ANTI-DNA ANTIBODIES IN HYPERIMMUNIZED RABBITS

Abstract

Complement-fixing anti-DNA antibodies were detected in a minority of sera of rabbits hyperimmunized with killed Gram-negative bacteria. The C'-fixing property of DNA was lost after DNase treatment. Preferential reactivity with denatured DNA was observed. The antisera reacted with DNA preparations derived from rabbit bone marrow and thymus, calf thymus, pneumococci, salmon sperm, and Escherichia coli. E. coli DNA was less effective than preparations of mammalian and salmon sperm DNA in fixation of C'. Inhibition of DNA C' fixation by nucleotides and nucleosides was observed. The bulk of anti-DNA activity was associated with the low molecular weight antibody fraction.