The role of the liver macrophage system in decreasing the immune complex level of the blood during adaptation to periodic hypoxia]

It has been established that adaptation to intermittent hypoxia in altitude chamber considerably increases the capacity of hepatic macrophagal systems (MFS) to uptake Indian ink particles from the blood as well as immunoglobulin labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. There is simultaneous catabolism of labelled albumin in hepatic MFS. It has been suggested that the increased C3b-component of complement system in blood observed in adaptation to hypoxia plays a substantial role in the activation of hepatic MFS. The role of hepatic MFS activation in reducing the number of circulating immune complexes is emphasized as well as its role in therapeutic effect of adaptation in allergic diseases.