Immunoglobulin and complement deposits in the lungs of New Zealand Black/White mice

Forty-four New Zealand Black/White (NZB/W) F1 hybrid mice were studied for evidence of immune complex deposition in the lungs and kidneys. Positive immunofluorescence was seen in the lungs of 27 mice. The pattern of lung fluorescence was granular in association with capillary walls in 16 mice and intracellular in 12. The incidence of granular fluorescence was increased with age and was seen in 80% of the lungs of mice over 13 months old. There was a correlation between capillary wall fluorescence in the lungs and the kidneys (P less than 0.001) and between lung cellular fluorescence and renal mesangial fluorescence (P less than 0.001). The role of immune complex deposition in human pulmonary disease is discussed.