Pharmacokinetics and safety of recombinant anti-RhD in healthy RhD-negative male volunteers.

In this first-in-man study, we assessed the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of MonoRho, a human recombinant monoclonal anti-RhD immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody. Eighteen RhD-negative healthy male volunteers were randomized in two groups to receive a single administration of 300 micro g of MonoRho either intravenously or intramuscularly. There were no symptoms of allergic or anaphylactic type reaction in any subject, and there was no evidence of any MonoRho-related changes in laboratory safety parameters. None of the subjects mounted a detectable immune response to MonoRho. Serum samples were obtained up to 91 days after injection to measure anti-D IgG concentrations by flow cytometry. After intramuscular administration of MonoRho, anti-D IgG concentrations gradually increased reaching peak levels after a mean of 3.4 days. After 3 weeks, the mean anti-D IgG concentrations after intravenous and intramuscular administration became virtually equal to each other and remained so thereafter. In both the treatment groups, the mean elimination half-life was about 18 days and thus similar to that described for plasma-derived anti-D IgG. The bioavailability of MonoRho after intramuscular administration was estimated as 46%. The excellent tolerability and safety of MonoRho as well as its expected elimination half-life supports the continued clinical development of this compound.

Reconstituted high density lipoprotein (rHDL) modulates platelet activity in vitro and ex vivo.

A reconstituted high density lipoprotein (rHDL) prepared for clinical use was tested for its influence on platelet activity modulated by various stimuli. In a first series of in vitro experiments, rHDL was added to blood in a concentration series, and platelet rich plasma (PRP) was isolated. Platelets were stimulated with arachidonic acid, collagen, epinephrine or ADP, and platelet aggregation was assessed. rHDL mediated a dose dependent inhibition of the platelet activity. With purified platelets rHDL inhibited the release reaction induced by collagen, but not by thrombin, as measured by CD62P (P-Selectin) expression on the plasma membrane. Ex vivo experiments were performed with PRP from volunteers, previously infused with 25 mg rHDL/kg body weight and 40 mg rHDL/kg body weight, respectively. Platelet activity in PRP was assessed before, and up to 30 h after the end of the rHDL infusion. A transient inhibition of the platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid and collagen was observed which was more pronounced in the group receiving 40 mg rHDL/kg body weight. In both groups of experiments, in vitro and ex vivo, the inhibition of the platelet activity was also dependent on the stimulus used.

Sequence and specificity analysis of recombinant human Fab anti-Rh D isolated by phage display.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hyperimmune anti-Rh D serum is worldwide in short supply. As a first step to develop an alternative source of Rh D antibodies, we describe in this study the isolation and characterization of recombinant anti-Rh D Fab fragments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells harvested from a hyperimmunized donor were used to construct two combinatorial Fab libraries. Phages expressing these Fab fragments were selected on whole red blood cells followed by testing of positive clones in an indirect hemagglutination assay. RESULTS: Individual Fab clones are of high affinity and competitively inhibit the binding of a registered anti-D immunoglobulin. The Fab clones are also specific against the partial D phenotypes, Rh33, DIII, DIVa, DIVb, DVa, and DVII. The 13 different but highly homologous clones express preferentially VH3 segments. CONCLUSION: These Fab fragments show potential for the development of a new generation of therapeutic anti-Rh D reagents.

Reconstituted high density lipoprotein modulates adherence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to human endothelial cells.

