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Various lipopeptides representing the N-terminal part of the cytochrome subunit of the photosynthetic reaction centre from the purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas virdis were prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis. These lipopeptides consisted of a S-[2,3-dihydroxypropyl]-cysteinyl (Dhc) residue N-terminally coupled to the nonapeptide FEPPPATTT. Different numbers of palmitoyl (Pam) chains were attached to Dhc via ester and/or amide bonds. The lipopeptide Dhc(Pam)2-FEPPPATTT containing two ester-bonded palmitoyl residues and a free N-terminus was a potent polyclonal activator of murine (BALB/c) spleen cells at subnanomolar concentrations. The lipopeptide Pam-Dhc(Pam)2-FEPPPATTT containing three palmitoyl residues, the two-chain lipopeptide Pam-Dhc(Pam)-FEPPPATTT containing one amide- and one ester-bonded palmitoyl residue, and the N-terminally elongated lipopeptide SLVAG-Dhc(Pam)2-FEPPPATTT were less active. The nonapeptide FEPPPATTT and the decapeptide Dhc-FEPPPATTT were only marginal splenocyte activators, even at concentrations as high as 1 microM. Thus, lipopeptide Dhc(Pam)2-FEPPPATTT constitutes the first potent splenocyte stimulation Dhc-lipopeptide described so far that contains only two fatty acid residues.

The bacterial extract OM-89 is used for the treatment of recurrent infections of the urinary tract. It consists of immunostimulating components derived from 18 Escherichia coli bacterial strains and constitutes a non-specific leukocyte activator. We here could demonstrate for the first time that, in a long-term immunization protocol, OM-89 acts as an effective immunogen in mice. After multiple parenteral applications of the extract, OM-89-specific antisera were obtained; the maximum serum antibody content was found after 6-9 immunizations. The antibodies induced were mainly of the IgG isotype, and a weak increase of IgM was observed. The sera also bound to the bacterial strains used for the preparation of the extract. Moreover, we could show that defined bacterial cell-wall components like protein I (porin), lipopeptide and murein were recognized. Our findings on the immunogenicity of OM-89 might partially explain the therapeutic effect of the extract as shown in clinical studies.

The lipoprotein (LP) from Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae as well as lipoprotein derived lipopeptides constitute potent B lymphocyte mitogens. Several synthetic peptide segments of the lipoprotein were tested for mitogenic activity towards splenocytes of BALB/c mice. Mitogenic effects were observed for the lipoprotein fragments LP-(2-15), LP-(2-20), LP-(2-25), and LP-(33-47), and a less pronounced effect was determined for LP-(2-10). The mitogenicity of the peptides could be further enhanced by their attachment to the lipopeptide N-palmitoyl-S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2R,S)-propyl]-(R)- cysteine (Pam3Cys). The additional insertion of 6-aminohexanoic acid (Ahx) between the peptide segments and Pam3Cys further increased mitogenicity. Thus, in addition to the known mitogenic N-terminal lipopeptide of lipoprotein, additional peptide segments of the molecule were shown to exhibit a biological activity.

Human tonsillar B lymphocytes were stimulated with synthetic lipopeptide analogues of Escherichia coli lipoprotein alone or together with anti-CD40 and/or interleukin-4 (IL-4). While lipopeptides alone or lipopeptides plus IL-4 did not include proliferation of B lymphocytes, synergistic stimulation was observed when anti-CD40 antibodies were added. Proliferation was even more pronounced in the presence of Fc receptor type II (FcRII)-transfected L cells. Compared to the stimulus anti-CD40 plus IL-4 plus FcRII-transfected fibroblasts exerted, the addition of lipopeptides induced a more rapid maximal response which peaked on day 4. Antibody production could also be enhanced by lipopeptides. Our data provide evidence that lipopeptides, which act as mitogens toward murine B lymphocytes, also stimulate human B lymphocytes, provided that co-signals are added.

