STUDIES ON FERMENT ACTION : III. A SPECIFIC IMMUNE LIPASE

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Biochemistry
• Hematology

Background:

• Erythrocytes possess species-specific lipoidal constituents and combinations.
• Lipoids and their combinations can function as specific antigens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the specificity of serum lipase increase following immunization with foreign erythrocytes.
• To elucidate the role of specific serum lipase in hemolyses.

Main Methods:

• Immunization of animals with foreign red blood cells.
• Measurement of serum lipase activity.
• Analysis of lipase activity in relation to specific immune responses.

Main Results:

• A species-specific increase in serum lipase was observed upon immunization with foreign erythrocytes.
• This lipase increase was found to be, at least partially, specific to the immunization agent.

Conclusions:

• Specific lipoidal antigens on erythrocytes elicit a specific immune response involving serum lipase.
• The identified specific lipase is implicated as a key factor in the mechanism of specific serum hemolyses.