A reconstituted high density lipoprotein (rHDL) containing human apolipoprotein A-I and phosphatidylcholine was tested for its ability to modify polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) adherence to endothelial cells (EC) in vitro. EC stimulation for 4 h with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) resulted in a four- to sixfold increase in PMN adherence. Concomitant stimulation of EC with LPS and rHDL virtually prevented the LPS-stimulated increase in PMN adherence. Changes in adherence were paralleled by alterations in adhesion molecule expression of EC. Concomitant EC stimulation with LPS and rHDL resulted in complete inhibition of the LPS-stimulated increase in expression of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). In contrast, rHDL reduced the TNF alpha-induced expression of adhesion molecules as well as the PMN adherence to TNF alpha-stimulated EC by approximately 10%. The CD11/CD18-mediated PMN adherence to EC as a consequence of PMN stimulation with calcium ionophore (A23187) was diminished in the presence of rHDL after 7 min incubation by 36.1 +/- 11.4% and after 15 min incubation by 45.1 +/- 7.4%. In addition, the A23187-stimulated increase in PMN adherence to fibrinogen-coated surfaces, mediated by CD11b/CD18, was virtually eliminated in the presence of rHDL and HDL, but not in the presence of apolipoprotein A-I or natural low density lipoprotein. FACS analysis showed that PMN treated with rHDL and subsequently washed were resistant to FMLP-induced CD11b/ CD18 up-regulation. In conclusion, these data indicate that rHDL decreases cell adhesion via two mechanisms: blocking LPS activity and modifying CD11b/CD18 up-regulation on PMN.

Participation of the blood platelet in immune reactions due to platelet-complement interaction.

OBJECTIVE: Review of different aspects of the primary interaction of complement with blood platelets in immunological reactions and the effect on platelet activation in healthy people and patients. DATA SOURCES AND SELECTION CRITERIA: Relevant original papers and review articles mainly of the English-written literature. RESULTS: Besides their major role in hemostasis and wound healing, blood platelets are involved in immunological reactions. They are not only able to interact with IgG through Fc receptors (FcR), they also react with complement components. This review summarizes interactions of complement with mainly human platelets. Such interactions may occur through complement receptors of the plasma membrane (e.g. C1q receptor, complement receptors 2 and 4), but also in a receptor-independent way including activation of the platelet by the membrane attack complex of complement C5b-9. In addition, activation of complement at the surface of the platelets may be induced after binding of anti-platelet antibodies to membrane glycoproteins (e.g. GpIIb/IIIa, GpIb/IX) or after binding of platelet-nonspecific immune complexes via FcR. Complement activation in turn may be regulated by various means including specific plasma or membrane proteins [e.g. decay-accelerating factor (DAF), membrane cofactor protein (MCP), membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis (MIRL), C8-binding protein (C8bp, homologous restriction factor hrf)]. As a further way of self-protection against complement attack, platelets may actively release C5b-9, deposited at the surface as C5b-9-enriched membrane vesicles. CONCLUSIONS: Two lines of interaction of platelet with complement can be distinguished. On the one hand, platelets are equipped with membrane proteins which protect them from complement attack against themselves. On the other hand, membrane receptors for activated complement components as well as for IgG are expressed on the surface, which enable the platelet to intervene in immunological reactions. This property varies between platelets of different species and needs further investigation also in view of the platelet as an intersection between immunology and hemostasis.

Human serum induced opsonization of immunoglobulin G-coated polystyrene microspheres with complement components C3 and C4 as measured by flow cytometry.

Human IgG-coated polystyrene microspheres (IgG-ms) were incubated with human serum followed by biotinylated monoclonal anti-C3d or anti-C4d antibody, and phycoerythrin-streptavidin. The intensity of fluorescence was measured by flow cytometry and corresponds to the amount of deposited C3 and C4. Binding of C3 and C4 was dependent on the activation of the classical pathway of complement and on the amount of IgG adsorbed to the particles. No deposition was observed on control particles coated with bovine serum albumin or ovalbumin. Incubation of constant amounts of IgG-ms with increasing amounts of normal human serum (NHS) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in C3 deposition. The same result was found for C4 deposition at moderate NHS dilutions, but less C4 was detectable using a higher input of NHS. Half-maximum C3 and C4 deposition was observed at a mean serum dilution of 1/114 and 1/520, respectively (n = 26). No correlation was found between C4 or C3 deposition and either total C4 and C3 serum concentrations as measured by nephelometry or complement-mediated lysis of antibody-coated sheep red blood cells. Reduced or absent C4 or C3 deposition was found in the sera of patients with low amounts or deficiencies of components involved early in classical complement pathway activation whereas essentially normal C4 or C3 deposition was obtained with the sera of patients with deficiencies in components of the membrane attack complex. With this simple and specific functional assay using stable reagents an altered function of early components of the classical pathway of complement may be quickly and reliably detected in routine diagnostic laboratories. Moreover, such opsonized and well characterized particles may be useful in assays of phagocytic cell function.

