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Clinics in immunology and allergy
369 JIM 03001
Electroimmunochemical Analysis of Membrane Proteins, edited by O.J. Bjerrum. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1983 (xiv + 476 pp., illus.) Price: Dfl 250.-/$106.50 This monograph tells how detergent-solubilized cell membrane protein antigens are identified, quantitated and characterized with the aid of crossed immunoelectrophoresis, a 2-step technique in which the antigens are electrophoretically separated in gel and then move in a perpendicular electric field through an antibody-containing gel slab, thus forming precipitation lines that enclose areas proportional to the amount of antigen. In this way a complex protein mixture can be analyzed without prior separation and purification of its components. Moreover purified antigens can be obtained from the corresponding immunoprecipitates. The precipitating antibodies used for this purpose are usually polyspecific, resulting from immunization with crude membrane preparations. According to the book's editor this method represents a reliable alternative to the use of monoclonal antibodies. The text is divided into 2 parts. The first one is limited to methodology and consists of 7 chapters dealing with the technical details of crossed IE, the choice of solubilizing agents, evaluation of the precipitation patterns, the use of radiolabelled reagents, and the monitoring with crossed IE of protein fractionation and purification. The second part is devoted to applications; it comprises 18 chapters describing IE studies on the membrane proteins of human blood cells, different organs of mammals and fish, microorganisms, and on the membrane interactions with complement and with a bacterial toxin. Photographs of crossed IE precipitation patterns, schematic diagrams, tables, and references accompany the text which is followed by a comprehensive subject index. Albeit not a laboratory handbook, this collective work contains enough procedural details of a selected technique and its possible uses to serve as source of information for those in search of a convenient method for cell membrane analysis. F. Borek
JIM 03002
Clinics in Immunology and Allergy, Vol. 3, No. 2, June 1983: Immunological Intervention in Medicine, edited by J.F. Mowbray. W.B. Saunders, London (viii + 361 pp.) £11.75 As indicated in the foreword the editor of this collection of articles has aimed at presenting evaluations of currently available immunotherapeutic approaches, 'other than the standard immunosuppression of the sixties'. Here belong, among others, the
370 uses of certain purified cell products, bone marrow transplantation, leukocyte transfusion, and passive serotherapy. Two of the contributions deal with the management of viral infections. The efficacy of interferons in this connection is discussed and compared with that of acyclovir and other antiviral drugs by N.B. Finter. The author points out the advantages of a-interferons, their broad-spectrum activity, relatively low toxicity, and the recently increased availability of purified preparations. Observations on the treatment of chronic viral diseases, such as herpes-associated erythema multiforme, with normal pooled IgG are reviewed by J.F. Mowbray. The immunological basis of this therapy remains to be established. R.J. Levinsky describes the use of bone marrow transplantation in treating cell-mediated immunodeficiencies in children, including the technique of separating stem cell-enriched marrow fractions for mismatched grafts. The ways of preventing and treating infections in immunocompromised patients are examined by A.J. Pinching and J. Cohen; some space is allotted to leukocyte transfusion, but its applicability is judged unpromising due to high cost and risk of CMV infection by donor cells. Interleukin-2 is described by A.W. Boylston and B.M. Vose as having a therapeutic potential. With its aid long-term cultures of human T cells were developed with cytotoxicity specific for autologous leukaemias and solid tumours. In animal experiments synergy was shown between specific immune cells and I1-2 injected in vivo. Another natural immunopotentiating agent, transfer factor, is evaluated by J. Gibson et al. for its applicability in primary immunodeficiency states, prophylactic treatment of viral and fungal infections, and the management of some malignancies; its important features are low toxicity and an apparent antigenic specificity. The properties of cyclosporin A and the experience with this powerful and selective immunosuppressant in organ transplantation are reviewed by D.J.G. White. The pathogenesis of hereditary angioneurotic oedema and its treatment with anabolic steroids are described by F.S. Rosen. Finally there is an extensive account by G.F. Rowland of the experimental work with antibody-targeted anti-tumour drugs which includes recent studies using monoclonal antibodies. Practical problems involved in possible clinical application of this method are discussed by the author. To sum up, this book offers information on a number of treatments based on the achievements of immunological research which can be of value to clinicians. F. Borek JIM 03008 Survey of Drug Research in Immunologic Disease, by V.S. Georgiev. S. Karger, Basel, 1983. Vol. 1, Aliphatic Derivatives (x + 542 pp.); Vol. 2, Noncondensed Aromatic Derivatives, Part I (xii + 656 pp.) SFr. 490.-(DM 588.-/$ 293.50) per volume The author of this multi-volume work, a pharmaceutical chemist, has undertaken the ambitious task of cataloguing drugs which affect directly the immune system
