Polyclonal antibody-based indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for screening of paclobutrazol in fruits.

Paclobutrazol (PBZ) is a plant growth regulator (PGR) widely used in fruit and vegetable cultivation. However, due to the severe toxicity of PBZ, a sub-ppm level maximum residue limit (MRL) was established worldwide. Therefore, it is significant to propose a rapid, sensitive and high throughput screening method for monitoring the PBZ residues in foods. In this study, a simple and sensitive indirect competitive Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) was established for PBZ detection in fruits basing polyclonal antibody. For both economy and pollution prevention, a microwave-solvent-free method was used to synthesize the PBZ hapten with high efficiency. The detection conditions, such as coating antigen concentration, antibody concentration, organic reagent concentration, ionic strength and pH, were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, this method showed high sensitivity and specificity. The detection range is 1.27-138.23 ng/mL, half-maximum inhibition concentration (IC50) is 13.26 ng/mL, and the IC20 was lower than the reported ELISAs for PBZ. Additionally, this method had high accuracy and precision. The recoveries were ranged from 88.78% to 96.80% in PBZ spiked apple samples with RSD below 4%. All the results showed that the polyclonal antibody based icELISA could be useful for PBZ screening in fruit samples.

Extracellular adenosine controls NKT-cell-dependent hepatitis induction.

Extracellular adenosine regulates inflammatory responses via the A2A adenosine receptor (A2AR). A2AR deficiency results in much exaggerated acute hepatitis, indicating nonredundancy of adenosine-A2AR pathway in inhibiting immune activation. To identify a critical target of immunoregulatory effect of extracellular adenosine, we focused on NKT cells, which play an indispensable role in hepatitis. An A2AR agonist abolished NKT-cell-dependent induction of acute hepatitis by concanavalin A (Con A) or α-galactosylceramide in mice, corresponding to downregulation of activation markers and cytokines in NKT cells and of NK-cell co-activation. These results show that A2AR signaling can downregulate NKT-cell activation and suppress NKT-cell-triggered inflammatory responses. Next, we hypothesized that NKT cells might be under physiological control of the adenosine-A2AR pathway. Indeed, both Con A and α-galactosylceramide induced more severe hepatitis in A2AR-deficient mice than in WT controls. Transfer of A2AR-deficient NKT cells into A2AR-expressing recipients resulted in exaggeration of Con A-induced liver damage, suggesting that NKT-cell activation is controlled by endogenous adenosine via A2AR, and this physiological regulatory mechanism of NKT cells is critical in the control of tissue-damaging inflammation. The current study suggests the possibility to manipulate NKT-cell activity in inflammatory disorders through intervention to the adenosine-A2AR pathway.

Is there a role for the incretin system in blood pressure regulation?

Incretin-based therapies are now well established for diabetes management and are among the frontline agents for control of hyperglycemia. In addition to their antihyperglycemic effects, evidence is emerging on the role of these agents on blood pressure regulation, cardioprotective and renoprotective properties. Because of the pleiotropic nature of these affects, these agents could offer significant benefits with regards to the cardiorenal metabolic complications that are part of the diabetes and obesity epidemic in the United States and worldwide. We review the various known mechanisms or pathways by which incretin based therapy exerts its regulation of blood pressure with emphasis on novel mechanisms such as inflammation/immunomodulation and oxidative stress.

Immunologic effectiveness of maraviroc- and raltegravir-containing regimens (R+M+) versus raltegravir-based regimens that do not include maraviroc (R+M-).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the immunologic effectiveness of raltegravir-maraviroc (R+M+)-based regimens with raltegravir-based regimens that do not include maraviroc (R+M-) in treatment-experienced patients in clinical practice. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of treatment-experienced HIV-infected adults receiving either R+M+- or R+M--based therapy. Longitudinal CD4 counts were analyzed using a linear mixed model. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-six patients were included in the analysis, of whom 32 were receiving R+M+ and 124 R+M-. Mean baseline CD4 counts in patients on R+M+ and R+M- were 463.8 and 442.3 cells/mm(3), respectively (P = .67). In multivariable mixed models, a baseline viral load ≥50 copies/mL was significantly associated with CD4 change during follow-up (P < .0001). No difference between R+M+ and R+M- was observed during follow-up (P = .81). CONCLUSION: CD4 cell recovery was similar among patients receiving either R+M+- or R+M--based therapy during a 24-month period of follow-up.

