title: Effect of denaturization on the immunogenicity and uveitogenicity of retinal S-antigen.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that alteration of pH or temperature of retina extract can affect its complement fixing reactivity with anti-S-antigen serum. To examine the effect of pH or heat on the immunogenicity and uveitogenicity of purified bovine S-antigen, guinea-pigs were injected with pH- or heat-treated S-antigen and evaluated for clinical and histopathological signs of uveoretinitis, histopathology of pineal gland, serum and intraocular S-antigen antibody reactivity, and S-antigen skin test reactivity. Guinea-pigs that received pH 7 or pH 10 treated S-antigen responded as did those that received untreated S-antigen. Guinea-pigs injected with pH 4 or heat-treated S-antigen exhibited lower incidence, later onset and less severe uveitis than those that received untreated S-antigen. Systemic responses of skin test reactivity to S-antigen were not different from those of the control group; pineal gland involvement and serum anti-S antibody reactivity were slightly reduced. Skin test responses of animals receiving treated antigen were less to the treated (injected) antigen than to untreated S-antigen. In addition, antibody responses of guinea-pigs receiving pH 4 or heat-treated antigen were less to the treated (injected) antigen than to untreated S-antigen. These results suggest that the sites on the S-antigen molecule responsible for various aspects of pathogenicity and immunogenicity do not have the same sensitivity to physical/chemical treatment and may reside on different parts of the molecule. Furthermore, the reactive sites especially for antibody and skin test reactivity, may be continuous sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY 14642.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kalsow
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Wacker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D019393:Arrestin; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*; D012173:Retinitis / Q000209:etiology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014605:Uveitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D019393:Arrestin; D005136:Eye Proteins; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors