EFFECT OF AGE ON C1Q AND C3 LEVELS IN HUMAN-SERUM AND THEIR PRESENCE IN COLOSTRUM

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (3) , 523-530
Abstract
The initiating complement component (C1q) in the classical pathway of 730 subjects and the 1st essential component (C3) in the alternative pathway of 461 subjects in Japan were examined. The study population consisted of normal healthy newborns, infants, children, adults and the old (from birth to 75 yr of age). In cord sera, C1q and C3 were about 60% to the total mean level. At 3 days of age, C1q markedly increased to the mean level which remained relatively invariable up to 40 yr of age. Above 40 yr, the C1q level increased steadily with age up to about 75 yr of age. C3 reached the mean level at about 1 mo. of age, and was highest during infancy. This level declined at about puberty and then continued to increase steadily with age up to around 55 yr. In normal healthy subjects, a moderate positive rank correlation was found between C1q and C3 amounts. No significant differences of C1q and C3 levels were evident between male and female. No C1q was demonstrable in the colostrum from which lipids were previously removed, but after concentration by precipitation in a chelating agent with a low ionic strength, C1q, measured immunochemically, was dectectable at concentrations of 300 ng/ml of colostrum. C3 was detected at concentrations of about 200 .mu.g/ml of colostrum.