Protection of guinea pig cells from rat complement‐mediated lysis by the transfection of rat complement regulatory factor 512 gene

Abstract

Abstract: 512 antigen, rat complement regulatory factor, has been reported to possess the same structure as Crry/p65, mouse complement regulatory protein, which functions like decay‐accelerating factor (DAF) and/or membrane cofactor protein (MCP). This study was designed to evaluate the Nagoya, Japan protective effect on guinea pig cells transfected with 512 cDNA from rat complement mediated lysis. 512 antigen was expressed on rat cells alone, not on guinea pig, pig, or human cells. Guinea pig cells transfected with 512 cDNA were protected from rat complement mediated injury through the inhibition of C3 activation. The magnitude of injury was inversely proportional to the intensity of 512 antigen expression, although the protective effect was not always species‐specific. These results demonstrate that the genetic engineering to guinea pig cells with 512 cDNA is effective for the inhibition of rat complement activation.