Biomaterial Database

Circulating immunoglobulin complexes in Wegener's granulomatosis. 1976

S B Howell, and W V Epstein

Two cases of Wegener's granulomatosis are reported in which circulating immunoglobulin complexes detected during the active phase of the disease disappeared during induction of remissions of active pulmonary and renal disease by immunosuppressive agents. Elevated antiglobulin activity, urinary immunoglobulin L-chain concentration and evidence of activated coagulation mechanisms were also present during active disease, and returned toward normal with treatment. Studies showed that the serum complexes did not contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and demonstrated their immunoglobulin nature. Serum complement concentrations were normal, and no cryoglobulins were present. Immunofluorescent staining and electron microscopy of the kidney biopsy specimen of one patient showed marked fibrin deposition but no immunoglobulin or antigen-antibody deposits. Although the role of circulating immunoglobulin complexes in the pathogenesis of Wegener's granulomatosis remains uncertain, serial changes in the described parameters may provide an objective guide to activity of the disease and its response to treatment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007136	Immunoglobulins	Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses.	Globulins, Immune,Immune Globulin,Immune Globulins,Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Immune
D007146	Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains	One of the types of light chain subunits of the immunoglobulins with a molecular weight of approximately 22 kDa.	Ig lambda Chains,Immunoglobulins, lambda-Chain,Immunoglobulin lambda-Chain,lambda-1-Immunoglobulin,lambda-2-Immunoglobulin,lambda-Chain Immunoglobulins,lambda-Immunoglobulin Light Chain,lambda-Immunoglobulin Light Chains,lambda-x Immunoglobulin,Chains, Ig lambda,Chains, lambda-Immunoglobulin Light,Immunoglobulin lambda Chain,Immunoglobulin lambda Chains,Immunoglobulin, lambda-x,Immunoglobulins, lambda Chain,Light Chain, lambda-Immunoglobulin,Light Chains, lambda-Immunoglobulin,lambda 1 Immunoglobulin,lambda 2 Immunoglobulin,lambda Chain Immunoglobulins,lambda Chains, Ig,lambda Immunoglobulin Light Chain,lambda Immunoglobulin Light Chains,lambda x Immunoglobulin,lambda-Chain, Immunoglobulin,lambda-Chains, Immunoglobulin
D007165	Immunosuppression Therapy	Deliberate prevention or diminution of the host's immune response. It may be nonspecific as in the administration of immunosuppressive agents (drugs or radiation) or by lymphocyte depletion or may be specific as in desensitization or the simultaneous administration of antigen and immunosuppressive drugs.	Antirejection Therapy,Immunosuppression,Immunosuppressive Therapy,Anti-Rejection Therapy,Therapy, Anti-Rejection,Therapy, Antirejection,Anti Rejection Therapy,Anti-Rejection Therapies,Antirejection Therapies,Immunosuppression Therapies,Immunosuppressions,Immunosuppressive Therapies,Therapies, Immunosuppression,Therapies, Immunosuppressive,Therapy, Immunosuppression,Therapy, Immunosuppressive
D007166	Immunosuppressive Agents	Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of T-CELLS or by inhibiting the activation of HELPER CELLS. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, new applications involving mediation of the effects of INTERLEUKINS and other CYTOKINES are emerging.	Immunosuppressant,Immunosuppressive Agent,Immunosuppressants,Agent, Immunosuppressive,Agents, Immunosuppressive
D008180	Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic	A chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, and often febrile multisystemic disorder of connective tissue, characterized principally by involvement of the skin, joints, kidneys, and serosal membranes. It is of unknown etiology, but is thought to represent a failure of the regulatory mechanisms of the autoimmune system. The disease is marked by a wide range of system dysfunctions, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the formation of LE cells in the blood or bone marrow.	Libman-Sacks Disease,Lupus Erythematosus Disseminatus,Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Disease, Libman-Sacks,Libman Sacks Disease
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D011232	Chemical Precipitation	The formation of a solid in a solution as a result of a chemical reaction or the aggregation of soluble substances into complexes large enough to fall out of solution.	Precipitation, Chemical
D011234	Precipitins	Antibodies which elicit IMMUNOPRECIPITATION when combined with antigen.	Immune Precipitates,Precipitates, Immune
D003080	Cold Temperature	An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm.	Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D003172	Complement C1	The first complement component to act in the activation of CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY. It is a calcium-dependent trimolecular complex made up of three subcomponents: COMPLEMENT C1Q; COMPLEMENT C1R; and COMPLEMENT C1S at 1:2:2 ratios. When the intact C1 binds to at least two antibodies (involving C1q), C1r and C1s are sequentially activated, leading to subsequent steps in the cascade of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION.	C1 Complement,Complement 1,Complement Component 1,C1, Complement,Complement, C1,Component 1, Complement