Endocytosis of soluble IgG immune complex and its transport to lysosomes in hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Both Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells are engaged in the hepatic uptake of soluble IgG immune complex (IgG-IC) through Fc-receptors on their surface. Hepatocytes have also been reported to take up IgG-IC. It remains unclear, however, whether the endothelial cell degrades IgG-IC and whether the hepatocyte participates in IgG-IC clearance. In this study, normal mice received a single intravenous injection of soluble immune complex preformed in antigen excess, i.e. bovine serum albumin (BSA) anti-BSA-mouse-IgG complex (BABIgG) or BSA anti-BSA-mouse-F(ab')2 complex (BABF(ab')2), or BSA alone. An immunoperoxidase study for BSA showed that from 1 to 120 min after injection only BABIgG was ingested by both endothelial cells and Kupffer cells but not by hepatocytes. The staining intensity of BABIgG was maximal at about 15 min and decreased subsequently. Endocytosis of BABIgG occurred through coated pits in the endothelial cells. Within a few minutes, endocytosed BABIgG was found in tubulovesicular structures and large vesicles. The occasional large vesicles were shown to be lysosomes by simultaneous demonstration of BABIgG with acid phosphatase. BABIgG was not found on either of the endothelial and hepatocellular surfaces facing the space of Disse or in hepatocytes. These results indicate that soluble IgG-IC is endocytosed by sinusoidal endothelial cells and degraded in the lysosomes and that the participation of hepatocytes in the clearance of IgG-IC is improbable.