Immunomodulating effects of the immunoglobulin therapy to the complement receptors on the peripheral leukocytes in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis

Abstract

Immunoglobulin (IG) therapy was received 7 times to 3 patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), and its immunomodulating effects to peripheral blood cells were investigated. IG therapy decreased the erythrocytes counts and the expression of complement receptors on the peripheral monocytes and granulocytes transiently. Etiology of a transient decrease of erythrocytes wasn't clarified but it was suggested that IG therapy induced the erythrocytes' accumulation to reticuloendothelial system for the clearance of immune complex. IG therapy decreased expression of CR 1, CR 2 and CR 3 on monocytes and CR l on granulocytes but didn't alter deposition of C 3 on those cells, so that accerelated interiorization or capping, and impaired regulation of complement receptors expressing on those cells might be evoked by IG therapy. By contraries, increase of these complement receptors' expression were observed immediately after IG administration in some cases. Those altered expression of complement receptors suspected to contribute to the enhancement of phagocytotic activity and contribute to the accerelated release of some chemical mediators.
In vitro experiment on normal human volunteers, both intact globulin and F (ab')₂globulin increased expression of CR l on monocytes and granulocytes, and also increased expression of HLA•DR on monocytes. Only intact globulin increased expression of IL-2 receptors on monocytes, and decreased expression of HLA•DR on lymphocytes. These results suggested the role of IG therapy would be enhancement of opsonizing effect, and on the other hand might be immunomodulation with cellular immune reaction in patients with DPB.