INVITRO COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION BY RABBIT LYMPHOCYTES AND THYMOCYTES IN AUTOLOGOUS SERUM

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (1) , 25-34
Abstract
The activation of C3 [complement component 3] previously demonstrated to occur during the isolation of lymphocytes from rabbit blood, was investigated by in vitro exposure of blood and lymph node lymphocytes and thymocytes to autologous serum. Activated C3 deposited on the lymphoid cell-surface was detected by anti-C3 immune adherence reaction and blocking of receptors for C3. An affinity shown by guinea pig erythrocytes for activated C was also investigated. Using EGTA [ethylene glycol bis tetraacetic acid] which inhibits the classical C pathway while leaving the alternative pathway unaffected, either pathway could be activated by rabbit cells depending on the temperature of incubation. The classical pathway was triggered at 4.degree. C by the reaction of cold auto-antibodies with lymphoid cell-surface determinants. At 37.degree. C C activation followed the alternative pathway in a similar manner to that reported by others using human lymphoblastoid cell lines.