Antichagasic effect of hemocyanin derived from antimicrobial peptides of penaeus monodon shrimp.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is responsible for the infection of millions of people worldwide and it is a public health problem, without an effective cure. Four fragments with antimicrobial potential from the hemocyanin of Penaeus monodon shrimp were identified using a computer software AMPA. The present study aimed to evaluate the antichagasic effect of these four peptides (Hmc364-382, Hmc666-678, Hmc185-197 and Hmc476-498). The peptides were tested against the epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain (benznidazole-resistant strain) and cytotoxicity in mammalian cells was evaluated against LLC-MK2 lineage cells. Two fragments (Hmc364-382, Hmc666-678) showed activity against the epimastigote and trypomastigote forms and their selectivity index (SI) was calculated. The Hmc364-382 peptide was considered the most promising (SI > 50) one and it was used for further studies, using flow cytometry analyses with specific molecular probes and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hmc364-382 was able to induce cell death in T. cruzi through necrosis, observed by loss of membrane integrity in flow cytometry analyses and pore formation in SEM. Overall, Hmc364-382 open perspectives to the development of new antichagasic agents.

Biophysical Properties and Cytotoxicity of Feruloylated Helix Lucorum Hemocyanin.

For the first time Helix lucorum hemocyanin (HlH) has been feruloylated. Two HlH conjugates with 40- and 120- ferulic acid residues were prepared, denoted as FA-HlH-1 and FA-HlH-2. Expectedly, the feruloylation of HlH induced a rearrangement of the protein molecule, a decrease in the ?-helical structure at the expense of ß-structures was observed. Besides, the FA-HlH conjugates were more prone to aggregation, which is probably due to the stabilization of the partially unfolded protein molecules by non-covalent bonding. Interestingly, the thermal stability of HlH was not affected by the modification. The native and feruloylated HlH were not toxic to normal fibroblasts (BJ cells). We observed a decrease in cell viability of breast cancer MCF-7 cells to about 66% after a 48h exposure to 70 µg/well of FA-HlH-2.

Improvement and optimization of a T-cell-dependent antibody response (TDAR) method for BALB/c mice using keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) as specific antigen.

Although T-cell-dependent antibody response (TDAR) assays with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) as specific antigen have many advantages, most experiments produce qualitative results based on antibody titers. It was hypothesized that if experimental conditions (like antigen coating concentration, serum dilution, and detecting [here, horseradish peroxidase-goat anti-mouse IgG] antibody dilution) could be optimized, the resulting measured value (here, optical density) could be used to directly analyze and evaluate the experimental results. This means specifically that the assay OD values could be used for approximate quantitative statistical analysis; it does not require a further conversion of the data into qualitative forms or require obtaining further titer data from additional experiments. As such, the use of this "improved" assay would: greatly reduce the complexity of experimental operations; improve overall sensitivity and practicality of traditional TDAR assays; and, allow for direct assessing of any immunosuppression caused by a test drug in a host. Here, KLH-immunized serum was obtained from BALB/c mice, and the means to detect serum anti-KLH antibodies by an indirect ELISA were optimized. The results indicated that in this system, the optimal KLH coating concentration was 80 µg/ml, the optimal dilution range of the serum (at immunization dose of 5 mg KLH/kg) was 1:200-1:800, and the optimal dilution of HRP-goat anti-mouse IgG antibody was 1:16,000. Methodology verification was performed and a regression model of y = 144.16x + 0.9815 (R2 = 0.9571, indicating very good linearity) was obtained. Intragroup precision was 7.51-9.40%; the intergroup coefficient of variation was 9.83-14.22%. The lower limit of detection was 0.1385. The present results showed this indirect ELISA exhibited very good linearity, accuracy, and precision.

Prevention of trauma-induced cochlear fibrosis using intracochlear application of anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative drugs.

