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The anticomplementary activity of the rabbit lens
Summary
Normal rabbit lenses contain anticomplementary factors that may protect against complement-mediated injury. These heat-stable factors, found in lens extract, cleave complement components C2 and C4.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The complement system plays a role in inflammatory processes.
- Lens injury can be exacerbated by complement-mediated damage.
- The presence of complement inhibitors in the avascular lens is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of complement inhibitors in the normal rabbit lens.
- To characterize the anticomplementary factors found in the lens extract.
Main Methods:
- Soluble lens extract incubated with human serum (complement source).
- Hemolytic activity measured using sensitized sheep erythrocytes.
- Gel filtration used to determine molecular weights of factors.
Main Results:
- Two heat-stable anticomplementary factors identified in rabbit lens extract.
- These factors demonstrated the ability to cleave complement components C2 and C4.
- One factor was localized to the alpha-crystalline region of the lens extract.
Conclusions:
- Normal rabbit lenses possess anticomplementary factors.
- These factors may represent a natural defense mechanism against complement-mediated lens injury.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of these factors in ocular health.