METHOD FOR ALTERING THE BINDING SPECIFICITY OF PLASMA PROTEINS BY OXIDATION

摘要

The binding specificity of at least one plasma protein suspended or dissolved in a liquid medium is altered by exposing the protein to an oxidizing agent or an electric current sufficient to alter its binding specificity. A masked protein such as an autoantibody can be recovered from blood or blood products or extracts by oxidizing the protein to change its binding specificity.

主权项

1. A method for screening an individual for autoimmune disease, comprising the steps of:
providing a composition comprising at least one masked circulating protein suspended or dissolved in a liquid medium, the at least one masked circulating protein having a binding specificity that can be altered by a change in its redox state, and exposing the composition to an oxidizing agent or DC current sufficient to effect the alteration of the binding specificity of the at least one masked circulating protein.