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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells
Published on: January 29, 2014
Complement system on the attack in autoimmunity
1Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110-1093, USA. jatkinso@im.wustl.edu
Abstract:
The antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized clinically by fetal loss and thrombosis and serologically by the presence of autoantibodies to lipid-binding proteins. In a model of this procoagulant condition in which these antibodies are injected into pregnant mice, fetal loss was prevented by blocking of complement activation. Specifically, interaction of complement component 5a (C5a) with its receptor is necessary for thrombosis of placental vasculature. Inhibition of complement activation may have a therapeutic role in this disease.
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