Immune complex associated diseases

Patent Granted An immune complex is formed from the integral binding of an antibody to a soluble antigen. The bound antigen and antibody act as a specific epitope, and is referred to as a singular immune complex. After an antigen-antibody reaction, the immune complexes can be subject to any of a number of responses, including complement deposition, opsonization, phagocytosis, or processing by proteases. Red blood cells carrying CR1-receptors on their surface may bind C3b-decorated immune complexes and transport them to phagocytes, mostly in liver and spleen, and return to the general circulation.