Protective role of complement in the development of experimental pneumococcal pneumonia in mice.

To evaluate the role of complement in the lung defense against Streptococcus pneumoniae, mice decomplemented with multiple injections of cobra venom factor were challenged with type 3 pneumococci by inhalation. Without injection of cobra venom factor, the organisms were eliminated rapidly from the lungs in the majority of mice, accompanied by a significant but transient decrease in the serum C3 level. Focal pneumonia developed occasionally in some mice retaining the organisms in the lungs. By decomplementation with cobra venom factor, on the other hand, pneumococci were not eliminated completely from the lungs during the early stage of infection and afterward proliferated extensively. Consequently, the mice developed typical pneumococcal pneumonia with attendant bacteremia, while the serum C3 level has recovered compensatory during the course of infection. Thus, the complement was indicated to play an important role in the lung defense against pneumococci in mice, especially during the early stage of infection.