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Production of antibody against major trasplantation antigens has been studied in sheep receiving osteoarticular allografts at the knee joint. These investigations have shown that this type of allograft leads to the rapid production of serum antibodies in the recipient animal. It was found that a high proportion of the sheep used in these studies possessed antibodies before operation. A large number of the animals which possessed antibody against major transplantation antigens prior to operation developed a wide spectrum of antibodies after operation more rapidly than did those recipients who had no pre-existing antibody. A smaller number showed an increase in antibody spectrum which was comparable with non-sensitized recipients. An analysis of the patters of antibody production was carried out in order to assess the possible benefits of reducing the bony component of the graft in lowering its immunogenicity. It was found that the thickness of bone carried by the graft was largely irrelevant and the immune response was initiated with only small amounts of bone. There is some evidence in this data that the surface area of bone is important in determining the pattern of the immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbred Swiss mice show a stable level of circulating thymic factor (TF) (measured by its action on theta-positive rosette-forming cells (RFC)) until the 6th month of life. Afterwards, this level progressively declines. Swiss mice genetically selected as 'high' and 'low' responders for anti-sheep red blood cell haemagglutinin production show no difference with ordinary Swiss mice with regard to serum TF level. This observation is compatible with previous results showing that the selection mainly induces changes in B-cell reactivity without T-cell modification. Conversely, genetic selection of Swiss mice based on spontaneous antinuclear autoantibody production (tested by immunofluorescence) induces a decrease in TF level, which has already become significant by 2 months of life. The mice thus selected (Swan mice) which present autoimmune manifestations and immune complex disease, like NZB and B/W mice, show the same premature cessation of TF as these other autoimmune mice. Such abnormality is compatible with the T-cell deficiency of NZB, B/W and Swan mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serial sera from nine volunteers, injected 10 years ago with sheep erythrocytes and showing heterophile antibody responses comparable to those seen in infectious mononucleosis, were retrieved from storage and examined for antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) related antigens. Eight of the nine volunteers had preexisting antibodies to EBV, as determined by neutralization tests and by indirect immunofluorescence reactions with fluorescein-conjugated antibodies to human IgG, but not with anti-human IgM conjugates. The EBV-specific reactivities remained unchanged after immunization. The results indicate that: (a) EBV- or EBV antigen-containing lymphoblasts from carrier or freshly infected cultures contain no detectable heterophile antigen; (b) immunization with sheep erythrocytes does not evoke antibodies which interact with EBV or EBV-infected cells. These points are supported especially by the results obtained with the heterophile antibody-positive, anti-EBV-negative serum of one of the volunteers who subsequently sustained a primary EBV infection. It is unlikely, therefore, that immunization with heterophile antigen will induce immunity to infectious mononucleosis, apart from the fact that heterophile antibody responses are largely restricted to the IgM class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results suggest that the anaemia in mice associated with the injection of C. parvum is mediated by an immune mechanism. Survival studies of 51Cr-labelled red blood cells (RBC) in splenectomized and unsplenectomized mice show that mice immunized with C. parvum three times, clear RBC faster than unimmunized mice. However, hyperimmunized mice stabilized their haemoglobin concentrations above their minimum level and did not clear 51Cr-labelled RBC faster than unimmunized mice. All mice produced antibody against C. parvum but remained direct Coombs'-negative. Serum from immunized animals did not contain opsonins for -51Cr-labelled RBC. The reticulocytosis, normal osmotic fragility tests and normal survival times of 51Cr-labelled RBC from C. parvum-immunized mice all suggest that the main direct influence of the micro-organism is extrinsic of the RBC. Antigens from the micro-organism were adsorbed by erythrocytes in vitro. It is hypothesized that the anaemia is caused by destruction of RBC brought about by antibody reacting with bacteria that have been adsorbed by RBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A red cell autoantibody in low titer was demonstrated in one-third of Ugandan sera tested by performing the Combs test. on enzyme (bromelain) treated erythrocytes, The authoantibody was