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High levels of complement‐activation capacity in sera from patients with cystic fibrosis correlate with high levels of IgG3 antibodies to Pseudomonas aeruginosa antigens and poor lung function
Author(s) -
Pressler Tacjana,
Jensen Elsebeth T.,
Espersen Frank,
Pedersen Svend S.,
Høiby Niels
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.1950200204
Subject(s) - cystic fibrosis , medicine , pseudomonas aeruginosa , antibody , immunology , antigen , lung function , lung , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , biology , genetics
Heat‐stable opsonins from sera of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were investigated for their ability to activate complement. Complement activation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa after opsonization with patient serum was examined in a complement‐consumption assay. Absorption of patients' sera with formalin‐treated and boiled bacteria removed specific antibodies and the complement activation decreased. We found a positive correlation between serum complement‐activation ability and IgG3 antibody levels to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), alginate, and a crude mixture of P. aeruginosa antigens (sonicate) in a group of patients with high levels of anti‐ Pseudomonas precipitins. In the same group of patients a significant negative correlation was found between complement activation and lung function. Eighteen patients have been followed longitudinally with serum samples covering the pre‐infection, the early, and the late stages of chronic infection. Patients with poor lung function showed significantly higher levels of complement‐activation capacity. We conclude that patients with high levels of specific IgG3 antibodies are able to induce a high level of complement activation and then develop more aggressive pulmonary tissue damage, probably secondary to local immune complex formation. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1995; 20:71–77 . © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.