Conversion of C5 precipitin line in the serum treated with activating substances of complement system

The hemolytic activity of C5 in the serum treated with zymosan, immune precipitate, or C1s was measured, and the C5 precipitin line on immunoelectrophoresis and the protein concentration of C5 in these serum specimens were also analyzed. A marked decrease in the hemolytic activity of C5 and a complete conversion of C5 precipitin line from beta- to alpha-globulin region were observed in teh serum treated with more than 1 mg/ml of zymosan. The elongation of C5 precipitin line from beta- to alpha-globulin region and the decrease in C5 hemolytic activity were observed in the serum treated with the immune precipitate. But neither change in C5 precipitin line, nor a decrease in hemolytic activity of C5 was observed in C1s treated serum. C5 protein concentrations in these serum preparations were essentially the same as those of control. From these results, it was concluded that the immunoelectrophoretic change of C5 precipitin line might express the grade of the decrease in C5 hemolytic activity in the serum treated with the activating substances of the complement system.