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Janeway CA Jr, Travers P, Walport M, et al. Immunobiology: The Immune System in Health and Disease. 5th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2001.

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Cover of Immunobiology

Immunobiology: The Immune System in Health and Disease. 5th edition.

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Figure 13.8. Antibodies specific for cell-surface antigens can destroy cells.

Figure 13.8Antibodies specific for cell-surface antigens can destroy cells

In autoimmune hemolytic anemias, red cells coated with IgG autoantibodies against a cell-surface antigen are rapidly cleared from the circulation by uptake by Fc receptor-bearing macrophages in the fixed mononuclear phagocytic system (left panel). Red cells coated with IgM autoantibodies fix C3 and are cleared by CR1- and CR3-bearing macrophages in the fixed mononuclear phagocytic system (not shown). Uptake and clearance by these mechanisms occurs mainly in the spleen. The binding of certain rare autoantibodies that fix complement extremely efficiently causes the formation of the membrane-attack complex on the red cells, leading to intravascular hemolysis (right panel).

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