found Keith increased frequency in subjects over 40 years of age and in those with the haemocyte anaemia in pregnancy syndrome. But was not detected in medical students. Two subjects with autoantibody\ie's and normal haemoglobin values has na normal re dell survival The authoantibody was not associated with acute attacks of malaria. The possible relationships of the autoantibody to the he\haemolytic anaemia in pregnancy and the tropical spend meagerly syndromes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have described a new autoantibody present in the serum of diseased NZB mice reactive with autochthonous and syngeneic fibroblasts. allogeneic cells are not affected. This antibody can be specifically absorbed both by fibroblasts and lymphocytes from NZB but not from control mice. The antibody cannot act as a block from diseased NZB mice. This suggests that the precise antigenic specificities of the cell-mediated and antibody responses are different [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating tissue antigens (CTA) were investigated in 143 patients with disorders involving injury of the liver and of other organs and in forty-eight normal subjects by immunodiffusion techniques using rabbit anti-human liver serum containing antibodies to a liver-specific antigen and to tissue antigens of wide organ distribution. Analysis of serum samples by double immunodiffusion showed up to three CTA in the following cases: fifteen out of eighteen, viral hepatitis (VH), two out of thirteen, other infectious diseases, two out of ten, alcoholic cirrhosis, seven out of twenty-one, congestive heart failure (CHF), four out of fourteen, myocardial infarction, ten out of twenty-one, trauma, two out of thirteen, carcinoma and three out of thirty-three, miscellaneous diseases. Forty-eight normal subjects showed no CTA. Immunoelectrophoresis of most of the positive eases showed two to three CTA, while a few cases showed four to six. Absorption tests with organ extracts demonstrated that in most patients, CTA were substances shared by several organs. However, in two cases of VH, in two cases of CHF with liver necrosis and in two cases of trauma to the liver, one of the CTA was shown to be liver specific. The CTA were susceptible to digestion by pronase and were found to be relatively thermolabile. Positive sera showed higher glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase activities than the negative sera. These preliminary data suggest that further investigation on CTA in disease involving tissue injury and necrosis may be rewarding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with breast carcinoma, fibrocystic disease, and fibroadenoma have antibody to an antigen prepared from homologous breast carcinoma. In 50% of patients with breast carcinoma, this antibody, detected by immunodiffusion and complement fixation, appears within 2 weeks of radical mastectomy. This antibody also appears in a lower percentage of the sera of patients with fibrocystic disease and fibroadenoma. Gel permeation chromatography indicates the antigen to be a high molecular weight compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sera from patients with squamous carcinoma of the cervix uteri and from control patients were examined, by means of indirect immunoflourescence, for antibodies to cell constituents in frozen sections of cervical and other tissues. Cervical carcinoma cells were found to possess cytoplasmie antigens, which reacted with antibodies in autologous and homologous sera. More than half the patients with carcinoma of the cervix had detectable antibodies to cytoplasmic antigens. Comparison of reactions of individual sera and tissues, together with absorption experiments, indicated that either or both of two common cytoplasmic antigens were present in all carcinomas of the cervix and that the same antigens were present in some non-malignant cervices. A high incidence of antinuclear antibodies was found in patients with squamous carcinoma of the cervix, adenocarcinoma of the cervix or body or the uterus, or pre-malignant cervical lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cytomegalovirus (CMV) induced early antigen (EA) was demonstrated in fibroblasts infected in the presence of the DNA inhibitor cytosine arabinoside (Ara C). In the dose used (20 /(g/ml) Ara C blocked DNA synthesis completely, as judged by thymidine incorporation and autoradiography. The percentage of EA positive cells was 0.6 8 hr post-infection, increasing to 50 and 65% on the two following days. EA differed from late antigens (LA), present in CMV-infected but otherwise untreated fibroblasts, with regard to distribution and antigenic specificity. Sera differed in their reactivity to EA at comparably high anti-LA titres. Direct immunofluorescence staining of EA-positive cells was only blocked with high titred anti-EA sera, but not with high titred anti-LA sera with a low or negative anti-EA-titre. Anti-CMV-EA did not cross react with antibodies against EBV, Herpes simplex or varicella/zoster. A collection of 115 serial sera from forty-five acutely CMV-infected patients was tested for anti-EA and anti-LA antibodies. The diagnosis was confirmed by the occurrence of a significant rise in CF antibodies and/or virus isolation. Sera taken before illness (five patients) had neither anti-LA nor anti-EA antibodies when tested al a 1 :40 dilution. All patients in the acute phase of this disease had anti-LA titres between 1:640 and ≧ 1 : 10240. 