Cochlear fibrosis is a common finding following cochlear implantation. Evidence suggests that cochlear fibrosis could be triggered by inflammation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal cell transition (EMT). In this study, we investigate the mechanisms of cochlear fibrosis and the risk/benefit ratio of local administration of the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone (DEX) and antimitotic drug aracytine (Ara-C). Cochlear fibrosis was evaluated in cochlear fibrosis models of rat cochlear slices in vitro and in KLH-induced immune labyrinthitis and platinum wire cochlear implantation-induced fibrosis in vivo. Cochleae were invaded with tissue containing fibroblastic cells expressing α-SMA (alpha smooth muscle actin), which along with collagen I, fibronectin, and laminin in the extracellular matrix, suggests the involvement of a fibrotic process triggered by EMT in vitro and in vivo. After perilymphatic injection of an adenoviral vector expressing GFP in vivo, we demonstrated that the fibroblastic cells derived from the mesothelial cells of the scalae tympani and vestibuli. Activation of inflammatory and EMT pathways was further assessed by ELISA analysis of the expression of IL-1ß and TGF-ß1. Both markers were elevated in vitro and in vivo, and DEX and Ara-C were able to reduce IL-1ß and TGF-ß1 production. After 5days of culture in vitro, quantification of calcein-positive cells revealed that Ara-C was 30-fold more efficient in preventing fibrosis, and provoked less sensory hair cell loss, than DEX. In KLH-induced immune labyrinthitis and platinum wire-implanted models, Ara-C was more efficient in preventing proliferation of fibrosis with less side effects on hair cells and neurons than DEX. In conclusion, DEX and Ara-C both prevent fibrosis in the cochlea. Analysis of the risk/benefit ratio favors the use of Ara-C for preventing cochlear fibrosis.

Pilot study of a heptavalent vaccine-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate plus QS21 in patients with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer.

PURPOSE: To characterize the safety and immunogenicity of a heptavalent antigen-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) plus QS21 vaccine construct in patients with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer in second or greater complete clinical remission. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Eleven patients in this pilot trial received a heptavalent vaccine s.c. containing GM2 (10 microg), Globo-H (10 microg), Lewis Y (10 microg), Tn(c) (3 microg), STn(c) (3 microg), TF(c) (3 microg), and Tn-MUC1 (3 microg) individually conjugated to KLH and mixed with adjuvant QS21(100 microg). Vaccinations were administered at weeks 1, 2, 3, 7, and 15. Periodic blood and urine samples were obtained to monitor safety (complete blood count, comprehensive panel, amylase, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and urinalysis) and antibody production (ELISA, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and complement-dependent cytotoxicity). RESULTS: Eleven patients were included in the safety analysis; 9 of 11 patients remained on study for at least 2 weeks past fourth vaccination and were included in the immunologic analysis (two withdrew, disease progression). The vaccine was well tolerated. Self-limited and mild fatigue (maximum grade 2 in two patients), fever, myalgia, and localized injection site reactions were most frequent. No clinically relevant hematologic abnormalities were noted. No clinical or laboratory evidence of autoimmunity was seen. Serologic responses by ELISA were largely IgM against each antigen with the exception of Tn-MUC1 where both IgM and IgG responses were induced. Antibody responses were generally undetectable before immunization. After immunization, median IgM titers were as follows: Tn-MUC1, 1:640 (IgG 1:80); Tn, 1:160; TF, 1:640; Globo-H, 1:40; and STn, 1:80. Only one response was seen against Lewis Y; two were against GM2. Eight of nine patients developed responses against at least three antigens. Antibody titers peaked at weeks 4 to 8 in all patients. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting and complement-dependent cytotoxicity analysis showed substantially increased reactivity against MCF7 cells in seven of nine patients, with some increase seen in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: This heptavalent-KLH conjugate plus QS21 vaccine safely induced antibody responses against five of seven antigens. Investigation in an adequately powered efficacy trial is warranted.

Design and evaluation of immunotoxicity studies.

