In vitro complement activation by rabbit lymphocytes and thymocytes in autologous serum.

The activation of C3, previously demonstrated to occur during the isolation of lymphocytes from rabbit blood, has been investigated further by in vitro exposure of blood and lymph node lymphocytes and thymocytes to autologous serum. Activated C3 deposited on the lymphoid cell-surface was detected by (i) anti-C3, (ii) immune adherence reaction, and (iii) blocking of receptors for C3. An affinity shown by guinea-pig erythrocytes for activated complement was also investigated. Using EGTA, which inhibits the classical complement pathway while leaving the alternative pathway unaffected, it was shown that either pathway may be activated by rabbit cells depending on the temperature of incubation. The classical pathway was triggered at 4 degrees, probably by the reaction of cold auto-antibodies with lymphoid cell-surface determinants. At 37 degrees, however, comlement activation followed the alternative pathway in a similar manner to that reported by other workers with human lymphoblastoid cell lines.