Immunological and biochemical studies of an unusual alpha heavy chain protein in a 9-year-old boy.
Protein electrophoresis in a 9-yr-old Libyan boy suffering from intestinal alpha chain disease showed a conspicuous peak in the gamma region. Examination in immunoelectrophoresis with monospecific antisera against IgA revealed a quantitatively important monoclonal gradient. The heavy chain protein in serum, urine and duodenal juice was further analysed immunologically in double diffusion, antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis and biochemically in gel filtration experiments and SDS PAGE. By these techniques alpha 1 chain aggregates of different molecular weight could be found. Immunofluorescence examination of small intestine biopsies showed abundant plasma cells containing alpha heavy chains but no light chains.
D002648:Child; D004386:Duodenum / Q000276:immunology; D006362:Heavy Chain Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007137:Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011487:Protein Conformation
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007137:Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains