Alpha-1-antitrypsin-induced inhibition of complement-dependent phagocytosis.

Abstract In a previous investigation, inhibition of complement-dependent rosette formation by alpha1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) was observed, and it was demonstrated that α1-AT interacts through its carbohydrate portion with C3 and its fragments. In the present study, the effect of α1-AT on the complement-receptor-mediated phagocytosis by human peripheral blood monocytes was examined. Purified α1-AT inhibited in a dose-dependent manner phagocytosis of C3-carrying yeast particles. Inhibition was selective, concerned only C3-receptor-mediated phagocytosis, neither Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytosis nor uptake of untreated yeast particles was blocked by α1-AT. It was demonstrated that α1-AT exerted it…