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Abstract

Immune complexes (IC) containing antigens of MuLV (¹²⁵lp30-anti-p30 or ¹²⁵lp70-anti-gp70) and formed in vitro or in vivo were sequestered primarily in the spleen. Treatments of rats with trypan blue, known to inhibit the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and diethylstilbestrol (DES), known to stimulate the RES, resulted in slight but not significant reduction of uptake of IC by the spleen. Splenectomy did not increase sequestration of IC by the liver nor did it change the distribution of IC in other tissues. Protein A, a cell wall protein of Staphylococcus aureus, when injected with IC resulted in a 10-fold reduction of uptake of IC by the spleen. This effect was seen at 4 hours, 1 day, and 8 days after injection. Protein A did not change the binding of antigen to its respective antibody. The mechanism whereby Protein A exerts its effect is discussed.

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