Semipurified human leukocyte ultrafiltrate in herpes zoster. I. Large-scale preparation and biochemical analysis.

Nine batches of lysed human leukocyte ultrafiltrate (LLU) prepared from buffy coats of random healthy donors, as well as their semipurified subfractions--P2/II--were compared in terms of protein, orcinol-reactive material (ORM) content, and ratios of the average values of their ORM and protein contents. Two-step ethanol precipitation and size exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-15 were used for partial purification and concentration. In comparison to the starting material, approximately 4.4 - fold increase in the ORM/protein ratio of P2/II has been effected. Relatively high variation in both, protein and ORM content of the crude LLU individual batches (ranges: 365 micrograms/1 ml - 962 micrograms/1 ml; 157 micrograms/1 ml - 660 micrograms/1 ml, respectively), as well as of those of P2/II fractions (ranges: 16.5 micrograms/1 ml - 207.5 micrograms/1 ml; 150 micrograms/1 ml - 480 micrograms/1 ml, respectively) could be observed. The suggested combined purification procedure removed from the LLU about 85% proteins and 33% ORM. The removed material contained inhibitors of the cell-mediated immunity (CMI)-inducing and/or augmenting properties of LLU. This is in good agreement with the observed improved therapeutic effect of P2/II fraction in herpes zoster treatment of otherwise noncompromised adults, as described in the companion paper.