Detection of a transforming gene in spontaneous reticulum cell sarcoma of SJL/J mice: genetically linked and host-dependent neoplasia.

Spontaneous reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) tumor induction occurs in 90% of SJL/J mice of 8-13 months of age. Tumor induction and growth has been shown to be under the influence of both H-2 and non-H-2 genes as well as the presence of an intact host T-cell system. We postulated that cellular oncogenes may play a role in the induction, growth, and characteristics of RCS. DNA-mediated gene transfer protocols were adopted to investigate the presence of transforming genes in DNA from RCS of SJL/J mice. High molecular weight DNA was isolated from these tumors as well as from brains and livers of control tumor-free SJL/J mice and transfected into NIH-3T3 mouse and F2408 rat fibroblast cell lines. Foci of transformed cells with a peculiar round morphology were scored in both rat and mouse cultures given tumor DNA, but not in those receiving DNA from normal tissues. DNA from first-cycle transformants was transfected in further cycles of transfection, giving rise to foci with similar morphological appearances and growth properties. These experiments suggest that a transforming gene, present in RCS spontaneous tumors, is involved in the malignant conversion of the transfected normal fibroblasts. The implication of these results with respect to the induction and growth properties of RCS is discussed.

Production of a nef-specific monoclonal antibody by the use of a synthetic peptide.

Monoclonal antibodies have been generated against a synthetic peptide of the nef protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in order to further characterize the biochemical and functional nature of this protein and its role in the control of HIV-1 transcriptional regulation. Earlier studies indicated nef to be a negative regulatory factor for viral transcription, whereas more recent studies report evidence against this original hypothesis. Nef is a protein of 206 amino acids of approximately 27 kD in most HIV-1 isolates; however, in some other isolates a truncated form of 124 amino acids has been described. A peptide sequence of six amino acids, corresponding to a region of the nef protein exhibiting high-sequence homology to thymosin alpha 1 protein, has been synthesized by Merrifield solid-phase methodology. This peptide is coded by a sequence located upstream to the stop codon described in some HIV-1 isolates and then is maintained in both complete and truncated forms of the nef protein. F14.11 is a nef peptide-specific monoclonal antibody (IgG2a/k) exhibiting the ability to recognize natural nef protein in either radioimmunoassay, radioimmunoprecipitation assay, or immunocytochemical analysis. Since F14.11 is able to identify nef protein in the cytoplasm of lymphocytes from HIV-infected seronegative subjects it may prove useful in monitoring the expression of nef during the silent HIV-1 infection.

Expression and characterization of a mouse/human chimeric antibody specific for EGF receptor.

Murine antibodies which recognize the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-r) are good candidates for therapy and diagnosis of tumors overexpressing this receptor. Here we report the isolation of the variable regions from a murine monoclonal antibody anti-EGF-r (Mint5), the procedure to obtain the mouse/human chimeric antibody (chMint5) and its expression in COS, NS0 and CHO cells. The approach followed to construct chMint5 is based on the use of consensus primers specific for the ends of the variable regions. The sequence imposed by the primers did not affect the targeting potential of the antibody. In fact, the affinity of the chimeric antibody for EGF-r was nearly the same as that of the parental murine antibody. Based on previous in vitro and in vivo animal studies. Mint5 was shown to be a good candidate for the targeting of EGF-r overexpressing tumours. chMint5 is expected to be less immunogenic than murine antibody and therefore, could be useful for human treatment.

Production and characterisation of a recombinant single-chain anti ErbB2-clavin immunotoxin.

