Antigen-Antibody Reactions in the Eye Involving Complement Binding IgG Antibodies and Their Non-Complement Binding F(ab')₂ Fragments

Abstract

An immunogenic inflammation was induced in the eyes of inbred Wistar-Furth rats by intravenous injection of anti-human serum albumin IgG antibodies and intravitreal injection of human serum albumin. The ocular inflammation was compared to the findings observed following the intravenous injection of F(ab')₂ fragments of anti-human serum albumin IgG antibody and intravitreal injection of human serum albumin.

The dose of antigen and IgG immunoglobulin antibody molecules used in the experiments caused a consistent inflammatory response that reached a peak at 24 hours and lasted for approximately seven days. The experimental animals, in which an intraocular reaction of the antigen with F(ab')₂ antibody fragments occurred, did not show any immunogenic inflammatory response, indicating an absence of complement activation by either the classical or the alternative pathways.