Increased Immunologic Reactivity between Human Glomerular Basement Membrane and Group A Type 12 Streptococcal Cell Membrane after Carbohydrase Treatment

Abstract

Anti-streptococcal cell membrane and anti-human glomerular antisera were evaluated on normal human kidney sections by an indirect immunofluorescent test both before and after absorptions with homologous and heterologous membrane preparations. The observed cross-reactions were potentiated by removal of carbohydrate units from both membrane-types by carbohydrase, a mixture of carbohydrate-cleaving enzymes.