COMPLEMENT, LYMPHOCYTOTOXINS AND IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN INFECTIOUS-MONONUCLEOSIS - SERIAL STUDIES IN UNCOMPLICATED CASES

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 34  (2) , 241-247
Abstract
Serial studies of complement [C], immunoglobulins [Ig], lymphocytotoxins and immune complexes were performed in 13 patients with uncomplicated infectious mononucleosis (IM). Two methods were used to detect immune complexes: a C1q-binding assay (C1q-BA) and the Raji [human Burkitt''s lymphoma] cell radioimmunoassay (RIA). Patients were followed until there was complete serological recovery. Individual C components were normal or elevated but 3 patients showed initial reduction in total hemolytic activity. IgG, IgM and IgA rose moderately during the acute phase. All sera showed thymocyte-specific cytotoxic activity at some time during the acute phase but were negative by 6 mo. The C1q-BA was positive initially in 12 patients but returned to normal by 6 mo. The standard Raji RIA was negative in 50 of 55 samples tested and this may reflect the predominant IgM antibody response in these patients. Incorporation of a multispecific anti-Ig into this assay yielded data that was frequently positive; these correlated highly with that of the C1q-BA (P < 0.001). Lymphocytotoxic activity correlated with the C1q-BA (P < 0.001) and the modified Raji RIA (P < 0.05). Patterns of lymphocytotoxicity and immune complex reactivity suggested an inverse relationship between these 2 parameters. This lymphocytotoxicity may lead to production of antibody of restricted class permitting enhanced clearance of immune complexes.