title: How naturally occurring anti-band 3 antibodies stimulate C3b deposition to senescent and oxidatively stressed red blood cells.
abstract: Several naturally occurring antibodies stimulate alternative complement pathway C3b deposition. One type of these antibodies, human anti-band 3 antibody, is involved in opsonizing senescent and oxidatively stressed red cells with C3b (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84[1987]7368). The mechanism was investigated, by which it stimulates alternative complement pathway. Anti-band 3 antibodies are preferred targets for nascent C3b which forms ester bonds with IgG and generates C3b-IgG complexes. Since C3b-IgG and free C3b can equally well nucleate alternative convertases and since C3b in C3b-IgG is protected from degradation (J. Exp. Med. 160[1984]1640), generation of C3b-IgG complexes means stimulation of alternative complement pathway. Anti-band 3 antibodies are preferred targets for the shortlived, nascent C3b since they bind to native C3 by a site distant from the antigen binding site. In vitro generation of C3b-IgG complexes confirmed a preferential formation of C3b-anti-band 3 complexes. Thus, an affinity for C3 may be all what is required to make an antibody a stimulator of the alternative complement pathway and thereby a potent opsonin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich.
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stammler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasler
mesh_terms: D001457:Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D003167:Complement Activation; D003179:Complement C3b / Q000276:immunology*; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D004905:Erythrocyte Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001457:Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte; D000906:Antibodies; D003179:Complement C3b