In vivo generation and clearance of soluble immune complexes containing IgM antibodies in normal and decomplemented rabbits.

Soluble immune complexes containing IgM antibodies (IgM.IC) were generated in vivo utilizing a passive induction model, whereby purified antibodies were injected into rabbits with circulating radiolabelled bovine serum albumin (BSA) as antigen. A triphasic response was obtained consisting of an initial rapid elimination of TCA-precipitable antigen in the first 30 min, followed by a progressive diminution in the clearance velocity as antigen from the tissues moved back into the circulation to re-equilibrate, and subsequent elimination of the antigen at a rate close to that of free BSA. The dynamics of IC formation and disappearance were studied by a combination of Farr assay and solid-phase C1q binding. The results show that the rate of clearance decreased as the complexes progressively moved into antigen excess, and that the decrease in the proportion of complexed antigen was mirrored by a similar decrease in the ability of the complexes to bind C1q. Depletion of complement by treatment with cobra venom factor did not inhibit the clearance of the antigen, but may have inhibited solubilization of the complexes in vivo. Tissue localization experiments indicated that the liver is the organ predominantly involved in the uptake and catabolism of in vivo-generated IgM.IC. These results show that the clearance velocity of soluble IgM.IC is critically dependent on the antigen/antibody ratio, and that clearance is mediated via a C3b-independent mechanism in the RES.