Abstract
Circulating immune complex (IC) was detected by means of the 3.5% polyethylene glycol (PEG, MW 6, 000) precipitation method, in the plasma of 36 patients with acute Kawasaki disease. When compared to control plasma, the results showed a significant increase of IC. IC was isolated in gathered plasma sample from 36 patients. When this IC was added to normal PWM-stimulated lymphocyte culture, production of plaque forming cells (PFC) was found to be suppressed. It was also shown that normal lymphocytes, after having been exposed to the patient IC, were capable of exerting inhibitory activity on PFC response of the autologous Iymphocytes to PWM. Furthemlore, IgG-IC and IgM-IC were prepared from the patient IC according to a technique using ion-exchange chromatography on DE-52 cellulose. Then, normal T cells, which were separated by SRBC rosetting technique, were incubated with IgG-IC or IgM-IC for 24 hours. After incubation, these T cells were added to the PWM-stimulated autologous B cell culture. It was demonstrated that preincubation of normal T cells with the IgG-IC or IgM-IC inhibited the autologous B cell response to PWM. When these IgG-IC or IgM-IC treated T cells were irradiated by 2, 000rad, the inhibitory activity was abrogated. Therefore, suppressor T cells may be induced not only by the IgG-IC, but also by the IgM-IC.
