Involvement of membrane-associated sialic acid in the resistance of sheep erythrocytes to lysis by mouse complement.
The sensitivity of the murine complement system to regulation by membrane-associated sialic acid was investigated. Therefore the C-mediated lysis of sialic acid-rich sheep erythrocytes, sialic acid-poor rabbit erythrocytes and enzymatically desialylated sheep erythrocytes was studied. Mouse complement differed from human and guinea pig complement in that besides the alternative, also the classical pathway appeared sensitive to regulation by surface sialic acid. The possible reaction mechanisms behind the selective sensitivity of the murine classical pathway to membrane-linked sialic acid are discussed and will be subject of further study.
D000818:Animals; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000032:analysis*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012756:Sheep; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000276:immunology*
D012794:Sialic Acids; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D009439:Neuraminidase