The Apparent Antigenicity of Plastein

[摘要] Continued injections of plasteins into rabbits give rise to precipitins, to cutaneous sensitivity, and to local anaphylaxis (the Arthus phenomenon). This in general confirms earlier observations by other workers. However, it has been found that the enzymes used in plastein-formation are themselves weakly antigenic, and, moreover, that the digests used as substrates may contain traces of denatured but still antigenic protein. The order of magnitude of the various reactions involving plasteins, digests and enzymes, and the specificity of these reactions, suggest that the antigenicity of plastein is due to the enzymes and traces of denatured proteins in the digests rather than to synthesized antigenic molecules. This work, therefore, if sound, invalidates the immunologic evidence which has been offered in support of the view that plasteins are synthesized products of molecular dimensions approximating those of proteins.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）