Immune complexes in the spleen. Replacement of immune complexes trapped in spleen follicles by new immune complexes from the circulation.

The fate of intravenously injected 125I-BGG-anti-BGG in the spleen of mice was studied using autoradiography. Part of the labelled immune complexes was trapped in the follicles of the spleen as could be expected. In a first experiment it was found that injections with unlabelled immune complexes were followed by a partial release of the labelled immune complexes from the follicles. In a second experiment unlabelled immune complexes retained in spleen follicles appeared to inhibit the trapping of intravenously injected labelled immune complexes to some degree and for some time. The conclusion was drawn from these experiments that immune complexes, which normally remain in part of the lymphoid follicles for a long period, may be replaced by new immune complexes from the circulation. This seems important since trapping in lymphoid follicles of antigen complexed by antibody is the only known mechanism by which small amounts of antigen may be preserved in the body for a long time after the initiation of antibody production. The bulk of antigen and antigen-antibody complexes is removed by phagocytosis followed by destruction. It appeared also that, although all spleen follicles in the mouse spleen is able to retain the complexes for a longer time. Possible explanations for these individual differences between the follicles of one spleen are discussed.