Experiments and Considerations on the Properdin Survey with Zymosan Assay

Abstract

Although many reports on the analysis of the functional mechanism of properdin and comments on its clinical and immunological roles have been issued, there has been no agreement among the investigators concerning the fundamental problem of its survey methods. The authors, therefore, examined some methods of properdin survey with zymosan assay and explored the merits and weaknesses of them. They are methods after (1) Pillemer, (2) McNall, (3) Fritzsche, (4) Isliker and Linder, (5) Hunter and Hill, (6) Massen, and (7) Yamamoto. Conclusion: (a) Massen's method may be the best for the preparation of R_3 ; (b) for the preparation of Rp, Massen's, again, especially from the serum of guinea pigs; (c) concerning the survey technique of properdin, Yamamoto's may be the most splendid, when R_3 and Rp are to be prepared as described above ; and (d) our freezing and drying method must be the best for the preservation of these agents.