Electrofusion preparation of anti-triazophos monoclonal antibodies for development of an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Immunoassays have been widely used to detect small molecular contaminants due to the advantages of simplicity, high throughout and low-cost. Antibodies are essential reagents of immunoassays, their quality directly determines the characteristics of immunoassays. In this study, the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of triazophos were prepared by electrofusion, and used to develop an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA). Under the optimal electrofusion conditions (cells treatment with pronase, the alternating electric field strength of 45 V cm-1, the direct current voltage of 3 kV), the fusion efficiency was 1.104 ± 0.063‱, which was improved more than 4-fold compared with the chemical fusion method (0.255 ± 0.089‱). Three hybrid cell lines that can stably secrete the anti-triazophos mAbs were obtained. The cell line 4G6F10 showed the highest sensitivity, which was used to generate mAb and develop an ic-ELISA. After optimization, the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50), limit of detection (LOD) and linear range (IC10-IC90) of the ic-ELISA were 0.32 ng mL-1, 0.08 ng mL-1 and 0.08-2.17 ng mL-1, respectively. There was no significant cross-reactivity with the analogues of triazophos. The average recoveries of triazophos in spiked samples were 77.5%-89.3% with the relative standard deviations of 0.1%-9.2%. In addition, the ic-ELISA showed good repeatability, reproducibility and accuracy for the analysis of apple samples spiked with triazophos.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a novel triazole, isavuconazole: mathematical modeling, importance of tissue concentrations, and impact of immune status on antifungal effect.

Isavuconazole is a triazole with broad-spectrum activity against medically important fungal pathogens. We investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of isavuconazole in a murine model of disseminated candidiasis. We determined the pharmacokinetics in both plasma and kidney. The relationship between tissue concentrations and the resultant antifungal effect was described using a mathematical model. The pharmacodynamic parameter that optimally links drug exposure with the antifungal effect was determined using dose fractionation studies. The impact of the immune status of mice receiving isavuconazole was determined in persistently and temporarily neutropenic animals. The pharmacokinetics of 1.6 to 28 mg isavuconazole/kg of body weight were linear. Exposure-response relationships demonstrated near-maximal effect following the administration of >15 mg/kg. The mathematical model showed that exposures in the kidney were 5.77 times higher than those in plasma, and there was persistence of the drug at this site despite concentrations in plasma falling to undetectable levels. The in vitro and in vivo postantifungal effects were 2 to 5 and 8.41 h, respectively. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)/MIC ratio was the parameter that optimally linked drug exposure with the observed antifungal effect. The total drug AUC/MIC ratios associated with a 90% probability of survival in temporarily and persistently neutropenic mice were 270 and 670, respectively. Once corrected for protein binding, these values are similar to the magnitude of drug exposure associated with a high probability of a successful therapeutic outcome for other triazoles. This study provides the experimental foundation for the use of isavuconazole in patients with disseminated candidiasis.

Gold immunochromatographic assay for simultaneous detection of carbofuran and triazophos in water samples.

Using a simple test for rapid identification and quantification of pesticide multiresidues in food and environmental samples is a long-cherished approach for practical monitoring purposes. Here two gold-based lateral-flow strips (strip A and strip B) were investigated for simultaneous detection of carbofuran and triazophos. For the strip A format, a bispecific monoclonal antibody (BsMcAb) against both carbofuran and triazophos was employed to prepare the immunogold probe. For the strip B format, anti-carbofuran monoclonal antibody (McAb) and anti-triazophos McAb separately labeled with colloidal gold were combined as detector reagents. By comparison of visual results from pesticide standard tests between the two formats, the strip B assay manifested higher sensitivities for both pesticides. Analysis of spiked water samples by the preferable strip indicated that the detection limits for carbofuran and triazophos were 32 and 4 microg/L, respectively. The strength of the portable one-step strip assay was in the simultaneous screening for two pesticides within a short time (8-10 min) without any equipment.

Development of a one-step strip for the detection of triazophos residues in environmental samples.

