Immune-complex inhibition of lymphocyte Fc gamma-receptors in primary biliary cirrhosis: a possible immunomodulatory mechanism.

20 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) had circulating IgG-containing immune complexes. These complexes bind to lymphocyte Fc gamma-receptors in vitro; there was also evidence for in-vivo binding. Such in-vivo binding to T and K lymphocytes may exert an immunomodulatory effect on these cells, and may also explain some of the serological and cellular abnormalities in PBC.