Reactive haemolysis--a distinctive form of red cell lysis

Abstract

This paper describes a form of red cell lysis differentiated from classical complement haemolysis by its occurrence in the absence of antibody on the cells and in the presence of EDTA. This type of haemolysis has been called reactive haemolysis. It is the result of the interaction, in the presence of red cells, of at least two serum factors called `reactor' and `indicator', respectively.

Reactor only becomes active after incubation at 37° of serum with certain agents, notably antibody-coated bacteria, zymosan and agarose, in conditions similar to those required for complement activation. The potential for the formation of activated reactor could be demonstrated infrequently in healthy subjects but more frequently in sera from hospital patients. Activated reactor behaved as a protein sedimenting between 7S and 19S, and of α₂—β₁, electrophoretic mobility in agar.

Indicator factors were present in all human sera studied, as well as in the sera of a number of mammalian species. They were demonstrable at high dilutions of the serum and required no prior activation for their action. They occurred maximally in the 7S fractions of serum proteins and migrated in the β₂ position on electrophoresis.

Reactive haemolysis was first observed and can most conveniently be demonstrated in a red cell—agarose gel. It can also be demonstrated in the test tube following partial purification of activated reactor and indicator factors. Studies in the test tube indicated that a soluble labile lytic factor was responsible for this type of haemolysis.