Beta 1,3-1,6 Glucans Produced by Two Novel Strains of Aureobasidium Pullulans Exert Immune and Metabolic Beneficial Effects in Healthy Middle-aged Japanese Men: Results of an Exploratory Randomized Control Study.

Objectives: In this pilot study, we have evaluated the specific metabolic and immune-related benefits of the AFO-202 strain and N-163 strain of black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans-produced beta 1,3-1,6 glucan in healthy human subjects. Methods: Sixteen healthy Japanese male volunteers (aged 40 to 60 years) took part in this clinical trial. They were divided into four groups (n = 4 each): Group I consumed AFO-202 beta-glucan (2 sachets of 1 g each per day), IA for 35 days and IB for 21 days; Group II consumed a combination of AFO-202 beta-glucan (2 sachets of 1 g each) and N-163 beta-glucan (1 sachet of 15 g gel each per day), IIA for 35 days and IIB for 21 days. Results: Decrease in HbA1C and glycated albumin (GA), significant increase of eosinophils and monocytes and marginal decrease in D-dimer levels, decrease in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), with an increase in the lymphocyte-to-CRP ratio (LCR) and leukocyte-to-CRP ratio (LeCR) was observed in Group I between pre- and post-treatment. Decrease in total and LDL cholesterol, a decrease of CD11b, serum ferritin, galectin-3 and fibrinogen were profound in Group II between pre- and post-treatment. However, there was no statistically significant difference between day 21 and day 35 among the groups. Conclusion: This outcome warrants larger clinical trials to explore the potentials of these safe food supplements in the prevention and prophylaxis of diseases due to dysregulated metabolism, such as fatty liver disease, and infections such as COVID-19 in which balanced immunomodulation are of utmost importance, besides their administration as an adjunct to existing therapeutic approaches of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

A unique monoclonal antibody mNI-11 rapidly enhances spread formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

We previously reported a novel monoclonal antibody (MAb), designated mNI-11, recognizing an adhesion-associated antigen distinct from any previously reported ones. In this article, this adhesion-associated antigen with a molecular weight of about 97 kDa was found to be strongly expressed on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Expression of this antigen on HUVECs was slightly increased in response to the exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). As a biological function exerted by this antigen, it was of great interest that immobilized mNI-11 directly and rapidly enhanced the spread formation of HUVECs, whereas MAbs binding other adhesion-associated antigens such as mNI-58A (anti-CD11a), L130 (anti-CD18), L133.1 (anti-CD31), L178 (anti-CD44), L25.3 (anti-CD49d), or LB-2 (anti-CD54) did not carry such activity under the same conditions. The HUVECs spread formation enhanced by mNI-11 was completely blocked in the presence of a microfilament formation inhibitor, cytochalasin D (CyD), a Ca2+ calmodulin inhibitor, W-7, EDTA, and was partially blocked by a microtubule formation inhibitor, nocodazole, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, H-7, and a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (CHX). However, a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor, genistein, did not affect the spread formation under the same conditions. Taken together, it was suggested that the spread formation of HUVECs enhanced by mNI-11 was mainly associated with the influx of Ca2+ and microfilament reorganization. In addition, the novel property associated with mNI-11 to enhance the spread formation of HUVECs was possibly mediated through its reaction against a unique epitope on HUVECs.

A microfilament formation inhibitor, cytochalasin strongly enhances the low-affinity Fc epsilon receptor II (CD23) expression on the human monocyte-like cell line, U937.

Enhancement of the low-affinity Fc epsilon receptor (CD23) expression by cytochalasin was analyzed on the human monocytelike cell line, U937. The CD23 expression on the U937 cells was enhanced at 24 hr after culture with cytochalasin B, D, or E, especially cytochalasin E having the most remarkable effect on it at the low concentration. This enhanced expression was found to be associated with a concomitant increase of a CD23 (about 45-kDa) protein on the U937 cells as assessed by Western blotting analysis. On the other hand, CD11a, CD18, CD31, CD49d, or CD54 was not markedly enhanced on the U937 cells by culture with cytochalasin E, although the mean fluorescence intensities (MFIs) of CD11a, CD18, and CD54 on U937 was partially up-regulated. Cell growth of U937 cultured with cytochalasin E was completely suppressed for 72 hr, but cell viability was sufficiently maintained (more than 95%). Soluble-formed CD23 (sCD23) also was released from the U937 cells at 24 to 72 hr after culture with cytochalasin E. In addition, the protein tyrosine kinase activity was detected in the U937 cells cultured with cytochalasin E for 24 hr using the enzyme immunoassay. Enhancement of the CD23 expression on the U937 cells at 24 to 72 hr cultured with cytochalasin E was sufficiently blocked by protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin A and genistein, and a protein synthesis inhibitor, cychloheximide. On the other hand, protein kinase C inhibitors such as H-7 and H-8 had no effect on this CD23 expression. These results suggest that a mechanism underlying enhancement of the CD23 expression on the U937 cells cultured with cytochalasin E is mediated through tyrosine phosphorylation and protein synthesis.

