Sites of Production of Primate Serum Proteins Associated with the Complement System. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Various human and monkey tissues, including liver, spleen, bone marrow, and lung were found to incorporate C¹⁴-amino acids into 11S globulin (C′1q) in vitro. A comparison with previous studies on β₁₀ (C′3) and 1_β1E (C′4) production revealed a striking similarity in the sites of synthesis of these 3 proteins. Primate macrophages isolated from peritoneal exudates or lungs were particularly active in the synthesis of β_1c β_1E and US globulin. It was discussed that macrophages of various species appear to constitute a major site of production of several complement components.