Summary
The complement system can be activated by many factors, including immune complexes, leading to the generation of biologically active split products like C5a anaphylatoxin. This study presents a technique which may be used for measuring C5a activity in human serum. The tetanus-anti-tetanus immune complex and aggregated human IgG were used as model activators of the complement cascade. The C5a activity was measured by C5a-induced chemiluminescence of granulocytes; furthermore, a radioimmunoassay was used to detect the C5a peptide. There was a strongly positive correlation between the two assay systems. The described method should be useful as an alternative means of detecting complement activation in the serum of patients with inflammatory diseases.
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Kapp, A., Maly, F.E. & Schöpf, E. Detection of complement activation in human serum using C5S-Induced chemiluminescence of human granulocytes. Arch Dermatol Res 278, 41–43 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412494
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412494