The influence of citrate and phosphate on the Mancini single radial immunodiffusion technique and suggested improvements for the determination of urinary albumin

When adapting the immediate bromcresol green method for urinary albumin determination a correlation study with the Mancini single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) method was performed. This study showed large disparities between the two methods, SRID giving the higher results. The unsuitability of the currently used SRID methods is demonstrated and improvements to the method are suggested. Known amounts of albumin were added to urine samples as well as to a "synthetic urine", both giving falsely elevated results with the SRID method. On investigating the different components of the "synthetic urine", it was found that the disparities were due to the influence of citrate and phosphate. On addition of citric acid or phosphate to the dilution buffer and/or the gel buffer, the results of the SRID method agreed with those of other methods and with the expected values. The findings presented in this paper can probably be extended to other immunological methods too since it seems to be the antigen-antibody reaction which is affected.

Effects of zinc ion on the conformation of antigenic determinants on insulin

Comparison of c.d. spectra of Zn-insulin with Zn2+-free insulin demonstrated significant differences. It has been proposed that these differences are due to either changes in the structure of insulin monomers within aggregated insulins or the results of insulin aggregation. The effect of Zn2+ on the immunological activity of insulin indicated that the antigenic determinants of insulin were also altered. The apparent loss of immunological activity of monoiodotyrosylinsulin was demonstrated to be due to the loss of Zn2+ rather than the substitution of iodine. The immunological activity of Zn-insulin and Zn2+-free insulin was compared in both the radioimmune and immune haemolysis-inhibition assays by using an identical population of antibodies and concentrations of inhibitor. Relative to Zn-insulin, Zn2+-free insulin had a markedly attenuated immunological activity in the immune haemolysis-inhibition assay, whereas in the radioimmune assay slightly greater immunological activity was observed with the Zn2+-free insulin. These observations are submitted as evidence that the removal of Zn2+ perturbs the conformation of determinants that react with antibodies operative in the immune haemolysis-inhibition assay (immune haemolysis determinants) and has a minimal effect on the conformation of determinants that react with antibodies operative in the radioimmune assay (radioimmune determinants).

[Anaesthesia and immunology (author's transl)]

There is evidence of immunosuppressive influence of trauma/operation and anesthesia. The human immunological system is outlined as a complex functioning apparatus with humoral and cellular factors. The influence of operation and/or anesthesia on immunocompetence has been demonstrated by animal studies, in vitro examinations and clinical investigations. The analysis of these results and their significance for an impairment of the immunological surveillance of the patient is tried to be elucidated. There should be payed attention to the clinical consequences, especially in patients on high risk.

[Nonspecific means of increasing the sensitivity of the passive hemagglutination reaction]

The effect of some methods of preliminary treatment of erythrocytes on the PHAT depended on the sensitin náture and the method of erythrocyte load. In case of erythrocyte load with nonprotein and immunoglobulin sensitins without any conjugating agents the simulating effect of heating and periodate treatment was caused not by increase of stable sensitin binding, but by the reduction of physico-chemical resistance of erythrocytes. This effect of erythrocyte treatment permitted to increase the sensitivity of the antibodies and antigens determination. In loading the erythrocytes with the aid of conjugating agents and in sensitization with protein antigens after Boyden no stimuating effect of the treatment was noted.

Idiotypic regulation of the immune system by the induction of antibodies against anti-idiotypic antibodies

Anticarbohydrate antibodies (Ab1) were isolated from a rabbit hyperimmunized with Micrococcus lysodeikticus and injected into allotype-matched rabbits in order to obtain specific anti-iodiotypic antibodies (Ab2). Ab2 was isolated by means of a Sepharose column coupled to the anticarbohydrate antibodies and was injected into two allotype-matched rabbits. These latter rabbits produced specific anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab3) probably sharing idiotypic specificities with Ab1. However, these Ab3 did not react with the antigenic carbohydrate moiety of bacteria. The two rabbits that had produced Ab3 were then immunized with M. lysodeikticus and synthesized anticarbohydrate antibodies (Ab1') bearing idiotypic specificities similar to those of Ab1. The immune repertoire which is effectively expressed in one individual depends not only on the antigenic stimulation but also on the previous idiotypic history of the individual. These data support the concept that the immune system is a functional idiotypic network.

Effects of ionic and nonionic detergents on antigen-antibody reactions

Using highly sensitive and quantitative radioimmunoassay procedures we have measured the effects of different concentrations of three commonly used detergents, SDS, DOC, and Triton X-100, on antibody-antigen reactions. Triton X-100, had a relatively mild effect on primary antigen-antibody bindings, the precipitin reaction, and a double antibody RIA as evidenced by only an 8 to 10% inhibition of binding or precipitation. These results were not detergent concentration dependent, as Triton concentrations ranging from 5 to 0.1% had virtually no differential effects. Sodium deoxycholate (DOC) had a more profound effect on both primary antigen-antibody binding and the precipitin reaction than did Triton X-100, and its effects, unlike those of Triton X-100, were concentration dependent. There was a direct relationship between concentration of DOC and degree of inhibition of both primary binding and immune precepitation especially in antigen excess. Sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), at concentrations 10- to 100-fold less than either Triton X-100 or DOC, had profound inhibitory effects on primary antigen-antibody binding, the precipitin reaction, and a double antibody radioimmunoassay. Generally, at concentrations greater that 0.01% SDS, almost all immunochemical reactivity is destroyed.