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Abstract: Occurrence of autoantibodies in patients’ sera is the characteristic feature of autoimmune disorders. We assessed the presence of anti-mannose binding lectin (MBL) autoantibodies in the sera of 107 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 121 control subjects by enzyme immunoassay. Elevated levels of anti-MBL autoantibodies in the sera of RA patients (P <0.0001) was detected for the first time. The ratios of anti-MBL positive in RA patients and controls were respectively 60.7% and 1.65%. Experiments were then designed to understand the functional relevance of these autoantibodies. An inverse correlation of anti-MBL autoantibodies with serum MBL levels (P =0.001) and MBL complex activity (P =0.02) was observed without genetic association between MBL polymorphisms and anti-MBL autoantibody secretion. A significant increase (P =0.038) in the level of anti-MBL autoantibodies was observed in 23 synovial fluid samples in comparison to the serum samples. Moreover, the anti-MBL autoantibodies were found to be more often present in the sera of RA patients (60.75% sensitivity, 98.35% specificity and 0.913 area under the ROC curve) in comparison to the IgM and IgG isotypes of rheumatoid factors (RF). Anti-MBL autoantibodies were still positive in 25.23% RA patients when both the RF isotypes were negative. Also, in RA patients, at all stages of disease activity and joint deformity, anti-MBL autoantibodies were more often present than both the RF isotypes. Therefore, the significant presence of anti-MBL autoantibodies enunciates that anti-MBL autoantibodies might have a diagnostic value; however, more studies are needed to confirm the role of anti-MBL autoantibodies in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to investigate the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2C5 with nucleosome-restricted specificity for its ability to specifically recognize human brain tumor cells and to serve as a specific ligand for liposome targeting to brain tumor cells in vitro and in vivo . The affinity of mAb 2C5 towards brain tumor cells was tested by flow cytometry. The interaction of 2C5-immunoliposomes (ILS) with brain tumor cells in vitro was studied by fluorescence microscopy. For in vivo accumulation studies, 111 In-ILS were administered i.v. into mice bearing subcutaneously grown brain tumor. mAb 2C5 was found to be reactive against several tested brain tumor cell lines. mAb 2C5 and 2C5-ILS demonstrated enhanced cell-surface binding with CCF-STTG1,U-87 MG and LN-18 cells in vitro . 2C5-ILS displayed significantly better accumulation in the subcutaneously grown brain tumor than non-specific control IgG-ILS. mAb 2C5 specifically recognizes brain tumor cells and can serve as a ligand to target drug carriers such as liposomes to brain tumor cells in vivo . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been used to overcome the lipophilic barrier of the cellular membranes and deliver large molecules and even small particles inside the cell for their biological actions. CPPs are being used to deliver inside cell a large variety of cargoes such as proteins, DNA, antibodies, contrast (imaging) agents, toxins, and nanoparticular drug carriers including liposomes. In this paper, we have reviewed the delivery of different molecules and particles mediated by TAT, Antp, VP22, and other CPPs as well as potential applications of these delivery systems in different areas of vaccine development, cancer immunotherapy, gene delivery, and cellular imaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]