Premium
Biochemical Aspects of Immune Complex Formation and Immune Complex Diseases
Author(s) -
Steensgaard Jens,
Johansen Anders S.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1980.tb01794.x
Subject(s) - immune system , antigen , antigen antibody complex , antibody , immune complex , immunology , precipitin , biology , mechanism (biology) , chemistry , philosophy , epistemology
Formation of immune complexes is a normal part of the immune defence against soluble antigens. Immune complexes may nevertheless play a pathogenic role of their own. The present review discusses antigen antibody interactions with special regard to immune complex formation. A new classification of antigen antibody interactions is proposed, based on the antigenic valence. Oligovalent antigens and bivalent antibodies form genuine immune complexes. Experimental observations and theoretical considerations indicate that although a vast variety of complexes is possible genuine immune complex formation is a self‐limiting process, so it is typical that the smallest possible complexes are formed in the largest amounts. Formation of immune complexes differs in mechanism from most other biological ligand binding reactions, and the extent to which immune complex formation follows its own laws is discussed. To explain the mechanism of precipitin reactions, a two‐stage model is proposed. The outcome of antigen antibody heterogeneous, and the impact of antibody heterogeneity is also discussed.