Synthetic lipopeptide analogues of the N-terminal region of bacterial lipoprotein are potent activators of macrophages. In a previous study we showed that within minutes after their addition to macrophage cultures, lipopeptides were found attached to the plasma membranes and within different compartments of the cells. Their rapid interaction with the plasma membrane is thought to occur via the insertion of their three fatty acids. We used the freeze-fracture technique to study the influence of lipopeptides on the architecture of plasma membranes. Fifteen to thirty seconds after addition of the lipopeptides, the freeze-fractured plasma membranes show a rapid decrease in the particle density. This effect is not due to a loss of proteins, but is caused by lateral diffusion of single particles, which subsequently aggregate. These alterations are transient, temperature-sensitive and disappear 20 min after stimulation. At 4 degrees C, no change is found in the architecture of the plasma membranes. Using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), lipopeptides can neither be detected on the membrane nor within the cells when incubated at this temperature. Our findings suggest that membrane protein aggregation is involved in the rapid uptake of lipopeptides into macrophages after their interaction with the plasma membranes.

For the evaluation of immunomodulators by in vitro assays, agents working reproducibly are difficult to obtain; conventional preparations of bacterial immunomodulators tend to vary for different preparations. Here we suggest that synthetic lipopeptide analogues derived from bacterial lipoprotein can be used as standards for various in vitro assays: studying B lymphocyte activation, lipopeptides act as potent mitogens and polyclonal activators inducing immunoglobulin synthesis. In monocytes/macrophages, lipopeptide stimulate the secretion of IL-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and nitrogen oxide (NO); they also induce tumor cytotoxicity. Lipopeptides also constitute potent immuno-adjuvants in vitro and in vivo, either in combination with or covalently bound to antigen. These activities are displayed in various species; in mice they are found in LPS non-responder and responder strains. The novel synthetic lipopeptides described here can be synthesized readily in gram amounts with high purity and reproducibility; they are non-toxic and can be stored for a long time even at room temperature. Thus, lipopeptides meet the requirements to serve as effective standards for a multitude of relevant biological assays.

We recently showed that synthetic lipopeptides, analogues of the N-terminal region of bacterial lipoprotein, induce DNA synthesis in B lymphocytes in the absence of enhanced phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis and protein kinase C translocation. Here we demonstrate that lipopeptides are capable of inducing enhanced expression of MHC class II molecules and early increases in the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in B cells. However, they do not effect T cells. The increase in [Ca2+]i seen in B cells is due primarily to Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Since lipopeptides differ in their capability to induce early increases in [Ca2+]i and since the calcium response does not correlate with the ability of lipopeptides to induce proliferation and expression of MHC class II molecules, we suggest that this biochemical event may not be essential for lipopeptide-mediated B-cell activation.

Lipopeptide analogues of bacterial lipoprotein activate macrophages and B lymphocytes. The products formed by coupling these lipopeptides to low molecular mass antigens can be used to induce antigen-specific antibodies in mice. In the present work, it is shown that HIV-1 gp160-derived synthetic oligopeptides coupled to the synthetic lipodipeptide N-palmitoyl-S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl]-(R)-cysteinyl-s eryl- serine (P3CSS) induce peptide-specific antibodies in mice without adding further adjuvants. Depending on the peptides applied, the conjugates exhibited different lymphocyte stimulatory activity, immunoglobulin isotype patterns, and boost reactions; lipopeptide conjugates inducing a pronounced secondary immune response are considered to possess both B- and T-cell epitopes. Antibodies induced by the lipopeptide-HIV-1-peptide conjugates were also reactive against the recombinant gp160 of HIV-1.

After characterization of the porin OmpF and selection of molecular structures responsible for leukocyte activation by using computer-assisted epitope analysis, the analogs OmpF (153-174) (containing amino acids 153 to 174), OmpF (157-174), and OmpF (275-285) were synthesized and tested. Like the native protein, the segments were mitogenic for BALB/c splenocytes and induced B lymphocyte differentiation into antibody-producing plasma cells and tumor cytotoxicity of macrophages against the fibroblast cell line L929. We thus demonstrated that defined peptide segments are responsible for the leukocyte-activating properties of a major bacterial surface protein.

