Specificity of an anti-aluminium monoclonal antibody toward free and protein-bound aluminium.

Anti-aluminium monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were prepared using aluminium chloride-bovine serum albumin complex (Al-BSA) as immunogen. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), using an Al-BSA coated immunoplate, demonstrated that mice immune sera showed stronger reactivity to AlCl3 than to BSA. Supernatants from hybridomas prepared from cloned anti-Al antibody-producing cells reacted in ELISA assays whether the metal was bound to proteins like calmodulin (CaM) and S100b protein or to immunogen BSA.

A human monoclonal IgA autoantibody--185/12--behaves like an autoimmune antiphospholipid antibody.

A human monoclonal anticardiolipin autoantibody (ACA) of the IgA-k isotype, designated 185/12, is described. The antibody was prepared from peripheral B cells, obtained from a patient with a history of habitual abortion, by immortalization with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The antibody displays a strong binding activity to cardiolipin and phosphatidyl L-serine, but not to phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, ssDNA and dsDNA.

The relationship between in vitro fertilization and naturally occurring antibodies: evidence for increased production of antiphospholipid autoantibodies.

Objective: Assessment of possible effects of ovarian stimulation during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycles on circulating levels of antiphospholipid and antinuclear autoantibodies.

Design: The study was performed prospectively. Sera were obtained at three time points along IVF treatment cycle.

Effect of sex hormones on human T cell activation by concanavalin A.

The effect of sex hormones on concanavalin A (Con A)-activated human T cells was studied. We show that neither 17 beta-estradiol (E2) nor progesterone, in concentrations of up to 10(-6) M, alters the proliferative response of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy postmenopausal women. Furthermore, the hormones had no effect on the composition of T cell populations and on the expression of activation markers.

Frequency and activity of autorosette forming cells in Con-A activated PBL from women with hyperplasia or carcinoma of the endometrium--possible role of estrogens.

In a previous study we showed that endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients have a T cell deficiency manifested in a reduced ability to be stimulated in vitro by PHA and to produce IL-2. In an attempt to understand the mechanism responsible for this alteration we present in this paper a study on T cells characterized by the ability to form rosettes, with human erythrocytes, following Con-A activation (designated auto-rosette forming cells--ARFC). These cells are also known to manifest suppressive activity.