B. D. Tait

FTIR microspectroscopic study of cell types and potential confounding variables in screening for cervical malignancies.

FTIR microscopy was applied to the analysis of cell types and other variables present in Pap smears to ascertain the limitations of infrared spectroscopy in the diagnosis of cervical cancer and dysplasia. It was found that leukocytes, and in particular lymphocytes, have spectral features in the phosphodiester region (1300-900 cm[-1]) suggestive of what has previously been described as changes indicative of malignancy. Endocervical cells and fibroblasts have similar spectral features to HeLa cells and consequently could also confound diagnosis. The use of ethanol as a fixative and dehydrating agent results in retention of glycogen in cervical cell types and thus minimizes spectral changes in the glycogen region due to sampling technique. Spectra of seminal fluids exhibit strong bands in the phosphodiester/carbohydrate region; however, sperm contamination should be easily detectable by the presence of a distinctive doublet at 981/968 cm(-1). Erythrocyte spectra exhibit a reduction in glycogen band intensity, but can be discerned by a relatively low-intensity nu(s) PO2- band. Endocervical mucin spectra exhibit a reduction in glycogen bands and a very pronounced nu(s) PO2- band, which is similar in intensity to the corresponding band in HeLa cells. Thrombocytes have strong bands in the phosphodiester region, but thrombocytes can be discerned from other cell types by the presence of two small broad bands at 980 and 935 cm(-1). Candida albicans is characterized by strong bands in the polysaccharide region which could potentially obscure diagnostic bands if C. albicans is present in large numbers. Spectra of bacteria common to the female genital tract, in general, also have strong absorptions in the polysaccharide region; however, bacterial contamination is usually minimal and would not be expected to obscure cervical cell spectra. Nylon threads and bristles from cervical sampling implements produce characteristic IR profiles which allow for easy identification. Given the number of potential confounding variables associated with cervical cytology, a multivariate statistical or neural network analysis would appear to be necessary before the implementation of FTIR technology in clinical laboratories.

Micro-Raman characterisation of the R to T state transition of haemoglobin within a single living erythrocyte.

We present the first recorded Raman spectra of haemoglobin in both the R and T states from within a single living erythrocyte using 632.8 nm excitation. Bands characteristic of low spin haems are observed in oxygenated and carboxylated erythrocytes at approx. 1636 (nu(10)), 1562-1565 (nu(2)), 1250-1245 cm(-1) (nu(13)) and 1226-1224 cm(-1) (nu(5)+nu(8)). The spectra of deoxygenated and methaemoglobin erythrocytes have characteristic high spin bands at approx. 1610-1606 cm(-1) (nu(10)), 1582-1580 (nu(37)), 1547-1544 (nu(11)), 1230-1220 cm(-1) (nu(13)) and 1215-1210 cm(-1) (nu(5)+nu(8)). Bands at 1172 (nu(30)), 976 (nu(45)) and 672 (nu(7)) cm(-1) appear to be enhanced at 632.8 nm in low spin haems. The oxidation state marker band (nu(4)) at 1364-1366 cm(-1) appeared invariant within this domain in all single cells and conditions investigated contrary to other resonance Raman studies on haem isolates. The information gained by in vivo single erythrocyte molecular analysis has important ramifications to the understanding of fundamental physiological processes and may have applications in the diagnosis and treatment of red blood cell disorders.

Markers on Distal Chromosome 2q Linked to Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a multigenic autoimmune disease. An IDDM susceptibility gene was mapped to chromosome 2q34. This gene may act early in diabetogenesis, because “preclinical” individuals also showed linkage. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-disparate, but not HLA-identical, sibs showed linkage, which was even stronger in families with affected females. The genes encoding insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins 2 and 5 were mapped to a 4-megabase pair interval near this locus. These results indicate the existence of a gene that acts at an early stage in IDDM development, screening for which may identify a specific subset of at-risk individuals.

Matching for HLA DPA1 and DPB1 alleles in unrelated bone marrow transplantation.