Bacterial extracts obtained from pathogenic strains occurring in lung infections (Broncho Vaxom) or urogenital infections (Urovaxom) as well as defined surface components of Gram-negative bacteria purified from bacteria or obtained by chemical synthesis were tested for their immunomodulatory properties in a murine system. The bacterial extracts were able to act as immunogens inducing an antigen-specific response. Both the bacterial extracts and the purified bacterial cell wall components constituted polyclonal activators of murine splenic B cells, as demonstrated by proliferation assays measuring the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA. They were also able to act as immunoadjuvants increasing the SRBC and the BSA-TNP specific immune response, and could induce tumor cytotoxicity in bone marrow-derived macrophages. The results show that bacterial extracts and defined bacterial surface components constitute immunogens as well as immunomodulators in vitro and in vivo.

Mycelia from several strains of Streptomyces were potent B-lymphocyte mitogens for spleen cells from 3 inbred mouse strains (BALB/c, C3H/HeJ, C3H/nu/nu), inducing lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation into immunoglobulin-secreting cells. Streptomyces mycelia were also mitogenic towards human peripheral blood lymphocytes, where maximal stimulation was found on days 5 to 7. On the other hand, human lymphocytes incubated with the mycelia for 3 days, but not the supernatants of these cultures, strongly inhibited mixed leukocyte reactions. Irradiation experiments suggest the induction of both radioresistant and radiolabile suppressor-cell populations by the components.

Synthetic analogues of bacterial lipoprotein induce proliferation of murine small resting B lymphocytes. We investigated the role of proteinkinase C (PKC) activation in lipopeptide-induced B cell stimulation. Using a standardized extraction procedure, there was no change in membrane bound and soluble PKC activity upon stimulation with lipopeptide. However, omitting Ca2+ chelators from the standard extraction medium resulted in a decrease of membrane bound PKC activity after stimulation. Lipopeptide failed to induce phosphoinositide degradation and the generation of the two second messengers cAMP and cGMP. To test whether guanosinetriphosphate-binding proteins are involved in lipopeptide-induced signal transfer we investigated the effect of LiCl, choleratoxin and pertussistoxin on B lymphocyte proliferation. LiCl and pertussistoxin did not inhibit cell activation, whereas choleratoxin reduced the proliferation rate at concentrations higher than 0.5 micrograms/ml. Similar results were observed when LPS was used as mitogen, whereas the anti-immunoglobulin-induced B cell activation was inhibited by all three compounds. Our results show, that B cell activation by bacterial lipopeptides bypasses phosphatidylinositol metabolism and PKC translocation.

Bacterial porins were isolated from Escherichia coli B and Salmonella typhimurium S 1135. The proteins were cleaved either by cyanogen bromide treatment or by enzymatic digestion into a variety of small fragments, and the compounds were characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both the porins and the porin fragments constituted potent mitogens for human peripheral blood lymphocytes, comparable to the human B-lymphocyte activator pokeweed mitogen. In the cultures, B-lymphocytes were stimulated into immunoglobulin production, as measured by ELISA. In all experiments, the activity of the mitogens extracted from S. typhimurium was superior to that of the compound isolated from E. coli B. The well-defined porins constitute valuable tools for investigating the molecular mechanism of human lymphocyte activation.

Lipoprotein from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae constitutes a potent B lymphocyte mitogen and polyclonal activator in various species. Tripalmitoyl pentapeptide (S-(2,3-bis-(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl)-N-palmitoyl-(R)-cysteinyl -(S)-seryl-(S)-seryl-(S)-asparaginyl-(S)-alanine) is a synthetic analogue of the N-terminal part of lipoprotein and has, in all assays tested, a biologic activity similar to native lipoprotein. It also exhibits a strong adjuvant activity in vitro: In the presence of 3.3 to 33.3 micrograms/ml of tripalmitoyl pentapeptide, the stimulation of the primary antibody response toward underivatized sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and toward trinitrophenylated (TNP-) SRBC was markedly enhanced, as measured by a direct hemolytic plaque assay. At optimal mitogen- and antigen-doses, plaque formation was increased up to 100-fold, and at suboptimal doses (0.03 to 0.3 microgram/ml) a 10- to 60-fold increase of plaque numbers was achieved. In the presence of tripalmitoyl pentapeptide, the antigen-specific IgM response was increased about sevenfold and the IgG response was augmented about 10-fold, as measured by ELISA. Similarly, in the secondary in vitro response to TNP-SRBC, a 7 to 10-fold enhancement of the antibody titer was obtained in the presence of the adjuvant. The application of tripalmitoyl pentapeptide and antigen had to occur concurrently in order to achieve a strong adjuvant effect. Addition of tripalmitoyl pentapeptide to the cell cultures 1 day after or 1 day before antigen application had no significant positive effect, and in several instances a decrease in antibody production was found. Thus, tripalmitoyl pentapeptide, a well-characterized synthetic product available in major amounts, constitutes a potent immune adjuvant for potential animal and clinical use.

