PREVENTION OF IMMUNE PRECIPITATION BY PURIFIED CLASSICAL PATHWAY COMPLEMENT COMPONENTS

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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 58  (2) , 486-492
Abstract
The role of the classical pathway of complement in the prevention of immune precipitation was investigated using purified complement components and immune complexes (IC) consisting of rabbit anti-BSA and BSA [bovine serum albumin]. C1 reduced the rate of immune precipitation. As C1q, EDTA treated C1 or C.hivin.1-inhibitor treated C1 were unable to retard the precipitation of IC, it was concluded that the intact C1 molecule was required for this function. Use of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and benzamidine showed that the enzymatic site on C.hivin.1 was not required for this activity. C4 and C2 did not affect immune precipitation significantly when C1 was present at the concentrations present in serum. When C3 was added to C1, C4 and C2 precipitation of IC did not occur. Evidently, classical pathway activation alone is sufficient for the prevention of immune precipitation.