Detection of circulating immune complexes in the sera of rabbits with experimental syphilis: possible role in immunoregulation.

The in vivo and in vitro immunoglobulin G plaque-forming cell responses to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) are nearly obliterated during disseminated syphilitic infection (3 to 8 weeks post-intravenous injection) in rabbits. Splenic and lymph node cells obtained from infected rabbits during this time period were capable of suppressing the normal in vitro responses of uninfected, SRBC-primed cells. Cell-free washings of cells from infected animals were also suppressive. This finding coupled with the fact that treatment of infected cells with proteolytic enzymes abrogated the suppressive effect constitute arguments against involvement of a specific suppressor cell population. The incidence of elevated levels of circulating immune complexes in the sera of rabbits with disseminated disease was also significantly different from that of uninfected controls or infected rabbits before the onset or after the regression of lesions. When added to cultures of lymphocytes from uninfected, SRBC-sensitized rabbits, sera containing complexes caused dose-related suppression of the in vitro immunoglobulin responses. Unlike immune complexes, no correlation was found between the presence of mucopolysaccharide materials and the stage of infection or the ability of serum to suppress the immunoglobulin responses to SRBC.