The evaluation of potential adverse effects of pharmaceuticals on the immune system is part of the standard drug development procedures and needs to be available prior to the start of phase III clinical trials. Although the histopathological assessment of lymphoid organs/tissues is considered fundamental for the identification and characterization of immunotoxic reactions, additional investigations are now recommended by the European guidelines for repeated-dose toxicity testing of medicinal products in order to achieve an accurate assessment of immune system functionality with regard to immunomodulation. In the present paper, we describe and discuss a study design which permits the investigation of the immune function in a 4-week study in rats following immunization by subcutaneous administration of the T-dependent antigen Keyhole Limpet Hemocynin (KLH). This includes assessment of hematology parameters, titration of KLH-specific antibodies in serum, lymphocyte immunophenotyping in blood, thymus, spleen and lymph nodes, macroscopic pathology and histopathological evaluation of the lymphatic organs/tissues and of the injection sites.

Immunologic effects of cocaine in prenatally exposed rats and mice.

The immunotoxicity of prenatal cocaine exposure was investigated using Sprague-Dawley rats and C57B1/6 mice. Pregnant animals were injected twice a day with cocaine or saline from gestation day 5 until the day before parturition. The immune system of the rat offspring was evaluated at 8 weeks of age by measuring the antibody response to SRBC (plaque assay and serum IgM), delayed-type hypersensitivity response to KLH, and lymphocyte subpopulations in the spleen and thymus using flow cytometry. The immune system of the mice offspring was evaluated at 4 weeks of age by measuring spleen cell proliferation in response to KLH, LPS, and alphaCD3 and IgG production to KLH. From the differences observed between cocaine exposed animals and controls, we conclude that prenatal cocaine exposure does not cause lasting detrimental effects on the immune system, but instead, may enhance B-cell responsiveness.

Induction and prevention of colonic inflammation in IL-2-deficient mice.

Gene-targeted mice deficient for IL-2 (IL-2 -/- mice) are free of apparent disease when maintained under germfree conditions but develop colitis and autoimmunity in a conventional environment. Here we show that colitis can be reproducibly induced in IL-2 -/- mice, but not in IL-2 +/+ mice, by i.p. immunization with Ag in CFA; thus enabling the systematic study of the immunopathogenesis of the colitis. We found that TNP-KLH or TNP-OVA had the most significant effect in inducing colitis, and while TNP-KLH immunization leads to the early appearance of activated T cells in the colons of both IL-2 -/- and IL-2 +/+ mice, only lamina propria cells of IL-2 -/- mice produced high amounts of INF-gamma. Moreover, both infiltrating colon CD4+ (69%) and CD8+ (6%) T cells secrete large amounts of IFN-gamma; however, only the depletion of CD4+ T cells leads to abrogation of the inflammation. In further analysis, we showed that the high IFN-gamma production is IL-12 driven, since colonic tissues of IL-2 -/- mice but not IL-2 +/+ mice show the presence of heterodimeric IL-12 and co-administration of anti-IL-12 with TNP-KLH completely prevented colitis and significantly reduced IFN-gamma production. Finally, we demonstrate that IL-2 -/- mice are deficient in their ability to induce Th2 responses after TNP-KLH challenge and that such immunization also leads to autoimmune-like phenomena in other organs of IL-2 -/- mice. These findings suggest that in the absence of IL-2 systemic administration of Ag induces primarily Th1 cells driven by overexpression of heterodimeric IL-12.

Immunotherapy with keyhole limpet hemocyanin: efficacy and safety in the MB-49 intravesical murine bladder tumor model.

