title: Chemical inactivation of the Kveim reagent.
abstract: In an attempt to identify the nature of the active principle, Kveim reagent was exposed to chemical fractionating agents. Thirty-one patients with sarcoidosis underwent simultaneous intradermal injection with fractionated and unfractionated Kveim material. Kveim reagent was stable in the presence of DNAse, RNAse, pronase, 95% phenol, neutral detergent, and to lipid extraction with chloroform-methanol. Kveim reagent was also stable in the presence of both 8 M urea (8MU) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) when used alone. When both these agents were used together, Kveim reagent was inactivated. Fourteen patients had a positive test to unfractionated Kveim reagent; of these, only 2 gave a positive response to material fractionated by exposure to 8MU and 2ME. Simultaneous exposure to 8MU and 2ME was more likely to inactivate Kveim reagent (10/10 tests) than sequential exposure to 8MU and 2ME (2/4 tests). Chemical analysis of the fractionated material showed that it retained granuloma-generating activity despite the lack of carbohydrates. Protein loss in terms of total and relative amino acid composition was progressive and non-specific throughout processing. These results are consistent with a protein-active principle which is dependent on three-dimensional structure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunological Medicine, MRC Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, UK.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donald
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Asherson
mesh_terms: D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007731:Kveim Test; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014508:Urea / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D014508:Urea