Abstract
These experimental results could be summarized as follows. The mode and degree of tissue specific immunocytolysis closely depend on the nature of cell-surface antigens and on the competition or balance of humoral and cell-mediated immunity. The modification of cell surface membrane by neuraminidase-treatment induced the higher susceptibility to complement-dependent cytolysis, probably on acount of exposure of cryptic sites or aggregation (clustering) of sites which may be tissue specific and/or histocompatibility antigen determinants. Under the existence of large amount of antisera, complement-dependent cytolysis was dominant. On the contrary, under the situation of low dose anti-sera, normal adherent-cell-mediated cytolysis was more effective. This kind of cytolysis was inhibited easily by serum factor(s), which could be IgG, and block the Fc receptor of adherent cells in competition with anti-Ig. Although the role of serum-factor(s) is still unknown, it may act an important role in the process of establishment of autoimmune diseases.
