ERYTHROPOIETIN COMPLEXED WITH THE F(AB')2 FRAGMENT OF ANTI-ERYTHROPOIETIN RETAINS ITS BIOLOGIC ACTIVITY

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 8  (7) , 830-836
Abstract
Evidence is presented that the F(ab'')2 fragment of rabbit anti-erythrpoietin forms immune complexes with erythropoietin. The in vivo biologic activity of the hormone remains when complexed to the antibody fragment, whereas the hormone has no in vivo biologic activity when complexed with the intact antibody. The effector functions of the Fc fraction of the antibody molecule play an important role in the ability of the intact antibody to neutralize the in vivo biologic activity of the hormone. It is proposed that this role may relate to differences in the rate of catabolism of the different antibody-hormone complexes. It is also concluded that the biologically active sites of the hormone and its antigenic determinants do not correspond.