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Inhibition of the formation of the complement membrane-attack complex by a monoclonal antibody to the complement
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, U.K.
The Biochemical Journal
|December 15, 1989
Abstract:
The effect of nine monoclonal antibodies to complement component C8 on the interaction of C9 with preformed cell-surface C5b-8 complexes and on the functional insertion of C8 into the membrane-attack complex (MAC) was investigated. None of the antibodies prevented C9 insertion into a preformed C5b-8 complex. One antibody (F1) directed to the C8 alpha subunit clearly inhibited formation of a functional MAC. It is proposed that this antibody prevents the C8 alpha subunit unfolding and distorting the bilayer to allow C9 insertion.