Characterization of bovine serum factor triggering the lysis of liposomes via complement activation

Our previous studies have shown that the degree of damage to a liposome corresponds to the variability of the animal species from which the serum comes, and that a complement activating factor (CAF) plays an important role in inducing the activation of the complement system, ultimately leading to the lysis of the liposomes. In this study, our attention focused on the characterization of the bovine serum factor (bCAF) that is involved in complement-mediated immune lysis of the liposome. The active fraction containing CAF partially purified with PEG and ammonium sulfate results in marked activation of the complement system via the alternative pathway when interacted with CAF-depleted serum, whereas the active fraction or CAF-depleted serum alone does not activate the complement. The interaction between lipopolysaccharide (LPS), heparin, zymosan or their mixture in place of CAF and CAF-depleted serum does not result in any significant activation of the complement system. Results from pretreatment with rabbit anti-bovine IgM IgG and rabbit anti-bovine IgG IgG indicate that activation of the complement system is not attributable to the antibody which is generally involved in activation of complement via the classical pathway. The results have further been proven by pretreatment with Concanavalin A (Con A) sepharose and protein G sepharose ruling out the possibility of antibody-mediated activation of complement. Our studies on collagenase and trypsin digestion demonstrate that the relative activity of CAF does not diminish with increase in collagenase concentration, and decreases with increase in trypsin concentration, strongly indicating that CAF does not have a collagen-like domain in its structure. The relative activity of CAF is dramatically inhibited after reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), clearly demonstrating that CAF is sensitive to reduction with 2-ME and confirming a sulhydryl-dependent protein. The optimal activity of CAF is observed in the range of 35-45 degrees C and its half-life at 37 degrees C is about 105 h. Furthermore, the relative activity of CAF increases and gradually approaches a plateau level with the increase of Mg2+ concentration. Obviously, complement activation induced by CAF depends on adequate Mg2+ concentration, confirming that this dependence is characteristic of the alternative pathway.