Effects of Treating Immune Lymphocytes with a Proteolytic Enzyme (Papain): Reduction in Immune Potential and Recovery after Incubation

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Abstract
Immune spleen cells were treated with papain, washed, and boosted with homologous antigen (4‐hydroxy‐3‐iodo‐5‐nitrophenylacetic acid coupled to chicken globulin) for 1 hr at 4°C. When transferred to irradiated mice, they produced up to 20‐fold less anti‐hapten antibody than non‐papain‐treated cells. The lymphocytes could recover their ability to respond if incubated at 37°C after papain treatment but before antigen boosting. Incubation for 30 min at 37°C gave complete or almost complete recovery. Although papain usually reduced the response, in 31% of experiments the reduction was not significant. Possible reasons for this variability are discussed.