The impact of donor-recipient DPA1 and DPB1 matching was examined in 122 unrelated bone marrow transplant pairs. All pairs were serologically matched at the time of transplantation for HLA class I and II and a majority also DRB1 allele matched. Retrospective A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 in addition to DPA1 and DPB1 allele matching was performed by molecular techniques. The percentage of pairs that were allele matched was as follows; HLA-A = 91% (n = 80), HLA-B = 94% (n = 80), HLA-C = 78% (n = 80), HLA-DRB1 = 96% (n = 122), HLA-DQA1 = 99% (n = 80), HLA-DQB1 = 92% (n = 122). 92 recipient/donor pairs with informative clinical data were available for analysis. DPA1 identity (no incompatibility in either direction) was observed in 57% and DPA1 compatibility in 76% of pairs with no apparent beneficial effect of matching on patient survival or Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD). DPB1 identity was observed in 11% and compatibility in 27% of pairs. A significant improvement in patient survival was observed in DPB1 matched compared to one DPB1 mismatch (p < 0.01) and combined one and two DPB1 mismatched transplants (p = 0.03). This beneficial effect remained when allele mismatches at HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 were excluded (p = 0.05, p = 0.03, respectively). There was a significant association of increased frequency of severe GVHD (grades III-IV) compared to mild GVHD (grades I-II) with DPB1 mismatched transplants compared to DPB1 matched transplants (p = 0.04). In DPB1 mismatched transplants an association between patient survival and matching for individual DPB1 polymorphic regions was not observed; however in the HLA-A, B, DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 allele matched transplants a non significant increase in the frequency of Grade IV GVHD was observed in recipients who were negative compared to those who were positive for DPB1 alleles coding for glutamic acid at position 69.

Antibodies to type II collagen and HLA disease susceptibility markers in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To seek associations between antibodies to native and denatured type II collagen (NCII and DCII) and HLA in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS One hundred fourteen patients with clinically well-defined RA were HLA-DR and DQ typed. Those who were DR4 positive were subtyped for DRB1*0401-*0408 alleles by polymerase chain reaction using allele-specific oligonucleotide probes. Antibodies to human NCII and DCII (heat-denatured) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The frequency of HLA alleles was compared in patients grouped according to the presence and absence of antibodies to NCII and DCII. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients (24%) were positive for antibodies to NCII. There was a significant increase in the frequency of HLA-DR7 in anti-NCII-positive patients compared with anti-NCII-negative patients (30% versus 9%; P = 0.019) and a significant decrease in HLA-DR3 (7% versus 28%; P = 0.044). Repeating the analyses after excluding the 16 patients who were DR7 positive revealed a significant increase in the frequency of HLA-DR1 in anti-NCII-positive patients compared with anti-NCII-negative patients (63% versus 27%; P = 0.045). Moreover, antibodies to NCII were associated with the third hypervariability region susceptibility sequence QRRAA that is present in DRB1*0101, *0404, *0405, and *0408 (84% versus 47%; P = 0.0085); 24 of 27 anti-NCII-positive patients were positive for either DR7, DR1, or DRB1*0404 or *0408. Thirty patients (26%) were positive for antibodies to DCII. There was a significant increase in the frequency of HLA-DR3 in anti-DCII-positive patients compared with anti-DCII-negative patients (40% versus 18%; P = 0.028). CONCLUSION The genetic associations between HLA-DR alleles and antibodies to CII in RA patients is in keeping with the collagen-induced arthritis model and implicates autoimmunity to CII as a major component in the multifactorial pathogenesis of RA.

Reactivity to human islets and fetal pig proislets by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from subjects with preclinical and clinical insulin-dependent diabetes.

A simple, direct assay for T-lymphocyte reactivity to islet antigen(s) in human insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) should facilitate preclinical diagnosis and the evaluation of intervention therapy to avert autoimmune-mediated β-cell destruction. In subjects with preclinical or clinical IDDM, we measured the reactivity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) incubated over 6 days with either adult human islets or fetal pig proislets, or other fetal pig tissues, and with human insulin. With islets, the stimulation index (SI) of [3H]thymidine uptake by PBMCs exceeded the mean + 2SD of control subjects in 6 of 6 preclinical subjects (SI 8.7 ± 3.7), 7 of 11 clinical subjects (SI 5.2 ± 3.4), and 1 of 12 control subjects (SI 2.7 ± 1.7); with insulin, the responses were less in frequency and magnitude, being 4 of 6 (2.7 ± 1.6), 3 of 11 (2.2 ± 1.1), and 0 of 12 (1.20 ± 0.55), respectively. The mean responses to islets of PBMCs from preclinical and clinical subjects differed significantly from control subjects (P < 0.02 by 2-tailed Kruskal-Wallis test). Secretion of granulocyte macrophage colony–stimulating factor by PBMCs over 6 days was assayed in the preclinical group and generally paralleled the uptake of [3H]thymidine. PBMC reactivity to islets appeared to be at least as sensitive a marker of preclinical IDDM as autoantibodies to a 64,000-Mr protein, presumably the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase, in fetal pig proislets. In conclusion, islet-reactive T lymphocytes in subjects with preclinical and clinical IDDM can be identified in bulk culture of PBMCs. Detection of these autoreactive T lymphocytes should be of value in the diagnosis of preclinical IDDM and in monitoring the effects of immunotherapy.

