C1 dissociation in serum: estimation of free C1q by electroimmunoassay.

A two-stage electroimmunoassay was developed for measuring macromolecular C1 (C1qrs) and free C1q. The method was based on Ca2+ dependent fixation of C1qrs to agarose, followed by immune precipitation of dissociated C1s in the presence of EDTA. Free C1q was estimated from the increase in C1qrs resulting from saturation of C1q in the samples with purified C1r-C1s. The assay system was studied under various experimental conditions. Combined analysis by electroimmunoassay and crossed immunoelectrophoresis indicated that part of the free C1q in undiluted normal serum could be attributed to physiological C1 activation. Owing to concentration dependent C1qrs dissociation the proportion of free C1q increased with the dilution of serum. Results obtained with serum and with purified C1qrs were consistent with the formation of an equimolar C1q:C1r-C1s complex. However, the capacity for C1r-C1s binding appeared to be higher in the purified system than in serum. Serum concentrations of free C1q were high in some of the patients with disease conditions characterized by increased C1 activation, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or primary biliary cirrhosis.