A Zinc-dependent Epitope on the Molecule of Thymulin, a Thymic Hormone

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 1985 Oct 1

PMID 2413455

Citations 10

Authors

M Dardenne

W Savino

S Berrih

J F Bach

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Thymulin is a nonapeptide hormone produced by thymic epithelial cells. Its biological activity is strictly dependent on the presence of the metal zinc in the molecule. Antithymulin monoclonal antibodies have been produced against either the synthetic (AS1) or the natural intraepithelial (AE1) molecule. These monoclonal antibodies were screened for their abilities to inhibit the zinc-dependent biological activity of the hormone and were shown to bind to thymic epithelial cells. By using biological and immunofluorescence assays, the two antibodies were shown to recognize exclusively the zinc-coupled thymulin molecule. Other antithymulin antibodies screened by RIA or ELISA (using a zinc-deprived substrate) recognized a zinc-independent epitope on the thymulin molecule. These data indicate the existence of a zinc-specific conformation on the thymulin molecule. They are in agreement with NMR studies showing that the zinc-containing hormone has a unique structure.

Citing Articles

Association of zinc deficiency with infectious complications in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.

Suwanphoerung W, Klinmalai C, Rattanasiri S, Pakakasama S, Anurathapan U, Hongeng S PLoS One. 2022; 17(12):e0279439.

PMID: 36574381 PMC: 9794056. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279439.

Evaluation of an Innovative Zn Source on Feed Efficiency, Growth Performance, Skin and Bone Quality of Broilers Suffering Heat Stress.

Zaghari M, Mehrvarz H, Hajati H, Moravej H Animals (Basel). 2022; 12(23).

PMID: 36496791 PMC: 9737980. DOI: 10.3390/ani12233272.

Effects of In Ovo Injection of Zinc or Diet Supplementation of Zinc on Performance, Serum Biochemical Profiles, and Meat Quality in Broilers.

Kim H, Kang H Animals (Basel). 2022; 12(5).

PMID: 35268199 PMC: 8909355. DOI: 10.3390/ani12050630.

Effect of zinc addition on the immune response and production performance of broilers: a meta-analysis.

Hidayat C, Sumiati , Jayanegara A, Wina E Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 2019; 33(3):465-479.

PMID: 31208174 PMC: 7054626. DOI: 10.5713/ajas.19.0146.

The EVER proteins as a natural barrier against papillomaviruses: a new insight into the pathogenesis of human papillomavirus infections.

Lazarczyk M, Cassonnet P, Pons C, Jacob Y, Favre M Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2009; 73(2):348-70.

PMID: 19487731 PMC: 2698414. DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.00033-08.

References

PAPIERNIK M, Nabarra B, Bach J . In vitro culture of functional human thymic epithelium. Clin Exp Immunol. 1975; 19(2):281-7. PMC: 1538087. View

Pleau J, Dardenne M, Blouquit Y, Bach J . Structural study of circulating thymic factor: a peptide isolated from pig serum. II. Amino acid sequence. J Biol Chem. 1977; 252(22):8045-7. View

Arquilla E, Thiene P, Brugman T, Ruess W, Sugiyama R . Effects of zinc ion on the conformation of antigenic determinants on insulin. Biochem J. 1978; 175(1):289-97. PMC: 1186065. DOI: 10.1042/bj1750289. View

Furie B, Furie B . Conformation-specific antibodies as probes of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-rich region of bovine prothrombin. Studies of metal-induced structural changes. J Biol Chem. 1979; 254(19):9766-71. View

Monier J, Dardenne M, Pleau J, Schmitt D, Deschaux P, Bach J . Characterization of facteur thymique sérique (FTS) in the thymus. I. Fixation of anti-FTS antibodies on thymic reticulo-epithelial cells. Clin Exp Immunol. 1980; 42(3):470-6. PMC: 1537160. View

Jambon B, Montagne P, Bene M, Brayer M, Faure G, Duheille J . Immunohistologic localization of "facteur thymique serique" (FTS) in human thymic epithelium. J Immunol. 1981; 127(5):2055-9. View

Berrih S, Savino W, Azoulay M, Dardenne M, Bach J . Production of anti-thymulin (FTS) monoclonal antibodies by immunization against human thymic epithelial cells. J Histochem Cytochem. 1984; 32(4):432-8. DOI: 10.1177/32.4.6200531. View

Savino W, Dardenne M, PAPIERNIK M, Bach J . Thymic hormone-containing cells. Characterization and localization of serum thymic factor in young mouse thymus studied by monoclonal antibodies. J Exp Med. 1982; 156(2):628-33. PMC: 2186764. DOI: 10.1084/jem.156.2.628. View

Dardenne M, Pleau J, Nabarra B, Lefrancier P, Derrien M, CHOAY J . Contribution of zinc and other metals to the biological activity of the serum thymic factor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1982; 79(17):5370-3. PMC: 346898. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.79.17.5370. View

10.

Gastinel L, Dardenne M, Pleau J, Bach J . Studies on the zinc binding site to the serum thymic factor. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1984; 797(2):147-55. DOI: 10.1016/0304-4165(84)90116-8. View

11.

Dardenne M, Savino W, Wade S, Kaiserlian D, Lemonnier D, Bach J . In vivo and in vitro studies of thymulin in marginally zinc-deficient mice. Eur J Immunol. 1984; 14(5):454-8. DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830140513. View

12.

Savino W, Huang P, Corrigan A, Berrih S, Dardenne M . Thymic hormone-containing cells. V. Immunohistological detection of metallothionein within the cells bearing thymulin (a zinc-containing hormone) in human and mouse thymuses. J Histochem Cytochem. 1984; 32(9):942-6. DOI: 10.1177/32.9.6379040. View

13.

Bensman A, Dardenne M, Murnaghan K, Vasmant D, Bach J . Decreased biological activity of serum thymic hormone (thymulin) in children with nephrotic syndrome. Int J Pediatr Nephrol. 1984; 5(4):201-4. View

14.

Ohga K, Incefy G, Wang C, GOOD R . Generation of a monoclonal antibody against facteur thymique serique (FTS). Clin Exp Immunol. 1982; 47(3):725-34. PMC: 1536426. View