We have previously shown that murine IgG3 monoclonal autoantibodies with cryoglobulin activity, derived from lupus-prone mice, are able to induce glomerular lesions resembling the "wire-loop" lesion typically described for human lupus nephritis. In the present study, we have further assessed the nephritogenic potential of four IgG3 anti-hapten, trinitrophenyl (TNP), monoclonal antibodies (mAb) ...

Mammalians express several subclasses of the IgG molecule. In human being there are four homologous IgG subclasses, each of which is structurally unique and has different functions. Quantification of IgG subclasses is fundamental to clinical assessment and diagnosis of many diseases as such assessments depends on the availability of subclassspecific antibodies (Abs), particularly monoclonal ant...

The antiangiogenic protein endostatin showed considerable preclinical antitumor activity, but limited efficacy in phase I/II trials. Prior studies using an anti-HER2 antibody-murine endostatin fusion showed enhanced antitumor activity compared to anti-HER2 antibody or endostatin given alone, or in combination. We have generated two anti-HER2 human endostatin fusion proteins by fusing either wil...

The antiangiogenic protein endostatin showed considerable preclinical antitumor activity, but limited efficacy in phase I/II trials. Prior studies using an anti-HER2 antibody–murine endostatin fusion showed enhanced antitumor activity compared to anti-HER2 antibody or endostatin given alone, or in combination. We have generated two anti-HER2 human endostatin fusion proteins by fusing either wil...

Endostatin can inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth in mice. A potential limitation of endostatin as an antitumor agent in humans is the short serum half-life of the protein that may decrease effective concentration at the site of tumor and necessitate frequent dosing. In an effort to improve antitumor activity, endostatin was fused to an antibody specific for the tumor-selective HER2 antigen ...

Anti-HER2/neu therapy of human HER2/neu-expressing malignancies such as breast cancer has shown only partial success in clinical trials. To expand the clinical potential of this approach, we have genetically engineered an anti-HER2/neu IgG3 fusion protein containing GM-CSF. Anti-HER2/neu IgG3-(GM-CSF) expressed in myeloma cells was correctly assembled and secreted. It was able to target HER2/ne...

A total of 154 human serum samples (32 acute-phase and 22 convalescent-phase serum samples obtained within a week and between days 8 and 26 after the onset of rash, respectively, and 100 samples drawn from healthy immune adults) were processed by an immunofluorescence assay for the detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM), total immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 measles virus-specif...

Each year, millions of people are infected with Streptococcus pyogenes, leading to an estimated 500,000 annual deaths worldwide. For unknown reasons, school-aged children have substantially higher infection rates than adults. The goal for this study was to provide, to our knowledge, the first detailed characterization of the human adaptive immune response against S. pyogenes in both children an...

Cell lines have been established that secrete a matched set of human chimeric IgM, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgE, and IgA2 antibodies that are directed against the hapten 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenacetyl. These chimeric antibodies secreted from mouse plasmacytoma cells behave exactly like their authentic human counterparts in SDS-PAGE analysis, binding to protein A and in a wide range of serological a...