Interferon-gamma treatment impairs Fc receptor type II-mediated phagocytosis of human macrophages by a post-receptor-binding mechanism.

The influence of priming by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on FcR expression and function was investigated with human monocyte-derived macrophages. As a ligand specifically interacting with FcRII, bovine IgG1-coated erythrocytes (Bo1-EA) were used. The uptake of these particles by human monocytes and macrophages could be inhibited with anti-FcRII. Moreover, macrophages representing the phenotype that fails to interact with murine IgG1, as revealed in an anti-CD3 IgG1-driven T-cell proliferation assay, had a low avidity for Bo1-EA, and Bo1-EA-macrophage interaction could not be inhibited by anti-FcRII in these cells. Thus, anti-Leu-4 non-responsiveness in a T-cell stimulation assay is associated with an inability of FcRII to interact with bovine IgG1. An influence of IFN-gamma priming on FcRII expression and function was studied, therefore, in anti-Leu-4 responders (bovine IgG1 high responders in the phagocytosis test, susceptible to anti-FcRII treatment). IFN-gamma-primed macrophages from such donors displayed a markedly reduced phagocytosis of Bo1-EA. This reduction was observed both with adherent and with suspended macrophages This type of modulation was not due to a reduced expression of FcRII, nor due to a reduced avidity of expressed FcR to its ligand, as revealed by flow cytometric and rosetting analysis. Since phagocytosis of latex particles and of tanned erythrocytes is little influenced by IFN-gamma priming, our data suggest that IFN-gamma affects FcRII-mediated phagocytosis by a post-receptor-binding mechanism.

Effect of IgG for intravenous use on Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis by human monocytes.

Polyspecific IgG given intravenously at high doses (IVIG) is used for immunomodulatory therapy in autoimmune diseases such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and myasthenia gravis. It is assumed that the clinical effect is brought about in part by a modulation of mononuclear phagocyte function, in particular by an inhibition of Fc receptor (FcR) mediated phagocytosis. In the present study, the effect of IVIG on FcR-mediated phagocytosis by monocytes was analysed in vitro. Since monocytes exposed to minute amounts of surface-bound IgG displayed impaired phagocytosis of IgG-coated erythrocytes (EA), the effect of IVIG was studied with mononuclear cells suspended in teflon bags in medium containing 10% autologous serum and IVIG (2-10 mg/ml). Monocytes pre-exposed to IVIG and then washed, displayed impaired ingestion of EA when compared with control cells cultured in 10% autologous serum only. The decrease in phagocytosis was observed with sheep erythrocytes treated with either rabbit IgG or bovine IgG1 and with anti-D-treated human erythrocytes. This suggests that phagocytosis via both FcR type I (FcRI) and type II (FcRII) was decreased. The impairment of phagocytosis was dependent on the presence of intact IgG and was mediated by IVIG from nulliparous donors and from multigravidae to the same extent, suggesting that alloantibodies contained in IVIG have a minor role in modulating FcR-mediated phagocytosis by monocytes. A flow cytometric analysis using anti-FcRI, FcRII and FcRII monoclonal antibodies showed that IVIG treatment upregulated FcRI expression but did not significantly alter the expression of FcRII and FcRIII.

Human monocytes CD36 and CD16 are signaling molecules. Evidence from studies using antibody-induced chemiluminescence as a tool to probe signal transduction.