43/45 of these patients developed anti-EA at titres between 1:40 and ≧ 1:2560. As a rule EA-antibodies were detected 10-19 days after the onset of symptoms. Anti-EA tended to peak later than anti-LA and declined again within a few months. Anti-LA was maintained at nearly constant levels. This applied also for antibodies detected in the CMV complement fixation (CF) test. Sera from healthy seropositive donors or from patients with unrelated bacterial or viral infections contained anti-LA-antibodies in titres ranging from 1:40 to 1 : 1280 as a rule, but had no anti-EA-antibodies. Diagnostically significant increments or declines in the anti-HA titres were observed more frequently than corresponding changes in the levels of anti-LA and CF antibodies. In view of the transitory nature of the anti-EA response, the presence of this antibody in an acute phase serum at a titre of ≧ 1: 80 can be taken as suggestive of a current primary infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents subject index for the journal "Clinical and Experimental Immunology." Some of the subjects included are: Allergen antibodies, a modified radioallergosorbent test for the in vitro detection of, 617; Anaemia, autoimmune haemolytic; Chromium survival studies in patients with different kinds of warm autoantibodies, 559; Antibodies and anti-kidney antibodies in kidney transplanted patients and patients with renal disease, occurrence and cross-reactivity of heterophile, 191; Antibodies to tubercle bacilli in sera from non-tuberculous and tuberculous individuals. Universal occurrence of, 65; Antilymphocyte globulin by human peripheral lymphocytes, uptake of, 423.

A liver-specific, water-soluble autoantigen (F-antigen) was detected by double diffuion using specifically prepared antiserum in thirty of 285 adult serum samples tested. F-antigen was found most frequently in disorders associated with hepatocellular destruction such as metastatic cancers (four of eleven patients) and viral hepatitis (eight of twenty-five). It was also found in serum from patients with cirrhosis (three of twenty-eight), steatonecrosis (two of thirteen) and hepatocellular carcinoma (two of eleven). These preliminary results suggest that further study of F-antigen in human disease states is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presence of hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA) was investigated in 504 sera from 116 patients with SLE and was found in 41% of them. HAA was present in at least one serum in 75% of the patients but there were variations in presence and titres in the same patient at different times. Except for a tendency of HAA to appear or rise in titre with lupusi nactivation following corticosteroid or immunosuppresive therapy, there was no correlation between its presence and disease activity, specific organ involvement, antinuclear antibodies or immunoglobulin levels. All but one of twelve lupus patients with recurrent bacterial infections had HAA at high titres. HAA appeared in the serum of a patient upon development of IgA deficiency. HAA antigenaemia in systemic lupus erythematosus seems a consequence rather than a cause of the immunological derangement in this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive gel filtration radioimmunoassay was used to test for antibodies to the basic protein of myelin, the antigen of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases. Sera and CSF from patients with MS gave results similar to those for controls including subjects with various neurological diseases Binding of 125I-basic protein by seven-fold concentrated CSF was shown to be due to α-globulin. Free basic protein, as a possible auto-immunogen, was sought in the serum and seven-fold concentrated CSF of patients with MS and controls by competitive inhibition in the radioimmunoassay, but none was demonstrable. if an immunological mechanism is to be invoked in the initiation of destruction of the basic protein of myelin in MS, then either pathogenic 'antibody' must be absorbed in vivo to the target antigen in the central nervous system or the initiating events must be mediated entirely by sensitized lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive gel filtration radioimmunoassay was used to test for antibodies to the basic protein of myelin, the antigen of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases. Sera and CSF from patients with MS gave results similar to those for controls including subjects with various neurological diseases Binding of 125I-basic protein by seven-fold concentrated CSF was shown to be due to α-globulin. Free