Phenol amplifies complement-fixing activity and induces IgG-precipitating activity in grain-dust extract.
The use of phenol as a preservative in extracts of grain dust was found to be associated with an amplification of complement-fixing activity and the appearance of IgG-precipitating activity. Both activities were absorbed by IgG, suggesting that they were due to a single material. Phenol itself neither fixed complement nor formed a precipitate with IgG. 14C-labeled phenol was incorporated into the IgG precipitating material. Both the amplification of complement-fixing activity and the appearance of IgG-precipitating activity in phenol-containing grain-dust extract were dependent on the presence of air and were inhibited by heating the extract before phenol addition. One interpretation of these results is that a component of grain-dust extract, possibly an enzyme, oxidatively modifies phenol to a form that fixes complement and precipitates IgG. The modified material demonstrates properties of a polyphenol (tannin).
Skea
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Gage Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
McAvoy
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Broder
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D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D004391:Dust; D002523:Edible Grain; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids; D019800:Phenol; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology*; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
D004391:Dust; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D019800:Phenol