In vivo degradation of immune complexes in
the kidney by orally administered enzymes].

C Steffen

J Menzel
Institut für Immunologie, Universität Wien.
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift (Impact Factor: 0.79). 09/1987; 99(15):525-31.
Source: PubMed
ABSTRACT Preformed immune complexes were deposited in kidney glomeruli of rabbits after
i.v. injection. In vivo disintegration of these complexes by orally administered enzymes was
investigated. 3 rabbits were given labelled trypsin and papain and the radioactivity and enzyme
activity determined in the blood. The radioactive fraction showed an active enzyme
concentration of 3-5 mg%. 13 experimental rabbits and 3 control animals received three i.v.
injections of 5 ml preformed soluble immune complexes at 12-hour intervals. 24 hours after the
last injection the experimental animals were fed 1600 mg enzyme mixture. All animals were
sacrificed 4 hours later and the glomeruli of the kidney were investigated by
immunofluorescence. All control animals showed large amounts of immune complexes in the
glomeruli. Experimental animals, which had all received oral enzymes showed no immune
complexes any more, or only residual immune complexes in some glomeruli. This observation
pointed to in vivo disintegration of immune complexes by orally-administered enzymes as
providing the basis for the treatment of immune complex diseases.
[In vivo degradation of immune complexes in the kidney by orally administered enzymes]..
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s_in_the_kidney_by_orally_administered_enzymes [accessed Aug 19, 2015].