実験的滲出性中耳炎における免疫複合体の生理活性

抄録

This study was designed to evaluate the biological property of light molecular weight immune complex, in comparison with that of heavy molecular weight immune complex. Soluble immune complexes were obtained by mixing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) with guinea pig antiserum to HRP and were devided into several fractions according to their molecular weight by a gel filtration. After the chemotactic activity of each fraction was examined in vitro, the lightest and the heaviest molecular weight immune complexes were injected into a guinea pig's left and right superior bulla, respectively. Although a middle ear effusion developed in both sides of the bulla, the histopathological feature of an experimentally induced otitis media with effusion varied with the molecular weight of the injected immune complex. The light molecular weight immune complex was proved to be a stronger inducer for a macrophage than the heavy molecular weight immune complex both in vitro and in vivo, and to have a tendency to persist in the tympanic cavity for a longer duration than the heavy molecular weight immune complex.