Complement consuming antibodies against a modified human serum protein in pigeon breeders' disease

Immunobiology
G de RidderL Berrens

Abstract

The sera of patients with pigeon breeders' disease contain precipitating and human complement consuming antibodies against pigeon dropping antigens. Cessation of antigen exposure results in a decrease of precipitins below the level of detection in immunodiffusion. Complement consuming antibodies remain present, however, despite antigen avoidance. A close correlation is observed between human complement consumption tests with pigeon dropping antigens PDF1-A or pigeon cropmilk IgA and a modified human serum gamma-globulin. Isolation of this protein is readily achieved by its non-specific adsorption onto activated Sepharose 4B and subsequent elution with 1 M acetic acid. This modified protein may act as an autoantigen in pigeon breeders' disease, maintaining human complement consuming antibodies for years in subjects with no further bird antigen contact.

References

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