ACTIVATION OF HUMAN-COMPLEMENT BY COLLAGENASE AND FICOLL

Collagenase and ficoll are standard chemicals used for isolation and p urification of pancreatic islets. The capacity of these substances to activate human complement was tested by incubation for 45 min at 37 de grees C with fresh or liquid nitrogen-stored human plasma from normal blood donors. Complement-split products were then determined by sensit ive enzyme immunoassays from QUIDEL. Collagenase activates both the cl assical and the alternative pathway, whereas Ficoll activates the alte rnative pathway only. When present in islet preparations used for isle t transplantation, these substances may induce local inflammatory reac tions compromising islet viability and engraftment.