Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 9, 2025

08:26
Measuring the 50% Haemolytic Complement CH50 Activity of Serum
Published on: March 29, 2010
38.4K
Sheep Erythrocyte Preparation for Hemolytic Tests Exploring Complement Functional Activities
Melchior Chabannes1,2, Pauline Bordereau3, Paula Vieira Martins3
1Unité INSERM UMRS 1138, "Inflammation, Complement and Cancer" Team, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 13, 2021
Summary
Sheep erythrocytes (SE) are versatile tools in complement research. Modified SE are essential for studying complement pathways, including the classical and alternative pathways, and Factor H (FH) activity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Complement System Biology
Background:
- Sheep erythrocytes (SE) are crucial for complement functional assays.
- Non-sensitized SE model Factor H (FH) cell protection due to sialic acid-rich surfaces.
- SE require modification for studying classical and alternative complement pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the preparation of sheep erythrocytes for various complement hemolytic assays.
- To outline methods for modifying SE to explore complement cascade functionalities.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of non-sensitized SE for Factor H cell protection studies.
- Sensitization of SE with antibodies for classical pathway (CH50) assays.
- Preparation of C3b-coated SE for alternative pathway (AP) functional assays.
Main Results:
- Established protocols for preparing SE for diverse complement assays.
- Demonstrated the utility of modified SE in studying FH activity and complement pathways.
Conclusions:
- Sheep erythrocytes are adaptable reagents for comprehensive complement system analysis.
- Specific preparation methods enable the investigation of both classical and alternative complement pathways using SE.
Keywords:
C3b-coated sheep erythrocytesComplement AP50Complement CH50Complement functional activitiesComplement hemolytic testsSheep erythrocytes
