Incompatibility between complement components C3 and C5 of guinea-pig and man, an indication of their interaction in C5 activation by classical and alternative C5 convertases.

The use of heterologous combinations of guinea-pig and human complement components for titration of C5 with convertases of the alternative and classical pathway has been investigated. In addition to the known unfavourable combination of C2hu with C4gp partial incompatibilities were detected between heterologous C3 and C5 as well as between CZhu and C5gp. The incompatibility between heterologous C3 and C5 is of special interest since it indicates an interaction of these two non-enzymic components. Concomitant binding studies have demonstrated that a reduced efficiency of C5 convertases correlates with decreased binding affinity of surface-fixed C3b for C5 when heterologous components are offered. Hence, the present studies give further evidence that surface-bound C3b has the function of a co-factor which binds C5; this interaction is required for C5 activation via the classical as well as the alternative pathway, i.e. by the C3/C5 convertases C42 and C3bB.