STUDIES ON THE TERMINAL STAGES OF IMMUNE HEMOLYSIS .4. EFFECT OF METAL-SALTS

Abstract

The inhibitory effects of metal salts on the formation and transformation of E* [sheep erythrocytes with at least 1 cell-bound antigen-antibody [Ab] complex and all the necessary complement (C) components for killing to occur] to ghosts was studied. Ferrous and ferric salts inhibited the binding of [human or ginea pig] C9 to EA[E-Ab]C1-8 cells but had no other inhibitory role in the reaction. Uranyl, Cu, and Zn salts inhibited the transformation of the EAC1-9inserted [trypsin-resistant] intermediate to E ghosts. This inhibition occurred at a stage prior to dectectable damage as measured by 86Rb or Hb release and at a step prior to that inhibitable by high molarity EDTA. A further step in the reaction sequence of E* to ghosts was identified. The reaction sequence leading from EAC1-9 to ghosts can be summarized as follows: .**GRAPHIC**.