A novel human monoclonal antibody rapidly induces homotypic cell aggregation and promotes antibody-secreting activity by human B lymphoblastoid cell line IM-9.

A human monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated mNKES, was generated by fusing B cells isolated from an enlarged cervical lymph node of a patient with a carotid body tumor (CBT), with human myeloma cell line KR-12 (6TG). The reactivity of mNKES was tested by the indirect immunofluorescence method. The antigen defined by mNKES was expressed on Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines Raji, Daudi, and Ramos and on B lymphoblastoid cell line IM-9. In addition, mNKES reacted with T cells stimulated with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) obtained from normal healthy donors. However, mNKES did not react with normal resting human T, B, or adherent cells (monocytes/macrophages). When the reactivity of mNKES and mouse mAbs recognizing the human adhesion-associated antigen (CD10, CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD14, CD16, CD18, CD23, CD28, CD29, CD31, CD43, CD44, CD45RA, CD50, CD54, CD58, CD80, CD102, CD106, and HLA class I, and HLA class II antigen) with various cell lines was compared, mNKES reactivity was found to be unique, not resembling that of any of these mouse mAbs. Interestingly, mNKES specifically and rapidly (within 2 hr) induced homotypic cell aggregation of IM-9 cells. This mNKES-induced cell aggregation was completely blocked by the addition of EDTA and when incubated at 4 degrees C. The mAbs reactive with CD11a/CD18 (leukocyte function-associated antigen-1; LFA-1) and CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1) completely blocked the IM-9 cell aggregation induced by mNKES, and induction of IM-9 cell aggregation by mNKES was significantly blocked in the presence of the protein kinase C inhibitors sphingosine and H-7 and completely blocked by cytochalasin B and cytochalasin D, which inhibit microfilament formation. Regarding biological function, IM-9 cells bearing surface IgG (sIgG) effectively promoted IgG-secreting activity underlying the homotypic cell aggregation induced by mNKES. The surface antigen recognized by mNKES has a molecular size of about 55 kDa, as determined by immunoblotting analysis. These findings indicate that mNKES recognizes a novel adhesion-associated antigen distinct from any previously reported adhesion-associated antigens in terms of pattern of cellular distribution and biological function and that mNKES is the first human mAb found that rapidly induces homotypic cell aggregation and effectively promotes the IgG-secreting activity of human B lymphoblastoid cell line IM-9.

A novel monoclonal antibody mNI-58A against the alpha-chain of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) blocks the homotypic cell aggregation and actively regulates morphological changes in the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-activated human monocyte-like cell line, U937.

A monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated mNI-58A, was produced by immunizing mice with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocyte-like cell line, U937. The antigen defined by mNI-58A was widely expressed on various lymphoid cells and all cell lines examined except the erythroid cell line, K562. When the reactive patterns between mNI-58A and the mAbs to various human differentiation antigens (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD14, CD16, CD18, CD23, CD28, CD29, CD31, CD43, CD44, CD45RA, CD50, CD54, CD58, CD80, CD102, CD106, HLA-class I and-class II antigen) were compared, that of mNI-58A was found to be similar to those of the leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) mAbs. Using a competitive immunofluorescence binding assay it was found that the preincubation with one of the CD11a mAbs, 2F12 completely blocked the subsequent binding of mNI-58A. mNI-58A prevented the homotypic cell aggregation of the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-activated U937 cells (referred to as PMA-U937) and PMA-activated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cell lines, B-85 and Mann. mNI-58A markedly induced the spread formation of the PMA-U937 cells following this blocking of the homotypic cell aggregation, whereas 2F12 did not under the same condition. The spread formation induced by mNI-58A was completely blocked by cytochalasin B (CyB), cytochalasin D (CyD), cycloheximide (CHX) or protein kinase C inhibitors, sphingosine and H-7. The U937 cells markedly adhered to the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and also to the extracellular matrix protein, fibronectin, but mNI-58A did not enhance or block these adhesion process. mNI-58A precipitated two glycoproteins with molecular weight 180 kDa and 95 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis, which were identical to the LFA-alpha (CD11a) and beta (CD18) chains of leukocyte integrin precipitated by the CD11a mAbs, respectively. Sequential immunoprecipitation studies using the CD11a mAb (2F12) also indicate that mNI-58A recognizes an epitope on the alpha-chain of the LFA-1 molecule. The ability of mNI-58A to block the PMA-U937 cells and to induce the spread formation of these cells suggests that mNI-58A is a novel mAb reacting with an epitope on the alpha-chain of LFA-1 different from those recognized with the existing CD11a mAbs.

