EFFECTS OF LASER IRRADIATION ON SOME SEROLOGIC PROPERTIES OF HUMAN GAMMA GLOBULIN

High and low intensities of laser irradiation of 1 percent saline solutions of human (HGG) and rabbit (RGG) gamma globulin produced different effects than that of a thermal nature per se upon the precipitin reactions with rheumatoid factor. Heat treatment of globulin solutions at 63°C. for 15 minutes caused aggregation and measurably more precipitation with rheumatoid factor than untreated globulins, whereas the laser irradiation reduced or destroyed the capacity for the globulins to precipitate rheumatoid factor. Precipitin reactions between rabbit anti-HGG and laser irradiated HGG demonstrated a shift of position of precipitin curve peaks, as well as reduction of total amount of precipitation. Ultracentrifugal analyses to date did not reveal additional components with laser irradiation of HGG, as were observed with heat treatment of globulins. Immunochemical agar gel diffusion and immunoelectrophoretic analyses revealed slight differences of laser irradiated from native globulins. It was concluded that the interactions of high intensity electromagnetic (laser) radiation with globulins differ from those of heat per se, as demonstrated by differences in the serologic activity, certain physico-chemical changes and other pertinent parameters of the respective reactions. © 1968.