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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ecker, E. E. Articles by Seifter, S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Ecker, E. E. Articles by Seifter, S.

Immunochemical Studies on Human Serum¹

I. Human Complement and Its Components

From the Institute of Pathology, Western Reserve University, and the University Hospitals, Cheveland, Ohio

Abstract

A method for the titration of human complement is described.

The existence of at least four components in human complement, similar to, though not entirely identical with the components of guinea-pig complement, is established. Methods are given for the preparation of human complements lacking respectively in C'1, C'2, C'3 and C'4, and for the reactivation of these.

A method is given for the separation of human complement into two individually inactive fractions which are fully active upon recombination. This separation is achieved by dialysis of human serum against a phosphate buffer of ionic strength 0.02 and pH = 5.4. The two fractions obtained correspond functionally to the end-piece and mid-piece of guinea-pig complement.

It was found that C'3 is the only component which is effectively mutually substitutive in human and guinea-pig complement systems.

C'1 of cow and sheep sera were found effective in replacing human C'1.

The fortification of human complement by both guinea-pig and human specifically inactivated complements was attempted. Human "pH = 5.4 – µ 0.02 supernate" was found effective in fortification of human complement; guinea-pig C'3, and to a lesser degree C'2, were found to be involved in the fortification of human complement by guinea-pig specifically inactivated complements.

Footnotes

¹ Aided by a grant from the Commonwealth Fund.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Pillemer, M. D. Schoenberg, L. Blum, and L. Wurz Properdin System and Immunity: II. Interaction of the Properdin System with Polysaccharides Science, September 23, 1955; 122(3169): 545 - 549. [PDF]