Development of a C1q-adsorbent for the selective removal of circulating immune complexes

In body fluids circulating immune complexes possess a substantial pathogenic effect on a variety of diseases. Thus it seems to be reasonable to influence the pathogenic mechanism of such diseases by removing the circulating immune complexes out of the body fluids. The selective adsorbent for binding immune complexes were developed as possible alternative of plasmapheresis for specific removal of immune complexes out of the blood plasma. The principle is based on the biospecific binding of immune complexes to C1q that is immobilized by a covalent binding to different solid phases. Thus: so bound immune complexes can be separated by detaching the solid phases. The adsorbent may be regenerated by non-denaturated media and can be used manyfold. This adsorbent has a high biocompatibility and offers the possibility for clinical use.