Erythrocyte membrane-associated immunoglobulins during malaria infection of mice.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) is associated with erythrocyte membranes during infection of A/J mice with Plasmodium berghei. It was detected by agglutination of the cells with rabbit antibodies to mouse IgG and by a radioimmunoassay with 125I-labelled rabbit antibodies to mouse IgG. As shown by the degree of agglutination and of binding of radiolabeled antibodies to the erythrocyte membranes, the amount of Ig increased with time after infection and paralleled parasitemia and reticulocytosis. The erythrocyte-associated immunoglobulins are mainly IgG but IgM was also present on the cells of some mice. A large proportion of the Ig could be eluted at 37 degrees C and was analyzed by immunoprecipitation and acrylamide gel electrophoresis. A radioautographic study with 125I-labeled anti-mouse IgG revealed that both parasitized and nonparasitized reticulocytes of infected mice had much larger amounts of membrane-bound immunoglobulin than did mature, nonparasitized erythrocytes. The nature of the bonds between the Ig and the surface membrane of the reticulocytes is not known. The Ig could be part of immune complexes nonspecifically bound to the cell surface. However, since we have not detected Fc or C3d receptors on reticulocytes, it is possible that the Ig constitutes autoantibodies against reticulocytes or antibodies against parasitic antigens present on the cell membrane.