STUDIES ON NON-PRECIPITATING ANTIBODY

Abstract

Upon repeated injections of antigen, non-precipitating antibody-antigen complex appears immediately after injection. Its occurrence seems to bear an inverse relationship to the amount of precipitating antibody found in the serum before injection. The immediate formation of complex appears to be due to a reaction of non-precipitating antibody with the injected antigen, since its formation correlates with the presence of non-precipitating antibody before reinjection. Both, free antigen and antibody-antigen complex disappear on the 2d day after reinjection. Antibody-antigen complex reappears in circulation between the 4th and 7th day. This earlier reappearance of the complex after reinjection as contrasted to its appearance between the 7th and 9th day after a primary injection seems to indicate an anamnestic response of the non-precipitating antibody entering into formation of circulating antibody-antigen complex. Significance of the antigen or the antigen-like component of this complex is discussed.