title: Do natural autoantibodies play an important role in the elimination of senescent or damaged red blood cells?
abstract: Natural autoantibodies (NAAbs) are an important constituent of circulating immunoglobins. Some demonstrate polyspecific reactivity and high idiotypic connectivity. For example, they are reactive with DNA and cytoskeleton protein; others exhibit restricted binding specificity. Among several hypotheses, we have explored the possibility that NAAbs constitute a physiologic system in the organism that participates in the elimination of dead tissues and cellular debris by opsonization and phagocytosis.
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D004905:Erythrocyte Aging; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies