Advertisement
Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI113065
Find articles by Hänsch, G. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Find articles by Schönermark, S. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Find articles by Roelcke, D. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Published July 1, 1987 - More info
The complement-mediated lysis is inefficient when complement and target cells are homologous with regard to the species. In erythrocytes from patients suffering from paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), the species restriction is lost: PNH-erythrocytes (PNH-E) are susceptible to lysis by human complement. In human erythrocytes (huE) the species restriction is ascribed to an integral membrane protein, designated C8-binding protein (C8bp). In the present study, we tested membranes of PNH-E type III for the presence of C8bp. A protein with C8-binding capacity could not be detected. C8bp, which was isolated from the membrane of huE, inhibited the lysis of PNH-E by C5b-9 as well as the C9 polymerization. Thus, addition of C8bp restored the species restriction in PNH-E. In conclusion, we propose that lack of C8bp might represent the defect in PNH-E type III membranes, which is responsible for their enhanced lytic susceptibility towards lysis by the late complement components.
Images.