Non-covalently bound C3 enhances lysis of rabbit erythrocytes through the alternative pathway

Rabbit red blood cells (RaRBC, 3 x 10(7)/ml PBS) were incubated with different amounts of purified human C3 at 37 degrees for 30 min and washed twice in PBS. Different amounts of normal human serum containing 2 mM Mg2+ and 5 mM EGTA were added to the C3-treated and control RaRBC. The extent of lysis was measured after a further incubation at 37 degrees for 40 min. Enhanced lysis was observed with C3-treated RaRBC as compared to control cells. The enhancing effect was dependent on the dose of C3 used for the treatment of RaRBC. Investigation the kinetics of lysis, the lag phase was observed to be significantly shorter with the C3-treated than with the control RaRBC. No enhancement was found when RaRBC were pretreated with preformed C3b fragment. KSCN-treated C3 (C3b-like C3), however, had a lysis-enhancing effect. These results suggest that noncovalently bound C3 molecules may have a role in the initiation and/or maintenance of the alternative pathway activation on activator cells.