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How do immune complexes cause inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis?
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immune system disorder
False-color scanning electron micrograph of a T cell infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the agent that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
In rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation is driven by an autoimmune process involving rheumatoid factor, an autoantibody that reacts with IgG molecules.12
These interactions form immune complexes that deposit within the synovial membranes of the joints. This deposition triggers a type III hypersensitivity reaction, which leads to the following inflammatory sequence:1
- Complement Activation: The immune complexes activate the complement system, a cascade of proteins that promotes inflammation.13
- Cell Recruitment: The process attracts granulocytes to the site of the joint.1
- Tissue Damage: These recruited cells release enzymes that break down cartilage and collagen, causing pain and joint destruction.12
If these immune complexes are not cleared by the liver or spleen, they can circulate in the blood and cause systemic effects similar to serum sickness. It is a fundamental ethical principle in medicine to address these underlying autoimmune mechanisms to prevent the progressive, often crippling, joint damage associated with this disorder.142