The Open Mycology Journal

2008, 2 : 94-99
Published online 2008 October 15. DOI: 10.2174/1874437000802010094
Publisher ID: TOMYCJ-2-94

Activation of Human Complement System by Mucor polymorphosporus Mycelia

Luiz Fernando Zmetek Granja , Lysianne Pinto , Daniela Sales Alviano , Maria Helena da Silva , Celuta Sales Alviano and Regina Ejzemberg
Departamento de Imunologia, sala 065. Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP: 21941-902, Brazil.

ABSTRACT

Complement activation by Mucor polymorphosporus mycelia was studied using absorbed human serum in the presence or absence of chelators (EGTA or EDTA). We found that it presented low complement consumption when incubated with EGTA-Mg2+ or without chelators. Anionic sugars, such as sialic and glucuronic acids, binding to factor H may lead to C3b inactivation. Treatment with sialidase and/or glucuronidase slightly increased complement consumption. The presence of C3 fragments on the surface of the cells, observed by immunofluorescence, corroborates our findings.

Keywords:

Complement system, fungi, Mucor polymorphosporus.