Reversal of immune thrombocytopenia in mice by cross-linking human immunoglobulin G with a high-affinity monoclonal antibody.

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIgs) are used to treat an increasing number of autoimmune diseases, but their exact mechanism of action remains unknown. This study showed that cross-linking of human IgG present in IVIg preparations using a mouse monoclonal anti-human IgG generated complexes that prevented or reversed thrombocytopenia in mice more efficiently than IVIg. Furthermore, biologically active complexes were obtained simply by adding the monoclonal antibody to human serum. These results suggest the possible development of an IVIg-free substitute through the ex vivo, and possibly in vivo, formation of immune complexes containing autologous IgG of immune thrombocytopenic purpura patients.