The binding of immune complexes by the erythrocyte complement receptor 1 (CR1)

Immune complexes, which have reacted with complement and bear C3b fragments, bind to the complement receptor 1 (CR1) on human erythrocytes. Indeed, CR1 on erythrocyte serves as a transport system for immune complexes in the circulation so as to prevent immune complex deposition outside the fixed macrophage system. A defect in this transport system has been described in several diseases, in which either complement levels or CR1 number on erythrocytes are diminished. Recent studies have shown that the binding of immune complexes to erythrocytes is favored by the multiple C3b binding sites per receptor and the clustered distribution of CR1 on the erythrocyte surface. Only a few immune complexes bind per erythrocyte but these complexes are tightly bound. The other main function of CR1 on erythrocytes is to enhance the inactivation of C3b by factor I present in plasma. This reaction allows the release of immune complexes from the erythrocyte surface and their transfer to fixed macrophages.