Membrane attack complex of complement in Henoch-Schönlein purpura skin and nephritis.

The present study using direct immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies to C5b-9 complex-related antigens was undertaken to determine whether complement activation in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) causes assembly of the membrane attack complex of complement (MAC) in skin and nephritis lesions. The deposition of C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, and C5b-9 neoantigens was noted in the vascular walls of papillary dermis and/or subpapillary dermal plexus of the vessels in 11 out of 15 patients with HSP. Their presence in vessel walls indicates complement activation which leads to terminal complement activation. There were small deposits of S protein at the same sites in three of the 11 skin specimens. Thus, the majority of C5b-9 demonstrated in HSP skin was the cytolytically active C5b-9 complex, MAC. Granular deposits of C5b-9 related antigens without S protein were also found in the capillary walls and mesangium of the glomeruli of two out of four specimens from patients with HSP nephritis; in the other two S protein was colocalized with the deposition of C5b-9. The results of the present study indicate that complement activation leading to generation of MAC may possibly be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular injury in a significantly large number of skin lesions and of HSP nephritis.