Elimination of protein A-IgG complexes from the blood circulation in rabbits: role of spleen and liver.

We studied the elimination from rabbit circulation of soluble immune complexes made with staphylococcal protein A and rabbit IgG. In in vivo experiments the complexes were cleared from the circulation by the liver and spleen. In the saline perfused isolated liver there was rapid uptake of protein A-IgG complexes which indicated that the elimination of these complexes by fixed tissue macrophages may occur independent of complement components.