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against human monocyte surface antigens was tested for their capacity to mediate signal transduction by measuring luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL). The response patterns fell into three categories. The mAb Mo4, OKM3, OKM6 and antibodies specific for Fc receptor (FcR) type I and II did not mediate signal transduction directly or were weak triggers, but upon second-order cross-linking by goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin (Ig) F(ab')2 or rabbit anti-mouse Ig, a strong CL response was induced. The mAb recognizing different epitopes on CD11b (complement receptor type III alpha chain) were unique in their ability to induce a CL response either by direct stimulation or by second-order cross-linking. The mAb 3G8 recognizing FcR type III (FcRIII; CD16) on a monocyte subpopulation and CD36-specific monoclonals directly elicited a CL response. A response of similar magnitude was obtained with 3G8 F(ab')2 or with intact 3G8. Furthermore, elutriation-centrifugation-purified monocytes were stimulated by 3G8 to a similar extent as unseparated mononuclear cells, whereas lymphocytes did not respond. This suggests that a FcRIII-expressing monocyte subpopulation may mediate effector functions, including the generation of reactive oxygen species, via FcRIII triggering. Our finding that anti-CD36 F(ab')2 directly induces an oxidative burst is the first evidence that CD36 itself is a trigger molecule. CD36, which is thought to interact with erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum and with thrombospondin, may constitute a signal-transducing element and thus may have functions extending beyond mediation of adherence. The present CL system constitutes a simple assay for detecting mAb directed against monocyte surface signalling elements. Probing mAb for signal transduction requires suspended cells and antibodies in the fluid phase in order to avoid inadvertent FcR triggering, which may occur when cells are stimulated by surface-adherent whole antibodies.

Quantification of complement receptor 1 on erythrocytes: follow-up of HIV-1-infected patients with AIDS-related complex/Walter-Reed 5 under treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin. The ARC-IVIG Study Group.

A sensitive flow-cytometric method was established to quantify the number of complement receptor 1 (CR1, C3b/C4b receptor, CD35) on the surface of purified erythrocytes of 12 patients infected by HIV-1 and showing two clinical AIDS-related complex/Walter-Reed 5 criteria. Erythrocytes were incubated with biotinylated monoclonal anti-CR1 antibody followed by phycoerythrin-streptavidin before analysis on a flow cytometer. As few as 50 binding sites/cell could be detected, making this method as sensitive as a radioimmunoassay with 125I anti-CR1. Seven of the patients studied received an immunoglobulin preparation suitable for intravenous use during the 6 months of the study, 5 got an equal amount of placebo preparation consisting of human serum albumin. For a year, erythrocytes were collected and purified every 3 months, frozen and stored at -70 degrees C until the end of the study, when the number of CR1 was determined. No difference between the two groups of patients was found. In 8 patients, small fluctuations of the amount of CR1/erythrocyte were seen during the period of observation, whereas in 4 of the patients a drop of the number of CR1 was observed towards the end of the study. No correlation was found between CR1 numbers on erythrocytes and circulating immune complexes, CH50, C3 and C4 concentrations or CD4-positive lymphocytes.

Synergistic interaction between complement receptor type 2 and membrane IgM on B lymphocytes.

We sought biochemical evidence for a role of C receptors types 1 (CR1) and 2 (CR2) in B cell activation. A flow cytometer was used to measure the fluorescence of tonsillar cells that had been loaded with the calcium-dependent indicator indo-1, and cells were stimulated by cross-linking cell-bound DA4.4 anti-IgM, Yz-1 anti-CR1 or HB5 anti-CR2 with goat anti-mouse IgG. There was a direct dose-response relationship between the proportion of cells having increased cytoplasmic free calcium concentration (Cai) after addition of second antibody and the amount of cell-bound Fab' DA4.4. In contrast, no rise in Cai was observed after cross-linking bound Yz-1 or HB5. To determine whether CR1 or CR2 could modify the increase in Cai induced by cross-linking membrane IgM, Cai was monitored after addition of second antibody to cells bearing combinations of either Yz-1 or HB5 with a limited amount of DA4.4. The combination of Yz-1 with DA4.4 yielded little or no further increase in the percentage of cells responding to cross-linking with elevated Cai compared with DA4.4 alone. However, the combination of HB5 with limited DA4.4 synergistically enhanced this response, resulting in stimulation that was equivalent to that obtained with optimal concentrations of DA4.4. The synergistic effect of CR2 was also observed with avidin as the cross-linking reagent for bound biotinylated HB5 and DA4.4, occurred in the presence of EGTA, and did not require T cells. Studies of the proliferation of B cell-enriched PBMC demonstrated that, whereas HB5 coupled to Sepharose alone induced little or no DNA synthesis, the combination of HB5 with limited DA4.4 on Sepharose induced a dose-related synergistic increase in the incorporation of [3H]thymidine.

