Partial purification and characterization of eosinophil chemotactic factors from soluble extract of Fasciola species

Abstract

Eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF) was partially purified from common liver flukes (Japanese strain of Fasciola sp) by a combination of anion-exchange chromatography on DE52 and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200. The molecular weight of ECF was estimated to be approximately 27,000 by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The ECF was heat labile (56 and 100 C for 30 minutes) and was not bound with lentil-lectin Sepharose. The results of isoelectric focusing showed that ECF comprises at least 2 components; one was a major ECF with an isoelectric point of 3.1, and the other, a minor ECF with an isoelectric point of 3.8 to 4.5. These results indicate that ECF of common liver flukes are acidic proteins.