Immunologic isolation of human intrinsic factor.

Abstract

SummaryThis report describes a procedure whereby IF is separated from human gastric juice by reacting it with specific human anti-human IF antibody contained in the serum of a patient with PA. Following separation of the antibody-IF complex from the rest of the gastric juice and serum, the IF was separated from the antibody by repetitive acidifications and selective precipitation of the gamma globulin. The separated IF still retained its immunologic reactivity, moved electrophoretically toward the anode, eluted from Sephadex G-100 and G-200 columns in the outer volume, and most important, enhanced the intestinal absorption of vitamin B12 in 2 patients with pernicious anemia.