Immunization with lentivirus-like particles elicits a potent SIV-specific recall cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response in rhesus monkeys.

An effective acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) vaccine should be capable of eliciting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses. We have explored the use of lentivirus-like particles produced in mammalian cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus to immunize for the induction of CTL in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)/rhesus monkey model for AIDS. SIV-like particles in a threonyl-MDP-based adjuvant did not elicit a high frequency of SIV gag-specific effector cells in naive rhesus monkeys.

Circulating heavy IgM in IgM nephropathy.

IgM nephropathy (IgMN) causes nephrotic syndrome and is characterized by IgM mesangial deposits. It is speculated that these deposits are derived from circulating IgM aggregates or immune complexes, either of which would have a molecular weight heavier than that of normal IgM. To test this hypothesis the sera of 11 patients with IgMN, five patients with nephrotic syndrome of other etiologies, and 13 normal controls were analysed for such heavy IgM.

Lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity: assessment of cytotoxic reactivity following challenge with syngeneic tumors.

Spleen cells from syngeneic tumor-bearing mice were examined for direct cell-mediated cytotoxicity (DCMC) and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC). In the DCMC assay specific cytotoxicity against the homologous tumor cell was assessed. In the LDCC assay cytotoxicity was nonspecifically assessed against EL-4 cells in the presence of concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin.

Circulating immune complexes in unselected patients admitted to the medical service of a general hospital.

The platelet aggregation test was used to detect circulating immune complexes (CIC) in 567 patients admitted to a general hospital. One hundred and fourteen or 20.1% had positive tests compared to seven or 5.

In vitro lysis of tumor cells by antibody and complement: detection of antibody with low cytotoxic reactivity.

The factors affecting the in vitro lysis of PARA-7 tumor cells mediated by antibody and complement were examined with the use of the 51Cr-release assay. The addition of immune syngeneic hamster antisera (HA) to 51Cr-labeled PARA-7 target cells 30 minutes before the addition of guinea pig complement (GPC) failed to produce significant levels of lysis. Similarly, the addition of rabbit anti-PARA-7 serum (RAS) 30 minutes prior to the addition of GPC resulted in low levels of lysis.