Differences in the activity of the alternative pathway of complement in BALB/c and C57Bl/6 mice.
The deposition of C3b on the surface of zymosan was assessed in inbred strains of mice. Mg(2+)-EGTA plasma from C57Bl/6 and BALB/c mice was incubated with zymosan and deposited C3b was eluted by methylamine. Eluted C3b was detected and quantified by Western blot and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 3- to 4-fold more C3b was deposited on zymosan incubated with C57Bl/6 plasma than on zymosan incubated with BALB/c plasma (p < 0.01). Data on the kinetics of deposition of C3b suggest a faster and greater activity of the alternative pathway of complement (ACP) in C57Bl/6 than in BALB/c. Higher C3b deposition in C57Bl/6 plasma occurs in the presence of higher plasma factor H concentration (1.3-fold of BALB/c concentration; p < 0.01) and is accompanied by higher factor H deposition on zymosan (3- to 10-fold of BALB/c concentration; p < 0.01). Demonstrable differences in the activity of the proteins of the ACP may provide a biological basis for the genetic variation in innate resistance to infectious organisms observed in inbred strains of mice.
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
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Ogunremi
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Kremmer
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Wasiliu
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003179:Complement C3b / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative / Q000235:genetics*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015054:Zymosan
D003179:Complement C3b; D017242:Complement Factor H; D015054:Zymosan