Transfer amyloidosis. Studies on the nature of the amyloid inducing factor in a murine transfer system

Abstract

Transfer of amyloidosis between syngeneic mice was attempted with whole spleen cells and homogenates, nuclei, cytoplasmic fractions and various preparations of nucleic acids. Amyloidosis could be transferred from casein-treated donor mice by means of spleen cell suspensions, homogenates or crude nuclei, but not with nuclei treated with DNase, cytoplasmic fractions or five different nucleic acid samples, derived from whole spleens or crude nuclei. The transfer activity of crude nuclei was lost after storage at 0 or –20°C. The experiments indicated that the amyloid inducing factor is a labile, complex substance, possibly a nucleoprotein.