Influence of heavy metal ions on antibodies and immune complexes investigated by dynamic light scattering and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
The effect of Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+ and Cu2+ on the aggregation behaviour of monoclonal rat-IgG1-anti-mouse antibodies (kappa-light chain specific) and their antibody-antigen complexes with monoclonal mouse-IgG1 is reported. Investigations were done using the dynamic light scattering method. Cd2+ ions affected the hydrodynamic properties of the antibodies and the immune complex formation very little. More than 4 Cu2+ ions per antibody molecule led to large insoluble aggregates. Pb2+ ions also interacted with antibodies and immune complexes. Instead of "monomeric' antibodies (Ab) or immune complexes (Ab1Ag1), large soluble aggregates were detectable in the solution. Hg2+ ions induced complex formation with 3-4 antibodies per aggregate. Possible kinds of interaction are discussed. Additionally, we tested the antigen binding activity of metal-treated antibodies in ELISA-tests. The Sandwich ELISA technique was used to investigate the serological activity of the metal-treated antibodies, i.e., the reaction with the specific antigen. For these experiments we used the same monoclonal antibodies, mouse-IgG1 and rat-IgG1-anti-mouse. The influence of the above mentioned heavy metal ions was investigated up to a 10-fold molar excess over the antibody concentration. Even at these "unphysiological' high metal ion concentrations an inhibition of the antibody-antigen binding activity was not detectable.
Bauer
R
R
Institut for Matematik og Fysik, Den kongelige Veterinoer- og Landbohøjskole, København, Denmark.
Müller
A
A
Richter
M
M
Schneider
K
K
Frey
J
J
Engelhardt
W
W
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000737:chemistry*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry; D007477:Ions; D007834:Lasers; D007854:Lead / Q000494:pharmacology; D008433:Mathematics; D008628:Mercury / Q000494:pharmacology; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007477:Ions; D008670:Metals; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D008628:Mercury; D002118:Calcium