Interaction between components of the human classical complement pathway and immobilized Cibacron Blue F3GA.

The interaction between the complement components in human serum and the dye, Cibacron Blue F3GA, immobilized on cross-linked agarose (Affi-Gel Blue) has been studied. All nine components of the classical complement pathway bound to the dye and could be recovered using a linear salt gradient. With the exception of C5 and C8, all the components were eluted over a narrow NaCl concentration range, with the following yields: C1, 17%; C2, 69%; C3, 92%; C4, 87%; C6, 105%; C7, 109%; C9, 128%. C5 and C8 eluted throughout the NaCl gradient with yields of 103% and 14%, respectively. Since all components could be eluted without substantial contamination by albumin or IgG, this procedure may prove valuable as an initial step in the purification of complement components. In addition, the ability of immobilized Cibacron Blue F3GA to physicallly remove complement components may prove useful for both the decomplementation of serum and in elucidating the role of complement in immunological reactions.