GRANULOCYTE AGGREGOMETRY - A SENSITIVE TECHNIQUE FOR THE DETECTION OF C5A AND COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 55  (6) , 898-902
Abstract
Complement (C) activated plasma causes granulocyte (PMN) aggregation in vitro, C5a is responsible. The C-induced aggregation of PMN treated with cytochalasin B (CB) is markedly enhanced and irreversible and the magnitude of the response is proportional to the log (concentration of activated plasma), allowing use of this technique to detect C5a and hence C activation. To compare the sensitivity of granulocyte aggregometry to that of more standard methods of detecting C activation, graded C activation was produced in vitro by treating fresh serum with varying amounts of zymosan. Aggregometry was the most sensitive index, detecting C activation produced by 0.02 mg zymosan/ml of serum.sbd.1/10 that required to produce C activation detectable by C3 immunoelectrophoresis (the next most sensitive technique). Granulocyte aggregometry may also be used to detect in vivo C activation. Aggregating activity was found in plasmas from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, immune vasculitis, transfusion reaction and other conditions associated with in vivo C activation but not in the plasmas of normal subjects.