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Within barely a year, two school shootings shook Finland. The school shootings shocked Finnish society, forcing media, academics and experts, police and politicians alike to search for reasons behind the violent incidents. Focusing their analysis on the two main Finnish newspapers, Helsingin Sanomat and Hufvudstadsbladet, authoritative sources of information for Finland's two language communities,
Protein Arp, the IgA-binding protein of the group A Streptococcus, has affinity for the Fc-part of IgA. The binding between protein Arp and several different molecular forms of human IgA was characterized. It was found that protein Arp bound with higher affinity to uncomplexed forms of IgA than to complexed forms (secretory IgA, alpha 1-antitrypsin-IgA and alpha 1-microglobulin-IgA). Thus, the aff
alpha 1-Microglobulin, a plasma protein with immunoregulatory properties, and bikunin, the light chain of the proteinase inhibitors inter-alpha-inhibitor and pre-alpha-inhibitor, are translated as a precursor protein from the same mRNA. The cosynthesis of alpha 1-microglobulin and bikunin is unique compared to other proproteins such as procomplement components and prohormones, since alpha 1-microg
Cell surface proteins that bind to the Fc part of Ig are expressed by many strains of group A streptococci, an important human pathogen. Two such bacterial strains, AP4 and AP1, were shown to bind IgA and IgG, respectively, in a temperature-dependent manner. The binding of radiolabeled Ig to the bacterial cells was lower at 37 degrees C than at 22 and 4 degrees C. Similarly, protein Arp, the IgA-b
A 1162 bp rat liver cDNA clone encoding the immunoregulatory plasma protein alpha 1-microglobulin was isolated and sequenced. The open reading frame encoded a 349 amino acid polyprotein, including alpha 1-microglobulin, 182 amino acids, and bikunin, the light chain of the plasma protein inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor, 145 amino acids. The alpha 1-microglobulin/bikunin mRNA was found only in the liv
The secretion of alpha 1-microglobulin by primary cultures of rat hepatocytes was found to increase upon the addition of interleukin-6 or leukemia inhibitory factor, two mediators of acute phase response. This stimulatory effect was further enhanced by dexamethasone. alpha 1-Microglobulin is synthesized as a precursor also containing bikunin, and the precursor protein is cleaved shortly before sec
Protein G is a streptococcal cell wall protein with separate and repetitively arranged binding domains for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and human serum albumin (HSA). In this work, the binding of protein G to HSA was studied. The results suggest that a single binding site is present on HSA: the apparent size of the HSA-protein G complex (230 kDa) corresponded to two or three HSA molecules bound to one p
A cell surface receptor that binds to the Fc region of IgA is expressed by certain strains of group A streptococci. The physico-chemical properties and binding characteristics of this receptor, called protein Arp, were studied. Like bacterial receptors that bind IgG, protein Arp has an elongated shape and no disulfide bonds. The affinity constant of protein Arp for three different molecular forms
Alpha 1-Microglobulin (alpha 1-m), or protein HC, a low molecular weight plasma protein with immunoregulatory properties, was isolated from rat serum by affinity chromatography using Sepharose-coupled monoclonal anti-alpha 1-m antibodies. High molecular weight forms of alpha 1-m were then separated from the low molecular weight alpha 1-m by gel chromatography of the eluted proteins. The apparent M
Human alpha 1-m microglobulin (alpha 1-m), a low molecular weight plasma protein, was found to exert mitogenic effects on mouse lymphocytes from lymph nodes and spleen. The stimulatory effects appeared to be strain-restricted: alpha 1-m induced a varying degree of proliferation of lymphocytes from three strains, whereas one strain responded poorly. Experiments with lymphocyte subpopulations showed
The plasma protein alpha 1-microglobulin is a member of the lipocalin protein superfamily. In the last few years, the work on alpha 1-microglobulin has given unexpected and promising new results. Of particular interest are its molecular association with immunoglobulin A and with proteinase inhibitors, and its interactions with the immune system.
We obtained 10/192 and 3/384 antibody-secreting hybrids after immunization of Balb/c mice with either human growth hormone or affinity-purified rabbit anti-(human growth hormone) respectively. Radiolabelled rabbit anti-(human growth hormone) antibodies, but not human growth hormone, were specifically bound by supernatants from the 13 hybrids. The binding was completely inhibited by human-growth-ho
Protein G is a streptococcal cell wall protein with separate binding sites for IgG and human serum albumin (HSA). In the present work it was demonstrated that alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) and kininogen, two proteinase inhibitors of human plasma, bound to protein G, whereas 23 other human proteins showed no affinity. alpha 2M was found to interact with the IgG-binding domains of protein G, and
The gene for an IgA-binding protein from a group A streptococcal strain was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The IgA-binding protein, called protein Arp, was purified on IgA-Sepharose, allowing complete purification in a single step. Analysis of protein Arp by Western immunoblotting demonstrated a major IgA-binding band, with an apparent molecular weight of 42 kD. The purified protein was
Protein G, a streptococcal cell wall protein, has separate binding sites for human albumin and IgG. Streptococci expressing protein G were treated with the bacteriolytic agent mutanolysin. Several IgG- and human serum albumin (HSA)-binding peptides were identified in the material thus solubilized and one of these, a 14-kDa peptide, was found to bind HSA but not IgG in Western blot experiments. Thi
Protein G, the immunoglobin G-binding surface protein of group C and G streptococci, also binds serum albumin. The albumin-binding site on protein G is distinct from the immunoglobulin G-binding site. By mild acid hydrolysis of the papain-liberated protein G fragment (35 kDa), a 28-kDa fragment was produced which retained full immunoglobulin G-binding activity (determined by Scatchard plotting) bu
In order to generate monoclonal antibodies (MAb) directed against the low molecular weight glycoprotein alpha 1-microglobulin, a BALB/c mouse was immunized with a mixture of human, guinea pig, rat and rabbit alpha 1-microglobulin homologues (multi-species immunization) and boosted several times. On day 194, the mouse splenocytes were fused to SP2/0 myeloma cells. The resulting hybridomas were scre
The newly described immunoglobulin G-binding streptococcal surface protein, protein G, was used to prepare and characterize rabbit antibodies. The antibodies were directed against rat hormone-sensitive lipase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the hydrolysis of the triacylglycerols stored in adipose tissue. Antiserum was obtained after two injections with 20 micrograms enzyme protein, and the immunoglob
A one-step HPLC method was developed for the purification of protein G, a cell wall molecule from group C and G streptococci with immunoglobulin G- and albumin-binding properties. Lysed Escherichia coli bacteria infected with lambda-phages containing the protein G gene from group G streptococci were used as a starting material for the preparations. The lysate was applied to a column with immobiliz
