Studies on Paul-Bunnell (P-B) Antigen-Antibody System

Abstract

The multiple nature of heterophile, Paul-Bunnell (P-B) antigen has been suggested by our previous studies as well as those of others. In the present study, two distinct antigens of P-B specificity were defined by means of hemagglutination and immunodiffusion tests in agarose gel; one antigen (BS) was shared by bovine (BRBC) and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and another antigen (B) was limited to BRBC. Both anti-BS and anti-B antibodies were shown to be present in sera of 106 patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) whereas they were virtually absent from the sera of the vast majority of patients with diseases other than IM and normal sera. Absorption and agglutination inhibition tests demonstrated the presence of BS and B antigens on horse erythrocytes. Goat erythrocytes were also shown to possess BS antigen, however, B antigen was found on erythrocytes of some but not all individual goats. By means of the previously established procedure, BS antigen was extracted from stromata of BRBC, SRBC and erythrocytes of horse and goat, and B antigen from BRBC and erythrocytes of some goats. BS and B antigens were also extracted from bovine lymphocytes and murine thymus and spleen tissues but not murine erythrocytes.

Studies on the Paul-Bunnell Antigen-Antibody System

“…The precipitin in IM sera was shown to be the P-B antibody and the precip itinogen in syphilis and leprosy sera was shown to be long to the P-B antigenic complex and to be closely related to the previously described B antigen of this complex [5], As mentioned above, in our previous investiga tions [1][2][3][4], we noted P-B antigen in human pathologi cal tissues and sera. In one study [3] we demonstrated the B antigen in 28% of lymphoma-leukemia sera test ed.…”

“…This appar ent discrepancy can be explained by the difference in sensitivity of the tests used. The HI test used in the previous study on lymphoma-leukemia detects the P-B antigen in a concentration as low as a few nano grams per milliliter, whereas the precipitation test used for the study on syphilis and leprosy requires this antigen at a concentration of a few micrograms per milliliter [3][4][5]. On the other hand, we noted previ ously P-B antigen at precipitating concentration in a few sera of patients with malignancies and rheuma toid arthritis [4], Several years ago, it was proposed that P-B anti bodies detected in the course of IM are formed in re sponse to the stimulus exerted by P-B antigen(s) ap pearing in the course of the disease as a result of the pathological process [ 14, see also 15,16].…”

“…The treated BRBC were washed five times with cold PBS and suspended in PBS at a concentration of 1 %. The test was performed following the routine procedure used in our previous studies (3)(4)(5).…”

“…More recently, two distinct antigens, BS and B of the P-B antigenic complexes, were defined serolog ically in extracts of bovine erythrocyte stromata [5] and they were also demonstrated in extracts of some pathological human tissues [3], In continuing this line of investigation in the present study, sera of syphilis patients at various stages of the disease and sera of pa tients with lepromatous leprosy were examined against selected IM sera by means of double-diffusion precipitation tests in agarose gel. 1 Supported by research grant CA-27628 from the National Can cer Institute and by the Richard W. and Mae Stone Goode Estate.…”

Heterophile Antibodies in Sera of Patients with Chediak-Higashi Syndrome

“…Agglutination tests with trypsinized bovine red blood cells (BRBC) and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were performed with sera of CHS patients and their mothers following the routine procedures established in our laboratory [7][8][9], Mixed agglutination (MA) tests with tissue sediments of guinea pig kidney (GPK) and trypsinized BRBC as the indicator cells were performed following the principle of the proce dure that was used for detection of Paul-Bunnell (P-B) antigen on spleen cells of lymphoma-leukemia patients [10]; the procedure will be described in detail elsewhere [11]. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with high molecular weight glycoprotein (HMWGP) of BRBC 1 Supported by Research Grant CA-27628 from the National Cancer Institute (a), the Richard W. and Mae Stone Goode Estate (a), and by a research grant from Funda Vargas, Fundaciencia and Funda Polar (b).…”