Premium
Isolation of Membrane Attack Complex of Complement from Myelin Membranes Treated with Serum Complement
Author(s) -
Silverman Barry A.,
Carney David F.,
Johnston Curtis A.,
Vanguri Padmavathy,
Shin Moon L.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1984.tb12706.x
Subject(s) - myelin , complement system , complement membrane attack complex , electroblotting , biochemistry , chemistry , membrane , biology , antibody , immunology , central nervous system , endocrinology , nitrocellulose
The interaction between complement and myelin membranes and its possible role in myelin damage and in the disposal of damaged myelin in vivo is of interest because activation of complement generates both opsonin(s) and membrane attack complex of complement. In our studies on the role of complement in demyelin‐ation, we have shown that isolated myelin activates serum complement in the absence of myelin‐specific antibody and that membrane attack complex of complement is the required factor in antibody‐mediated demyelination of mouse cerebellar expiant cultures. In the present study, we examined whether activation of serum complement by myelin is associated with the formation of membrane attack complex of complement in myelin membranes. Extracts of myelin‐associated proteins following incubation of myelin with fresh serum were studied by ultracentrifugation on a sucrose density gradient for detection of C5b‐9 neoantigen. The subunit structure of C5b‐9 was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐poly‐acrylamide gel electrophoresis, electroblotting, and immunostaining. Results indicate that the macromolecular complex consisting of late‐acting complement components, C5‐C9, was assembled in the target myelin membranes.