Experimental induction of caprylate-dependent albumin antibodies.

To provide evidence for the immune nature of the albumin agglutination phenomenon or caprylate dependent albumin agglutinins (CDAA), rabbits were injected with native serum that had been incubated in a solution of sodium caprylate. Two of three rabbits responded with the production of CDAA, which in vitro behaved identical to human antisera. Human cells were agglutinated only when caprylate stabilized albumin was added to the cell/serum mixture or when caprylate free albumin plus sodium caprylate were used. The CDAA failed to agglutinate rabbit cells, although, both human adult and cord cells were agglutinated. These experiments indicate that the CDAA represent an immune response to native albumin that had been altered by caprylate.