Chemiluminescence of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages stimulated by immune precipitates and soluble immune complexes

The chemiluminescence (CL) response of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages to immune precipitates and soluble immune complexes has been investigated. The rapid burst of intense light emission observed in response to both stimuli, was inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD). With soluble immune complexes, this was followed by prolonged CL of lower intensity susceptible to both SOD and catalase inhibition. The magnitude of the CL response was directly related to seize the size of the soluble complexes reacting with the macrophages. These findings suggest that circulating, as distinct from deposited immune complexes, may play a role in the pathogenesis of complex-mediated diseases.