Glomerulonephritis Antigen-antibody complex

Type III hypersensitivity is due to the presence of elevated levels of antigen-antibody complexes that deposit on basement membranes in tissues and vessels. Immune complex deposition activates complement to produce components with anaphylatoxic and chemotactic activities (C5a, C3a, C4a) that increase vascular permeability and recruit neutrophils to the site of complex deposition. Complex deposition and the action of lytic enzymes released by neutrophils can cause skin rashes, glomerulonephritis, and arthritis in these individuals. If patients have type III hypersensitivity against a particular antigen, clinical symptoms usually occur 3-4 days after exposure to the antigen. 

Type III Reactions These reactions involve the presence of antigen-antibody complexes, particularly those formed as a result of the production of autoantibodies. These complexes deposit in various tissues and involve inflammatory cells as well as complement, resulting in tissue damage due to the production of proteolytic enzymes by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. A number of autoimmune diseases result from these reactions. Some clinical examples include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, immune complex glomerulonephritis, Arthus reaction and serum sickness. 

C18. Combes, B., Stastny, P, Shorey, J., Eigenbrodt, E. H., Barrera, A., Hull, A. R., and Carter, N. W., Glomerulonephritis with deposition of Australia antigen-antibody complexes in glomerular basement membrane. Lancet 2, 234-237 (1971). 

Circulating immune complexes consisting of antigen, antibody, and complement may deposit in organs, producing local inflammation and damage (e.g., glomerulonephritis in the kidneys). Other potential... 

Due to their inhibitory effects on DNA methylation, procainamide and hydralazine can induce autoreactive T cells by upregulating the expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), which causes the cells to proliferate in response to normally subthreshold stimuli, including self (Yung et al. 1995). As a result, the adoptive transfer of T cells modified by in vitro treatment with procainamide or hydralazine induces an autoimmune disorder characterized by antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and immune complex glomerulonephritis in naive mice (Quddus et al. 1993). 

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