Studies on Antigenic Structure of Bovine Aortic Intima

Abstract

Summary Antisera were prepared by immunization of rabbits with a suspension of bovine aortic intima incorporated into complete Freund adjuvant. By means of such antisera, several antigens characteristic for intima of aorta as well as for intima of other large vessels and for the endocardium were identified. The major antigenic component was a lipid-containing protein with fast electrophoretic mobility. Upon more careful analysis, this antigen was shown to be composed of two molecular species, one which resisted heating at 100°C and the other which was thermolabile. It was further demonstrated that the thermoresistant component does not belong to the previously described category of thermostable, ethanol-insoluble tissue antigens (BE antigens). However, subsequent studies performed by means of anti-BE sera showed that the BE fraction of aortic intima also contains tissue-specific antigenic components. The relation of these components to antigens detectable in plain intima extract has been discussed.