Participation of the complement system in ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Reperfusion of ischemic skeletal muscle is associated with an early infiltration of WBC, a process mediated by locally generated chemotactic factors. We present evidence that selective activation of the alternative complement cascade occurs in response to skeletal muscle ischemia/reperfusion injury. Complement activation may result in the generation of peptides which are chemotactic for neutrophils, and the formation of molecular complexes which injure cell membranes.