Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1946 Nov 30;84(6):535-48.
doi: 10.1084/jem.84.6.535.

THE ACTIVATING EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM AND OTHER CATIONS ON THE HEMOLYTIC FUNCTION OF COMPLEMENT

M M Mayer  1 , A G Osler, O G Bier, M Heidelberger
Affiliations

THE ACTIVATING EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM AND OTHER CATIONS ON THE HEMOLYTIC FUNCTION OF COMPLEMENT

M M Mayer et al. J Exp Med. .

Abstract

1. The evidence presented indicates that Mg(++), or other cation such as Ca(++), Ni(++), or Co(++), is essential for the hemolytic action of C'. Ca(++), Ni(++), and Co(++) are less effective than Mg(++). The hemolytic system usually does not contain sufficient Mg(++) for optimal hemolytic activity so that a marked enhancement can be obtained by addition of extra Mg(++). 2. The enhancing action of tissue fluids can be ascribed to their contribution of Mg(++). 3. Substances which bind Mg(++) and Ca(++) are anticomplementary when added to the usual hemolytic system which contains only a small quantity of Mg(++). This type of anticomplementary effect can be overcome by addition of extra Mg(++). 4. Ca(++) may also be essential to the lytic process but its action is much less pronounced than that of Mg(++).

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. J Exp Med. 1943 Nov 1;78(5):347-66 - PubMed