Summary
Unspecific binding of immunoglobulins to gastrin G cells, glucagon A cells and somatostatin D cells of the gastric mucosa or pancreas, as well as to the calcitonin-somatostatin cells of rabbit thyroid has been found to occur through a non antigen-antibody mechanism mediated at least in part by the C1q fraction of complement. The phenomenon represents a major drawback in hormone immunohistochemistry, which can be prevented by incubating the specific anti-hormone sera with anti-C1q antibodies or with complement-fixing immunocomplexes.
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Buffa, R., Crivelli, O., Fiocca, R. et al. Complement-mediated unspecific binding of immunoglobulins to some endocrine cells. Histochemistry 63, 15–21 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508008
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508008