∞ generated and posted on 2016.03.20 ∞
Antibody bound to soluble antigen, particularly as occurs in vivo.
Because of the multi-valent nature of antibodies, in combination with the potential for certain antigens to possess multiple, identical epitopes, immune complexes can consist of substantial numbers of antibody-antigen interactions.
Immune complexes can stimulate a variety of processes including complement activation, opsonization, and phagocytosis.
Type III hypersensitivities represent abnormal or excessive immune complex formation. In vitro, see similarly precipitation reaction.