM-1 cooperate in mediating leukocyte recruitment during acute inflammation in vivo.

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) contributes to the inflammatory response in many acute and chronic diseases. In this context, RAGE has been identified as a ligand for the beta(2)-integrin Mac-1 under static in vitro conditions. Because intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 also binds beta(2)-integrins, we studied RAGE(-/-), Icam1(-/-), and RAGE(-/-) Icam1(-/-) mice to define the relative contribution of each ligand for leukocyte adhesion in vivo.

Low-avidity HPA-1a alloantibodies in severe neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia are detectable with surface plasmon resonance technology.

Background: Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is mostly caused by maternal alloantibodies directed against the human platelet alloantigen (HPA)-1a. Currently, the serologic diagnosis of FNAIT is based on the characterization of the HPA alloantibodies in monoclonal antibody-based antigen-capture assays (e.g.

Heterogeneity of HPA-3 alloantibodies: consequences for the diagnosis of alloimmune thrombocytopenic syndromes.

Background: Immunization against the human platelet alloantigen (HPA)-3a residing on alphaIIbbeta3 integrin accounts for approximately 2 percent of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). Anti-HPA-3a alloantibodies are sometimes difficult to detect and can be overlooked by standard antigen capture assays.

Study Design And Methods: The reactivity of 12 anti-HPA-3a and 2 anti-HPA-3b alloantibodies from patients with FNAIT and posttransfusion purpura was analyzed by serologic (monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization of platelet antigens [MAIPA] assay, flow cytometry) and immunochemical (immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting) techniques.

A simple and practical agglutination assay for the detection of human anti-mouse antibodies.

Background And Objectives: Human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMAs) are relatively common in human serum and may interfere with therapeutic and diagnostic mouse monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). We developed a simple particle agglutination test (PaGIA) for the detection of HAMAs.

Design And Methods: Red-dyed high density particles were coated with monoclonal mouse IgG.

A variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism influences the transcriptional activity of the neonatal Fc receptor alpha-chain promoter.

The neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn, plays a central role in immunoglobulin G (IgG) transport across placental barriers. Genetic variations of FcRn-dependent transport across the placenta may influence antibody-mediated pathologies of the fetus and the newborn. Sequencing analysis of 20 unrelated individuals demonstrated no missense mutation within the five exons of the FcRn gene.

A naturally occurring LeuVal mutation in beta3-integrin impairs the HPA-1a epitope: the third allele of HPA-1.

Background: Single-amino-acid substitution Leu33Pro in the beta3-integrin is responsible for the formation of the human platelet antigen (HPA)-1. Alloimmunization against HPA-1a (beta3-Leu33) is the most frequent cause of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and posttransfusion purpura.

Study Design And Methods: While HPA-1 genotyping a large cohort of patients with thromboembolic disease with a thermal cycler (LightCycler), one patient was identified with a unique HPA-1a melting curve.