Tests for Circulating Immune Complexes

Antigen–antibody complexes in tissues play a central role in the pathogenesis of lupus. Some of the immune complexes are formed in situ, i.e., in the tissues. Others are present in the blood stream, and these circulating immune complexes may deposit in tissues and incite inflammatory mechanisms in those tissues. A variety of techniques are available to measure circulating immune complexes. The assays that have been most studied in SLE include approaches that rely on the interaction of immune complexes with complement proteins, and therefore bind to C1q or contain bound C3.
Source: Springer protocols feed by Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: news