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Purified thyroglobulin was digested with trypsin and papain and was also reduced with dithiothreitol and alkylated with iodoacetamide. The resulting fragments were separated and characterized by immunological techniques. Following enzymatic degradation a small fragment, termed fraction 2, was isolated. It had a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 3S and a mol. wt determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in presence of SDS was approximately 37,000 daltons. In the Ouchterlony test, it was antigenically deficient as compared with intact thyroglobulin, when rabbit antisera to human thyroglobulin were used. With human autoantisera, fraction 2 did not show any precipitin reaction in the Ouchterlony test. However, it produced weak inhibition in the tanned cell haemagglutination test. The fractions obtained from trypsin and papain digestion appeared to be immunologically identical. However, when these fractions were compared with the similar product obtained from reduced and alkylated thyroglobulin, the latter fraction showed a reaction of non-identity in the Ouchterlony test, and had a weaker inhibiting capacity in tanned cell haemagglutination test. The fraction produced by reduction and alkylation had a sedimentation coefficient of 8S and an approximate mol. wt of 38,500. It can be concluded that the small mol. wt fractions derived from enzymatic breakdown and by reduction and alkylation are different although both possess a number of antigenic determinants recognized by the rabbit antiserum and lack most of the autoantigenic determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Study was designed to investigate the antigenic cross-reaction which occurs in the macrophage electrophoretic mobility (MEM) assay for lymphocyte sensitization between encephahtogenic basic protein of myelin (EF), a tumour-specific protein (CaBP), an acid-extractable normal membrane protein (AEMP) and the purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PPD). Lymphocytes from multiple sclerosis (MS) and cancer patients have been studied. Cellular affinity chromatography has been used to deplete lymphocyte populations specifically of sensitivity to EF or PPD. Subsequent measurement of the reactivity in the MEM test to the other antigens indicated that: (1) removal of EF sensitized cells was accompanied by a similar reduction in sensitivity to CaBP, AEMP and PPD; (2) removal of PPD sensitized cells gave a similar reduction in sensitivity to EF, but less marked for CaBP and AEMP. This is interpreted as evidence for a sharing of antigenic determinants among these proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrophoretic mobility (EM) of peripheral blood lymphocytes from twelve normal subjects and four patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) was studied in relation lo the thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes and bone marrow-derived (B) lymphocytic system. An attempt was made to correlate electrophoretic results with other methods of Identifying T and B lymphocytes-T cells by the formation of sheep-cell rosettes and B cells by the formation of erythrocyte antibody- complement (EAC) rosettes and by staining for surface immunoglobulin. In the normal subjects the majority of cells migrated quickly with a small 'tail' of slower cells. It is suggested that the faster populations are T cells and the slower, B. In CLL the majority of the cells were slow migrators. There was agreement between the percentage of fast cells as assessed by electrophoresis with that of T cells by sheep-cell rosetting; there was also some agreement between the percentage of clectrophoretically slow cells to B cells by EAC rosettes or surface immunoglobulin. It was possible to remove some of the B cells by density centrifugation after forming EAC' rosettes. This further defined the T cell peak on electrophoresis. It is concluded that T and B cells carry different surface charge densities which permit them to be separated by electrophoresis and that the malignant B lymphocytes of CLL migrate electrophoretically in a similar fashion to normal B cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An inhibitor of the heterophile antibody of infectious mononucleosis was detected in somewhat varying amounts in all of the twenty-four rabbit sera tested. In electrophoresis it migrated in the α2-β ;1 globulin area, and it was not associated with lipoproteins. The molecular size of the inhibitor was not homogeneous, and there was considerable aggregation during heat treatment of the serum. The inhibitory activity was not affected by neuraminidase treament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt has beeti made to purify and characterize the protein atiligens related to autoimmune carditis in the heart extract of albino rats by ammonium sulphate fractionation, molecular sieve gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The heart extract of albino rat at pH 70 contains at least nine proteins out of which three are antigenic in rabbits and have been termed as CA 1. II and III. These antigens can be purified by ammonium sulphate fractional precipitation followed by Sephadex G-100 geic filtration. Their molecular weights were 66 (±2)x10*, 2-8 (±0-85)x 10, 4-8 (±-5)xl0 Daltons. A fourth antigen (CA IV) detected is probably polysaccharide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognition of antigen by sensitized human lymphocytes can be demonstrated by cell electrophoresis. A Serum factor able to block this recognition was found to be associated with the alpha-2 macroglobulin (α2,M ) protein. The factor was heat labile, susceptible to certain proteases and produced an active low molecular weight component when treated with sulphydryl reagents. It appeared to are directly on the lymphocyte. preventing response to subsequently encountered antigen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method of treating idiopathic hyperhidrosis using direct current iontophoresis is described. Employing a solution of glycopyrronium bromide, such treatment produces prolonged periods of suppression of palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis but only occasionally do useful periods of dryness result from treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. Tap water iontophoresis can also be used to produce sweat suppression but its effects are generally less satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrophoretic patterns of skin washings from the calf, sheep, goat, pig, horse and man have been compared. It was concluded that protein in these washings was derived mainly from sweat. The amounts of protein lost and the nature of the proteins in the sweat differed markedly between species. The horse had relatively the highest protein loss during active sweating and man the lowest. The potential biological role of these sweat proteins is discussed, including the possibility that they may provide the animal with an outer defence, on the skin surface, against invasion by foreign organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C4 in EDTA plasma and partially purified C4 give a β2 peak on crossed immunoelectrophoresis. During elcctrophoresis C4 in serum is converted to a product of fast β1 mobility, usually accompanied by a slow β2 peak. Conversion in serum is inhibited by EDTA. Storage of serum at room temperature results in a gradual increase of the slow β2 peak. Storage of EDTA plasma changes the configuration of the native β2 peak. C1s, trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasmin or thrombin added to partially purified C4 is capable of producing a fast β1 C4 protein peak. CTs, trypsin and chymotrypsin give this conversion product also when added to EDTA serum. CTs, trypsin and chymotrypsin also give rise to a slow' β2 and an inter a C4 conversion product in serum, probably consisting of complex formations between C4 and other serum proteins. Enzyme inhibitors known to interfere with CT inhibit the Conversion of C4 in serum on agarose electrophoresis. The results suggest that such conversion is caused by an activation of C I during electrophoresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An esterase that is limited in species distribution to human and monkey tissues was demonstrated by enzymoimmunoelectrophoresis and enzymoimmunodiffusion. The monkey esterase exhibited a slightly faster electrophoretic mobility than the human tissue esterase. An antigenically identical esterase found in concentrated human urine had a mobility slightly more anodal than the human tissue esterase. Despite the differences in electrophoretic mobility among the human tissue esterase, urinary esterase and monkey tissue esterase, they all reacted in enzymoimmunodiffusion with antiserum to cellular or urinary esterase to produce lines of immunologic identity. Tissues of the other species tested did not exhibit the human cathodal esterase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ig levels were determined by radial immunodiffusion in uncomplicated cases of acute hepatitis with or without Australia antigenaemia. Initial sera from Australia antigen negative cases showed a striking elevation in IgM levels when compared to Australia antigen positive cases (6.5 versus 1.9 mg/ml). None of twenty-four Australia antigen positive cases exceeded 3 mg/ml IgM, and only 3/58 Australia antigen negative cases exhibited values below 3 mg/ml. initial sera from Australia antigen positive and Australia antigen negative subjects did not differ in concentration of IgG, IgA, or IgD. Serial determinations of IgG revealed a transient fall in patients with Australia antigen positive hepatitis, and a rise in Australia antigen negative cases. Asymptomatic, Australia antigen positive, Guaymi Indian subjects were compared to matched Australia antigen negative controls from the same indigenous group and no differences in the concentration of IgG, IgM, IgA or IgD were found, although elevations of IgG and IgM were common in both groups. No evidence of abnormal proteins was found when sera were tested by cellulose acetate electrophoresis or by immunoelectrophoresis versus immunoglobulin-specific anti- sera. Ultracentrifugal analysis failed to detect `7S' IgM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of human blood-lymphocytes from patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis or cerebral haemorrhage were separated on a discontinuous Ficoll gradient. Six to eight fractions were obtained in which one or two fractions contained a large number of small lymphocytes. The fractions were incubated with encephalitogenic factor or tumour antigen and guinea-pig macrophages, after which the macrophages' electrophoretic mobility (EMR) was measured. The fractions with a density between 1-075 and 1 -090, and containing a high percentage of small lymphocytes, produced a significant EMR in these patients and it was concluded that the cells responsible for cellular immunological activity were also responsible for reductions in the electrophoretic mobility. [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]