Environmental and food safety issues now are recognized internationally, and pesticide residues play key roles as environment and food pollutants. It is crucial to develop methods for rapid determination of pesticide residues in environments and foods. A one-step strip based on nanocolloidal-gold-labeled monoclonal antibodies for detection of triazophos residue was developed. The nanocolloidal gold, with an average particle diameter of 25 nm (G25), was labeled to an antitriazophos monoclonal antibody. This conjugate was dispensed on the conjugate pad of a porous glass fiber. Ovalbumin hapten and goat anti-mouse IgG were dispensed on the nitrocellulose membrane and served as the test line (T-line) and control line (C-line), respectively. After conditions optimization, the one-step strip was finally developed for the residue determination of triazophos. The limit of detection (LOD) of the strip was 4 ng/mL for standard. The detection was not affected by the pH of the liquid sample but low total ion concentration will induce illegible C-line and T-line. The LOD for spiked samples of soil and water was 5ng/mL, with run time of no more than 10min.

Crystal structures of an enantioselective fab-fragment in free and complex forms.

Enantioselective antibodies can separate the enantiomers of a chiral compound in a highly specific manner. We have recently reported the cloning and applications of a recombinant Fab-fragment, ENA11His, in the enantioseparation of a drug candidate, finrozole, which contains two chiral centers. Here, the crystal structures of this enantioselective antibody Fab-fragment are determined in the absence of the hapten at a resolution of 2.75 A, and in the presence of the hapten at 2.05 A resolution. The conformation of the protein was found to be similar in both free and complex forms. The hapten molecule was tightly bound in a deep cleft between the light and heavy chains of the Fab-fragment. The complex structure also allowed us to describe the molecular basis for enantioselectivity and to deduce the absolute configurations of all the four different stereoisomers (a-d) of finrozole. The ENA11His antibody fragment selectively binds the SR (a) enantiomer from the racemic mixture of a and d-enantiomers, thus allowing separation from the pharmacologically most active RS enantiomer (d). In particular, Asp95 and Asn35 of the H-chain in the ENA11 His antibody seem to provide this specificity through hydrogen bonding.

Boosting Adaptive Immunity: A New Role for PAFR Antagonists.

We have previously shown that the Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor (PAFR) engagement in murine macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) promotes a tolerogenic phenotype reversed by PAFR-antagonists treatment in vitro. Here, we investigated whether a PAFR antagonist would modulate the immune response in vivo. Mice were subcutaneously injected with OVA or OVA with PAFR-antagonist WEB2170 on days 0 and 7. On day 14, OVA-specific IgG2a and IgG1 were measured in the serum. The presence of WEB2170 during immunization significantly increased IgG2a without affecting IgG1 levels. When WEB2170 was added to OVA in complete Freund's adjuvant, enhanced IgG2a but not IgG1 production was also observed, and CD4+ FoxP3+ T cell frequency in the spleen was reduced compared to mice immunized without the antagonist. Similar results were observed in PAFR-deficient mice, along with increased Tbet mRNA expression in the spleen. Additionally, bone marrow-derived DCs loaded with OVA were transferred into naïve mice and their splenocytes were co-cultured with fresh OVA-loaded DCs. CD4+ T cell proliferation was higher in the group transferred with DCs treated with the PAFR-antagonist. We propose that the activation of PAFR by ligands present in the site of immunization is able to fine-tune the adaptive immune response.

The efficacy and safety of maraviroc addition to a stable antiretroviral regimen in subjects with suppressed plasma HIV-RNA is not influenced by age.

There are few data about the immunovirological efficacy, safety/tolerability, and durability of maraviroc (MVC) addition to aging patients on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (cART) and undetectable viral load (<50 copies/ml). The aging population is underrepresented in most HIV clinical trials. This study included 80 patients aged ≥50 years and 161 aged <50 years and showed that after 48 weeks of treatment, there was no between-group differences in the median increase of CD4(+) T cells or the virological suppression rate. Safety and tolerability were also comparable. In multivariable analysis, the effect of age was not modified and was independent of the response to MVC. An immunological recovery of ≥100 CD4(+) T cells was significantly less common in those with a longer HIV history (≥15 years) (OR 0.43; p=0.016) or having <200/mm(3) CD4(+) T cells at MVC initiation (OR 0.27; p=0.004). Meanwhile, achieving a CD4/CD8 ratio ≥0.5 at week 48 was less likely in those with CD4(+) T cell counts <200 at MVC initiation (OR 0.09; p<0.0001) or with a previous AIDS event (OR 0.43; p=0.028). In summary, the immunovirological efficacy, safety/tolerability, and durability of MVC addition in patients virologically suppressed were independent of the patient's age at treatment onset.

Radioimmunoassay for DS-4574, an antiallergic agent: development, evaluation, and application to human plasma samples.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) method for DS-4574, an antiallergic drug, in plasma has been developed. As the three major metabolites have a hydroxyl group on the cyclohexyl ring, the triazole ring in the terminal part of molecule was attached to ovalbumin with a spacer of beta-chloropropionic acid succinimido ester to prepare an immunogen. Anti-DS-4574 antisera was obtained in rabbits immunized with the immunogen emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant. The detection limit of the present RIA method was 1 mg/mL of plasma, which was 100-fold more sensitive than the HPLC method developed previously. Cross-reactivities with three major metabolites were less than 3%. The precision of the assay based on triplicate samples showed intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variations of less than 5% and 4%, respectively. This RIA method was applied to plasma samples of six volunteers who had received a single oral 10 mg dose of DS-4574. Plasma concentrations increased rapidly and reached 60 ng/mL at 0.5 h after administration. The concentration decreased to near the detection limit at 4 h postdose. The present RIA method was shown to possess adequate sensitivity to evaluate pharmacokinetic properties of the drug for clinical study, which was not possible by the HPLC method.

Modulation of endotoxin-induced inflammation in the bovine teat using antagonists/inhibitors to leukotrienes, platelet activating factor and interleukin 1 beta.

A leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor (MK886), a platelet-activating factor (PAF)-receptor antagonist (WEB 2086), a recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and a polyclonal antibody to recombinant bovine IL-1 beta (anti-rBoIL-1 beta) was used to investigate the involvement of leukotrienes, PAF and IL-1 beta during endotoxin-induced inflammation in the bovine teat cistern. Endotoxin alone was infused into one teat cistern and endotoxin in combination with an inhibitor/antagonist was infused into another teat cistern of the same animal. Teat cistern samples were taken before infusion and at 3.5 and 7 h after infusion, and the numbers of neutrophils were counted. Saline infusion was used as control. The inhibitors/antagonists were also tested in combination with leukotriene B4 (LTB4), PAF and rBoIL-1 beta, respectively. MK886 or WEB 2086 significantly reduced the accumulation of neutrophils mainly between 3.5 and 7 h after infusion, indicating roles for leukotrienes, probably LTB4, and PAF in neutrophil accumulation during endotoxin-induced inflammation. As WEB 2086 also reduced cell accumulation between 0 and 3.5 h, PAF was implicated also in the early influx of neutrophils. WEB 2086 almost completely inhibited PAF-induced cell accumulation between 0 and 3.5 h. LTB4 did not induce significant cell accumulation in the teat cistern. IL-1ra did not affect endotoxin-induced neutrophil accumulation whereas anti-rBoIL-1 beta reduced total cell accumulation and, to some degree, accumulation between 0 and 3.5 h after infusion. Infusion of IL-1ra significantly inhibited cell accumulation induced by rBoIL-1 beta. Anti-rBoIL-1 beta also significantly reduced neutrophil accumulation induced by rBoIL-1 beta, but to a lesser degree. The results suggest roles for leukotrienes, most likely LTB4, and PAF, and to a lesser extent IL-1 beta, during endotoxin-induced neutrophil migration into the bovine teat cistern. The potential of the inhibitors/antagonists as therapeutic agents for bovine mastitis should be investigated.

Differential detection of N-heterocyclic compounds and their N-methylated derivatives by immunoanalysis.

Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems are proposed for the indirect monitoring of formaldehyde by the parallel detection of its N-methylated precursors and the corresponding demethylated compounds. As an example for such immunoanalytical differentiation between an N-heterocyclic compound and its N-methylated derivative, the quantitative detection of the systemic triazole fungicide, myclobutanil, is discussed. Antibodies recognizing the non-zwitterionic structure of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-methyl]-hexanonitril e (myclobutanil) showed only minor binding to corresponding N-alkylated derivatives of myclobutanil. And vice versa, literature data indicate that antibodies raised against the pyridilium ionic structure of the herbicide paraquat, displayed only mediocre reactivity towards the corresponding dealkylated derivatives. Thus, both experimental and literature data suggest that immunoanalytical methods for differential detection of N-methylated heterocycles (potentially including formaldehyde precursors) and their non-methylated counterparts are possible to develop.

