The alternative complement pathway promotes IgM antibody-dependent and -independent adherence of Bacteroides to...

Natural immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies act synergistically with the alternative complement pathway to promote opsonization and adherence of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Bacteroides fragilis to polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). This study characterizes the PMN receptors involved in adherence of Bacteroides opsonized by the alternative pathway and determines the effect of natural IgM antibodies on receptor involvement and on the molecular form of C3 deposited on the bacteria. A model system consisting of the six isolated proteins of the alternative pathway with or without supplemental isolated normal IgM was used for opsonization, and results were compared to those obtained with serum. The results demonstrate that the alternative pathway promotes adherence of Bacteroides to PMNs through complement receptors 1 and 3 (CR3), and epitopes in CR3 besides those mediating iC3b binding do not participate. The results also demonstrate that natural IgM antibodies do not influence the character of the ligands or receptors involved in this interaction.