Porins were prepared from the outer membrane of Salmonella typhimurium and consisted of three polypeptides with similar molecular ratios around 40 kDa, and isoelectric points around 4.7. They constituted potent polyclonal activators for murine B lymphocytes. The compounds were mitogenic towards splenic lymphocytes of lipopolysaccharide responder Balb/c, non-responder (C3H/HeJ), and athymic (Balb/c nu/nu) mouse inbred strains, as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA. Furthermore, porin-activated B cells differentiated into immunoglobulin-secreting cells, as was measured by an ELISA test. The porins will be valuable in elucidating the molecular mechanism of lymphocyte activation in bacterial infections.

From the mutant bacterial strain Escherichia coli JE5511 lpp lpm, muropeptide-containing and muropeptide-free lipoproteins were prepared. By gas chromatography and by infrared spectroscopy we showed that the products were deficient in the two ester-bound N-terminal fatty acids, but still carried the amide-linked fatty acid. Mutant lipoproteins were tested for mitogenicity in lipopolysaccharide nonresponder C3H/HeJ mice by incorporation of [3H]thymidine and [3H]uridine and by hemolytic plaque assays for immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells. Our results showed that the mutant lipoproteins still exhibited marked mitogenicity toward mouse B-lymphocytes, although the activity of the products was reduced in comparison to the wild-type lipoprotein. Thus, the presence of one fatty acid in the N-terminal part of lipoprotein is sufficient to bring about mitogenicity.

The sequence of events in mitogenic T-lymphocyte activation was investigated by employing purified mouse peritoneal adherent cells and T-lymphocyte populations. After treatment of adherent cells with the oxidizing agents sodium periodate or neuroaminidase plus galactose oxidase and removal of the mitogens, the cells acquired the ability to stimulate purified T-lymphocytes added subsequently. For this process of T-lymphocyte activation, the additional presence of the membrane interacting substances polyethylene glycol, dextran, nonmitogenic Helix pomatia agglutinin, or inactivated sendai virus was required. Lysates of mitogen-treated peritoneal adherent cells were able to replace the adherent cells in the cultures.

Two analogues of the N-terminal part of bacterial lipoprotein, S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)propyl]-N-palmitoyl-(R)-cysteine methyl ester ("tripalmitoyl cysteine") and S [-2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl]-N-palmitoyl-(R)-cysteinyl-(S)-seryl-(S)-seryl-(S)-asparaginyl-(S)-alanine ("tripalmitoyl pentapeptide") were synthesized and tested for mitogenic activity. The compounds were potent mitogens towards mouse spleen cell cultures, as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation and by hemolytic plaque assays. This activity was not dependent on the presence of serum. Tripalmitoyl pentapeptide had little, if any, effect on thymocytes. When injected intravenously into Balb/c mice, the synthetic compounds induced splenomegaly and polyclonal B-cell activation, the latter was evident from an increase in the number of plaque-forming cells against trinitrophenylated sheep red blood cells. Thus, a synthetic fragment of a bacterial surface component was shown to exhibit marked biological activity in vitro as well as in vivo.

