title: In vitro complement activation by ragweed allergen extract in the sera of ragweed allergic and non-allergic persons.
abstract: Ragweed allergen (RWA)-induced complement activation in sera of 40 RW allergic patients and of 40 non-allergic controls was investigated. After treatment of the sera with RWA, levels of C3a, C5a, C3bBbP, C1rC1sClinh, SC5b-9 and granulocyte-aggregating activity were determined. Concentration of RW-specific IgG was also measured. After RWA treatment dose-dependent complement activation was detected in sera of RW allergic and non-allergic persons. C3a generation was observed mostly in the sera of RW allergic individuals, while levels of C3bBbP and of RW-specific IgG were significantly higher in sera of allergics, and a strong correlation was found between these two parameters. In a prospective clinical study, a significant positive correlation was observed between the extent of RWA-induced alternative pathway (AP) activation and the severity of symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis that were developed in a 4-week period subsequent to blood sampling. These observations suggest that complement activation has a role in the development of the symptoms of RW allergy.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hidvégi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dervaderics
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lantos
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gönczi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barok
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirschfink
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Späth
mesh_terms: D003167:Complement Activation; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003165:Complement System Proteins