Summary
Measurement of the complement activation products C1s:C1-inh, C3bP and C5b-9 by ELISA in plasma samples from normals, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) patients showed significantly elevated levels in the two patient groups (P<0.0001 for C1s:C1-inh, C3bP and C5b-9) compared to normals. In seropositive RA patients there were significant correlations between the levels of the three complement activation complexes and IgM-RF, IgG-RF and IgA-RF. However, IgM-RF did not interfere with any of the ELISA systems. Mean levels of C1s:C1-inh, C3bP and C5b-9 were the same in paired plasma and synovial fluids; however, C3bP levels in the paired samples did not correlate with one another by rank. Our conclusions are that: (a) elevated plasma levels of these complement activation products are detectable in rheumatic diseases; (b) plasma levels of these complement activation products are related to Rheumatoid factor (RF) levels in seropositive RA patients; and (c) IgM-RF does not influence these solid-phase ELISA procedures.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chenoweth DE (1986) Complement mediators of inflammation. In: Ross GD (ed) Immunobiology of the complement system. Academic Press, London, pp 63–86
Whaley K (1988) Measurement of complement activation in clinical practice. Complement and Inflammation 6: 96–103
Ruddy S, Carpenter CB, Chin KW, Knostman JN, Soter NA, Gotze O, Muller-Eberhard HJ, Austen KF (1975) Human complement metabolism. Analysis of 144 studies. Medicine (Baltimore) 54: 165–178
Inman RD, Harpel PC (1983) C1 inactivator — C1s complexes in inflammatory joint diseases. Clin Exp Immunol 53: 521–528
Nilsson T, Back D (1985) Determination of C1s:C1-inhibitor complexes in plasma by means of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Clin Exp Immunol 60: 178–182
Lockshin MD, Qamar T, Redecha P, Hapel PC (1986) Hypocomplementaemia with low C1s:C1 inhibitor complex in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 29: 1467–1472
Mayes JT, Schreiber RD, Cooper NR (1984) Development and application of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantitation of alternative complement pathway activation in human serum. J Clin Invest 73: 160–170
Mollnes TE, Lea T, Harboe M (1984) Detection and quantitation of the terminal C5b-9 complex of human complement by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Scand J Immunol 20: 157–166
Sanders ME, Schmetz MA, Hammer CH, Frank MM, Joiner KA (1985) Quantitation of activation of the human terminal complement activity by ELISA. J Immunol Methods 85: 245–256
Gawryl MS, Simon MT, Eatman JL, Lint TF (1986) An enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay for the quantitation of the terminal complement complex from cell membranes or in activated human sera. J Immunol Methods 95: 217–225
Hugo F, Kramer S, Bhakdi S (1987) Sensitive ELISA for quantitating the terminal membrane C5b-9 and fluid phase SC5b-9 complex of human complement. J Immunol Methods 99: 243–251
Morgan BP, Daniels RH, Watts MJ, Williams BD (1988) In vivo and in vitro evidence of cell recovery from complement attack in rheumatoid synovium. Clin Exp Immunol 73: 467–472
Tan EM, Cohen AS, Fries JF, Masi AT, McShane DJ, Rothfield NF, Schaller JG, Talal N, Winchester RJ (1982) The 1982 revised criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 25: 1271–1277
Arnett FC, Edworthy SM, Bloch DA et al (1988) The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 31: 315–324
Faith A, Pontesilli O, Unger A, Panayi GS, John P (1982) Elisa assay for IgM and IgG rheumatoid factor. J Immunol Methods 55: 169–177
Bonnard C, Papermaster DS, Krachenbuhl JP (1984) The streptavidin-biotin bridge technique: application in light and electron microscope immunocytochemistry. In: Polak JM, Varndell IM (eds) Immunolabelling for electron microscope. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, pp 95–111
Nisonoff A (1964) Enzymatic digestion of rabbit gamma globulin and antibody and chromatography of the digestion products. Meth Med Res 10: 134–141
Mitchell WS, Naama JK, Veitch J, Whaley K (1984) IgM-RF prevents complement-mediated inhibition of immune precipitation. Immunology 52: 445–448
Asghar SS, Barendsen CY, Van Der Helm HJ (1987) Reinvestigation into the formation and assay of C3bBbP complexes. Clin Chim Acta 165: 245–252
Mollnes TE, Lea T, Froland SS, Harboe M (1985) Quantitation of the terminal complement complex in human plasma by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on monoclonal antibodies against a neo antigen of the complex. Scand J Immunol 22: 197–202
Mollnes TE, Lea T, Mellbye OJ, Pahle J, Grand O, Harboe M (1986) Complement activation in rheumatoid arthritis evaluated by C3dg and the terminal complement complex. Arthritis Rheum 29: 715–721
Mollnes TE, Paus A (1986) Complement activation in synovial fluid and tissues from patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 29: 1359–1364
Morgan BP, Daniels RH, Williams BD (1988b) Measurement of terminal complement complexes in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Immunol 73: 473–478
Langlois PF, Gawryl MS (1988) Accentuated formation of the terminal C3b-9 complement complex in patients plasma precedes development of adult respiratory distress syndrome. Am Rev Respir Dis 138: 368–375
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Auda, G., Holme, E.R., Davidson, J.E. et al. Measurement of complement activation products in patients with chronic rheumatic diseases. Rheumatol Int 10, 185–189 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02274831
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02274831