When examined by immunoelectrophoresis and double-gel diffusion, gastric acid-stable esterase (VI A) and human intrinsic factor (IF) behaved as different substances. The VI A migrated in agar-gel electrophoresis mainly as a β2/β1- globulin and IF as β1/α2-globulin. Both showed overlapping migration and diffusion near the starting point. On DEAE-chromatography IF was eluted together with VI A at 0.05-0.075 M, pH 7.0. In gel filtration experiments with Sephadex G 100 and G 200, the IF from in vivo neutralized gastric juice (NGJ) and from gastric mucosa (GM) was eluted in a definite range according to its molecular weight of 60,000. No IF was found in acid gastric juice (AGJ). Two immunologically identical variants of VI A were eluted at two different ranges when NGJ and GM were used for gel filtration. The variant of VIA with the lower molecular weight was eluted together with IF. When AGJ was used, only the VI A with the higher molecular weight was found and in an elution range quite different from that for IF. Of the purified substances, only IF showed vitamin B12-binding, which could be inhibited by serum from a patient with pernicious anaemia, and only heteroimmune serum against this B12-binding fraction contained IF antibodies of the blocking and binding types. IF and VI A proved to be biochemically and immunologically distinct proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The techniques of starch gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis and high resolution gel filtration have been used to investigate the peptic cleavage or human G-Myeloma proteins of the four known subclasses. The appearance and fate of F(ab')2 and pFc' fragments and the persistence of undegraded IgG have been contrasted and distinctive patterns of pepsin sensitivity have been established for each subclass. The IgG 1 subclass is the most resistant and is degraded by pepsin in a manner which is closely similar to that observed for pooled IgG. IgG 2 molecules are also relatively resistant to peptic cleavage whereas IgG 3 and IgG 4 proteins are much more sensitive. Nevertheless all the subclasses are cleaved by the enzyme in similar susceptible regions and give rise at some stage to the same products: F(ab')2 fragment, pFc' fragment and peptides from the N-terminal half of the Fc region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A semi-quantitative assay method was used to study the distribution of IgG heavy chain sub-classes in normal IgG and the fractions obtained from it by isoelectric focusing, and in the residual IgG from hypogammaglobulinaemic sera. The assay of the isoelectric focusing fractions proved that IgG2 was present in the fractions of lowest pH; IgG1, although detectable in all fractions, was maximal at high pH values, and was the only sub-class found in the pH 9.5 fraction, which was the highest pH found. IgG3 was detected in fractions with intermediate pH values. The assay of hypogammaglobulinaemic sera proved that the residual IgG present in these sera could have a grossly abnormal distribution of sub-classes mainly due to the variability of the IgG2 and IgG3 titres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrophoresis in agarose gel containing antibodies can be used for quantitation of C4 in serum and plasma. The normal range of the C4 concentration in serum and plasma varied between 40 and 200% of the standard pools. Low C4 values were found in systemic lupus erythematosus. in acquired haemolytic anaemia and in. hereditary angioneurotic oedema. Differences in C4 values were found between normal sera and the corresponding EDTA plasma, when tested after dilution in calcium-free and EDTA buffers, respectively. After storage of the samples for 1 day at 20°C or 37°C the C4 values decreased, most markedly in plasma; no further decrease was found on prolongation of storage, and the difference between serum and plasma C4 values disappeared. The plasma C4 levels gradually fell on storage at 4°C, but a clear difference between serum and plasma was still demonstrable after 5 days. The method described is simple and quick and can be used routinely in large scale investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α- and β-D-glucosidases, β-D-glucuronidase, α- and β-D-mannosidases, α-and β-D-galactosidases, β-D-fucosidase, α-L-fucosidase and β-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase activities were measured in the human epidermis using p-nitrophenol and 4-methylumbelliferone compounds as substrates. There was no appreciable difference in activities noted when both substrates were compared. Acid phosphatase was assayed with p-nitrophenol phosphate and α-naphthyl acid phosphate as substrates. Acid phosphatase seemed to be present, both free in the cytoplasm and in lysosomes. These 2 activities could not be differentiated by agarose electrophoresis (both fractions showed 2 anodally migrating bands). Some of the biochemical properties of these acid hydrolases from the normal human epidermis are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information on lipid metabolism disorders. Xanthomatous skin lesions usually indicate abnormal lipid metabolism. However, exceptions to this are 50% of patients with xanthelasma, patients with reticulo-endothelial disorders and diffuse plane xanthomata. It is now possible to classify the majority of lipid disorders on the basis of alterations in the proteins concerned with their transport. Biochemically, six types of hyperliproteinaemia can be identified. Currently, the diagnosis is best determined by fasting serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels with electrophoresis of the lipoproteins. Classification helps in the selection of specific therapy.

