In Vitro Uptake of Antigen-Antibody Complexes by Phagocytic Cells

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Abstract
Summary: The ingestion of antigen-antibody complexes prepared as soluble materials was studied by a method of in vitro uptake by phagocytic cells using I131 trace labeled complexes. Different degrees of in vitro pinocytosis occurred with preparations of complexes at different degrees of antigen excess. This in vitro pinocytosis was also demonstrated by a fluorescent antibody technique localizing the complexes intracellularly. These methods provide a system of study of transfer of soluble materials across the cell membranes of phagocytic cells which can be compared with the same phenomenon in vivo. The in vitro uptake of complexes was compared with antigen binding to globulin by the ammonium sulfate technique and the in vivo localization of radioactive trace labeled antigen-antibody complexes. By these methods the ingestion of antigen-antibody complexes by cells may be studied in a simplified manner. The localization of antigen-antibody complexes in phagocytes occurs both with complexes prepared with rabbit or human antiserum against serum protein antigens.

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