Abstract
In the sera of a number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis an unusual, high molecular weight protein component could be detected by direct ultracentrifuge analysis of whole serum. This material sedimented more rapidly than the normal 19 S component and reached concentrations up to 340 mg. per cent. Similar components were not observed in a limited control series. The high molecular weight material was present in the γ-globulin fraction of serum and joint fluid. It had an S 20,w of approximately 22 S and could be dissociated into 2 fractions, one of which had a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 19 S. Evidence for a direct relationship between the 22 S component and the γ-globulin precipitation test was obtained. The latter reaction was found to occur in the presence of altered, aggregated γ globulin. Absorption of serum with altered γ globulin removed the 22 S component. There also appeared to be a connection with the sheep cell agglutination reaction and the latex fixation test. The 22 S fraction was always observed in sera giving the most positive tests. Procedures of density gradient and repeated preparative ultracentrifugation demonstrated that each of these reactions was caused by a high molecular weight fraction. The relationship between the unusual protein complex and various 19 S γ-globulins and 19 S antibodies is discussed.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (767.1 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- CAMPBELL D. H., STURGEON P., VINOGRAD J. R. Separation of complete and incomplete Rh antibodies by centrifugation. Science. 1955 Dec 2;122(3179):1091–1092. doi: 10.1126/science.122.3179.1091-b. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- EPSTEIN W., JOHNSON A., RAGAN C. Observations on a precipitin reaction between serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and a preparation (Cohn fraction II) of human gamma globulin. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1956 Feb;91(2):235–237. doi: 10.3181/00379727-91-22223. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- EPSTEIN W., RAGAN C. Serologic reactions in rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Med. 1956 Apr;20(4):487–489. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(56)90132-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FRANKLIN E. C., KUNKEL H. G. Immunologic differences between the 19 S and 7 S components of normal human gamma-globulin. J Immunol. 1957 Jan;78(1):11–18. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FRANKLIN E. C., KUNKEL H. G., MULLER-EBERHARD H. J. Two types of gamma-globulin differing in carbohydrate content. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1956 Oct;93(1):146–150. doi: 10.3181/00379727-93-22690. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- GORDON R. S., Jr The preparation and properties of cold hemagglutinin. J Immunol. 1953 Oct;71(4):220–225. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HELLER G., KOLODNY M. H., LEPOW I. H., JACOBSON A. S., RIVERA M. E., MARKS G. H. The hemagglutination test for rheumatoid arthritis. IV. Characterization of the rheumatoid agglutinating factors by analysis of serum fractions prepared by ethanol fractionation. J Immunol. 1955 May;74(5):340–350. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KUNKEL H. G. Zone electrophoresis. Methods Biochem Anal. 1954;1:141–170. doi: 10.1002/9780470110171.ch6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MULLER-EBERHARD H. J., KUNKEL H. G. The carbohydrate of gamma-globulin and myeloma proteins. J Exp Med. 1956 Aug 1;104(2):253–269. doi: 10.1084/jem.104.2.253. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PLOTZ C. M., SINGER J. M. The latex fixation test. I. Application to the serologic diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Med. 1956 Dec;21(6):888–892. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- VAUGHAN J. H. Behavior of the rheumatoid arthritis agglutinating factor with immune precipitates. J Immunol. 1956 Sep;77(3):181–188. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WALLER M. V., VAUGHAN J. H. Use of anti-Rh sera for demonstrating agglutination activating factor in rheumatoid arthritis. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1956 May;92(1):198–200. doi: 10.3181/00379727-92-22426. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]