Immunoglobulins, complement and lysozyme in leg lymph of normal men

Abstract

Concentration of immunoglobulins G, A, and M, total complement haemolytic activity (CH₅₀), complement component proteins' level and lysozyme concentration were measured in peripheral lymph collected from nine legs of five normal men for 5 consecutive days. Studies were carried out each day between 13.00 and 14.00 hours on men in a horizontal resting position, following 3 h of walking. Low values were found for all proteins. The mean lymph/serum ratio for total protein was 0.25±0.04 (SE), for IgG 0.169±0.047 (SE), IgA 0.157±0.059 (SE), IgM 0.074±0.018 (SE). CH₅₀ had a L/S ratio of 0.16±0.05 (SE). The L/S ratio C1q protein was 0.122±0.034, C1s was 0.213±0.043 (SE), C4 was 0.218±0.081, C3c was 0.138±0.052 (SE), C9 was 0.238±0.047 (SE). The L/S ratios for C1s INA was 0.165±0.04 (SE) and C3PA was 0.189±0.08. No anticomplementary activity was found in the lymph. Concentration of lymph protein components was inversely proportional to their molecular weight, which is consistent with the capillary sieving mechanism.

Key Words:

• capillary permeability
• complement
• extracellular fluid
• immunoglobulins
• lymph
• lysozyme
• proteins