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Biomedical subjects

J A Morton

Publications and source records attributed to J A Morton.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Mallory bodies--immunohistochemical detection by antisera to unique non-prekeratin components.

Mallory bodies (MBs) were prepared in 95% pure form from a case of human chronic alcoholic liver disease. A protein referred to as Mallory body protein (MBP), was isolated from MB by reduction and alkylation which gave one band an SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Antisera were raised to both purified MBs and MBP in rabbits and a goat. Both antisera, after absorption with spleen cells, specifically reacted immunohistochemically with MBs in frozen sections from patients with alcoholic liver disease. They also reacted with small granular structures in hepatocytes which are interpreted as a precursor or degradation product of MBs. The anti-MB serum also stained MBs in trypsinised paraffin sections in the immunoperoxidase procedure. Neither antisera reacted with normal liver or skin, and the reactivity of anti-MB and MBP sera for MBs was not abolished by absorption with prekeratin; these results indicate that MBs contain unique antigenic determinants not present in prekeratin. It is concluded that MBs are not simply composed of intermediate filament proteins.

Cytoskeleton↗

Changes in red cell Bg antigens in haematological disease.

The red cell Bg antigens of patients with haematological diseases have been found to be more reactive than those of normal donors. Others HLA-related antigens that are of low incidence in normal donors are found in much higher incidence in these patients. A series of 40 CLL patients has been tested for both known and additional HLA-related antigens by hemagglutination and adsorption and the relationship between the antigens of the red cells and lymphocytes evaluated.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗

Increase in strength of red cell Bga antigen following infectious mononucleosis.

Following an attack of infectious mononucleosis, the red cells of HLA B7 patients may show a greatly increased reactivity with anti-Bga antibodies. This occurs from about the 3rd week of the disease, the reactivity then slowly decreasing over a period of months or years. Both specific and nonspecific reactions to other HLA antisera may also occur. Five patients were followed in detail and the reason for the increase in antigen strength was investigated without a conclusive result.

Antibody Specificity↗

Cytodiagnosis of rheumatoid pleural effusions.

The stained smears of the deposits from one pericardial and 19 pleural effusions complicating rheumatoid arthritis were examined. On the basis of clinical and biochemical evidence it was considered that in six cases the effusions were due to the rheumatoid disease while in a further nine cases the association was considered likely. In the remaining five cases the association was considered to be due to chance as other causes for the effusions were diagnosed. On cytological examination, seven cases showed a characteristic picture of degenerating polymorphs with amorphous extracellular material and epithelioid cells many of which were multinucleate. Five others contained similar amorphous material without epithelioid cells; of these two had many plasma cells and a third numerous macrophages probably containing ;droplets' of rheumatoid factor complex. Thus in 12 of 15 cases a definite diagnosis of rheumatoid effusion could be made. In the remaining five cases cytological examination confirmed that the effusions were unrelated to the rheumatoid disease.The extracellular material gave a non-specific fluorescence with labelled anti-gamma globulin antisera, and since this reaction was not seen in control pleural fluid deposits, or with preparations of fibrin, it may have a confirmatory value. It is concluded that in many cases reliable cytological evidence can be found to confirm or refute a diagnosis of rheumatoid pleural or pericardial effusion. This may be helpful in the management of the rheumatoid disease.

Adult↗