The ability of antibodies to neutralize diverse primary isolates of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 in vitro has been questioned, with implications for the likely efficacy of vaccines. A recombinant human antibody to envelope glycoprotein gp120 was generated and used to show that primary isolates are not refractory to antibody neutralization. The recombinant antibody neutralized more than 75 percent of the primary isolates tested at concentrations that could be achieved by passive immunization, for example, to interrupt maternal-fetal transmission of virus. The broad specificity and efficacy of the antibody implies the conservation of a structural feature on gp120, which could be important in vaccine design.
Amyloid beta (Abeta) is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although Abeta has been reported to be directly neurotoxic, it also causes indirect neuronal damage by activating mononuclear phagocytes (microglia) that accumulate in and around senile plaques. In this study, we show that the 42 amino acid form of beta amyloid peptide, Abeta(42), is a chemotactic agonist for a seven-transmembrane, G-protein-coupled receptor named FPR-Like-1 (FPRL1), which is expressed on human mononuclear phagocytes. Moreover, FPRL1 is expressed at high levels by inflammatory cells infiltrating senile plaques in brain tissues from AD patients. Thus, FPRL1 may mediate inflammation seen in AD and is a potential target for developing therapeutic agents.
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