Hydrophobic interaction between DNP-HSA and different tissue structures in vivo assessed by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy.

Circulating dinitrophenylated human serum albumin (DNP-HSA) was shown by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy to adhere to non-parenchymal liver cells and capillaries of striated muscle in mice. The DNP-HSA at these sites could be removed by surface-tension-lowering agents such as Triton X-100 and ethylene glycol. The adherence of DNP-HSA to white blood cells in vitro was inhibited in the presence of 0.3 M ethylene glycol. The findings support the hypothesis that hydrophobic interaction with different tissue structures may be important for the fate of circulating antigens and immune complexes. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy offers a simple means of checking the role of hydrophobic bonding for the tissue adherence of various substances in vivo.