The antitumor activity and potential toxicity of a clinical-grade keyhole limpet hemocyanin preparation (KLH-Immune Activator; KLH-IA) were determined in the MB-49 intravesical murine bladder tumor model. Mice were immunized subcutaneously with KLH-IA two weeks prior to intravesical implantation of MB-49 tumor cells. Treatment consisted of intravesical KLH-IA (10 or 100 micrograms.) 1, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after implantation. Control animals either were not immunized prior to tumor implantation and KLH-IA treatment, or were immunized with KLH-IA and treated with the vehicle. By 4 weeks after implantation tumor outgrowth in the treated groups was significantly decreased (p < 0.01, Fisher's Exact) relative to the control groups. Prior subcutaneous immunization was required to elicit antitumor activity of KLH-IA; thus, the mechanism of action is immune-mediated and not due to spurious interference with tumor implantation by intravesical instillations. Animals treated with a dissociated form of KLH exhibited decreased tumor outgrowth approaching, but not attaining, significance (p < 0.09, Fisher's Exact). A separate toxicity study in which KLH-IA was given subcutaneously (4 mg./kg.), intraperitoneally (40 mg./kg.), or intravesically (40 mg./kg.) disclosed no significant gross or histopathologic abnormalities except for mild-to-moderate papillary hyperplasia in all catheterized animals. These results establish the efficacy and safety of KLH-IA in mice and suggest that clinical trials for intravesical treatment of superficial bladder cancer may be warranted.

Cytokine-induced suppression and potentiation of hapten-specific immediate hypersensitivity responses.

The ability of subcutaneously (s.c.) injected cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IFN alpha, IFN gamma, GMCSF) to regulate the induction of hapten-specific immediate hypersensitivity (IH) responses was studied in BPO-KLH (benzylpenicilloyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin) sensitized BALB/c mice at the peak of a hapten-specific IgE antibody forming cell (AFC) response. To induce IH responses, mice were injected in the right pinna with either BPO-BSA (benzylpenicilloyl-bovine serum albumin), BPO-KLH (0.01-1.0 micrograms/ml) or mcAb anti-IgE (0.001 - 1.0 micrograms/ml); and in the left pinna with an equal volume of saline (0.05 ml). Pinnae were measured 5 min to 4 hr later using a micrometer caliper. Treatment of mice with IL-4 or IFN gamma dramatically suppressed the induction of IH responses in dose dependent fashion. In contrast, treatment of mice with IL-6 and IFN alpha increased these responses in dose dependent fashion, while GMCSF and IL-5 had no effect. The suppression obtained with IL-4 and IFN gamma, and the increases seen with IL-6 and IFN alpha, were transient since these cytokines, as well as GMCSF and IL-5, had no effect on IH responses elicited 21 days after the peak of BPO-specific IgE AFC responses. The data suggest that cytokine mediated effects on IH responses occur via changes in serum levels of BPO-specific IgG1 or IgE, through direct or indirect effects of cytokines on mast cells or other cell types, or by affecting the ability of BPO-specific homocytotropic antibodies to bind to mast cell surfaces.

Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of ketoconazole-prednisolone interaction.

Ketoconazole is commonly used in patients with fungal infections during immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone. Ketoconazole inhibits mixed function oxidases, enzymes responsible for the catabolism of prednisolone, and might, by that mechanism, increase prednisolone concentrations and thus, the immunosuppressive effect of prednisolone. On the other hand, ketoconazole has been found to bind to the glucocorticoid receptor and, thereby, to function as a glucocorticoid antagonist in cultured cell preparations. In order to establish whether ketoconazole enhances or attenuates the immunosuppressive effect of prednisolone, the influence of ketoconazole on the kinetics of prednisolone and on the delayed hypersensitivity response was assessed in mice. Ketoconazole increased prednisolone concentrations, measured by high pressure liquid chromatography, in mice given a single dose of prednisolone or a continuous prednisolone treatment for 17 days. At four different doses of prednisolone administered for 17 days, the glucocorticoid therapy-associated inhibition of the delayed hypersensitivity response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was enhanced by ketoconazole. Thus, coadministration of ketoconazole with prednisolone increases the exposure to the steroid and enhances the immunosuppressive effect.