Development and characterization of a novel monoclonal antibody (mNI-11) that induces cell adhesion of the LPS-stimulated human monocyte-like cell line U937.

A monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody (mAb), designated mNI-11, was produced by immunizing mice with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocyte-like cell line U937. The reactivity of mNI-11 was tested by the indirect immunofluorescence method. The antigen defined by mNI-11 was found to be expressed on U937 cells, LPS-stimulated U937 cells, normal CD14+ cells (monocytes/macrophages), and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Expression of the antigen defined by mNI-11 on HUVECs slightly increased in response to exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). When the reactivity of mNI-11 and mAbs binding human differentiation antigens such as CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD14, CD16, CD18, CD23, CD28, CD29, CD31, CD43, CD44, CD45RA, CD49d, CD50, CD54, CD58, CD80, CD102, CD106, HLA-class I, or HLA-class II antigen was compared, no mNI-11 reactivity resembling that of these mAbs was found. mNI-11 markedly induced homotypic cell aggregation of U937 cells when they were stimulated with LPS. The mNI-11-induced aggregation of LPS-stimulated U937 cells, referred to as LPS-U937 cells, required neither Fc receptor engagement nor cross-linking of the antigen defined by mNI-11 because aggregation was induced by both F(ab')2 fragments and monovalent F(ab') fragments of mNI-11. The mNI-11-induced aggregation was blocked by the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and also when incubated at 4 degrees C. mAbs to CD11a/CD18 (lymphocyte-function associated antigen-1; LFA-1) and CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1) completely blocked the LPS-U937 cell aggregation induced by mNI-11. The LPS-U937 cell aggregation induced by mNI-11 was partially but not completely blocked by the protein kinase C inhibitors sphingosine and H-7, and was completely blocked by the protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Interestingly, mNI-11 markedly promoted LPS-U937 cell adhesion to HUVECs. The mNI-11-induced LPS-U937 cell adhesion to HUVECs was not reduced in the presence of LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) or ICAM-1 (CD54) mAbs. On the other hand, LPS-U937 cells, whether treated with mNI-11 or not, sufficiently adhered to the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin, but not to laminin or collagen type I. However, mNI-11 did not markedly promote LPS-U937 cell adhesion to fibronectin. Adhesion of LPS-U937 cells treated with mNI-11 to fibronectin was completely blocked by CD29 (beta chain of very late antigens) mAb. The surface antigen recognized by mNI-11 had a molecular size of approximately 97 kDa under non-reducing conditions and approximately 117 kDa under reducing conditions, as determined by immunoblotting analysis. We found that mNI-11 recognizes an adhesion-associated molecule distinct from any previously reported in terms of its pattern of cellular distribution and molecular weight, and also found that mNI-11 has activity which induces cell adhesion/aggregation of U937 cells when stimulated with LPS.

[Monoclonal antibody mNI-58 inducing morphological changes in a human monocyte-like cell line, U937, stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)].

A mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated mNI-58, was produced. The mNI-58 markedly induced spread formation of the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated U937 cells (referred to as PMA-U937 cells) but not that of the resting U937 cells. This spread formation was completely blocked in the presence of cytochalasin D or cycloheximide. It was partially blocked by an mAb against CD18 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 beta). These results suggest that mNI-58 is capable of transducing a signal for spread formation of the PMA-U937 cells.

