Complement Receptor Analogous Factors in Human Serum: I. Isolation of a Molecule Inhibitory for Complement Dependent Rosette Formation, its Identification as α1-Antitrypsin and its Functional Characterization

Abstract A glycoprotein was isolated from human plasma which partially inhibited C3 carrying erythrocytes from binding to complement receptor cells (CR + C). Based on its physicochemical characteristics and its antigenicity this glycoprotein was identified as aI-antitrypsin (α 1 -AT). The activity of α 1 -AT towards-C3 and its fragments was unaffected by heating but it was destroyed by periodic acid. The isolated carbohydrate moiety of α 1 -AT showed the same effect as the intact molecule. Using F(ab) 2 of IgG-anti-α 1 -AT, α 1 -AT could be demonstrated on Raji cells and human erythrocytes. Treatment of these CR + C with IgG-anti-α 1 -AT resulted in a blockade of their C3 receptor activity.…