Fibronectin-mediated inhibition of human platelet activation by crosslinked immunoglobulin G.

The effect of purified human plasma fibronectin on stimulation of human platelets with crosslinked immunoglobulin G (IgG) was tested by means of aggregometry, 14C-serotonin release and fibronectin-to-platelet binding experiments. Incremental additions of fibronectin to gel-filtered platelets (8 X 10(8)/ml) followed by 25 micrograms/ml bisdiazoniumbenzidine (BDB)-crosslinked IgG produced a dose-related inhibition of platelet aggregation and suppression of 14C-serotonin release from the platelets. Evidence was obtained that upon stimulation of the platelets with BDB-IgG, fibronectin becomes bound to its receptor and that further platelet activation is inhibited when a sufficient number of receptors is occupied.

Platelet-leukocyte interaction: selective binding of thrombin-stimulated platelets to human monocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and related cell lines.

The association of platelets with leukocytes was investigated, using gel-filtered platelets stimulated with thrombin and then fixed with formaldehyde. Evidence is presented that stimulation of gel-filtered platelets with low concentrations of thrombin (0.01 to 0.1 U/mL) induces the expression of surface determinants interacting strongly with monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) but only weakly with lymphocytes. Both monocyte-platelet binding and PMN-platelet binding occurred at 37 degrees C and more intensively at 0 degrees C; it was Ca2+-dependent and was unaffected by the addition of sodium azide. The binding also occurred with the monocytoid cell lines HL 60 and U 937 in exponential growth and was much less two days after induction of terminal differentiation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). No other tested cell lines (B cells, T cells, and myeloid cells) bound thrombin-stimulated platelets. Monocyte-derived macrophages kept in culture for one week also exhibited reduced binding of thrombin-stimulated platelets. IgG and fibronectin could be ruled out as ligands that mediate binding.

Part of the activating cross-linked immunoglobulin G is internalized by human platelets to sites not accessible for enzymatic digestion.

The differential uptake of tritium-labeled immunoglobulin G (IgG) cross-linked with bisdiazonium-benzidine (BDB) (3H-BDB-IgG) by washed, pooled human platelets to sites inaccessible to pronase digestion was tested. Up to 52% of the 3H-BDB-IgG associated with platelets at 37 degrees C resisted pronase treatment, whereas only 23% of the cross-linked IgG associated with platelets at 4 degrees C, or at 37 degrees C but in the presence of deoxyglucose/antimycin A, remained refractory to pronase. This effect was not due to platelet agglutination. Pronase resistance reached a maximum after a 60-minute incubation period at 37 degrees C. With increasing 3H-BDB-IgG input, both the total cross-linked IgG associated with platelets and the fraction resistant to pronase digestion approached saturation at 4 degrees C, but not at 37 degrees C. The proportion of 3H-BDB-IgG bound to platelets at 4 degrees C that was resistant to pronase treatment increased by 13% within five minutes of warming the platelets to 37 degrees C. Pretreatment of platelets with 10 mmol/L acetylsalicylic acid (or 10 mumol/L prostaglandin E1) prior to the addition of 3H-BDB-IgG led to a 74% (95%) inhibition of the 3H-BDB-IgG-induced 14C-serotonin release, but to only a 44% (49%) inhibition of pronase-digestible bound ligand. In contrast, pretreatment with 10 mumol/L cytochalasin B led to a mere 17% reduction of 14C-serotonin release, whereas acquisition of resistance to pronase digestion by the bound 3H-BDB-IgG was inhibited by 90%. Incubation of platelets at 37 degrees C with 3H-BDB-IgG and removal of unbound material prior to the addition of prostaglandin E1 or deoxyglucose/antimycin A had little effect on the susceptibility of platelet-associated 3H-BDB-IgG to pronase, whereas the addition of cytochalasin B to 3H-BDB-IgG-treated platelets resulted in greatly increased susceptibility of the platelet-associated ligand to pronase. Thus, after binding, 3H-BDB-IgG becomes transferred in an energy-dependent process to pronase-resistant cellular sites, most likely to the open canalicular system.