[Monoclonal antibody mNI-11 strongly induces homotypic cell aggregation of monocyte-like cell line U937: effects of conditioned medium and cytochalasin B].

A mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated as mNI-11, has been produced. This mAb strongly induced homotypic cell aggregation (HCA) of monocyte-like cell line U937 cultured with conditioned medium derived from PHA-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cytochalasin B. HCA occurred at an optimal temperature of 37 C but not 4 C. mAbs to CD18 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 beta; LAF-1 beta) and CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1) completely inhibited this HCA. These results suggest that mNI-11 strongly induces HCA of the U937 cells in an activated form after stimulation with conditioned medium and cytochalasin B.

Unique properties of a cytotoxic CD4+CD8+ intraepithelial T-cell line established from the mouse intestinal epithelium.

Growth factor-dependent gut intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) cell lines were established from a long-term in vitro culture of BALB/c IEL with syngeneic irradiated spleen cells in the presence of concanavalin A-stimulated spleen supernatant fluids. The cell lines were preferentially consisted of very limited thymoindependent subsets of IEL; i.e., Thy-1+CD5-TCR alpha beta+CD4+CD8 alpha+beta- (double-positive; DP) IEL and Thy-1+CD5-TCR alpha beta+CD4-CD8 alpha+beta- (CD8 single-positive; CD8 SP) IEL. The CD8 SP IEL cell line had cytotoxic activities and was triggered to proliferate by T-cell receptor (TCR)-directed stimuli. The DP IEL cell line expressed high levels of the CD3-TCR alpha beta, exhibited cytotoxic activity in redirected lysis assays, and had perforin in the cytoplasm, indicating the functional maturity of this cell line. However, the DP IEL cell line did not proliferate in response to TCR alpha beta-directed stimuli, which indicated that TCR alpha beta-mediated signalling was able to initiate cytotoxic function but not to induce proliferation of the DP IEL cell line. Although both cell lines were shown to have functional competence, they expressed J11d antigen which marks immaturity in thymocyte differentiation pathways. These results indicate that the established thymoindependent DP and CD8 SP IEL cell lines have unique properties distinct from DP thymocytes and CD8 SP peripheral T cells. Together with a recent report on freshly isolated DP IEL (10), the unique properties of the DP IEL cell line seems to support the notion that DP IEL may undergo a unique maturation process in the gut microenvironment.

[Establishment of monoclonal antibody mNI-11 which induces homotypic cell aggregation of LPS-treated U937 cells].

A mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated as mNI-11, was produced. The reactivity of mNI-11 was assessed by immunofluorescence assay with various cells. Myelomonocytic cell line, U937, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated U937 (LPS-U937 cells) were found to bind strongly to the mAb. EBV-B cell line and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were found to bind moderately to it. This mAb strongly induced homotypic cell aggregation of LPS-U937 cells. The mAbs to CD18 and CD54 completely inhibited the LPS-U937 cell aggregation induced by mNI-11. The surface antigens of the U937 and LPS-U937 cells recognized by mNI-11 had a molecular size of 95-97 kDa as determined by immunoblotting analysis.

Modulation of cell surface antigens and regulation of phagocytic activity mediated by CD11b in the monocyte-like cell line U937 in response to lipopolysaccharide.

Modulation of the cellular antigens and regulation of the phagocytic activity of the monocyte-like cell line U937 after culture with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were investigated. CD14 expression was induced on the surface of the U937 cells after 48 h of culture with LPS and then they became adhesive with numerous filamentous filopodia extruded on the cell surface, exhibiting the enhanced expression of CD16 and CD23, the activation cell surface markers for differentiation into macrophage. However, no induction or enhancement of the cell surface expression was observed with respect to CD11b, CD18, HLA-A, B, C, HLA-DR, DQ, DP or CD57. These U937 cells also acquired the ability to produce superoxide anions and to phagocytose the Salmonella enteritidis strain, 116-54. This phagocytosis was inhibited by the anti-CD11b monoclonal antibodies, but not by the anti-CD14, anti-CD16, anti-CD18, anti-CD23, anti-HLA-A, B, C or anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies. These findings indicate that the phagocytic activity against Salmonella enteritidis 116-54 induced by LPS is mediated mainly via the CD11b molecule, but is not associated with the increased expression of CD11b. Puromycin and cycloheximide, inhibitors of protein synthesis, or a divalent cation-chelating agent, EDTA completely inhibited this phagocytic activity. Interestingly, EDTA was found to suppress specifically the CD11b expression on the U937 cells cultured with LPS. No phagocytic activity was induced when the U937 cells cultured with LPS were incubated at 4 degrees C, but restored to the control level when shifted up to 37 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Establishment of monoclonal antibody NI-58 which inhibits homotypic cell adhesion of LPS-stimulated U937 cells].

