Soluble immune complexes and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA and IgM) levels in Nigerians with primary liver cell carcinoma.

Circulating soluble immune complexes and serum immunoglobulins (G,A and M) levels were determined in patients with primary liver cell carcinoma (PLCC) and healthy subjects by the polyethylene glycol precipitation and single radial immunodiffusion methods respectively. A considerably higher proportion of the patients than the controls had elevated levels of soluble immune complexes, IgG and IgM were significantly higher in the patients than the controls, that of IgA was lower. Correlation studies showed association between serum concentration of IgG, IgA and IgM and the levels of circulating soluble immume complexes. Several factors may influence our findings of elevated concentrations of soluble immune complexes and serum immunoglobulins G and M as well as the positive correlations between these indices. It could be as a result of increased rate of production and release of antigen from the tumour; enhanced interaction of antibody with membrane antigens at the tumour cell surface which promoted release of immune complexes or/and decreased rate of elimination of the complexes from the body of phagocytosis. That antibodies are required for the formation of immune complexes may explain our observation of increased levels of IgG and IgM.