Endotoxin-induced auto-immunity in mice. I. Time and dose dependence of production and serum levels of antibodies against bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes and circulating immune complexes.

Injection of mice with endotoxin results in the formation of auto-antibodies and the appearance of soluble immune complexes in the blood. In this study the relationship between the production and serum levels of autohaemolysins and circulating immune complex titres was investigated. Immune complexes were detected by a solid-phase C1q-binding assay and found to contain antibodies of the IgM, but not of the IgG class.