The recetor sites for complement (C3) on human diploid fibroblasts.

Sheep red cells, sensitized with 19S fraction of antiserum and subsequently treated with mouse serum as the source of complement (EAC), interact with human diploid fibroblasts (WI-38 cells) and form "Rosettes". Under a scanning electron microscope, EAC have not attached directly to the cell surface of fibroblasts, but to the fine processes or microvilli of the latter, as if there were fine bridges between EAC and the surface of fibroblasts. On the other hand, the attachment of sheep red cells washed in PBS (E) or sensitized with 19S fraction of antiserum (EA) to WI-38 cells was not observed. The pretreatment of WI-38 cells with mouse serum did not inhibit the interaction of WI-38 cells and EAC. No phagocytosis of EAC by WI-38 cells was observed in the 2 hrs incubation of both cells. From these results it is suspected that the interaction of WI-38 cells and EAC is immune adherence, and that WI-38 cells have the receptor site for complement, especially for C3, on the surface of cell membrane.