CIRCULATING IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN ONCHOCERCIASIS

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (3) , 570-575
Abstract
Circulating immune complexes were detected in sera of patients with localized and generalized onchocerciasis by a 125I-Clq [q fragment of complement component 1] binding assay, but not by the Ig[immunoglobulin]G latex agglutination inhibition method. Gel filtration of sera demonstrated high MW Clq-reactive material (> 2 .times. 106 daltons) which contained IgM but no IgG. Antibody titers to Onchocerca volvulus antigen were higher in patients with generalized disease than in those with the localized form. The lack of correlation between antibody titers and levels of immune complexes suggests that these immune complexes contain antigens other than those derived exclusively from the parasite. Although few of the symptoms of this disease may be due to deposition of circulating immune complexes, the depression of delayed hypersensitivity reactions to the parasite found in patients with generalized onchocerciasis may be due to IgM immune complexes exerting an immunoregulatory role on T [thymus-derived] cell function.