0892-6638/93/0007-0149/$01.50. © FASEB 149 ABSTRACT We have detected an immunoglobulin heavy-chain trans-mRNA of the e class in which the variable region of the human transgenic t chain is correctly spliced to the first exon of the endogenous mouse #{128} constant region. Together with our previous observations, all the endogenous isotypes that are targets of class switching have proved to be e...

introduction: most b-cell malignancies are diagnosed based on morphologic and immunohistochemical criteria. some cases, however, still present a challenge for the pathologist to discriminate between reactive hyperplasia and neoplastic disorders. molecular techniques can be used as a helpful diagnostic tool in these cases. in this study, we assessed the value of polymerase chain reaction (pcr) t...

conclusions according to this study, igvh3 mutation was found to be prevalent (although a correlation was found to exist between the patients’ survival and igvh mutation, it was not statistically significant). we can conclude that clinical methods are still valuable to predict the prognosis of patients with cll. given the high cost and need for specialized laboratory, determining the cost and v...

We have designed a set of oligonucleotide primers to amplify the cDNA of mouse immunoglobulin heavy and light chain variable domains by the polymerase chain reaction. The primers incorporate restriction sites that allow the cDNA of the variable domains to be force-cloned for sequencing and expression. Here we have applied the technique to clone and sequence the variable domains of five hybridom...

Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized cancer therapy. However, delivery to tumor cells in vivo is hampered by the large size (150 kDa) of conventional antibodies. The minimal target recognition module of a conventional antibody is composed of two non-covalently associated variable domains (VH and VL). The proper orientation of these domains is mediated by their hydrophobic interface and is ...

We have devised a strategy based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the rapid cloning of functional antibody genes as single-chain immunotoxins. RNA from a hybridoma producing an antibody (OVB3) that reacts with ovarian cancer cells was used as a template to make the first strand of a cDNA. Then a second strand was synthesized and amplified by using two sets of DNA primers that (i) hybridiz...

Rheumatoid factors (RFs) in humans have been studied intensively because of their association with autoimmune and lymphoproliferative diseases. Many human IgM-RFs express cross-reactive idiotypes (CRIs) and have homologous light chains, some of which are encoded by a single V kappa gene, termed V kappa 325. However, although antibody activity generally requires the interaction between heavy and...

Muscle fiber composition correlates with insulin resistance, and exercise training can increase slow-twitch (type I) fibers and, thereby, mitigate diabetes risk. Human skeletal muscle is made up of three distinct fiber types, but muscle contains many more isoforms of myosin heavy and light chains, which are coded by 15 and 11 different genes, respectively. Laser capture microdissection techniqu...

Immunoglobulin- or multiple myeloma-associated amyloidosis has been distinguished by the tissue deposition of Congophilic, fibrillar protein consisting of light chains or light-chain fragments (AL amyloidosis). We now report the isolation and characterization of another form of immunoglobulin-associated amyloid obtained from a patient who had extensive systemic amyloidosis and in whom the amylo...

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries. The current pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPS) vaccine is highly effective in young adults; however, vaccine efficacy is dramatically decreased in the elderly population. We hypothesized that the decreased vaccine efficacy in the elderly results from altered variable gene family usa...