Activation of the classical complement pathway by a polysaccharide from sugar cane

The effects of an immunostimulating polysaccharide, Bo, from sugar cane, on the complement system have been investigated. Bo, a glucan of about 10,000 mol wt, was found to activate complement in whole human and guinea pig serum in vitro by the classical pathway. Complement consumption was also demonstrated in guinea pigs upon intravenous injection. Specifically, C1 is activated, and C4 and C2, as well as C3, are consumed. The activation is prevented when Ca++ ions are chelated by ethyleneglycoltetraacetic acid, and when C1q is lacking. Hence, it does not rest on direct activation of C1s. Supplementation of C1q-deficient human serum with purified C1q restores the ability to be activated by Bo. The alternative pathway of complement is little if at all affected by the polysaccharide. The activation of C1 seems to be mediated by immune complex formation between Bo and naturally occurring immunoglobulins. Complement in sera from two severely hypogammaglobulinemic patients was not activated by Bo, but was made reactive by addition of purified human immunoglobulin G.