title: Reduced complement-mediated immune complex solubilization in leprosy patients.
abstract: The ability of sera from leprosy patients to solubilize immune precipitates in vitro through the complement system was studied. The solubilizing capacity of sera from patients who did not have any reactions during 2 years or more after starting chemotherapy was comparable with that of normal laboratory volunteers. On the other hand, sera from borderline tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy patients in reaction had markedly decreased levels of solubilization. Their total and the alternative pathway haemolytic levels did not show a corresponding decrease. Although the circulating immune complexes and serum C3d of these patients came down after the subsidence of reaction, their solubilization remained consistently low during a 3 month follow-up period.
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology; D015933:Complement C3d; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003176:Complement C3; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D015933:Complement C3d; D003165:Complement System Proteins