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Differences in activation of human and guinea pig complement by retroviruses
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|November 1, 1978
Summary
Murine leukemia viruses bind guinea pig complement C1 but don't activate it. Human C1 components are key for activating complement C1 and viral lysis, showing C1s governs this interaction.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Complement System
Background:
- Murine leukemia viruses possess a receptor for human C1.
- This interaction activates human complement but not guinea pig complement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the binding of guinea pig C1 to the viral receptor.
- To determine the role of different C1 components in complement activation and viral lysis.
Main Methods:
- Studying the binding of guinea pig C1 to the viral receptor.
- Creating hybrid C1 molecules using human and guinea pig C1 components.
- Assessing complement activation and viral lysis upon interaction with hybrid C1.
Main Results:
- The viral receptor binds guinea pig C1, but activation does not occur.
- Hybrid C1 formed with human C1s and guinea pig C1 activates complement and causes viral lysis.
- Hybrid C1 formed with guinea pig C1s and human C1 abolishes virus-mediated activation.
Conclusions:
- The C1s component of complement C1 is critical for activation by the viral receptor.
- This finding elucidates the specific molecular interactions governing complement activation in retroviral infections.