In Vitro Immune Complex Binding Assay to Examine the Mechanism of Immune Complex Trapping by Human Follicular Dendritic Cells (FDC)

The trapping and long term retention of exogenous or autogenous antigens in the form of immune complex (IC) is one of major cardinal features of follicular dendritic cells (FDC). This tapping are thought to be mediated mainly by complement receptors (C’Rs), which are distributed abundantly on the surface of FDC1,2. The precise molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon, however, are still obscure. For example, controversial ideas have been reported as to the contribution of Fc-receptors (FcRs) to the trapping3,4,5. Especially the investigations are very limited in human system because it is difficult to establish the experimental approaches in vivo.