Immune complex detection by immunofluorescence on polymorphonuclear leucocytes : an experimental and clinicopathological study

Diseases, which are the result of immune reactions\\nassociated with tissue damage may be caused by several\\nmechanisms. The immunologic mechanisms resulting in\\ntissue damage have been categorized in 4 types (Gell and\\nCoombs, 1968).\\n1. the anaphylactic type, mediated by IgE type of antibodies,\\nresulting in immediate release of vasoactive\\narnines (e.g. histamine).\\n2. the cytotoxic type, mediated by IgG and IgM type of\\nantibodies and resulting in phagocytosis of the target\\ncells or lysis by complement activation.\\n3. the immune complex type, with either primary localisation\\nof the immune complexes in the tissues\\n(Arthus reaction) or circulating immune complexes with\\nsecondary tissue localisation.\\n4. the delayed type or cellular immune response mediated\\nby thymus derived T-lymphocytes.\\nIn the studies to be reported, only diseases caused\\nby the type 3 reaction, mediated by circulating immune\\ncomplexes, are of concern. Examples of human diseases\\ncaused by the immune complex mediated type of tissue\\ndamage are a.o. serum sickness, systemic lupus erythematosus\\n(SLE) and several types of glomerulonephritis.