Antitumor activities of heteropolysaccharides of Poria cocos mycelia from different strains and culture media.

Ten water-soluble heteropolysaccharide fractions were isolated from Poria cocos mycelia cultured from one wild and one cultivated strain in two identical culture media differing only in one component: either corn steep liquor or bran extract. The chemical compositions, including monosaccharide profile, protein content, and molecular mass M(w) of the mycelial polysaccharides were determined. Both the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities of the heteropolysaccharides were evaluated and compared.

Variable region domain exchange influences the functional properties of IgG.

In the present study we have characterized a family of anti-dansyl Abs with the variable region of the heavy chain on human Ckappa and the variable region of the light chain on different human gamma constant regions (creating inside-out molecules). Although fully assembled molecules were secreted, this variable region exchange slowed the kinetics of Ab assembly. Although the variable region exchange does not lead to a detectable change in the microenvironment of the combining site, it did alter the kinetic parameters of binding to immobilized Ag, slowing both the on and off rates.

Dimerization of CD4-C kappa chimeric molecules leads to loss of CD4 epitopes.

Structural similarities between two members of the immunoglobulin superfamily were explored by making chimeric immunoglobulin/CD4 antigen molecules. A crossover in the middle of the originally proposed J kappa homology unit of the first domain of the CD4 molecule was used to construct a chimeric molecule having human and mouse CD4 antigen sequence through the first 108 amino acids and murine J kappa and C kappa sequence thereafter. This molecule was expressed in the presence and absence of an immunoglobulin heavy chain.

Mechanisms of anti-CD4-mediated depletion and immunotherapy. A study using a set of chimeric anti-CD4 antibodies.

A family of rat-mouse chimeric anti-murine CD4 antibodies was used to study the mechanisms of anti-CD4-mediated depletion and immunotherapy. The chimeric antibodies retain identical affinity and specificity as the therapeutically effective prototype antibody, rat GK1.5, but are of different mouse isotypes.

Electron microscopic study of ring-shaped, bivalent hapten, bivalent antidansyl monoclonal antibody complexes with identical variable domains but IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b constant domains.

We have studied by electron microscopy a fascinating series of antidansyl monoclonal antibodies developed by Dangl et al. (Cytometry 2, 395-401, 1982) which have the same variable domain but different constant domains. Three of the four subclasses of mouse IgG were represented, IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b.

Influence of the hinge region on complement activation, C1q binding, and segmental flexibility in chimeric human immunoglobulins.

We have characterized a series of genetically engineered chimeric human IgG3 and IgG4 anti-dansyl (DNS) antibodies with identical antibody-combining sites but different hinge region amino acid compositions to determine how the hinge region influences Fab fragment segmental flexibility, C1q binding, and complement activation. Our data support the correlation between "upper hinge" length and Fab segmental flexibility; moreover, we confirm that a hinge region is essential for C1q binding and complement activation. However, the hinge length by itself is not sufficient for complement activity in IgG molecules.

Comparison of rat and rat-mouse chimeric anti-murine CD4 antibodies in vitro. Chimeric antibodies lyse low-density CD4+ cells.

GK1.5, a rat anti-mouse CD4 mAb, is effective in the treatment of several autoimmune syndromes, induces tolerance to co-administered Ag, and prolongs allograft survival. We have constructed a family of molecules with GK1.

Interaction of IgE with its high-affinity receptor. Structural basis and requirements for effective cross-linking.

Structural interactions between IgE and its high-affinity receptor have been investigated with the methods of fluorescence resonance energy transfer and genetic engineering. The results indicate that IgE has a bent conformation when bound to receptor on the cell surface and that the site of interaction is contained in the C epsilon 2 and C epsilon 3 domains; the C-terminal domain, C epsilon 4, is not required for binding. Cross-linking of IgE-receptor complexes is required for signal transduction across the plasma membrane.

Segmental flexibility and complement fixation of genetically engineered chimeric human, rabbit and mouse antibodies.

We generated a family of chimeric immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules having identical antigen-combining sites for the dansyl (DNS) hapten, in conjunction with nine heavy chain constant (CH) regions. This family of antibody molecules allows comparison of CH dependent properties independent of possible variable region contributions to IgG function. The segmental flexibility and complement fixation activity were measured of six genetically engineered molecules (the four human IgG isotypes, mouse IgG3 and rabbit IgG) and the remaining three mouse IgG isotypes, (IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b), isolated previously by somatic cell genetic techniques.

Transgenic rabbits with lymphocytic leukemia induced by the c-myc oncogene fused with the immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer.

Transgenic rabbits with the rabbit c-myc oncogene fused with the rabbit immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer region (E mu) DNA were developed by microinjecting pronuclei of single cell zygotes with the gene construct and implanting the microinjected eggs into pseudopregnant females. At age 17-20 days, 3 of 21 offspring born to seven females were found to have peripheral blood leukocyte counts of greater than 100,000 per mm3. Histology analyses showed extensive lymphocytic infiltration in the liver and kidney, indicating that these rabbits had a malignant lymphocytic leukemia.

Genetically engineered immunoglobulins reveal structural features controlling segmental flexibility.

