Interaction between rheumatoid factor and antibody/DNA complexes: enhancement of complement fixation.
The influence of rheumatoid factor (RF) on the complement mediated binding of antibody/double-stranded DNA immune complexes to red blood cells has been investigated. Our results indicate that RF enhances this binding reaction, apparently by fixing complement via its own Fc region. These findings suggest that under certain circumstances, RF may play an exacerbating role in the antibody/DNA induced glomerulonephritis of systemic lupus erythematosus.
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007700:Kinetics; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000276:immunology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D004247:DNA; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor