Biological activities of
C3 beta c, which is a C-terminal fragment of the beta-chain of rat
complement C3, have been studied by in vivo and in vitro experiments.
C3 beta c was purified as a novel neutrophil
chemoattractant from the exudate of the chronic phase of rat
carrageenin-induced
inflammation. The purified
C3 beta c induced neutrophil chemotaxis in vivo when
C3 beta c was injected into the preformed air-pouch on the back of rats.
C3 beta c transiently increased the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration of neutrophils and enhanced the adhesion of neutrophils to
fibrinogen in vitro, suggesting that
C3 beta c has the ability to express an adhesion molecule of rat neutrophils. In addition,
C3 beta c at low concentrations (10(-10)-10(-11) M) stimulated rat macrophages to produce
cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2, a member of the
interleukin-8 family. Furthermore,
C3 beta c enhanced vascular permeability in vivo, which is suppressed by
cyproheptadine, suggesting that
C3 beta c may have the characteristics of an
anaphylatoxin. Our results suggest that
C3 beta c contributes to oedema formation and neutrophil accumulation at inflammatory sites in rats.