A mouse monoclonal IgG1 antibody, referred to as NI-58, has been produced. In immunofluorescence assay, this antibody reacted with myelomonocytes, EBV-B cells, Burkitt's lymphoma cells, T cell leukemia cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but not with erythroid cells. The surface antigen on U937 cells recognized by NI-58 had a molecular size of 65 kDa as determined by immunoblotting analysis. As a biological function, NI-58 strongly inhibited the homotypic cell adhesion of LPS-stimulated U937 cells. It was found that the antigen defined by NI-58 was distinct from CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) in it's pattern of cellular expression and molecular weight, suggesting that NI-58 recognizes a new adhesion molecule and inhibits the homotypic cell adhesion of LPS-stimulated U937 cells.

Oxygen-independent antimicrobial activity against Salmonella enteritidis of specially activated macrophage with living vaccine.

Characteristics of peritoneal macrophages recovered from mice infected with two attenuated strains SER and Jena of Salmonella enteritidis were compared. Strong resistance against lethal infection with a virulent strain 116-54 of S. enteritidis was seen in a group of mice immunized with strain SER, but not in a group of mice immunized with strain Jena as well as in a control group. Peritoneal macrophages from mice immunized with strain SER showed an enhanced Salmonella-killing activity, an increased generation of O2- and an increased expression of Ia antigen on 7 to 14 days after infection when compared with those from mice immunized with strain Jena and thioglycollate(TG)-elicited macrophages as a control. The bacterial number of strain Jena in organs decreased more rapidly than that of strain SER after day 4 of infection. These observations suggest that the survival of an attenuated Salmonella bacilli at reticulo-endothelium is essential to increase of their activities of macrophages. Macrophages from mice injected with recombinant interferon(IFN)-gamma for 3 days induced the activated stage of the same characteristics as noted in activated macrophages from mice immunized with strain SER. Effect of oxygen intermediates (OI) scavengers such as superoxide dismutase and catalase on Salmonella-killing activity of activated macrophages was not seen at all. These results suggest that an increased generation of OI may be not primarily responsible for the ability to inhibit the intracellular growth of a virulent strain of S. enteritidis in macrophages activated by immunization with live, attenuated strains and injection with rIFN-gamma.

Development and characterization of a human monoclonal antibody probably detecting the leukocyte differentiation antigen CD39.

A human monoclonal IgM antibody, referred to as TU223, has been produced. The reactivity of TU223 was tested in various cells and cell lines by complement-dependent microcytotoxicity test and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. The antigen defined by TU223 was expressed on Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell lines and on some Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines, but was not expressed on normal T cells, B cells or erythrocytes. In addition, expression of the antigen defined by TU223 was also induced on B cells activated by Epstein-Barr virus or pokeweed mitogen, and on T cells activated by phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen or recombinant interleukin-2. However, no expression of the antigen detected by TU223 was induced at all on recombinant interleukin-4-treated B cells or macrophage-like cell line U937. When the ability of TU223 and various mouse monoclonal antibodies to bind to human differentiation antigens was compared, interestingly, the reactivity of TU223 was found to be very similar to that of mouse monoclonal antibody CD23 (H107), which reacts with Fc epsilon receptor II. Two-color analysis revealed that the antigen defined by TU223 is expressed on the cell surface of certain lymphoid cells expressing CD23 antigen. However, it can be concluded that the antigen defined by TU223 is clearly distinct from Fc epsilon receptor II, based on assay of cross-blocking between H107 and TU223. The surface antigen on B85 cells recognized by TU2232 had the molecular size of 80-82 kiloDaltons as determined by immunoblotting analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of CD14 antigen on the surface of U937 cells by an interleukin-6 autocrine mechanism after culture with formalin-killed gram-negative bacteria.

