Early graft loss due to instant blood-mediated inflammatory reactions (IBMIRs) is a major obstacle of clinical islet transplantation; inhibition of blood coagulation and complement activation is necessary to inhibit IBMIRs. Here, human soluble form complement receptor 1 (sCR1) and heparin were co-immobilized onto the surfaces of islet cells. sCR1 molecules carrying thiol groups were immobilized...

PURPOSE Capnocytophaga canimorsus (Cani) and Capnocytophaga cynodegmi (Cyno) are found in the oral cavities of dogs and cats. They can be transmitted to humans via licks or bites and cause wound infections as well as severe systemic infections. Cani is considered to be more pathogenic than Cyno, but the pathophysiological mechanisms are not elucidated. Cani has been suggested to be resistant to...

1. Teeling JL, Mackus WJ, Wiegman LJ, et al. The biological activity of human CD20 monoclonal antibodies is linked to unique epitopes on CD20. J Immunol. 2006;177:362-371. 2. Cragg MS, Glennie MJ. Antibody specificity controls in vivo effector mechanisms of anti-CD20 reagents. Blood. 2004;103:2738-2743. 3. Cragg MS, Morgan SM, Chan HT, et al. Complement-mediated lysis by antiCD20 mAb correlates...

AIM Here we investigated the role of complement activation in phagocytosis and the release of cytokines and chemokines in response to two clinical isolates: Borrelia afzelii K78, which is resistant to complement-mediated lysis, and Borrelia garinii LU59, which is complement-sensitive. METHODS Borrelia spirochetes were incubated in hirudin plasma, or hirudin-anticoagulated whole blood. Complem...

The complement system is a series of serum proteins that perform cell lytic and pro-inflammatory functions as part of the bodies mechanism for removing foreign, dead or damaged cells. The complement system consists of the alternative and classical pathways. During activation the anaphylatoxins C4a and C3a are released and these can be measured using competitive MAS. Abherrant activation of the ...

The complement system has been implicated in early inflammatory events and a variety of shock states. In rats, we measured complement activation after hemorrhage and examined the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of complement depletion before injury and worsening of complement activation after hemorrhage and resuscitation [with a carboxypeptidase N inhibitor (CPNI), which blocks the clearance ...

Macroporous monolithic composites with embedded divinylbenzene-styrene (DVB-ST) polymeric particles were prepared by cryogelation techniques using poly(vinyl alcohol) or agarose solutions. Scanning electron microscopy images showed multiple interconnected pores with an average diameter in the range of 4 to 180 μm and quite homogeneous distribution of DVB-ST particles in the composites. Biocompa...

The human complement system is an important early host defense against infection. Entamoeba histolytica activates the complement system but is resistant to killing by complement C5b-9 complexes deposited on the membrane surface. Our aim was to identify components of the amebic plasma membrane that mediate resistance to human complement C5b-9 by screening for neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. ...

The role of complement in immunoglobulin G-triggered inflammation was studied in mice genetically deficient in complement components C3 and C4. Using the reverse passive Arthus reaction and experimental models of immune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia, we show that these mice have types II and III inflammatory responses that are indistinguishable from those of wild-type animals. Co...

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) ~ is a membrane protein that inhibits amplification of the complement cascade on cell surfaces. By binding to C3b or C4b complement fragments that accidentally deposit on the cell membrane, DAF blocks the assembly of both the classical and alternative C3 and C5 convertases (1-3). In this manner, DAF protects host cells from damage by autologous complement. DAF is...