The Human Isohemolytic System: Complement Activity

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Abstract
Summary: Human serum as a source of C′ for the titration of human isohemolysins was found to have serious disadvantages. It is difficult to obtain such serum free of either hemolysin or dissolved blood group substance, either of which has a marked effect upon hemolysin titration values. It was found that guinea pig serum would serve as C′ equally well without the disadvantage of adding either interfering antigen or antibody. A possible reason for the necessity of using high concentrations of C′ in the human hemolytic system is discussed. Our findings with related hemolytic systems indicated that the requirement for high concentrations of C′ is a reflection of the specificity of human isohemolysins and the sparse distribution of the corresponding antigenic sites in the human red cell.

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