Is autoimmunity a common denominator in immune complex diseases?

In normal circumstances, antibodies reactive with native DNA appear in the plasma during the course of many clinical conditions associated with inflammation. These antibodies seem to be elaborated in response to the release of exceptional amounts of DNA by nucleated cells. As a result, DNA/anti-DNA complexes can be demonstrated in the cryoprecipitable fraction of plasma from patients with various inflammatory diseases. A significant proportion of these immune complexes contain low-molecular-weight polynucleotide antigens. These polynucleotides are derived from DNA which has been degraded by plasma DNAase. Because of the digestion of DNA in the plasma a spectrum of antigen/antibody complexes forms. While large, relatively insoluble complexes would be expected to be rapidly cleared by the reticuloendothelial system, low-molecular-weight complexes are removed more slowly. It is proposed that the action of plasma DNAase upon both free and immune bound-DNA can lead to a preponderance of small, soluble, polynucleotide/anti-DNA complexes. Under appropriate conditions of vascular permeability, these soluble complexes may be deposited in vessel walls. Hence, regardless of the initiating infectious or inflammatory agent, polynucleotide antigen/anti-DNA antibody complexes form and can result in immune-mediated inflammatory phenomena in diverse disease states.