Immunologic Studies of Pancreas-Specific Isoantigens

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Abstract
Summary: Rhesus monkeys immunized with pooled Rhesus monkey pancreas extract and Freund's complete adjuvant developed pancreas-specific isoantibodies, and the electrophoretic mobility of the isoantigens is similar to that described in rabbits. Passive transfer of antiserum or immune lymph node and spleen cells to recipients whose pancreas possessed the necessary isoantigens produced no histologic changes or functional alterations of the recipient's pancreas. Autoimmunization of rabbits with their own pancreas incorporated in Freund's complete adjuvant failed to elicit auto- or isoantibodies and the pancreas of these immunized animals were normal grossly and histologically. Immunofluorescent studies showed the rabbit pancreas isoantigens to be located in the cytoplasm of the apex of the acinar cells. The pancreas isoantigens of both rabbits and Rhesus monkeys were detected in pancreatic secretions.