title: Complement component C1q activity and ascorbic acid nutriture in guinea pigs.
abstract: When guinea pigs are fed tissue-saturating amounts of ascorbate, C1q concentrations are significantly higher than in those animals fed only enough ascorbate for adequate growth and for the prevention of scurvy. C1q is the recognition protein of the classical complement pathway, a system of blood proteins that constitutes an important part of host defense against pathogens. The observed effect of ascorbate nutriture on C1q concentrations is consistent with the known role of ascorbic acid in hydroxyproline biosynthesis. C1q is a hydroxyproline-containing protein with structural similarities to collagen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Ecology, University of Texas, Austin 78712.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Haskell
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000097:blood; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D015922:Complement C1q; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D006909:Hydroxyproline