Role of antigen and,antibody in the regulation of the immune response

The enzyme dextranase could degrade antigenic dextran in vivo even when given 6-15 d after the antigen. Dextranase injected after the antigen suppressed the immune response when given 24 but not 48 h after the antigen, indicating that the antigen must interact with the immune system for 48 h to initiate a response. Thereafter, the B cells are independent of further antigen stimulation. To show whether antibody-mediated suppression of the immune response was determinant specific FITC-conjugated SRC were applied as immunogen and antibodies were raised both against the carrier (SRC) and the FITC hapten. When these antibodies were injected 1-3 h after the immunogen they only suppressed the immune response to the corresponding determinant. Anti-carrier antibodies usually enhanced the response to the hapten. Therefore, antibody-mediated suppression of the immune response is determinant-specific and cannot be mediated in vivo to a detectable extent by the Fc part of the antibodies.     

Über die Funktionen,die die gesetzmässige Entwicklung der Gärungspilze (Saccharomyces spec.) ausdrücken und Zusammenfassung anderer Resultate

Acta Biotheoretica - Author continues the publication which appeared in the Acta Biotheoretica I, p. 113–132, regarding his results obtained in course of research work on superior...     

The metabolism of leukotrienes in blood plasma studied by high-performance liquid chromatography

The metabolism of leukotrienes (B4, C4, D4, and E4) within human plasma was studied and a simple sample preparation is presented. It was demonstrated that leukotriene E4 and leukotriene B4 were stable during incubation at 37 degrees C using the in vitro system. In contrast, leukotriene C4 was metabolized by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities into leukotriene D4 which was further metabolized by dipeptidase activities of plasma into leukotriene E4. The transition state inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase L-serine-borate decreased the metabolism of leukotriene C4 in plasma. Dilution of plasma demonstrated that the dipeptidase was more active compared to the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. The metabolizing activities of plasma were functionally characterized by fractionating the plasma proteins.