Immunological evaluation of ß-thalassemia major patients receiving oral iron chelator deferasirox.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the immune abnormalities and occurrence of infections in transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia major patients receiving oral iron chelator deferasirox (DFX). STUDY DESIGN: An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Hematology Clinics, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July to December 2010. METHODOLOGY: Seventeen patients with ß-thalassemia major (12 females, median age 26 years) receiving deferasirox (DFX) for a median duration of 27 months were observed for any infections and had their immune status determined. Immune parameters studied included serum immunoglobulins and IgG subclasses, serum complement (C3 and C4) and anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) level, total B and T-lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ counts, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and natural killer (NK) cells. Immunological parameters of the patients were compared with age, gender, serum ferritin level and splenectomy status. Lymphocyte subsets were also compared with age and gender matched normal controls. RESULTS: A considerable reduction in serum ferritin was achieved by DFX from a median level of 2528 to 1875 µmol/l. Serum IgG levels were increased in 7 patients. Low C4 levels were found in 9 patients. Total B and T-lymphocytes were increased in 14 patients each, while CD4+, CD8+ and NK cells were increased in 13, 12 and 11 patients respectively. Absolute counts for all lymphocyte subsets were significantly higher compared to the normal controls (p ² 0.05 for all parameters). Raised levels of IgG were associated with older age, female gender, splenectomized status and higher serum ferritin levels but this did not reach statistical significance except for the higher ferritin levels (p=0.044). Increased tendency to infections was not observed. CONCLUSION: Patients with ß-thalassemia major receiving DFX exhibited significant immune abnormalities. Changes observed have been described previously, but could be related to DFX. The immune abnormalities were not associated with increased tendency to infections.

[Preparation of immunoaffinity chromatographic column specific to diniconazole and its applications to the pretreatment of samples].

The purified anti-diniconazole antibody was polymerised to hydrolytic tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) to synthesize the immunosorbent for the immunoaffinity chromatographic (IAC) column specific to diniconazole. The optimized conditions of the IAC were as follows: water as equilibrium and adsorbent medium, 30% and 50% (v/v) methanol aqueous solutions as eluents. The results showed that the dynamic column capacity was up to 125.4 microg/g of bed volume. The river water and fruit samples spiked with diniconazole were cleaned up and enriched by the IAC, and the diniconazole in eluant was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The average recoveries (n = 5) of diniconazole in river water sample were 90.36%-100.14% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 2.03%-6.08%, and the average recoveries in fruit samples were 85.55%-94.02% with RSDs of 3.38%-6.78%. The IAC cleanup procedure provided an effective pretreatment method for the determination of diniconazole in sample media such as river water and fruits.

Determination of diniconazole in agricultural samples by sol-gel immunoaffinity extraction procedure coupled with HPLC and ELISA.

BACKGROUND: In the European Union (EU), the use of diniconazole-M is no longer authorized. However, residues of diniconazole-M occur in various plant commodities. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A selective and simple analytical method for the trace level determination of diniconazole in soil, fruit, vegetables and water samples was developed based on immunoaffinity extraction followed by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The ELISA was based on monoclonal antibodies highly specific to diniconazole and was a fast, cost-effective, and selective screening method for the detection of diniconazole. The results of the ELISA correlated well with gas chromatography (GC) results, with the correlation coefficient of 0.9879 (n = 19). A simple gel permeation chromato- graphy clean-up method was developed to purify extracts from matrices containing high amounts of fat and natural pigments, without the need for a large dilution of the sample. The immunoaffinity column (IAC) capacity was 0.180 mg g(-1). The columns could be re-used approximately 20 times with no significant alteration in capacity. The recoveries from complex samples were in the range of 89.2% to 96.1% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.770%-6.11% by ELISA. The results were in good agreement with those obtained by HPLC method. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The IAC extraction procedure coupled with HPLC and ELISA analysis could be also used as alternative effective analytical methods for the determination of diniconazole concentrations in complex samples.