Immune Complex Assays: The First Ten Years

Editorials1 February 1981Immune Complex Assays: The First Ten YearsVINCENT AGNELLO, M.D.VINCENT AGNELLO, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-94-2-266 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe C1q precipitin test, in which the C1q component was used in gel diffusion to detect gamma globulin complexes in pathologic body fluids, was described 10 years ago (1). The limitations of the technique were clearly defined at the outset. Although the C1q reagent reacted preferentially with complexed antibody, regardless of the antigen involved, it did not differentiate antigen-antibody complexes from nonspecifically aggregated immunoglobulins. Moreover, it reacted with various polyanions. Nonetheless, this approach was attractive to clinical investigators, because in most human diseases in which immune complexes had been implicated in the pathologic process the antigen involved was unknown. Hence,...References1. AGNELLO V, WINCHESTER R, and KUNKEL H. Precipitin reactions of the C1q component of complement with aggregated ᵧ-globulin and immune complexes in gel diffusion. Immunology. 1970;19:909-19. MedlineGoogle Scholar2. THEOFILOPOULOS A and DIXON F. The biology and detection of immune complexes. Adv Immunol. 1980;28:89-220. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. AGNELLO V. Detection of immune complexes using C1q and rheumatoid factor reagents. In: ROSE NR, FREEDMAN H, eds. Manual of Clinical Immunology. Washington, D.C.: American Society for Microbiology and American Association of Immunologists; 1980:178-85. Google Scholar4. AGNELLO V, CAMBIASO C, and DAHA M. Development of standardized reference preparations to be used in assays for soluble immune complexes. In: PREUD'HOMME JL, HAWKEN VAL. Abstracts: 4th International Congress of Immunology, Paris: French Society of Immunology; 1980:15.6. Abstract. Google Scholar5. AGNELLO V. Pitfalls in the use of biologic reagents for the detection of immune complexes. In: PEETERS H, ed. 26th Colloquium: Protides of Biological Fluids. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press Ltd.; 1979:15-9. Google Scholar6. KANO K, NISHIMAKI T, and PALOSUO T. Detection of circulating immune complexes by the inhibition of anti-antibody. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1978;9:425-35. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. GABRIEL A and AGNELLO V. Detection of immune complexes: the use of radioimmunoassays with C1q and monoclonal rheumatoid factor. J Clin Invest. 1977;59:990-1001. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. AGNELLO V, ARBETTER A, IBANEZ DE KASEP G, POWELL R, TAN E, and JOSLIN F. Evidence for a subset of rheumatoid factors that cross-react with DNA-histone and have a distinct cross-idiotype. J Exp Med. 1980;151:1514-27. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. ANDERSON C and STILLMAN W. Raji cell assay for immune complexes: evidence for detection of Raji-directed immunoglobulin G antibody in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.. J Clin Invest. 1980;66:353-60. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. SOLTIS R and WILSON I. Are immune complexes immunoglobulin aggregates? In: PEETERS H, ed. 26th Colloquim: Protides of Biological Fluids. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press Ltd.; 1979:127-30. Google Scholar11. CUNNINGHAM-RUNDLES C, BRANDEIS W, GOOD R, and DAY N. Milk precipitins, circulating immune complexes, and IgA deficiency. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1978;75:3387-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. THOMAS H, POTTER B, and SHERLOCK S. Is primary biliary cirrhosis an immune complex disease?. Lancet. 1977;2:1261-3. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. AGNELLO V. The association of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and SLE-like syndromes with hereditary and acquired complement deficiency states. Arthritis Rheum. 1978;21:S146-52. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. MARDER R, BURCH F, and SCHMID F. Low molecular weight C1q-precipitins in hypocomplementemic vasculitis-urticaria syndrome: partial purification and characterization as immunoglobulin. J Immunol. 1978;121:613-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. HARDIN J, STEERE A, and MALAWISTA S. Immune complexes and the evolution of Lyme arthritis: dissemination and localization of abnormal C1q binding activity. N Engl J Med. 1979;301:1358-63. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: VINCENT AGNELLO, M.D.Affiliations: Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology New England Medical Center Hospital Boston, Massachusetts PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThought barriers to understanding rheumatic diseasesA Role for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Type II CryoglobulinemiaCirculating immune complexes in serum and in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosisDetection and quantitation of circulating immune complexes in arterial blood of patients with rheumatic diseaseClinical Relevance of Immune Complexes, Associated Antigen, and Antibody in CancerImmunosuppressor Control as a Modality of Cancer Treatment: Effect of Plasma Adsorption with Staphylococcus aureus Protein AImmune Complexes in Man: Detection and Clinical SignificancePartial purification and characterization of plasma DNA and its relation to disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosusCirculating Immune-Complexes in Glomerular DiseaseHistamine-triggered localized vasculitis in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritisImmunological Aspects of Renal DiseaseRheumatoid Arthritis: Some Personal Considerations on Aetiology and Treatment Part 1Evidence forpseudomonas antigen in immune complexes inpseudomonas osteomyelitisKlinische Wertigkeit der Bestimmung zirkulierender Immunkomplexe bei Patientinnen mit metastasierendem MammakarzinomCOMPARISON of five assays for immune complexes in the RHEUMATIC DISEASES. An Assessment of Their Validity for Rheumatoid ArthritisEvidence Against an Immune Complex Pathogenesis of Primary Biliary CirrhosisEvidence for detection of low molecular weight DNA—anti-DNA complexes in systemic lupus erythematosusHigh C1q levels, low C1s/C1q ratios, and high levels of circulating immune complexes in kala azarPitfalls in the methodology for detection of immune complexes 1 February 1981Volume 94, Issue 2Page: 266-267KeywordsAntigensBody fluidsGlobulinsImmune complex ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 February 1981 PDF downloadLoading ...