THE USE OF POLYSTYRENE–ALLERGEN CONJUGATES FOR THE REMOVAL OF ANTIBODIES FROM SERA OF ALLERGIC INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

Polystyrene–ragweed conjugates were shown to remove specifically antibodies from sera of individuals allergic to ragweed. This observation is considered evidence that firm combination occurs in vitro between allergic antibodies and the homologous allergens. Comparative analyses of allergic sera before and after exposure to immunosorbents indicated that complete removal of skin-sensitizing, blocking, and hemagglutinating antibodies did not result in a measurable decrease in protein concentration, thus demonstrating that these factors are present only in minute amounts.Attempts to eîute allergic antibodies from the homologous immunosorbents under various experimental conditions did not lead to their recovery in significant yields; these antibodies could be recovered in small amounts by dissociation with hydrochloric acid at pH 3.