Immunoglobulin-mediated shifting of immune complexes to increased complement-dependent solubility and immunoadherence.

The effect of a monomeric polyclonal polyspecific IgG preparation (mIgG) for i.v. use on the capacity of fresh normal human serum (NHS) to inhibit precipitation of immune complexes of tracer-labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA) and anti-BSA (aBSA) rabbit antibody was investigated. Relative to heat-inactivated serum which showed no capacity to inhibit immune complex precipitation (CIICP), fresh NHS at a final dilution of 1:3 or 1:2 showed a 12 and 46% CIICP, respectively, with a BSA:aBSA ratio at equivalence. Addition of incremental amounts of mIgG dose-dependently enhanced CIICP of NHS to reach 63 and 90%, respectively, at a concn of 13.0 mg/ml mIgG. Human serum albumin instead of mIgG had no influence on CIICP of NHS indicating that the phenomenon was not dependent on non-specific protein-protein interactions. Although minimal amounts of BSA cross-reactivity could be demonstrated in mIgG, the extent of this activity was too small to explain the CIICP-supporting effect of mIgG as determined by comparing the effect of mIgG and aBSA serum on CIICP of fresh serum. Furthermore, absorption of mIgG on BSA-Sepharose did not lead to impairment of its CIICP-supporting effect. A direct binding of tritium-labeled mIgG (3H-mIgG) to either insoluble BSA:aBSA complexes or latex-bound IgG (IgG-latex) was found. Incubation of 2.7 micrograms 3H-mIgG with 90 micrograms IgG-latex resulted in a specific binding of 5.2% of the labeled compound. Such binding could be inhibited by unlabeled mIgG. Binding of mIgG was mediated through the Fab as well as the Fc part of the molecules: the 3H-Fc as well as the 3H-Fab fragment of mIgG bound to IgG-latex. The extent of binding of Fc was more than twice that of Fab and amounted to 70-90% of the binding found with intact mIgG. In an immune adherence hemagglutination system that depends on the interaction of complement-reacted immune complexes with C3b receptor-bearing erythrocytes, evidence was obtained that the mIgG preparation facilitated fixation of C3b to performed BSA:aBSA complexes. Addition of 1.45 mg/ml mIgG reduced the quantity of antigen-complexed C3b-bearing aBSA antibodies required to show a given agglutination by a factor of 3-4. We conclude that the facilitating effect of high doses of mIgG on complement-dependent CIICP of NHS and on immune adherence hemagglutination is the amplifying effect of complement after an initial interaction of antigen-nonspecific polyclonal polyspecific IgG with antigen-reacted antibody.

Control of the immune complex-complement interaction by protein H of the alternative complement pathway and the natural inhibitor heparin.

