A GENERAL THEORY FOR THE PRECIPITIN REACTION - BASED ON Fc-MEDIATED PRECIPITATION

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Abstract
Fc-mediated immune precipitation is studied theoretically by computer simulation of precipitin curves and of zonal profiles of soluble immune complexes. Comparison with experiments indicates that Fc-mediated immune precipitation is caused by Fc-Fc interactions with association constants ranging from 10 to 107 l/mole. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm is used for evaluation of these interactions. A general theory for the precipitin reaction is formulated, assuming it to be a 3-stage process: 1st stage, formation of immune complexes; 2nd stage, precipitation due to coalescence of antibody-rich immune complexes; and 3rd stage, Fc-mediated immune precipitation.