Immunoglobulin G-mediated inflammatory responses develop normally in complement-deficient mice

Impaired inflammatory responses in the reverse arthus reaction through genetic deletion of the C5a receptor

We recently demonstrated that gene-targeted disruption of the C5a anaphylatoxin receptor prevented lung injury in immune complex-mediated inflammation. In this study, we compare the effect of C5aR deficiency in immune complex-induced inflammation in the peritoneal cavity and skin with the results derived from our immune complex alveolitis model. C5aR- deficient mice exhibit decreased migration of neutrophils and decreased levels of TNF-alpha and interleukin 6 in the peritoneal reverse passive Arthus reaction compared to their wild-type littermates. In the reverse passive Arthus reaction in the skin the C5aR was also required for the full expression of neutrophil influx and edema formation; C5aR-deficient mice showed reduced neutrophil migration and microvascular permeability changes. In contrast to our studies in immune complex-induced lung inflammation, C5aR deficiency does not completely prevent injury in the peritoneal cavity and skin. These data indicate a dominant role for the C5aR and its ligand in the reverse passive Arthus reaction in the lung and a synergistic role together with other inflammatory mediators in immune complex-mediated peritonitis and skin injury.

Fc receptors

In the past year, significant progress in the area of Fc receptor biology has been made in three areas: identification of the protective FcR for serum IgG half-life (Brambell receptor), characterization of the mechanism(s) of inhibitory receptor Fc gamma RIIB signaling, and dissection of the in vivo roles of FcRs in inflammation.

A dominant role for mast cell Fc receptors in the Arthus reaction

Antibody-antigen complexes are central to the inflammatory response and are implicated in the development of such diverse diseases as systemic lupus erythematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, immune glomerulonephritis, and vasculitis. We recently demonstrated that experimental immune complex-mediated injury in mice, as modeled by the cutaneous Arthus reaction, requires receptors for the Fc portion of the antibody and is unaffected by deficiencies in complement components. However, the responsible cell type(s) and Fc receptor(s) were not known. We now demonstrate by differential reconstitution in vivo that Fc gamma RIII on mast cells is necessary for this inflammatory response. We propose a general model of antibody-mediated diseases as an immunopathologic spectrum whose specific manifestations are determined by the Fc receptor and cell type engaged.