Studies on the mechanism of binding and uptake of immune complexes by various cell types of rat liver in vivo.

Soluble heterologous immune complexes (IC) were used to study the mechanism of IC binding to rat liver in vivo. Binding of IC to the various cell types of the liver, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, and Kupffer cells, was only inhibited by aggregated swine immunoglobulins. Binding was not inhibited by the absence of complement components. Intravenous injection of asialoglycoproteins, to block the galactose receptor, could not prevent IC binding. We conclude that Fc receptors play an important role in the binding of soluble heterologous IC to hepatocytes, endothelial cells, and Kupffer cells.