Chronic arthritis of rabbits induced by mycoplasmas. II. Antibody response and the deposition of immune complexes.
Chronic mycoplasms-induced arthritis of rabbits was accompanied by a highly active humoral immune response. Peak antibody titers coincided with the "disappearance" of mycoplasmas from joint tissues at 7 weeks. High synovial fluid antibody titers and immunoglobulin-producing cells in frozen sections of synovial membrane suggested local antibody production. Persistence of granular deposits containing IgG and complement in synovium and cartilage may be a mechanism for continuing inflammation in the apparent absence of cultivable mycoplasmas.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D009174:Mycoplasma; D011817:Rabbits; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003165:Complement System Proteins