DAMAGED MEMBRANE FRAGMENTS AND IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN BLOOD OF PATIENTS WITH BEHCETS SYNDROME

Abstract

EM examination of centrifuged pellets of serum from patients with Behcet''s syndrome and recurrent oral ulcers revealed the presence of a large number of membrane fragments. Some of these membranes showed numerous 10 nm holes that were identical to lesions produced by the action of complement [C]. An attempt was made to correlate C levels, antibodies and cellular immunity with the presence of the membrane fragments, without success. A significant correlation was found between the membranes and the Ig[immunoglobulin]G class of immune complexes. The finding of membrane fragments with C-induced damage predominantly in the blood of patients with Behcet''s syndrome and the association with soluble immune complexes suggest that the latter may generate C5b-9 complexes which may bind to the surface of cells and result in cell lysis.