[Development of a technique of immunoadsorption of LDL-cholesterol]

An immunoadsorption system for lowering plasma cholesterol was optimized. Several polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were compared and the best results were obtained with goat polyclonal antibodies. The optimum quantity of antibodies to be immobilized on the gel was 5 mg/ml. Taking into account two variables, i.e., 1) that the regeneration must be as complete as possible and, 2) that immunoadsorbents must be used several times without a loss of adsorption capacity, desorption was achieved with 0.3 M glycine adjusted to pH 2.8. Antibody release from the immunoadsorbent was determined and can be minimized by glutaraldehyde treatment of the immunoadsorbent. Each phase, adsorption and desorption, respectively, was well-defined and synchronized, so that two columns could be used in parallel in an automated procedure. The kinetics of plasma protein removal demonstrated the efficiency and the specificity of the procedure.