The visual photopigment rhodopsin (Rh) is a prototypical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) responsible for initiation of the phototransduction cascade in rod photoreceptors. Similar to other GPCRs, Rh can form dimers or even higher oligomers and tends to have a supramolecular organization that is likely important in the dim light response. Rh also exhibits high affinity for lipid rafts (i.e. ra...

In two papers (Finn et al., 1961 ; Clarke et al., 1963) we described experiments which were successful in preventing Rh immunization in Rh-negative male volunteers. The basis of the procedure was to remove rapidly from the circulation previously injected chromium-tagged Rh-positive red cells by giving hightitre incomplete anti-D either as an infusion of plasma or as gamma2-globulin. In our seco...

BACKGROUND The D antigen is highly immunogenic, requiring only a small quantity of transfused red blood cells (RBCs) to cause alloimmunization in D- immunocompetent recipients. DEL was reported arousing alloimmunization to true Rh- patients. Molecular studies of the RHD gene have revealed that DEL individuals retain a grossly intact RHD gene or have a portion of RHD in their genomes. Avoiding i...

The nephritogenic antigen of Heymann's nephritis (HN), gp330, was previously demonstrated (4-9) to be a resident glycoprotein of coated pits in the glomerular and proximal tubule epithelium of rats, and anti-gp330 IgG given intravenously was found to form IDs in glomeruli (passive HN). The purpose of this study was to investigate the detailed events that occur in the formation of IDs in passive...

An Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed human B-cell line ( LB4r ) producing anti-Rhesus [Rho(D) antigen] antibody was fused with a non-immunoglobulin-producing mouse-human heteromyeloma ( SHM - D33 ) and selected in hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine medium containing 0.5 microM ouabain. Surviving hybrids found to secrete specific anti-Rho(D) antibody were cloned by limiting dilution. Two clon...

BACKGROUND The method most commonly used for measuring the affinity of MoAbs specific for the D antigen is a binding assay using 125I-labeled MoAb. Although the method is relatively simple, there are several drawbacks that can lead to inaccurate results. The objective of the present work was to develop a method for the determination of the affinity of anti-D MoAb using unlabelled antibodies. ...

Introduction Prior to immunoprophylaxis with RhIG, 7-8 percent of Rh negative women with Rh-positive, ABO-compatible infants developed anti-Rh (D) within six months of delivery; while only one percent of Rh-negative mothers delivering ABO-incompatible babies were immunized. A significant number of women in Iran become sensitized because immunoprophylaxis is not widely practiced, resulting in he...

Evidence from animals suggests that anti-anthrax protective antigen (PA) immunoglobulin G (IgG) from vaccination with anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) is protective against Bacillus anthracis infection. Measurement of anti-PA IgG in human sera can be performed using either enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or fluorescent covalent microsphere immunoassay (ELISA) (R. E. Biagini, D. L. Sammons, J. P...

BACKGROUND When fetal red cells enter the maternal circulation from placenta, an event would be happened that is described as feto-maternal hemorrhage (FMH). This life-threatening condition could be detected by using RBC antigens (surface antigens and intracellular antigens). Therefore, the measurement of fetal RBC in an artificial model would be useful to calculate FMH and consequently the dos...