A patient with peripheral vascular disease, annular erythema and Sjögren's syndrome is described. A selective IgA deficiency, which was not apparent on routine serum protein electrophoresis, and mixed cryoglobulinaemia were additional features of her autoimmune disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sweat response to iontophoresis with pilocarpine was measured in the clinically normal skin between the lesions of psoriasis and in normal-looking skin of a control group of subjects. The sweat rate was found not to be affected by complete removal of the stratum corneum either in the normal-looking skin of patients with psoriasis or in the healthy skin of control subjects. It is concluded that sweat duct occlusion is not a feature of normal skin or of the skin between the lesions of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of lichen myxoedematosus is described in which multiple serum protein abnormalities have been demonstrated by disc electrophoresis, in addition to the previously described abnormal basic globulin fraction migrating in the post-gamma region on paper electrophoresis. Immunohistological studies indicate that there are abnormalities in the connective tissue between the collagen bundles as well as deposition of lgG globulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

gThe article states that electrophoretic mobility of peripheral blood lymphocytes from human subjects with positive Mantoux tests was measured before and after treatment with purified protein derivative. Lymphocytes from subjects with negative Mantoux reactions were used as controls. A large number of the first group lymphocytes showed a reduction of electrophoretic mobility and hence of the surface electrical charge. The mobility of the control cells submitted to the same treatment was unchanged. The possible presence of cytophilic antibodies or of cellular specific receptors on the lymphocyte surface is discussed.

The article presents a study, which describes a family study on macroglobulinaemia patients. In this study, serum electrophoresis and quantitative determination of serum immunoglobulin levels were performed in 353 relatives of twenty-three patients with macroglobulinaemia. Only the number of abnormalities, both quantitative and qualitative, found in the IgM class was higher than would be expected in the general population. Abnormalities also occurred in the IgG and IgA classes, but their number is not higher than expected, thus indicating that they are not associated with the disease in the propositus.

The article focuses on the production of immunoglobins in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro. The peripheral blood lymphocytes of normal humans show an increased production of immunoglobins in vitro after non-specific stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) by paper electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis and autoradiography that PHA stimulated human lymphocytes which could synthesize immunoglobulin. The synthesis of immunoglobulins was confirmed by the precipitation of C-labelled protein with specific antisera and sodium sulphate. Even in the absence of an added stimulant, normal human lymphocytes synthesized in vitro small amounts of IgG, IgA and IgM as demonstrated by fluorescence, immunoelectrophoresis and autoradiography.

The article focuses on in vitro experiments on anti-intrinsic factor antibodies in the sera from patients with pernicious anemia. Heterogeneity of antibody molecules to the same antigen is a well recognized phenomenon. Two general types of antibody activity can be identified from antibodies to intrinsic factor in patients with pernicious anemia. This antibody appears not to unite with IF when B12 is on IF since there are sera with antibody I activity in which no antibody on intrinsic factor, B12 can be detected by co-precipitation or electrophoretic techniques.

