HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fireman, P. Articles by Taylor, P. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Fireman, P. Articles by Taylor, P. M.

Development of Human Complement System¹

From the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and Magee-Women's Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213

Abstract

The development of the human C' system was studied by quantitation of total serum hemolytic C' activity (C'H₅₀) and the individual serum protein C' components, C'3, C'4 and C'5, in premature and term neonates. It was found that term and premature newborns were deficient in C'H₅₀, C'3, C'4 and C'5 as compared with their mothers and normal adults. In only one instance the neonatal concentrations of C'H₅₀, C'3, C'4 and C'5 were greater than those in the maternal serum; in this instance mother had a marked deficiency of serum C'H₅₀, C'3, C'4 and C'5. The ratios of term neonatal-to-maternal serum concentrations were: C'H₅₀, 0.53; C'3, 0.54; C'4, 0.56; C'5, 0.61. The calculated maternal-neonatal correlation coefficients (r) were: C'H₅₀, 0.61; C'3, 0.32; C'4, 0.50; C'5, 0.31. Serum concentrations of C'H₅₀, C'3, C'4 and C'5 increased proportionally with gestational neonatal age and reached adult concentrations within 3 to 6 months of age. In general, the synthesis of C'3, C'4 and C'5 appeared to develop simultaneously and in sequence with total hemolytic activity (C'H₅₀).

Footnotes

This work was supported by Grant HD-02662 from the National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service, and Grant K-35 from the Health Research and Services Foundation.

² Recipient of Research Career Development Award, HD-18,243, National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.

³ Recipient of Research Career Development Award, HD-18,321, National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.