Study on mechanisms of humoral immunity in SARS / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the roles of humoral immunity in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Methods The pathological changes in the SARS autopsy case and a case of lung puncture were observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy. The autoantibody and immune complexes in the sample tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining and histochemical staining. Results There were severely diffusive damages in the lungs. The endothelial cells in blood were injured. Fibrinoid necroses of blood vessels were observed in several organs and injury of immune organs and massive autoantibody and immune complexes were found in pathologically changed tissues. Electron dense deposits were observed in the basement membrane of blood vessels and mesangial matrix of glomerulus by electron microscopy. Conclusion The SARS viruses not only cause direct damages to the tissues but also lead to immune complex mediated hypersensitivity which in turn gives rise to a large number of tissue lesions. This indicates that the humoral immunity plays an important role in the process of organ damages.