In order to better understand the regulation of CD14 antigen on the surface of the monocyte-like cell line U937 in response to bacteria, the expression and regulation of CD14 antigen on these cells when cultured with formalin-killed bacteria were determined using the monoclonal antibody MY-4 and analyzed by means of the indirect immunofluorescence method. CD14 expression was induced on the U937 cells after about 48 hours of culture with all of the formalin-killed Gram-negative bacteria used in this study but with none of the Gram-positive bacteria. Maximum expression was obtained after culture with formalin-killed Salmonella enteritidis strain 116-54. Various cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, interferon-gamma and tumor-necrosis factor-alpha were assayed in the culture supernatant of U937 cells cultured with or without formalin-killed Salmonella enteritidis 116-54 using an enzyme-immunoassay or radioimmunoassay system. The U937 cells were found to produce a large amount of interleukin-6 in response to formalin-killed Salmonella enteritidis 116-54. On the other hand, culture supernatant (referred to as conditioned medium) obtained from the U937 cells after 72 h of culture with formalin-killed Salmonella enteritidis 116-54 also induced strong expression of CD14 antigen 48 to 72 h later, and this was blocked by the addition of anti-human interleukin-6 antibody. These findings suggest that the expression of CD14 antigen on the surface of U937 cells cultured with formalin-killed Gram-negative bacteria is induced by interleukin-6 and can be explained on the basis of the autocrine mechanism of interleukin-6.

[Modulation of the surface antigens of Salmonella-phagocytized U937 cells].

In this study, modulation of the surface antigens of Salmonella enteritidis-phagocytized U937 cells and morphology of the bacteria in these cells were analyzed by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The results are as follows: (1) Morphological studies revealed that the bacteria phagocytized by the U937 cells were transformed to a small coccoid form. (2) The expression of CD14 antigen was observed 24 to 48 h after phagocytosis. (3) The levels of CD11b and CD23 antigens were clearly enhanced 48 h after phagocytosis. (4) No modulation of HLA-class II (DR, DQ and DP) antigens was observed after phagocytosis.

Differentiation of a human B cell hybridoma with interleukin-2 receptor.

A 6-thioguanine-neo-resistant clone, Raji 6-TGR-neoR was fused with pokeweed mitogen-stimulated B cells (PWM-B cells) obtained from a normal healthy donor, and selected by a new selection medium (HAT-neo). Two hybrid clones, HYNI-1 and HYNI-2, were established. These clones expressed surface IgG and HLA class II antigens derived from PWM-B cells, and they had about 20 more chromosomes than Raji 6-TGR-neoR. More significantly, one clone, HYNI-2, expressed interleukin-2 receptor on the cell surface, and generated IgG when stimulated with recombinant interleukin-2. These findings indicate that the HYNI-2 is a good model for studying human B cell differentiation.

[Production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody specific for Salmonella O5-antigen].

The present report described the production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody, TMY1, specific for an O-antigen of Salmonella bacilli. The following results were obtained: The slide agglutination test against strains of Salmonella serovars indicated the responsiveness of TMY1. TMY1 was reactive only to strains that also possessed O5-antigen in group O4. The agglutinating ability of TMY1 was absorbed completely with bacilli possessing O5-antigen in group O4. When treated with 1 N HCl, bacilli possessing O5-antigen in group O4 showed no agglutinability in the presence of TMY1. The data indicates that TMY1 was specific for O5-antigen. Strains of Salmonella group O4 were classified by the agglutination test with TMY1 into two subgroups, O5-antigen positive and negative, suggesting the usefulness of TMY1 as an epidemiologic tool for the serotyping of Salmonella.

Production and characterization of a human monoclonal antibody recognizing a new antigen expressed on some lymphoid cells.

A cell line secreting a human monoclonal antibody was established by Epstein-Barr virus transforming B cells derived from an enlarged cervical lymph node excised from a patient bearing a carotid body tumor. The reactivity of the monoclonal antibody, designated as mNISP, was tested on various cells and cell lines. An antigen defined by the mNISP was expressed on some Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines and on a non-T non-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line. Furthermore, this antigen was expressed on leukemic cells from 2 of 8 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia, 2 of 10 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia, one of 13 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and two patients with adult T cell leukemia, but it was not expressed on normal T, B and adherent (macrophage) cells. In addition, mNISP reacted with T cells obtained from human T-cell leukemia virus type I carriers. We found that the antigen defined by mNISP was distinct from any previously reported antigen in terms of its pattern of cellular expression and molecular weight, suggesting that mNISP recognizes a new antigen expressed on some lymphoid cells.