An immunogenetic analysis of T-cell reactive regions on the major allergen from the house dust mite, Der p I, with recombinant truncated fragments☆☆☆★★★

Proliferation assays were used to localize the T-cell reactive sites on the major allergen from the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Der p I. Seven overlapping recombinant fragments of the Der p I molecule, synthesized with the pGEX expression vector system, were used to stimulate peripheral blood lymphocytes from 35 HDM-sensitive individuals. The fusion fragments were from 39 to 114 amino acids in length and spanned the entire Der p I molecule. Significant proliferative responses to one or more of the fragments were evident in 18 of the allergic individuals, and each of the fragments led to T-cell stimulation in at least one of the subjects. Although T-cell reactive regions were located throughout the molecule, in 12 of the 18 responsive individuals, major immunogenic sites were contained within the 56 amino acids of the N-terminus, and in 11 of these individuals T-cell reactive regions were only present between amino acid positions 1 and 94. In two individuals reactive sites could be mapped in the C-terminal half of the molecule, and in five subjects, epitopes were present in both N- and C-terminal regions. HLA class I and class II DR and DQ specificities were determined serologically in 16 of the 18 individuals, and no strong pattern of association between HLA type and the T-cell immunogenic region could be detected.

HLA‐DRB1*0401 IS ASSOCIATED WITH SUSCEPTIBILITY TO INSULIN‐DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE DQB1 LOCUS

The distribution of DRB1*04 alleles and DRB1/DQB1 haplotypes was analysed in 57 DR4+ caucasoid subjects with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 96 DR4+ healthy controls selected on the basis of DR serology, and the findings were analysed in relation to age at diagnosis of IDDM. DNA samples were amplified using specific DR and DQ primers and hybridized with sequence‐specific oligonucleotide probes.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy as a Method for Monitoring the Molecular Dynamics of Lymphocyte Activation

In this paper we report the application of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy to monitor the molecular dynamics of lymphocyte activation. Infrared spectra of lymphocytes stimulated with the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin-L show spectral features 15 min after initial stimulation that are not apparent in resting lymphocytes. By analyzing the second-order derivatives of the raw spectra and applying principal components analysis (PCA), we conclude that the major spectral changes observed in the first hour result from an increase in overall RNA synthesis. Bands characteristic of RNA at 1244, 1080, 1050, 970, 1160, and 1120 cm−1 appear progressively more intense over time in the spectra of activated lymphocytes. The magnitude of these changes increases over time as the cell differentiates into a blast cell. The sensitivity of infrared spectroscopy to RNA moieties and the rapidity of the technique suggest a possible future role for FT-IR spectroscopy in histocompatibility testing.

Description of a mouse monoclonal anti-HLA-B27 antibody HLA-ABC-m3

The production and characterization of a new anti-HLA-B27 monoclonal antibody HLA-ABC-m3 is described. This cytotoxic IgG2a antibody binds protein A and is able to precipitate cell surface molecules of 43,000 and 12,000 daltons corresponding to the HLA heavy chain and beta 2-microglobulin. Population testing revealed that the HLA-ABC-m3 antibody reacted with the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 47/47 individuals conventionally typed as HLA-B27+ and with 5/105 HLA-B27- individuals. These five extra reactions were with individuals expressing the cross-reactive HLA-B7 alloantigen, although the affinity of the monoclonal antibody for B27 heterozygous individuals (approx 10(9) M-1) was tenfold greater than with B7 individuals (approx 10(8) M-1). In addition, HLA-ABC-m3 reactivity segregated with HLA-B27 in two families. This monoclonal antibody should be of value in the investigation of the role of HLA-B27 in disease.