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 Glovsky, M. M. Articles by Alenty, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Glovsky, M. M. Articles by Alenty, A.

Quantitative Requirements for C3 in Biologic Reactions: Forssman Cutaneous and Systemic Anaphylaxis, Reversed Passive Arthus Cutaneous Vasculitis, and Bactericidal and Opsonic Activity

Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Los Angeles, Calif. 90027

Abstract

In order to block the systemic Forssman anaphylactic reaction, guinea pig C3 activity had to be depleted by greater than 99% by using the C3 inactivator purified from cobra venom. When C3 functional hemolytic activity was greater than 200 units/ml (normal C3 activity = 20,000 to 160,000 units), guinea pigs uniformly died of anaphylaxis. Both the hemorrhagic reaction characteristic of Forssman cutaneous vasculitis and the reversed passive Arthus cutaneous vasculitis were suppressed when C3 activity was reduced to less than 1000 units/ml (approximately 1 to 3% of normal guinea pig C3 activity.) Using homozygous human C3-deficient serum from two separate patients, we studied bactericidal activity against E. coli 0111 and opsonic activity with Escherichia coli K-12, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus albus. Serum bactericidal activity against E. coli 0111 was restored to normal with 50 units of human C3. A more pronounced opsonic defect was found with S. aureus and S. albus than with E. coli.