Lysis of C1q-coated chicken erythrocytes by human lymphoblastoid cell lines

Human lymphoblastoid cells lysed chicken erythrocytes (E) that carried cell surface bound human C1q. Antibody to E (A) was not required for the C1q-dependent reaction. The effect of C1q was inhibited by Fab'₂ anti-C1q and by the serum C1q inhibitor. The action of the lymphoblastoid cells was inhibited by anti-metabolites and by pretreatment of the cells with trypsin which is known to destroy their C1q receptor. Lymphoblastoid cell lysate was inactive. The time course of the C1q-dependent lysis was comparable to that of the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxic reaction of human K-cells. Lysis of EA by human peripheral lymphocytes was enhanced up to 50% by human C1q.