C4 does not bind to human and rabbit IgM during activation of the classical complement pathway on the red cell

It has been known for many years that IgG-C4 complexes are generated during the activation of the classical complement pathway. Information regarding binding of C4 by IgM is not available. We studied the binding of human C4 by natural human and rabbit anti-hapten IgM under conditions in which the IgM was bound to hapten coupled to sheep red cells. We eluted the IgM by excess fluid phase hapten, reattached the eluted IgM to red cells coupled with hapten, and transferred the IgM from red cell-IgM-C4 complexes to red cells coupled with hapten. Analysis of the cells by radioimmunoassay and/or by hemolytic assays showed that no C4 was eluted from the cells with the IgM, that no C4 transferred from cell to cell with the IgM, and that the C4 remaining on the cells was hemolytically active. We concluded that in contrast to IgG, natural human and rabbit IgM at a cell surface failed to bind C4.