Hepatic immune complex elimination studied with FITC-labelled antigen.
Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled model antigens (Ags) were used to form soluble IgG immune complexes (ICs) in vitro. The Ag and IC preparations were found to be excellent alternatives to isotope-tagged preparations for the study of plasma clearance after intravenous injection in rats. Ag and IC were eliminated from the blood at the same rate. By direct fluorescence microscopy the FITC-labelled IgG ICs could easily be detected in hepatic non-parenchymal liver cells 30 min after intravenous injection, whereas uncomplexed Ag was apparently taken up by the liver to a much lesser extent.
Ljunghusen
O
O
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Sweden.
Johansson
A
A
Skogh
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005452:Fluoresceins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013861:Thiocyanates
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000941:Antigens; D005452:Fluoresceins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013861:Thiocyanates; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate