Autoantibodies against spectrin in rats.
Purified, homologous spectrin, inner component of red blood cell (RBC) membrane, injected intraperitoneally in rats determines the appearance in the serum of precipitating autoantibodies against spectrin. These have been purified and characterized according to their classes and anti spectrin activity. Immunochemical and immunocytochemical tests, including immunoelectronmicroscopy (colloidal gold method) have been employed. They belong principally to IgG1 and IgG2a subclasses and react in electro-immunodiffusion and ELISA tests with purified spectrin showing a more elevated level of antibodies than that of control rats (normal and adjuvant treated). They also mark in immunoelectronmicroscopy assays purified RBC membranes. The ease in inducing precipitating anti spectrin autoantibodies, as resulted in many experiments, and the appearance, also in control rats, of anti spectrin antibodies, even if at a very low level, suggest they rise as consequence of an enhancement of a "natural" immunological system normally operating at low and controlled degree, presumably intervening in the elimination of effete or damaged RBCs.
G
G
Berti
M
M
Govoni
I
I
Ventrelli
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D013049:Spectrin / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013049:Spectrin