title: Analysis of human C8 with monoclonal antibodies. Characterization of a monoclonal antibody that recognizes free C8 alpha-gamma subunit.
abstract: The eighth component of human C is essential for the formation of the membranolytic C attack complex. C8 has a unique structure in that two covalently linked chains, C8 alpha and C8 gamma, are associated non-covalently with the third chain, C8 beta. In order to study the structure and assembly of the C8 molecule, a panel of mAb has been produced against the C component C8. Eight of these mAb had reactivity to the C8 alpha-gamma subunit, whereas four reacted with C8 beta. One of the C8 alpha-gamma mAb, C8A2, had specificity for an epitope on the C8 alpha-chain and exhibited no cross-reactivity to any of the other terminal C components, including C8 beta. C8A2 inhibited the hemolytic activity of the C8 alpha-gamma subunit but had no effect on the activity of fluid phase whole C8 or C8 within membrane-bound C5b-8. Functional experiments suggest that C8A2 inhibits C8 alpha-gamma activity by interfering with its interaction with the C8 beta-chain. In an enzyme immunoassay using the C8A2 mAb, free C8 alpha-gamma subunit could be detected in both homozygous and heterozygous C8 beta-deficient serum. However, only low level binding was observed when homozygous C5- and C7-deficient sera were tested. Thus the mAb, C8A2, recognizes an epitope expressed on the C8 alpha-gamma subunit but not on intact C8 and can detect free C8 alpha-gamma in the presence of native C8.
authors: Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612.
authors: L T
authors: LT
authors: Doglio
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Gawryl
authors: T F
authors: TF
authors: Lint
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D003185:Complement C8 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003185:Complement C8; D000939:Epitopes