Restriction of cell lysis by homologous complement: II. Protection of erythrocytes against lysis by newly activated complement

Our previous work revealed that homologous complement (C) was ineffective in lysing antibody-sensitized erythrocytes (EA) even at high concentrations. It was also shown that activation of complement on homologous EA resulted in the binding of C9 and the formation of EA bearing complement proteins C1 through C9 (EAC1–9), yet few hemolytic sites were formed. Instead, as shown here, the formation of homologous EAC1–9 caused the cells to become resistant to lysis even by heterologous complement during a second incubation. In contrast, when homologous EAC1–8 were produced by incubating EA with C9-depleted serum, such intermediates were not protected against lysis by heterologous complement during a second incubation. Furthermore, homologous C9 on EAC1–9 was able to reduce the hemolytic efficiency of heterologous complement without blocking C activation and the formation of new C5b-9 complexes. Protection was not modified when homologous EAC1–9 were produced in one step, by incubation of EA with serum, or sequentially by adding C9 to EAC1–8. The minimum number of 9-sites required to confer a protective effect on EAC1–9 was less than 200 per cell. Thus, in addition to its known effect in heterologous cell killing, homologous C9 is capable of protecting homologous cells against inadvertent complement lysis.