basic protein, as a possible auto-immunogen, was sought in the serum and seven-fold concentrated CSF of patients with MS and controls by competitive inhibition in the radioimmunoassay, but none was demonstrable. If an immunological mechanism is to be invoked in the initiation of destruction of the basic protein of myclinin MS, then either pathogenic `antibody' must be absorbed in vitro to the target antigen in the central nervous system or the initiating events must be mediated entirely by sensitized lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appearance of a new virus specific antigen was demonstrated by an indirect immunofluorescence technique on cell surfaces of CMV infected human fibroblasts, 48-72 hr after inoculation. The development of antibodies to these membrane antigens was followed in thirty-nine serial sera from twelve patients with a virologically and/or serologically confirmed CMV infection. In all patients except one, membrane antibodies could be detected, Sera from four patients collected before infection were negative, as were sera taken 1-13 days after onset of symptoms. From the end of the second week of illness CMV-membrane antibodies as well as CMV macroglobulin antibodies to intracellular antigens were detectable. The membrane antibodies persisted until 335 days after onset of illness. They were mainly of the IgM class. Most positive sera also reacted with non-infected fibroblasts but to a lesser degree. This reaction became negative after prior absorption of the sera with non-infected fibroblasts, whereas the reaction with CMV-infected cells remained positive. Controls consisted of forty-five sera from healthy persons and nine sera from patients suffering from other herpes virus infections with antibodies to herpes simplex, zoster/varicella and Epstein-Barr virus. All but two sera were negative in the membrane immunofluorescence test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A second polymorphic trait of rabbit serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) has been revealed by a new antiserum. The antigen detected by this antiserum appears to be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. No obvious association was found between the new polymorphic trait (provisionally referred to as the R 67 antigen) and the already established MDL antigen, Hl 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of the third component of complement was measured in serial specimens of serum taken from thirty-one patients with acute viral hepatitis. Fourteen of the thirty-one patients were positive for the hepatitis-associated antigen. A characteristic fluctuation was observed in twenty-nine of the thirty-one patients. This consisted of an initial fall of the level of C3, followed by an increase to a higher than normal level and then a gradual return to normal. No difference was observed between the patients who were positive and those who were negative for the hepatitis-associated antigen. These results support the view that immune complexes play a significant role in the pathogenesis of acute viral hepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibodies in human sera against four different antigens of human spermatozoa discovered by means of an indirect two-layer immunofluorescence technique (IFT) were characterized by determination of the class of immunoglobulins to which they belonged. A three-layer IFT using monospecific antisera against human IgG, IgA or IgM as the second layer was employed together with fractionation of sera on Sephadex G-200 or DEAE-cellulose followed by testing of the concentrated pools in a two-layer IFT. The study revealed that antibodies against the antigen in the front part of the acrosome were primarily IgM and those against the antigen in the tail primarily IgG. Antibodies against antigens in the equatorial segment and the postnuclear cap showed a varying predominance of these two immunoglobulins. Spermatozoal antibody as IgA was found only in small amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of the antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis of Laurel! twenty-two different candida albicans precipitins were demonstrated in a serum from a 56-year-old woman suffering from idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and chronic candidiasis. This precipitin response is remarkably strong, but a detailed evaluation of the finding must await further investigations. lt is mentioned how the human precipitins may be quantitated and the titres expressed in arbitrary rabbit precipitin units. The antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis may be useful in other infections, and possibly in certain autoimmune diseases, in order quantitatively to screen patient sera for a multitude of precipitins without purification of the individual antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

