Skip to main content
Immunology logoLink to Immunology
. 1967 Mar;12(3):327–337.

Quantitative studies of immunofluorescent staining

I. Analyses of mixed immunofluorescence

E H Beutner, E J Holborow, G D Johnson
PMCID: PMC1409109  PMID: 4164034

Abstract

Mixed anti-globulin immunofluorescence (or mixed IF) was analysed using the following model system: calf thyroid sections, human anti-nuclear factor (ANF), rabbit antisera to human IgG and fluorescein-labelled human IgG. This system was characterized on the basis of: (1) the immunoelectrophoretic demonstration of antibodies to human IgG in anti-globulins; (2) titration of the antiglobulins and labelled globulins; and (3) determination of molar fluorescein to protein (F:P) ratios. Titration of anti-globulins (rabbit anti-human IgG) by gel precipitation afforded an assay of `units' of antibody activity. Similarly, `units' of labelled globulin antigen were determined by a gel precipitation titration. Block titrations of these components of the indicator system against ANF serum yielded constant titres or `plateaux' of nuclear staining over a range of units of anti-globulin and of labelled immunoglobulin. Thus, the following predictions can be made. Optimal mixed IF staining may be attained with 4 units or more of an anti-globulin (anti-human IgG) and with 1 unit or more of a fluorescein-labelled human immunoglobulin if the latter has an F:P ratio in the range of about 1:1 to 3:1. The titre of the ANF appears to be proportional to the F:P ratio over this range.

Full text

PDF
337

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Beutner E. H., Holborow E. J., Johnson G. D. A new fluorescent antibody method: mixed antiglobulin immunofluorescence or labelled antigen indirect immunofluorescence staining. Nature. 1965 Oct 23;208(5008):353–355. doi: 10.1038/208353a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. CLARK H. F., SHEPARD C. C. A DIALYSIS TECHNIQUE FOR PREPARING FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY. Virology. 1963 Aug;20:642–644. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(63)90292-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DUBISKI S., MILGROM F., WOZNICZKO G. A simple method of Rh determination. Nature. 1956 Sep 8;178(4532):539–539. doi: 10.1038/178539a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Frommhagen L. H. The solubility and other physicochemical properties of human gamma-globulin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. J Immunol. 1965 Sep;95(3):442–445. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. GOLDSTEIN G., SLIZYS I. S., CHASE M. W. Studies on fluorescent antibody staining. I. Non-specific fluorescence with fluorescein-coupled sheep anti-rabbit globulins. J Exp Med. 1961 Jul 1;114:89–110. doi: 10.1084/jem.114.1.89. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. GOLDWASSER R. A., SHEPARD C. C. Staining of complement and modification of fluorescent antibody procedures. J Immunol. 1958 Feb;80(2):122–131. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. MCKINNEY R. M., SPILLANE J. T., PEARCE G. W. FLUORESCEIN DIACETATE AS A REFERENCE COLOR STANDARD IN FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY STUDIES. Anal Biochem. 1964 Dec;9:474–476. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(64)90208-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MULLER-EBERHARD H. J., NILSSON U., ARONSSON T. Isolation and characterization of two beta1-glycoproteins of human serum. J Exp Med. 1960 Feb 1;111:201–215. doi: 10.1084/jem.111.2.201. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. RIGGS J. L., LOH P. C., EVELAND W. C. A simple fractionation method for preparation of fluorescein-labeled gamma globulin. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1960 Dec;105:655–658. doi: 10.3181/00379727-105-26207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. WELLER T. H., COONS A. H. Fluorescent antibody studies with agents of varicella and herpes zoster propagated in vitro. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1954 Aug-Sep;86(4):789–794. doi: 10.3181/00379727-86-21235. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Immunology are provided here courtesy of British Society for Immunology

RESOURCES