WHAT IS PLASMA
Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood consisting mainly of water, proteins, small amounts of inorganic and organic substances as well as traces of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. Among plasma proteins, immunoglobulins are those responsible for the immune response and are divided into 5 isotypes (A, D, E, G, M).
IgG are the immunoglobulin isotype present in the highest concentration in the blood and play a dominant role in antibody-mediated defense mechanisms (secondary immune response). Thanks to their size, IgG can exit blood vessels more easily than other immunoglobulins, thus participating in tissue defenses early.
The normal serum concentration of IgG in horses ranges from 10 to 20 g / l, while in cattle it is around 22 g / l.
The IgG molecule has a Y-shaped structure consisting of a chain of polypeptides. The 2 “arms” of the Y constitute the Fab fragment which has the ability to bind the antigen, while the “body” of the Y is called the Fc fragment and has the ability to bind to the receptors on the cell surface. This fragment is essential for the cascade activation of the complement which leads to the destruction of cell membranes and therefore to the death of harmful microorganisms.
PlasmaLife® is collected and stored to maintain these important capacities of IgG which are present in an average quantity of 32 g / l, well above the normal circulating serum levels in cattle and horses alike. This is made possible as PlasmaLife® is collected from healthy and thoroughly immunized donors.
