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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells
Published on: January 29, 2014
Novel assays to assess the functional capacity of the classical, the alternative and the lectin pathways of the
Y Palarasah1, C Nielsen, U Sprogøe
1Department of Cancer and Inflammation, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Insights
Screening for complement deficiencies is crucial for diagnosing diseases like SLE. This study introduces improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for accurate complement system pathway assessment, minimizing diagnostic errors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Complement system deficiencies are linked to various diseases, including recurrent infections, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and renal diseases.
- Accurate screening for complement defects is essential for patient diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate novel, improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the functional assessment of the three individual complement system pathways.
- To enhance the diagnostic accuracy of complement deficiency testing.
Main Methods:
- Development of novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for functional assessment of complement pathways.
- Application of assays at high serum concentrations.
- Validation of assay performance in minimizing false negative and false positive results.
Main Results:
- The developed ELISAs provide accurate functional assessment of the three complement pathways.
- The assays are applicable at high serum concentrations.
- The novel method significantly minimizes both false negative and false positive results compared to existing assays, particularly for mannose-binding lectin activity.
Conclusions:
- The improved ELISAs represent novel diagnostic protocols for patients with suspected immunodeficiencies related to the complement system.
- These assays offer enhanced accuracy and reliability in diagnosing complement deficiencies.
Abstract:
Deficiencies in many of the complement proteins and their regulatory molecules have been described and a variety of diseases, such as recurrent infections, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and renal diseases, may be linked to deficiency in the complement system. Screening for complement defects is therefore of great importance. In this study, we present novel improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the functional assessment of the three individual pathways of the complement system. The method is applicable at high serum concentrations and we demonstrate that it minimizes both false negative as well as false positive results. In particular, for the functional mannose-binding lectin activity it represents an improvement on the existing assays. In this respect, the present assays represent novel improved diagnostic protocols for patients with suspected immunodeficiencies related to the complement system.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Complement System
01:33Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
There are many different types of ELISAs, but they all involve an antibody molecule whose constant region binds an enzyme, leaving the variable region free to bind its specific antigen. Enzyme-substrate reaction allows the antigen to be visualized or quantified.