A mouse model for ricin poisoning and for evaluating protective effects of antiricin antibodies.
BACKGROUND. Ricin is a potential bioterrorism agent and no specific antidote or treatment exists for ricin poisoning. For this reason, we developed ricin-specific antibodies that were tested in a murine model of ricin poisoning for use as antidotes against symptoms of ricin poisoning.


METHODS
Mice were poisoned with a lethal dose of ricin (5 microg) and their temperature and general condition were monitored for determination of a surrogate and humane end point. Mice were then treated with injections of ricin and different combinations of polyclonal anti-ricin antibodies. Antibody effect was evaluated for various doses and using various time points from ricin to antibody injection. Also, the effect of adjuvant symptomatic treatment was examined. Brain, heart, intestines, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, spleen, and stomach tissues were sampled for histopathological analysis.


RESULTS
The mouse model was reproducible and easy to use. A clear protective effect of both anti-ricin A-chain and anti-ricin B-chain antibodies-but not of irrelevant antibodies-was demonstrated with no added effect of symptomatic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that specific polyclonal antibodies against ricin A- and B-chain may reproducibly protect mice against ricin poisoning, even when the antibodies are administered up to 1.5 h after poisoning.
Beyer
Natascha Helena
NH
Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen S, Denmark. nat@ssi.dk
Kogutowska
Ewa
E
Hansen
Jesper Juhl
JJ
Engelhart Illigen
Kristin E
KE
Heegaard
Niels H H
NH
D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D023482:Bioterrorism; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012276:Ricin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000506:poisoning*
D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012276:Ricin