Interaction of rheumatoid factor with immune complexes in experimental glomerulonephritis--possible role of antiglobulins in chronicity.

Rheumatoid factor (RF) is found in the circulation in several human disorders associated with glomerular immune complex deposition and glomerulonephritis. RF has also been found in the involved glomeruli of several of these diseases. In several experimental systems RF has been shown to bind in situ to glomerular bound complexes and to subsequently act as an immunoabsorbent. The implications of these observations in terms of chronicity of immune complex associated glomerular lesions are discussed.