The potential of the negative regulatory protein H of the alternative complement pathway convertase and of heparin in modulating the complement-dependent capacity of fresh serum to inhibit immune complex precipitation (CIICP) between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and rabbit anti-BSA as well as tetanus toxoid (TT) and human anti-TT was assessed. Additions of purified H to serum to increase the intrinsic concentration of this protein by 80% (BSA-anti-BSA system) and 190% (TT-anti-TT system) resulted in an inhibition of CIICP by 50% and 60%, respectively, whereas further increase of the amount of H lead to a decrease of its inhibitory activity. A similar effect was observed with heparin: at a concentration of 400 U/ml a 90% inhibition of CIICP in the TT-anti-TT system was obtained which diminished at higher heparin concentrations. The effect of H on C3 deposition to immune aggregates was assessed through its influence on C3b-mediated immune adherence hemagglutination; factor H dose-dependently suppressed such hemagglutination induced by aggregated human IgG or preformed TT-anti-TT complexes when added to the immune complex-fresh serum mixture at the outset but not after 45 min of the 37 degrees C incubation period which means that H inhibited more likely decoration of immune complexes with C3b than it did inhibit the interaction of C3b-coated immune complexes with erythrocytes. This suppressive effect of H was reversed by the simultaneous addition of the activating protein B. Complement-mediated binding of tritiated C3 to latex-bound human IgG was assessed and H was found to dose-dependently inhibit such binding with a maximal inhibition of 37% at a H concentration of 7 micrograms/ml.

The calcium-dependent neutral protease of human blood platelets: a comparison of its effects on the receptors for von Willebrand factor and for the Fc-fragment derived from IgG.

Glycocalicin (Gc) is the large, water soluble fragment, obtained by cleavage of one of the major membrane glycoproteins, GP Ib, of human platelets by means of the endogenous, calcium-dependent neutral protease (CNP) obtained from lysed platelets. GP Ib has been proposed as the receptor for von Willebrand factor (vWF) as well as for the Fc-receptor of the platelet surface. We have investigated, whether Gc was involved in a receptor function for aggregated human IgG, which is a powerful activator of platelets. Neither Gc nor asialo-Gc inhibited the stimulation of human blood platelets by bisdiazoniumbenzidine-aggregated human IgG (BDB-IgG). Moreover, platelets, after treatment with a crude preparation of CNP, which removes Gc, could be stimulated by BDB-IgG as well as or better than control platelets, but were unreactive with bovine vWF. We conclude that the Gc-moiety of GP Ib, which is involved in the bovine vWF binding site, is not the Fc-receptor on platelets. Thus, the inhibition, by human or rabbit IgG aggregates or monomeric rabbit IgG, of vWF-induced platelet agglutination, as reported by other authors, is either due to a steric effect resulting from a vicinal position of both receptors or involves the residual part of GP Ib after cleavage of Gc.

[Binding of IgG and its aggregates to human platelets can be made saturable by using deoxyglucose and antimycin A]. / Die Bindung von IgG und Aggregaten davon an menschliche Thrombozyten kann durch Verwendung von Deoxyglucose und Antimycin A zur Sättigung gebracht werden.

Binding of bisdiazoniumbenzidine cross-linked (BDB) and monomeric IgG to washed human platelets at 37 degrees C was assessed. Metabolic inhibitors and prostaglandin E1 permitted study of partially reversible and saturable binding of the ligands to platelets: in presence of 0.25 microM antimycin A and 6 mM deoxyglucose, maximal binding of 3H-BDB-IgG (10 min, 37 degrees C) was 0.52 fg per platelet and of 3H-IgG (20 min, 37 degrees C) 0.13 fg per platelet. In presence of 6 mM glucose, however, the amount of IgG bound per platelet was higher and not saturable. These findings suggest that IgG is actively engulfed by the platelets.

Surface labeling of human platelets by reductive methylation.

A simple, reproducible method for the specific labeling of the surface proteins of human platelets with tritium is described. The labeled platelets were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) followed by fluorography and the results compared with those obtained by conventional methods. Reductive methylation gave an intense labeling of membrane glycoproteins. There was no cross-linking of the labeled membrane proteins by formaldehyde nor could clear evidence be found that inner proteins were labeled by permeation of the reagents through the plasma membrane. As well as previously described platelet membrane glycoproteins, several others could be detected that were not invariable seen using labeling techniques.