title: Protein F. A novel F(ab)-binding factor, present in normal liver, and largely released in the digestive tract during hepatitis.
abstract: Significant percentages of patients suffering from non-A non-B hepatitis (43%) and B hepatitis (35%) were found to release an Ig-binding factor in their stools. This factor, which we called "protein F" was less frequently observed (20%) in patients suffering from other liver disorders, and was found in only 6.7% of healthy subjects (p less than 10(-7), less than 10(-4), and less than 0.03, respectively). The specificity of the detection test (a nonimmune ELISA-like assay) was confirmed by inhibition experiments. Binding was located on the F(ab) fragment of Ig, irrespectively of their isotype. Protein F was inactivated by pepsin, neuraminidase, and high concentrations of subtilisin, whereas it was resistant to trypsin and chymotrypsin. Molecular sieving by HPLC indicated an apparent molecular mass of 175 kDa. In preparative SDS-PAGE, the molecular mass was 85 kDa in favor of a dimer disrupted under dissociating conditions. Preparative IEF showed the isoelectric charge to lie between 3.9 and 4.1. Analysis of liver extracts from two patients suffering fron non-A non-B hepatitis, and from a transplant donor, revealed the presence of the factor in the three cases.
authors.affiliation: Unitè d'Immunologie Microbienne, WHO Center of Reference and Research on Viral Hepatitis, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bouvet
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pirès
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lunel-Fabiani
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crescenzo-Chaigne
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maillard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valla
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Opolon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pillot
mesh_terms: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C089422:Fv protein, human; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D008222:Lymphokines; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins