Evidence for immune complexes involving anti-lymphocyte antibodies associated with hypocomplementaemia in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)

Unmeasurable total haemolytic complement (C) was observed in serum of a patient with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and recurrent non-hereditary angioedema. Analysis of C components immunochemically demonstrated a marked reduction of C1q and C1s inhibitor, undetectable C1r, C1s and an eleva...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical and experimental immunology 1976-11, Vol.26 (2), p.189-195
Main Authors: Day, N K, Winfield, J B, Gee, T, Winchester, R, Teshima, H, Kunkel, H G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angioedema - complications
Antibodies
Antigen-Antibody Complex
Antigens
Cell Membrane - immunology
Complement System Proteins - deficiency
Cryoglobulins - analysis
Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
Humans
Immune Complex Diseases
Immunoglobulin M - analysis
Leukemia, Lymphoid - complications
Leukemia, Lymphoid - immunology
Lymphocytes - immunology
Male
Middle Aged
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Summary:Unmeasurable total haemolytic complement (C) was observed in serum of a patient with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and recurrent non-hereditary angioedema. Analysis of C components immunochemically demonstrated a marked reduction of C1q and C1s inhibitor, undetectable C1r, C1s and an elevated B. Haemolytic C1, C4 and C2 were less than 5 percent of normal, functional C1s inhibitor was absent. Cryoglobulin and C1q precipitins were present in the serum. Of special interest was the presence of high levels of cold-reactive antilymphocyte antibody, determined by both C-dependent cytotoxicity and indirect immunofluorescence. The antibody exhibited specificities for both autologous lymphocytes and lymphocytes from normal donors; cytotoxic activity for autologous leukaemia cells was removed by absorption with normal isologous tonsil lymphocytes. Specific enrichment of this antibody relative to the serum level was demonstrated in the cryoglobulin and its isolated 19S fractions. Free lymphocyte surface antigen was also demonstrated by gel diffusion using specific rabbit antilymphocyte antiserum. These data strongly suggest the presence of pathogenetically significant circulating complexes of lymphocyte surface antigen and specific antibody in certain patients with CLL.
ISSN:0009-9104
1365-2249