immune complexes

immune complexes

Combinations of ANTIGEN and ANTIBODY and sometimes COMPLEMENT proteins. These complexes may be deposited in the walls of small blood vessels where they react with complement, MAST CELLS, other white cells or PLATELETS to trigger local inflammation. Immune complexes are involved in long-term infections such as ENDOCARDITIS, various kinds of ARTHRITIS, allergic ALVEOLITIS (Farmer's lung, bird-fancier's lung), and a range of kidney, arterial and skin diseases.

Immune complexes

Clusters or aggregates of antigen and antibody bound together.Mentioned in: Wegener's Granulomatosis