Abstract
A Bence-Jones protein which crystallized spontaneously from the urine of a patient (R.) at the Mayo Clinic in 1920 furnished material unusually well suited to the investigation of some of the problems associated with Bence-Jones proteinuria. With this specimen of the protein, which was purified by recrystallization, immunological studies were undertaken to discover, if possible, (1) a difference between various specimens of Bence-Jones protein, and (2) a difference between Bence-Jones protein and the proteins of human blood serum.
In the past, the few immunological studies on Bence-Jones protein have been directed solely toward the differentiation of human serum proteins from Bence-Jones protein. With the exception of Massini (1911), who was able to show by complement fixation tests specific distinctions between human serum and Bence-Jones protein in different zones of dilution, these investigations have apparently indicated that Bence-Jones protein and human serum proteins are immunologically indistinguishable. As in Abderhalden's (1905) experiment, these results have been attributable undoubtedly to the use of mixtures of proteins. Recently, Hektoen (1921) has published a preliminary note on his experiments which prove that by the absorption of precipitins specific reactions can be obtained even when mixtures are used, which sharply differentiate Bence- Jones protein from the proteins of human blood serum.
The work to be reported here was completed before the appearance of Hektoen's paper.
Studies were made upon 13 preparations of Bence-Jones protein from various sources and prepared in various ways. Comparative studies of these preparations and of human serum were carried out by the use of precipitin, complement fixation and anaphylactic reactions.
Precipitin Reactions.—Rabbits were injected intravenously with solutions of the crystalline Bence- Jones protein, an ammonium-sulphate preparation of a non-crystallizable specimen of this protein from another source, and with human serum.
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