Lysis of human cultured lymphoblastoid cells by cell-induced activation of the properdin pathway.

Human cultured lymphoblastoid cells incubated in normal human serum activate the properdin complement pathway without antibody. However, only cells bearing C3b immune adherence receptors bind components of the properdin complement pathway and undergo lysis. A similar surveillance mechanism may exist in man to limit growth of malignant B cells bearing C3b immune adherence receptors.