We generated a recombinant immunotoxin, named scFv(MGR6)-Cla, composed of the Fv region of an anti ErbB2 monoclonal antibody (MGR6) fused to clavin, a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) from Aspergillus clavatus. ErbB2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor which is overexpressed in most adenocarcinomas; clavin is a 17 kDa ribonuclease which inhibits protein synthesis by inactivating ribosomes. A recombinant DNA construct containing the cDNA of the single chain Fv fragment (scFv) of the MGR6 antibody fused to the clavin cDNA, was expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli as an insoluble fusion protein containing an N-terminal affinity tag of six consecutive histidine residues. Inclusion bodies were denatured and the recombinant fusion protein was purified under denaturing conditions by single-step purification using immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC). The purified immunotoxin was renatured at high yield and histidine tag removed by digestion with enterokinase. The purity of the immunotoxin obtained after refolding was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, RP-HPLC, GPC-HPLC and N-terminal sequence analysis. Cell-free protein synthesis inhibition and binding assays showed that both clavin and scFv(MGR6) maintained their properties after refolding.

Anti D dimer monoclonal antibodies: a possible scintigraphic agent for immunodetection of thrombi.

The aim of this work was to produce a MoAb able to react with clots but not with fibrinogen. Monoclonal antibodies directed towards DD dimers, against specific products of plasmic digestion of cross-linked fibrin, were obtained. One of these antibodies, F 60/43/8, showed a 1.79 x 10(9) l mol-1 binding constant in spite of the presence of fibrinogen at a 4000 times greater concentration than the cross-linked fibrin. In vitro studies with 125I-F(ab')2 of F 60/43/8 showed that 34-80% of the radioactivity can be found in human clots, in the presence of physiologic concentrations of fibrinogen, and that 96-h washing does not remove the labelled F(ab')2 from the clot. 131I-F(ab')2 was injected into rabbits in which a clot had formed in an artery (six rabbits) or in a vein (six rabbits) of the left ear. Scintigraphic images of the clot were always obtained. In conclusion, the results of this work suggest that F 60/43/8 may be used as a specific antibody for the radioimmunodetection of thrombi.

Cytotoxic activity of intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells.

The phenotype and cytotoxic activity of lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) from the colorectal mucosa have been investigated primarily to analyse the role of LPL in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The results reported here show that LPL strictly required a proliferative stimulus [either interleukin-2 (IL-2) or phytohaemaglutinin (PHA) to develop strong in vitro cytotoxicity, since freshly isolated LPL do not exhert cytotoxicity against either natural killer (NK)-sensitive or NK-resistant target cells. The cytotoxicity of activated LPL against a large panel of myeloid tumours or colorectal carcinoma target cells shows the irrelevance of the tissue origin of target cells. Moreover, activated LPL lysed HIV-infected H9 cells more efficiently than peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), and were susceptible to HIV infection. In contrast, unstimulated LPL failed to be cytotoxic and susceptible to HIV. Thus, we strongly suggest that for the lymphocytes of the colorectal mucosa expression of cytotoxic activity and susceptibility to HIV-infection show two faces of the same coin, and therefore may be relevant in understanding the mechanisms and paths of transmission of HIV infection.

Novel antitenascin antibody with increased tumour localisation for Pretargeted Antibody-Guided RadioImmunoTherapy (PAGRIT).

The Pretargeted Antibody-Guided RadioImmunoTherapy (PAGRIT) method is based on intravenous, sequential administration of a biotinylated antibody, avidin/streptavidin and (90)Y-labelled biotin. The hybridoma clone producing the monoclonal antitenascin antibody BC4, previously used for clinical applications, was found not suitable for further development because of the production of an additional, nonfunctional light chain. In order to solve this problem, the new cST2146 hybridoma clone was generated. The monoclonal antibody ST2146, produced by this hybridoma, having the same specificity as BC4 but lacking the nonfunctional light chain, was characterised. ST2146 was found able to bind human tenascin at an epitope strictly related, if not identical, to the antigenic epitope of BC4. It showed, compared to BC4, higher affinity and immunoreactivity and similar selectivity by immunohistochemistry. Biodistribution studies of biotinylated ST2146 and three other monoclonal antitenascin antibodies showed for ST2146 the highest and more specific tumour localisation in HT29-grafted nude mice. On the overall, ST2146 appears to be a good alternative to BC4 for further clinical development of PAGRIT.