This article focuses on the Dysgammaglobulinaemia type IV C. The antibody deficiency syndromes can be classified into two groups: first, the dypogammaglobulinaemias in which the deficiency of globulin and, therefore, of antibodies can be diagnosed by simple serum electrophoresis and second, the dysgammaglobulinaemias in which the globulin is apparently normal on electrophoresis and only resting for specific antibodies or measuring the levels of the different immunoglobulins reveals any defect. Because normal responses to antigens vary so widely, dysgarnrnaglobulinaemia is difficult to diagnose. it is necessary to test a whole range of antigens using a primary challenge and booster doses. Alternatively it is easier to measure serum immunogIobulins quantitatively.

The article reports that the immunoelectrophoretic analysis of certain human sera revealed a deficiency of the fast migrating part of immunoglobulin G (IgG). A deficiency of fast IgG has been observed on immunoelectrophoresis of sera from young children, and also from adults. In most sera the deficiency was so distinctive that an independent assessment of over 100 analyses by the two investigators disagreed in only 4% of analyses. The characteristics of the IgG precipitin lines were found to be reproducible on repeated analyses of the same serum, and were not affected by the conditions of storage. Deficiency of fast IgG did not represent a simple diluting out of this protein in sent of low IgG content, since no constant association was found between IgG concentration and the presence or absence of fast IgG.

This article presents an abstract of the article titled "The Proteins in Pemphigus Vulgaris: Determination of the Plasma Protein by Electrophoresis and Chemical Fractionation in Patients With Pemphigus Under Treatment With ACTH or Cortisone," by W.F. Lever, N.A. Hurley and A.E. Blaney. It is informed that in pemphigus the serum albumin is characteristically reduced and the globulins are greatly increased. When the disease is treated with ACTH these values, especially that of the serum albumin, tends to return to normal.

The article discusses spectrophotometric and electrophoretic patterns of sera of patients with polymorphous light eruption. There were no characteristic changes in Ultraviolet and visible light absorption spectra or in the electrophoretic patterns of sera of patients with polymorphous light eruption.

This article presents observations on urea-extractable substance of the human abdominal epidermis. There is no constituent of epidermis specifically extractable by urea--6 M urea is no more and no less efficient a solvent of protein than, for example, neutral phosphate buffer with or without sodium chloride. The only difference is that, according to the evidence of electrophoresis, it may very well be altering the structure of the protein molecule in the process.

The article presents information on a study related to dermatology. The study "Paper Electrophoresis of Serum Proteins in Selected Dermatoses," presents a description of the technique; a comparison of it with that of Tiselius and the findings in 69 patients with dermatomyositis.

The article focuses on a paper on electrophoretic patch tests. The shorter duration of the test exposure makes it possible not only to watch the entire course of events but to ascertain the effect of all kinds of local influences at all stages in the reaction. Antihistamines, whether introduced simultaneously by electrophoresis or applied afterwards in the form of ointments, gave negative results, indicating that the inhibitory effect in the eczematous allergic reaction that many clinicians still ascribe to these substances can hardly be a reality.

The article presents an abstract of the paper "Study of Electrophoresis in 13 Cases of Psoriasis," by M. Bolgert, J. Blamoutier and M. Moret. It opines that no characteristic electrophoretic variation was found in the blood in psoriasis.

The article presents information on the disease hyalinosis cutis et mucosae that is lipoid-proteinosis. The trouble is regarded as a paraproteinosis. The hyaline collections in the dermis have a reduced lipoid content. Electrophoresis shows increase in globulins.

The article focuses on a study related to identifying fish subspecies by electrophoretic analysis in Lake Erie, conducted by the Battelle Memorial Institute's Columbus, Ohio laboratories. The study was financed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Biochemist Victor G. Vely experimented with electrophoresis. The study indicated that each electrophoretic pattern is diagnostic of the subspecies of fish, its particular area of origin, and its migratory route. It suggests that wildlife managers need to know whether the population of fishes in Lake Erie is a lakewide population or it is a localized population. It raises the question whether the electrophoresis equipment available to the Ohio Division of Wildlife is capable of distinguishing among species.