Lipoprotein from the outer membrane of E. coli, a potent novel mitogen, was digested by pronase treatment resulting in lipopeptide fragments containing 2-5 amino acids bound to diacylglyceryl-N-acylcysteinthioether. The lipopeptides were characterized by amino acid analysis and gas chromatography and were checked for mitogenicity. We found that all lipopeptide fragments were able to stimulate the uptake of 3H-uridine into RNA and 3H-thymidine into DNA in mouse spleen cells of several strains. The response of splenocytes of congenitally athymic mice was comparable to that of normal animals. A weak stimulation of DNA synthesis was also observed in thymocytes. The mitogenicity of the products was abolished by mild alkali hydrolysis which removes the ester-bound fatty acids. We conclude that the N-terminal lipopeptide region of lipoprotein is responsible for the mitogenic activity of the molecule. Lipopeptide as well as lipoprotein were found to cause early membrane changes in lymphocyte plasma membranes. After 4 hours we found an increased incorporation of 14C-oleate and 14C-acetate into lecithin. The membrane changes observed are similar to those brought about by mitogenic lectins, which suggests a similar mechanism for the induction of lymphocyte activation for both types of mitogens.

Lipoprotein from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli is a potent mitogen towards lymphocytes of different species. A lipopeptide fragment corresponding to the N-terminal part of the lipoprotein was prepared by chemical synthesis. The mitogenicity of the compound was demonstrated by measuring the incorporation of both [3H]thymidine into DNA and [3H]uridine into RNA at various times after the addition of lipopeptide to mouse spleen cell cultures. The lipopeptide also activated B-lymphocyte development into immunoglobulin secreting cells, as shown by a hemolytic plaque assay. The mitogenicity of the synthetic compound was comparable to the activity of the B-lymphocyte mitogens lipoprotein and lipopolysaccharide. Thus, it was shown that a fragment of a bacterial surface component prepared by chemical synthesis, exhibits a marked biological activity.

The reactivity of 38 murine strains to a synthetic analogue of bacterial lipoprotein, tripalmitoyl-pentapeptide (TPP), was tested and compared with the reactivity to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These strains include common laboratory mice and H-2 recombinant inbred lines, as well as some newly bred lines originating from animals recently captured in different regions of Europe. All animals analysed were reactive to TPP and polyclonally activated to proliferation and immunoglobulin synthesis. Large differences in mitogen reactivities of various H-2 recombinant inbred strains suggest that MHC or closely linked gene products influence the reactivity to the LPS and TPP mitogens. By analysing the frequencies of precursor cells reactive to TPP or LPS and the isotype patterns obtained after stimulation, we demonstrated that both mitogens activate individual B cells in different ways.

Lipoprotein prepared from the outer membrane of Salmonella typhimurium is a polyclonal activator of murine B-lymphocytes. It was shown to be mitogenic for splenic cultures, stimulating increased incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA. When injected intravenously into mice, the lipoprotein induced splenomegaly and polyclonal B-cell activation. The latter was evident from an increase in the number of plaque-forming cells against trinitrophenylated sheep erythrocytes. Similar results were obtained with Escherichia coli lipoprotein.

Cell-surface 5'-nucleotidase was assayed by incubating intact cells with 5' [3H]AMP in iso-osmotic buffer and measuring [3H]adenosine production. The activity of cell surface 5'-nucleotidase in small resting lymphocytes and in cells of the B cell line BCL1 was 5.7 and 1.1 nmol/min/mg protein respectively at 37 degrees C. The 5'-nucleotidase was inhibited by Concanavalin A and anti-IgM, the inhibition by anti-IgM being reversible. Incubating the lymphocytes in the presence and absence of mitogens in inositol-free medium for 15 min, 60 min, and 24 h had no effect on 5'-nucleotidase activity. The reaction product adenosine as well as adenine nucleotides were shown to inhibit mitogen-induced proliferation.

Synthetic Escherichia coli lipid A and synthetic S-[2,3-bis-(palmitoyloxy)propyl]-N-palmitoylpentapeptide (tripalmitoyl pentapeptide [TPP]), representing the mitogenically active principles of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoprotein, respectively, were compared for their mitogenic activities on splenocytes of LPS responder (BALB/c) and LPS-low-responder (C3H/HeJ) mice. Whereas lipid A was active only in LPS-responder mice, TPP resulted in mitogenic activation of B lymphocytes from both LPS-responder and LPS-low-responder mice. When the mitogens were added simultaneously, mainly additive effects of both activators were observed. The data suggest that two different B-lymphocyte populations are responding to these two mitogens.