Immune complexes in cystic fibrosis.

Circulating immune complexes were detected in serum and sputum of patients with 
cystic fibrosis (C.F.). There were extensive deposits of immunoglobulins and complement 
immune complexes in several of the C.F. organs, especially the respiratory 
and gastrointestinal tracts, but not in the kidneys. Significant concentrations of 
IgG and of complement complexes could be eluted from the lungs 
of the C.F. patients but not from those of controls. Studies 
involving immunoabsorption, autoradiography, and molecular sieving through Sephadex G-200 columns identified 
both bovine serum albumin and staphylococcal alpha-haemolysin as two of the 
antigens present in the immune complexes. The sedimentation constant of the 
immune complexes was about 8S to 11S. The clinical significance of 
these immune complexes and the wide variety of antibodies detected in 
C.F. patients are discussed. 