[Substances contained in the coelomic fluid of Lumbricus terristris having functions in common with those of some human complement components].

In the present work, it was demonstrated for the first time that the coelomic fluid of Lumbricus terrestris contained a substance recognized by human classical convertase. This substance permitted an immune, complement-dependent agglutination response of sheep erythrocytes carrying C3-convertase (EAC142). In addition, substances secreted by coelomic leukocytes possessed an inhibitory activity against human complement: the component C3 was cleaved into a C3b fragment. This result suggests the presence of a system the function of which is C3-convertase-like. We have thus shown that some complement functions, with their natural inhibitors, appear early in evolution. Certain of these functions and structures might be preserved throughout evolution.