134 liver biopsies obtained from 124 patients with various diseases of the liver were examined by the direct immunofluorescent technique for the Australia antigen. FITC-labelled IgG fractions prepared from three different sera containing anti- body to the Australia antigen were used. Controls included FITC-labelled IgG fractions of sent containing antibodies against human immunoglobulins, complement factors and herpes simplex virus. The three antibodies to the Australia antigen employed showed identical fluorescent patterns and reacted with the same biopsies. In 68 biopsies prepared and examined within 12 hr, speckled or granular fluorescence was noted in the nuclei of the hepatocytes in all cases irrespective of the clinical or histological diagnosis or the serological reaction for the Australia antigen. The antigen in the nuclei of the hepatocytes proved to be very labile. It is concluded that IgG prepared from sera containing antibodies to the Australia antigen may have two antigenic specificities, one precipitating with the Australia antigen in serum and another reacting by immunofluorescence with a labile antigen which appears to be a constituent of normal liver cell nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoconglutinin is an auto-antibody against hidden antigenic determinants or C3 and C4 components revealed following complement involvement in an antigen antibody interaction. Sequential determinations of immunoconglutinin. β1C globulin and various parameters of renal function have been undertaken in eight patients following cadaveric renal transplantation. In the four patients who underwent an acute rejection episode during the period of study, the immunoconglutinin titre rose to high and significant levels suggesting that antibody production and utilization of complement `may play a role in renal allograft rejections. There were fluctuations in the serum β1(C3) globulin concentrations with time in each patient but no correlation could be found with rejection episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the sera of seventeen patients with a selective deficiency of IgA revealed that 24% gave a precipitin reaction on gel diffusion with normal bovine serum and milk. None of 100 normal adults and only one of approximately 500 patients with various diseases without an IgA deficiency had precipitins when studied by this same technique. Analysis of the nature of this reaction revealed that an IgG type antibody present in the human sera was reacting with the Fc fragment of the IgM present in bovine milk and serum. An immunologically identical reaction occurred with goat and sheep, and reactions of partial identity with horse and pig sera. No reactions were found with sera from other species including man. In two of the IgA deficient sera additional but much weaker precipitin lines were noted with cow milk. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that oral immunization with the highly antigenic macroglobulin present in cow milk was facilitated by the mucosal antibody defect accompanying the IgA deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of antigen dosage on reagin formation to haemocyanin in rabbits was studied. Using large doses of antigen, reagin formation was more readily elicited, the induction period was shorter and the persistence of reagins in serum was longer than when low antigen doses were employed. Reagin synthesis was readily induced after intravenous administration of antigen. Immunization with antigen mixed with varying doses of IgG antibody resulted in a suppressed formation of antibodies reactive in passive haemagglutination and in a total inhibition of reagin formation. The inhibition of reagin synthesis was long-lasting and booster injections of antigen did not result in the appearance of reagins. 'Hyposensitization' with series of injections of antigen or antigen-antibody mixtures resulted in an initial decrease of the reagin litres, but restoration of reagin levels was observed already about 2 weeks following cessation of the treatment. The possible implications of the results for the specific immunologic therapy of allergic disorders are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sera from patients with idiopathic autoimniune haemolytic anaemia (Al HA) were studied, by the immunofluorescent technique, for the presence of circulating organ-specific and non-organ-specific autoantibodies. in patients with warm AIHA there was an increased incidence in the non-organ-specific autoantibodies, compared to normal controls: In. 15% of sera studied there were antinuclear antibodies detectable, and in 5 % antimitochondrial antibodies were present. In cold ATHA, however, the frequency of these autoantibodies was not increased. The incidence of organ-specific autoantibodies was normal in both cold and warm AIHA. No correlation was found between the occurrence of these autoantibodies and pattern of serum immunoglobulin concentration, specific serological feature, or clinical manifestation. The significance of the increased incidence of tissue autoantibodies and their relation to autoimmune haemolytic anaemia remains to be elucidated, but in some way may be due to increased immunological reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain foetal calf sera (FCS), upon initial injection, elicit delayed dermal reactions in some but not all guinea-pigs. The FCS that evoke significant dermal responses also initiate in vitro blastogenesis of lymphocytes taken from animals exhibiting the dermal reactions. A correlation exists between the severity of the in vivo reactions and the degree of blastogenesis observed. An explanation for these observations has been suggested, i.e. that some guineapigs possess spontaneously developed delayed hypersensitivity for antigen(s) contained in FCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunologic changes iii patients and experimental animals with skin burns include impairment of delayed hypersensitivity and the presence of autoantibodies. We have studied thirty-one patients with burns (2-46% area. 1 2-82 years old) to determine the incidence of autoantibodies, to evaluate their clinical significance and to explore the burn syndrome as a model of autoimmunity. By indirect immunofluorescence, sixteen sera (52%) showed antiepithelial ('pemphigus-like') antibody and seven gave basement layer staining. The antibody did not fix complement in vitro. Eleven (35%) had antinuclear antibodies reactive with rat liver nuclei. Tests for anti DNA and deoxyribonucleoprotein were negative. Twenty patients had positive latex fixation tests (LFT) (67%) with titres above 1:80 in eight. Eight of twenty-eight (32%) had a positive sheep cell agglutination test (SCAT). Patients over 59 years tended to be more reactive in tests for rheumatoid factor (RF) than the younger group. The incidence of positive LFT and SCAT was significantly higher than controls. There was no clear relationship of the presence of one antibody to the other nor to the severity and final outcome of the injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precipitating serum antibodies to Escherichia coli O antigens from some infants and children with acute pyelonephritis were studied. These precipitins were largely resistant to reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol and were localized in the 7S fraction after gel filtration of the patient sera through Sephadex G-200. The precipitins were inhibited by anti-IgG serum, but not by anti-IgA or -IgM sera using a combined single and double diffusion method. The IgG nature of the precipitins investigated was also substantiated by immunofluorescence studies of precipitates formed by E. coli O antigens and the corresponding antibodies in double diffusion plates. Possible reasons for the occurrence of IgG precipitins predominantly in patients with recurrent attacks of pyelonephritis are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabbit antisera to human tracheal mucosa, liver and gastric mucosa, after complete absorption with human serum, reacted with extracts of all human tissues tested. Monkey tissue extracts also reacted, but tissues of other species did not. The reactions were attributed to `species-specific tissue antigens'. Two of the most prominent antigens were partially isolated and characterized by chromatography, gel filtration, and electrophoresis. Antigen I migrated as β2-globulin, Antigen E as a β1-globulin. The antigens persisted in malignant and in long-term cultured cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickens of the Obese strain (OS) exhibit a hereditary, spontaneous auto-immune thyroiditis. Thyroglobulin auto-antibodies have so far been demonstrated by passive haemagglutination and precipitation. A standardized indirect imm unofluorescent staining system has been established as an additional technique for the demonstration of these antibodies. Two kinds of circulating thyroglobulin antibodies were found in OS chickens, one demonstrable by passive haemagglutination only, the other by both precipitation and indirect immunofluorescence using a fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate directed predominantly against chicken lgG. Results obtained in chessboard type indirect immunofluorescence blocking tests and with column chromatographic fractions of OS sera are suggestive that the haemagglutinating kind of thyroglobulin antibodies are of the IgM class, while the antibodies reactive in precipitation and indirect imm unofluorescence are of IgG type. The autoantibody nature of the thyroglobulin antibodies in OS chickens was demonstrated by indirect and direct immunofluorescent staining of autologous thyroid sections. With the immunofluorescence techniques employed so far, antibodies directed against antigenic components of the thyroid epithelium of OS chickens have not been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal biopsies and sera of four Patients with distal renal tubular acidosis were examined. The findings consisted of immunoglobulin containing mononuclear cellular infiltrates around the distal tubules, bound immunoglobulin and complement in tubules. The sera of the patients contained. antibodies reacting with various tissue antigens, among them renal tubular