Electroimmunochemical Analysis of Membrane Proteins, edited by O.J. Bjerrum. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1983 (xiv + 476 pp., illus.) Price: Dfl 250.-/$106.50 This monograph tells how detergent-solubilized cell membrane protein antigens are identified, quantitated and characterized with the aid of crossed immunoelectrophoresis, a 2-step technique in which the antigens are electrophoretically separated in gel and then move in a perpendicular electric field through an antibody-containing gel slab, thus forming precipitation lines that enclose areas proportional to the amount of antigen. In this way a complex protein mixture can be analyzed without prior separation and purification of its components. Moreover purified antigens can be obtained from the corresponding immunoprecipitates. The precipitating antibodies used for this purpose are usually polyspecific, resulting from immunization with crude membrane preparations. According to the book's editor this method represents a reliable alternative to the use of monoclonal antibodies. The text is divided into 2 parts. The first one is limited to methodology and consists of 7 chapters dealing with the technical details of crossed IE, the choice of solubilizing agents, evaluation of the precipitation patterns, the use of radiolabelled reagents, and the monitoring with crossed IE of protein fractionation and purification. The second part is devoted to applications; it comprises 18 chapters describing IE studies on the membrane proteins of human blood cells, different organs of mammals and fish, microorganisms, and on the membrane interactions with complement and with a bacterial toxin. Photographs of crossed IE precipitation patterns, schematic diagrams, tables, and references accompany the text which is followed by a comprehensive subject index. Albeit not a laboratory handbook, this collective work contains enough procedural details of a selected technique and its possible uses to serve as source of information for those in search of a convenient method for cell membrane analysis. F. Borek
JIM 03002
Clinics in Immunology and Allergy, Vol. 3, No. 2, June 1983: Immunological Intervention in Medicine, edited by J.F. Mowbray. W.B. Saunders, London (viii + 361 pp.) £11.75 As indicated in the foreword the editor of this collection of articles has aimed at presenting evaluations of currently available immunotherapeutic approaches, 'other than the standard immunosuppression of the sixties'. Here belong, among others, the
370 uses of certain purified cell products, bone marrow transplantation, leukocyte transfusion, and passive serotherapy. Two of the contributions deal with the management of viral infections. The efficacy of interferons in this connection is discussed and compared with that of acyclovir and other antiviral drugs by N.B. Finter. The author points out the advantages of a-interferons, their broad-spectrum activity, relatively low toxicity, and the recently increased availability of purified preparations. Observations on the treatment of chronic viral diseases, such as herpes-associated erythema multiforme, with normal pooled IgG are reviewed by J.F. Mowbray. The immunological basis of this therapy remains to be established. R.J. Levinsky describes the use of bone marrow transplantation in treating cell-mediated immunodeficiencies in children, including the technique of separating stem cell-enriched marrow fractions for mismatched grafts. The ways of preventing and treating infections in immunocompromised patients are examined by A.J. Pinching and J. Cohen; some space is allotted to leukocyte transfusion, but its applicability is judged unpromising due to high cost and risk of CMV infection by donor cells. Interleukin-2 is described by A.W. Boylston and B.M. Vose as having a therapeutic potential. With its aid long-term cultures of human T cells were developed with cytotoxicity specific for autologous leukaemias and solid tumours. In animal experiments synergy was shown between specific immune cells and I1-2 injected in vivo. Another natural immunopotentiating agent, transfer factor, is evaluated by J. Gibson et al. for its applicability in primary immunodeficiency states, prophylactic treatment of viral and fungal infections, and the management of some malignancies; its important features are low toxicity and an apparent antigenic specificity. The properties of cyclosporin A and the experience with this powerful and selective immunosuppressant in organ transplantation are reviewed by D.J.G. White. The pathogenesis of hereditary angioneurotic oedema and its treatment with anabolic steroids are described by F.S. Rosen. Finally there is an extensive account by G.F. Rowland of the experimental work with antibody-targeted anti-tumour drugs which includes recent studies using monoclonal antibodies. Practical problems involved in possible clinical application of this method are discussed by the author. To sum up, this book offers information on a number of treatments based on the achievements of immunological research which can be of value to clinicians. F. Borek JIM 03008 Survey of Drug Research in Immunologic Disease, by V.S. Georgiev. S. Karger, Basel, 1983. Vol. 1, Aliphatic Derivatives (x + 542 pp.); Vol. 2, Noncondensed Aromatic Derivatives, Part I (xii + 656 pp.) SFr. 490.-(DM 588.-/$ 293.50) per volume The author of this multi-volume work, a pharmaceutical chemist, has undertaken the ambitious task of cataloguing drugs which affect directly the immune system