STUDIES ON THE ACTIVATION OF SERUM PROTEASE BY AN ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY SYSTEM

Abstract
The results obtained in this study indicate that serum protease is not activated by either a rabbit or guinea pig antiovalbumin-ovalbumin system, in vitro. A precipitin reaction occurring in the presence of a serum protease precursor of three species (human, rabbit, and guinea pig) failed to activate the protease precursor. Furthermore, particulate material as preformed precipitates could not be shown to activate the protease of either human or rabbit serum or their euglobulin fractions. The material presented seems to be further evidence against the postulated role of serum protease in immunologic systems.