[Degradation of C1q, the first subcomponent of the complement sequence, by synovial collagenase from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (author's transl)].

Human C1q is shown to be degraded by high concentrations of RA synovial collagenase (enzyme : substrate ratio 2 : 1). The collagen-like sequence of C1q is attacked by the enzyme. A possible cleavage site is described and compared with the cleavage site in collagen.