Inmunocomplejos circulantes en el lupus eritematoso sistémico / Circulating immunocomplexes in systemic erythematous lupus

Introducción: Los biomarcadores son claves en el diagnóstico y pronóstico del lupus eritematoso sistémico en el cual las manifestaciones clínicas son extremadamente complejas y heterogéneas. Objetivo: Determinar el valor clínico de los inmunocomplejos circulantes en pacientes con lupus eritematosos sistémico. Métodos: Se determinaron los niveles séricos de inmunocomplejos fijadores del C1q y de los anticuerpos anti-ácido desoxirribonucleico de doble cadena (anti-ADNdc), anti-nucleosoma (anti-Nuc) y anti-proteínas ribosomales (anti-RibP) por el ensayo inmuno-adsorbente ligado a enzima (ELISA) en 93 pacientes con diagnóstico de lupus eritematosos sistémico. Se utilizaron exámenes no paramétricos para probar la asociación entre los inmunocomplejos y los auto-anticuerpos. La frecuencia de nefritis lupica en los grupos de pacientes positivos y negativos de inmunocomplejos circulantes se comparó mediante Chi cuadrado. Resultados: Los inmunocomplejos se encontraron en 24 (25,8 por ciento) pacientes con lupus eritematosos sistémico. Los pacientes que presentaron los títulos más altos de inmunocomplejos fueron los positivos a los tres auto-anticuerpos usados (p=0,044). Se encontró correlación directa entre los niveles de anti-RibP y los inmunocomplejos (Rho=0,303, p=0,003) y entre los anti-ADNdc y anti-Nuc (Rho=0,449, p=0,001). La nefritis lúpica se presentó en 58,3 por ciento de pacientes con inmunocomplejos, y 31,9 por ciento pacientes negativos de inmunocomplejos (p=0,213). Conclusiones: Los inmunocomplejos circulantes caracterizaron una fracción menor de pacientes con lupus eritematosos sistémico. La presencia de estos no se asoció a los anticuerpos anti-ADNdc ni a la nefritis lupica(AU)

Introduction: Biomarkers are essential in the diagnosis and prognosis of systemic erythematous lupus in which clinical manifestations are extremely complex and heterogeneous. Objective: To determine the clinical value of circulating immunocomplexes in patients with systemic erythematous lupus. Methods: Serum levels of C1q-binding immunocomplexes and anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA), anti-nucleosome (anti-Nuc) and anti-ribosomal proteins (anti-RibP) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 93 patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Nonparametric tests were used to test the association between immunocomplexes and auto-antibodies. The frequency of lupus nephritis in the circulating immunocomplex positive and negative patient groups was compared using Chi square. Results: Immunocomplexes were found in 24 (25.8 percent) patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The patients with the highest immunocomplex titers were positive for the three autoantibodies used (p = 0.044). A direct correlation was found between the levels of anti-RibP and immunocomplexes (Rho = 0.303, p = 0.003) and between anti-dsDNA and anti-Nuc (Rho = 0.449, p = 0.001). Lupus nephritis occurred in 58.3 percent of immunocomplex patients, and 31.9 percent immunocomplex negative patients (p = 0.213). Conclusions: Circulating immunocomplexes characterized a smaller fraction of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Their presence was not associated with anti-dsDNA antibodies or lupus nephritis(AU)

Antibody responses of chickens to inoculation with Mycoplasma gallisepticum membrane proteins in immunostimulating complexes.

Membrane proteins of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) strain R were extracted with the detergent Mega-10 and incorporated into immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMs). A membrane protein of approximately 64 kD (p64) molecular weight was a major component of MG ISCOMs. Six-week-old specific-pathogen-free leghorn chickens were inoculated by various routes (subcutaneous; combined intranasal and eyedrop; and combined subcutaneous, intranasal, and eyedrop) with 10 micrograms MG proteins in ISCOMs, or inoculated subcutaneously with 10 micrograms MG proteins in Freund's adjuvant. Subcutaneous inoculation of MG ISCOMs, or MG Freund's adjuvant resulted in higher sero-positive rates (detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in serum and respiratory tract washings, compared to combined routes of MG ISCOM inoculation. In chickens inoculated subcutaneously with MG ISCOMs antibodies were first detected at 31 days postinoculation (PI) and the sero-positive rate peaked at 56 days PI. Sero-positive rates started to decline at day 64 PI. In the Freund's adjuvant group, MG antibodies were first detected at day 21 PI, and the sero-positive rate peaked at day 39 PI and did not decline. MG antibodies were detected by ELISA in upper respiratory tract and tracheal washes from chickens inoculated subcutaneously with MG ISCOMs and MG Freund's adjuvant. Immunoblots to MG strain R whole cell proteins showed that respiratory tract washings and sera from chickens inoculated subcutaneously with MG ISCOMs contained immunoglobulins to MG proteins, with a prominent reaction to p64.

Biochemical characterization of herpes simplex virus type-1-immunostimulating complexes (ISCMOs): a multi-glycoprotein structure.

The preparation and characterization of an immunostimulating complex (ISCOM) preparation containing several HSV-1 glycoproteins, including the major glycoproteins B and D is described. The multi-glycoprotein HSV-1 ISCOM preparation was obtained from a gradient-purified aqueous HSV-1 antigen preparation following extraction from infected cells using a zwitterionic detergent. With polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to HSV-1 glycoproteins in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and radioimmunoprecipitation techniques, the HSV-1 ISCOM preparation was shown to contain glycoproteins B, C, D, E, H and I, although further, additional proteins were also present. The DNA content of HSV-1 ISCOMs was determined using a 3H-thymidine labelling method. The protein and DNA contents of the HSV-1 ISCOM preparation are discussed with reference to the potentialities of the preparation as a vaccine for use in human beings.

Characterization of purified gp 51 from bovine leukemia virus integrated into iscom. Physicochemical properties and serum antibody response to the integrated gp51.

It is proposed that the envelope glycoprotein, gp 51, is the protective antigen of bovine leukemia virus (BLV). An experimental iscom vaccine has been prepared from immunoaffinity purified gp 51. To overcome the problem of integrating a nonamphipathic protein, gp 51 was partially denatured at pH 2.4 before integration into the iscom. The recovery of gp 51 into the iscom was calculated to be 85%. The gp 51 incorporated into iscom retained its physicochemical properties and the neutralizing epitopes F, G and H were found to be intact. The iscom preparation was shown to induce a specific immune response to gp 51 after inoculation into mice and calves, as tested by ELISA and Western blotting. Sera from the immunized calves specifically inhibited the VSV-(BLV) pseudotypes. Thus the gp 51-iscom preparations appear to be highly immunogenic and to induce a gp 51 specific response.