Henry G. Kunkel

Antibodies were eluted from the isolated glomeruli prepared from the kidneys of 10 patients with the nephritis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Antibodies reacting primarily with buffer extracts of nuclei were eluted by acid treatment, and antibodies reacting mainly with DNA and nucleoprotein were eluted with deoxyribonuclease. Quantitative immunochemical studies revealed a high concentration of antinuclear antibody per milligram of gamma-globulin in glomerular eluates compared with that in the corresponding serums. The gamma-globulin of two eluates was found to consist predominantly of antinucleoprotein antibody. The selective elution of antinuclear antibodies was also indicated by the absence of other serum antibodies in the eluates. DNA antigen was demonstrated in the glomeruli of two kidneys with nephritis by means of isolated anti-DNA antibody labeled with fluorescein. In one of these cases, anti-DNA antibodies were also found concentrated in the glomeruli and, in the second, circulating anti-DNA antibodies were demonstrated in the patient's serum. The immunochemical evidence for the high specific activity of antinuclear antibodies and the association of DNA antigen with DNA antibody in glomeruli add further support for the antigen-antibody complex hypothesis for renal injury in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Specific binding of aggregated gamma-globulin to a subpopulation of lymphocytes was demonstrated. This subpopulation was identified as the Ig-staining or B lymphocytes. The binding was irreversible and independent of complement, pH, temperature, protein content of the medium, and divalent cations. Aggregates of large size were needed for optimal visualization. Evidence was obtained that the site on the lymphocyte membrane responsible for binding aggregates was distinct from surface Ig.

A simplified procedure for filter paper electrophoresis is described in which disturbing factors such as evaporation, heating, buffer concentration gradients, and pH changes in the electrode vessels were reduced to a minimum. Artificial mixtures of highly purified proteins could be separated and the components isolated. The application of the method to a variety of studies on serum proteins is demonstrated. Protein concentration in paper segments was determined by two different methods of protein estimation. Curves were obtained showing the same five major peaks for normal serum as found by the classical methods of free electrophoresis. Comparisons were made of the areas of the various components under the curves obtained with the different methods. Two dimensional electrophoresis was applied to serum and serum components. It proved of value in demonstrating the heterogeneity of fractions such as the gamma-globulin of serum. The polysaccharide dextran was used as an index of the extent of electro-osmotic flow during the course of the various experiments. The ratio of the distance of electroosmotic flow and the distance of protein migration was shown to be constant for a given type of paper. For serum albumin on Munktell 20 paper this ratio was 0.35. A formula for mobilities applicable to liquid in a highly porous supporting medium is presented. Mobility values for human serum albumin at various pH levels on paper showed approximate agreement with those obtained in free solution giving a similar isoelectric point.

Precipitating antibodies which reacted with soluble extracts of different human tissues or nuclei including nuclei from calf thymus were found in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The antigen was different from DNA and histone, but was associated with protein fractions and insensitive to deoxyribonuclease, ribonuclease and trypsin, but sensitive to periodate treatment. The reactivity was detected by Ouchterlony double-immunodiffusion and by immunoelectrophoresis techniques. The reactive serum factor was shown to migrate in the gamma globulin fraction. The antigen was provisionally termed ‘Sm’ and the reactivity was described to be found in approximately 75% of SLE patients but only very few patients with other disorders.