Use of glutaraldehyde-treated erythrocytes as indicator cells for the identification of the Clq component on the macrophage membrane by a rosette assay.

Glutaraldehyde-treated sheep red blood cells (EGA) form rosettes with macrophages of various origin. The binding of EGA to cell surface is mediated by the membrane associated Clq as demonstrated by the inhibition of EGA rosette formation either after treatment of macrophages with anti-Clq serum or after treatment of EGA with Clq. The results clearly demonstrate that the EGA-binding receptor of macrophage is the Clq component.