Antigenic Studies on Elastase

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Abstract
Summary: Although crystalline elastase has a molecular weight of only 25,000, an antibody was obtained in rabbits injected with an elastase-adjuvant mixture. The antibody produced a precipitin reaction in vitro as well as passive anaphylaxis in guinea pigs. Two different preparations of crystalline elastase were used in this study; the antibody to each of these preparations precipitated either antigen. These antibodies formed precipitin lines in agar gel not only to the two crystalline elastase preparations but also to the electrophoretically separated active component of the crystalline enzyme. In addition the specificity of the antibody was demonstrated by its ability to neutralize the enzymatic activity of elastase.