antigens. The results suggest that autoimmunity was involved in the pathogenesis of the renal tubular acidosis in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antiglobulin consumption test was performed with sera from patients with myasthenia gravis, lyophilized skeletal muscle tissue serving as antigen. Incubation of the saline-treated tissue preparation with the antiglobulin serum resulted in a small titre reduction of antiglobulin, indicating in vivo binding of γ-globulins to the tissue (basal consumption). Treatment of the tissue with normal human serum resulted in a greater consumption. This was mediated by γG-globulins, normally present in human sera and with the capacity of binding to skeletal muscle (normal consumption). Sera from twenty-four patients with myasthenia gravis were tested in the anti-globulin consumption test. A positive reaction (pathological consumption) was observed in twelve (50%). Cross-reactions with cardiac muscle and thymus were demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating IgG antibodies reactive with smooth muscle antigens have been found in 21% of patients with intrinsic asthma contrasting with an incidence of 2.9% in extrinsic asthma and 3.7% in chronic bronchitis. This antibody is neither organ nor species specific and does not cross-react with cardiac or skeletal muscle. In some sera the pattern of fluorescence is distinct from that commonly seen in patients with liver disease and has a `streaky' appearance outlining the surface of individual muscle fibres, similar to the inter-myofibrillary pattern of some cardiac antibodies. Other autoantibodies were found in seven of the eleven positive sera, suggesting a heightened immunological reactivity in these patients with intrinsic asthma. There is no evidence from this study that the presence of smooth muscle anti-bodies is related to pathogenesis of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for determining the antigen-binding activities of specific immunoglobulins in serum is described. Samples of sera were applied to commercial immunodiffusion plates and unprecipitated proteins eluted. The precipitate circles were challenged with specific radio-labelled antigen and exposed to X-ray film. Blackened circles on the radioautograph were found to be good indices of the antigen-binding activity of each immunoglobulin and could be monitored using a Beckman Model R Analytrol. The height of each analytrol peak provided an objective estimate of the intensity of darkening. Variation in the amount of added radio-antigen had a direct effect upon the intensity of the darkened circle at low concentrations. At a given concentration of antigen, however, all antigen-binding sites became saturated and additional increases in antigen concentration did not further increase the density of blackening. The quantity of antigen required to just saturate the combining sites of a particular immunoglobulin is a measure of the antigen-binding activity of that immunoglobulin. The employment and some of the applications of this relatively simple radio-isotopic technique are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mice infected at birth with Moloney virus were stimulated with an unrelated antigen (sheep red blood cells) during the lag period before the outbreak of leukaemia. Their spleen cell suspensions were incubated with anti-Moloney serum and complement before plating by the Jerne technique. This treatment-compared with incubation with normal serum and complement-caused a decrease in number of plaque forming cells in one-fourth of the infected mice, indicating that their antibody producing cells contained virus specific surface antigen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a list of abbreviations related to immunology. Some of the abbreviation given are for antibody, antigen, acid-citrate-dextrose, autoimmune complement fixation, antilymphocyte globulin, bis-diazotized benzidine, biological false positive reaction, bovine gammaglobulin, bovine serum albumin, Bence-Jones, buffered saline solution, carboxymethyl, cerebrospinal fluid, diethylaminoethyl, deoxyribonucleic acid, dinitrochlorbenzenc, ethylenediamine tetracetic acid, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fluorescein to protein, gonococeal complement fixation test, graft versus host, intraperitoneal, intravenous, keyhole limpet haemocyanin, long acting thyroid stimulator, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, lupus erythematosus and so on.

The article presents a list of abbreviations that have been used in the September 1, 1971 issue of the periodical "Clinical and Experimental Immunology." The abbreviation "Ab" is used for antibody; "Ag" is used for antigen; "ACD" is used for acid-citrate-dextrose; "AICF" is used for autoimmune complement fixation; "ALG" is used for antilymphocyte globulin; "HSA" is used for human serum albumin; "IF" is used for intrinsic factor; "IFT" is used for immunofluorescence technique; "DNA" is used for deoxyribonucleic acid; "DNCB" is used for dinitrochlorbenzene; etc.