Release of intracellular constituents from rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes exposed to soluble and insoluble immune complexes.

Abstract

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) obtained from peritoneal exudates of unimmunized rabbits consistently released several intracellular constituents into the suspending medium when incubated with equivalence precipitates, which were prepared with rabbit antiserum to bovine serum albumin (BSA). Identical concentrations (AbN) of soluble immune complexes in antigen excess were neither as potent nor as predictable in triggering these phenomena. Precipitates prepared from antisera at 4 weeks after immunization were slightly more potent than those prepared from 6, 8 or 10-week antisera. On the other hand, soluble complexes prepared from 10-week antisera proved more potent than those derived from antisera of earlier bleedings. When PMNL were harvested from rabbits immunized with BSA and then exposed to immune complexes containing autologous antibodies, the ‘immune’ PMNL appeared to be less responsive to these stimuli when compared to PMNL obtained from unimmunized animals.