Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Rat C-reactive protein activates the autologous complement system.

Niubel Diaz Padilla1, Wim K Bleeker, Yvonne Lubbers

  • 1Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research, and Laboratory for Experimental and Clinical Immunology, Academical Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. N.diaz@sanquin.nl

Immunology
|July 23, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Structure-function analysis of empasiprubart, a calcium- and pH-dependent clinical phase complement C2 blocking antibody.

mAbs·2026
Same author

Evaluating blood donation safety for donors with sickle cell trait.

Vox sanguinis·2026
Same author

Development of an anti-rat complement C2 antibody that improves renal outcome in a rat kidney transplant model.

Frontiers in immunology·2026
Same author

Association of Carboxypeptidase B2 Gene Polymorphisms With Graft Loss in Kidney Transplantation.

Transplantation direct·2026
Same author

IgM Anti-Ganglioside Binding and Complement Activation in an iPSC-Derived Motor Neuron Model for Multifocal Motor Neuropathy.

Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation·2025
Same author

Alternative pathway-mediated tubular complement activation in human proteinuric kidney diseases: a proof-of-concept study.

Clinical kidney journal·2025

Rat C-reactive protein (CRP) can activate complement, challenging previous claims. This study demonstrates that rat CRP, like human CRP, effectively initiates complement activation, supporting its conserved biological role in opsonization.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Human C-reactive protein (hCRP) activates complement, a key immune function.
  • Rat CRP (rCRP) has been previously reported as unable to activate complement.
  • Conservation of protein functions across species suggests rCRP might also activate complement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the complement-activating capability of rCRP using various ligands.
  • To investigate the mechanisms of complement activation by both hCRP and rCRP.
  • To determine if rCRP's complement activation is conserved across species.

Main Methods:

  • Solid-phase assays using ELISA plates with purified CRP and recalcified plasma (human and rat).
  • Fluid-phase assays involving recalcified rat plasma or hCRP-supplemented human plasma incubated with lyso-phosphatidylcholine.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Measurement of C3, C4 binding, activated C4 generation, and CRP-complement complex formation.
  • Inhibition studies using p-aminophosphorylcholine and calcium ion chelation.

    • Main Results:

    • Dose-dependent binding of C3 and C4 to homologous CRP (human to hCRP, rat to rCRP) in solid-phase assays.
    • Dose-dependent complement activation in fluid-phase assays, evidenced by activated C4 and CRP-complement complex generation.
    • Complement activation by both hCRP and rCRP was inhibited by p-aminophosphorylcholine and calcium chelation, indicating ligand-dependent, calcium-mediated pathways.

    Conclusions:

    • Rat CRP, similar to hCRP, possesses the functional capability to activate autologous complement.
    • These findings challenge prior assertions regarding rCRP's inability to activate complement.
    • The results support the conserved biological role of CRP in complement-mediated opsonization of ligands.