DEAE-dextran and polybrene cation inhibition of antibody/complement mediated in vitro immune haemolysis

Preincubation of unsensitized sheep erythrocytes with 25 mug/ml of the polycations DEAE-dextran or polybrene prevented immune haemolysis. This inhibition could be reversed by polyanion. When already sensitized cells were incubated in polycation or when polycation was added to complement, less effect was found on haemolysis. Cell electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis showed that polycation does not prevent attachment of antibody to the cells.