The ingestion and degradation of soluble immune complexes by guinea-pig macrophages and neutrophils.

The kinetics of ingestion and degradation of guinea-pig IgG2-containing soluble immune complexes by guinea-pig macrophages and neutrophils have been compared and aspects of the biochemical control of these events in neutrophils have been investigated using a selection of inhibitors. Differences were observed between the macrophages and neutrophils in the stability of complex attachment to their surface membranes, in the rates and modes of complex ingestion and in the relative and absolute rates of digestion of the antibody and antigen components within the complexes. On the other hand, the response of the neutrophils to different inhibitors was broadly similar to that previously observed with the macrophages. The differences observed are discussed and the importance of the Fc-receptor expression in determining these differences is assessed.