We have carried out nanosecond fluorescence polarization studies of genetically engineered immunoglobulins to determine the structural features controlling their segmental flexibility. The proteins studied were hybrids of a relatively rigid isotype (mouse IgG1) and a relatively flexible one (mouse IgG2a). They have identical light chains and heavy chain variable regions and have the same combining sites for epsilon-dansyl-L-lysine, a fluorescent hapten.

Secretion of a chimeric T-cell receptor-immunoglobulin protein.

To produce sufficient quantities of soluble T-cell receptor protein for detailed biochemical and biophysical analyses we have explored the use of immunoglobulin--T-cell receptor gene fusions. In this report we describe a chimeric gene construct containing a T-cell receptor alpha-chain variable (V) domain and the constant (C) region coding sequences of an immunoglobulin gamma 2a molecule. Cells transfected with the chimeric gene synthesize a stable protein product that expresses immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor antigenic determinants as well as protein A binding sites.

Hybrid immunoglobulin isotypes of identical specificity produced by genetic recombination in Escherichia coli and expression in lymphoid cells.

We have produced a series of hybrid IgG1.IgG2a mouse immunoglobulins with identical light chains (L) and variable regions to facilitate the identification of structural features associated with functional differences between immunoglobulin isotypes. Hybrid heavy chain (H) constant region gene segments were generated by genetic recombination in Escherichia coli between plasmids carrying mouse gamma 1 and gamma 2a gene segments.

Genetically engineered antibody molecules and their application.

Immunoglobulin genes can be efficiently expressed following transfection into myeloma cells. Using protoplast fusion, transfection frequencies greater than 10(-3) can be achieved. Compatible plasmids containing two different selectible markers are used to simultaneously deliver heavy and light chain genes to the same cell.

A human-mouse chimeric immunoglobulin gene with a human variable region is expressed in mouse myeloma cells.

We have constructed and obtained expression of a chimeric human-mouse immunoglobulin gene after transfection into mouse myeloma cells. A human VDJH gene segment was joined to a mouse C kappa gene in the plasmid vector pSV2-gpt, and the construct was transfected into J558L cells by protoplast fusion. Analyses of six transformants by RIA and SDS-PAGE indicated that the chimeric protein was synthesized in large amounts in five.

Chimeric human antibody molecules: mouse antigen-binding domains with human constant region domains.

We have created mouse-human antibody molecules of defined antigen-binding specificity by taking the variable region genes of a mouse antibody-producing myeloma cell line with known antigen-binding specificity and joining them to human immunoglobulin constant region genes using recombinant DNA techniques. Chimeric genes were constructed that utilized the rearranged and expressed antigen-binding variable region exons from the myeloma cell line S107, which produces an IgA (kappa) anti-phosphocholine antibody. The heavy chain variable region exon was joined to human IgG1 or IgG2 heavy chain constant region genes, and the light chain variable region exon from the same myeloma was joined to the human kappa light chain gene.

Expression of a VHC kappa chimaeric protein in mouse myeloma cells.

The heavy (H) and light (L) chains of antibodies consist of variable (V) and constant (C) regions. The V regions of the heavy and light chains form the antibody combining site. To determine whether a V region could be functional when joined to a polypeptide other than its own C region, we constructed a chimaeric gene encoding the V region of a mouse heavy chain and the C region of a mouse kappa light chain ( VHC kappa).

Correlation between segmental flexibility and effector function of antibodies.

Mouse monoclonal anti-dansyl antibodies with the same antigen-binding sites but different heavy chain constant regions were generated. The extent of segmental flexibility in times of nanoseconds and the capacity to fix complement were greatest for IgG2b, intermediate for IgG2a, and least for IgG1 and IgE. Hence, the effector functions of immunoglobulin isotypes may be controlled in part by the freedom of movement of their Fab arms.

A tissue-specific transcription enhancer element is located in the major intron of a rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain gene.

We have studied the DNA sequences required for high level expression of a cloned heavy chain immunoglobulin gene stably introduced into mouse myeloma cells by DNA transfection. We found that DNA sequences derived from the germ line JH-C mu region are required for accurate and efficient transcription from a functionally rearranged VH promoter. Similar to viral transcriptional enhancer elements, these cellular sequences stimulate transcription from either the homologous VH gene segment promoter or a heterologous SV40 promoter.

Localization of murine Igh-1a allotypic determinants by using a panel of mouse myeloma variant immunoglobulins.

A number of monoclonal antibodies are available that are reactive with distinct mouse immunoglobulin allotypic determinants. By determining which ones are present on a panel of hybrid IgG2b-IgG2a immunoglobulins, we have localized some of the allotypic determinants present on the IgG2a heavy chain of the "a" allotype (Igh-1a proteins). In particular, one group of determinants--Ig(1a)9.

Immunoglobulin gene expression in transformed lymphoid cells.

Myeloma, hybridoma, and thymoma cell lines have been successfully transfected for the Escherichia coli xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene (gpt) by using the plasmid vector pSV2-gpt. The transformed cells synthesize the bacterial enzyme 5-phospho-alpha-D-ribose-1-diphosphate:xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (XGPRT; EC 2.4.