title: Correlation between circulating antigens detected by the radioimmunoprecipitation-polyethylene glycol assay (RIPEGA) and C1q-binding immune complexes in human schistosomiasis mansoni.
abstract: Circulating schistosome antigens (CSA) and circulating immune complexes (CIC) were investigated in serum from 420 patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni. The radioimmunoprecipitation-polyethylene glycol assay with [125I] anti-S. mansoni rabbit antibodies appeared as a sensitive and specific method to quantify CSA. In fact, more than 75% of the patients showed significant levels of CSA. C1q-binding CIC were also detected in 70% of subjects with schistosomiasis. In addition, a close correlation was observed between levels of CSA and CIC. These data suggest that part of the CIC present in human schistosomiasis are formed by schistosome specific antigens.
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D003166:Complement Activating Enzymes / Q000276:immunology; D015922:Complement C1q; D006801:Humans; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000941:Antigens; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D015922:Complement C1q; D003166:Complement Activating Enzymes