In vitro studies were performed utilizing sera from a strain of guinea pigs with a total absence of hemolytically active C4. Previous studies in these animals have demonstrated normal complement-dependent inflammatory reactions, suggesting that they are able to bypass their deficiency of C4. In vitro studies with C4-deficient serum also indicate normal activation of late-acting C components. Th...

The metabolism of the complement proteins C3 and C4 was studied in patients with active and inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using highly purified, functionally active preparations. Nine patients with active and eight with inactive SLE were examined and 11 control subjects. There was a significant difference in the level of double stranded DNA antibodies, immune complexes, and serum ...

Duplication and diversification of several complement components is a striking feature of bony fish complement systems. It gives an interesting insight into an evolutionary strategy for the possible enhancement of the repertoire of innate immunity. The present study is aimed at examining diversity in bony fish C4, a member of the thioester-containing complement components. Two diverged cDNA seq...

We have recently reported that intravenous Ig (IVIg) inhibits uptake of activated C3 fragments onto antibody-sensitized red blood cells (RBCs). To elucidate the mechanism by which IVIg exerts its effect on the complement system, we examined the possible interference with the C4 step of the classical complement cascade. We examined the capacity of autologous serum containing high concentrations ...

In the evolution of complement system, a major humoral innate immune factor, existence multiple isotypes components is considered as key strategy to enhance defense. Complement C4 also diversified in wide range vertebrate species including teleost fish, possibly supporting robust activation mechanism complement. To better understand functional diversity two isotypes, C4-1 and C4-2, sharing only...

Objective Despite numerous reports on the effects of meal frequency on biochemical parameters such as plasma lipid profile, glucose and insulin, there is almost no study to investigate the influence of meal frequency on immune system. In the present article, for the first time, the effect of meal frequency on complement components C3 and C4, as key components of the complement system, has been...

To clarify the evolutionary origin of the linkage of the MHC class III complement genes with the MHC class I and II genes, we isolated C4 cDNA from the banded hound shark (Triakis scyllium). Upon phylogenetic tree analysis, shark C4 formed a well-supported cluster with C4 of higher vertebrates, indicating that the C3/C4 gene duplication predated the divergence of cartilaginous fish from the mai...