CHEMOTACTIC ACTIVITY OF VENOM FROM THE BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER (LOXOSCELES-RECLUSA)

The incubation of whole Loxosceles reclusa venom with complement generated a chemotactic activity for guinea pig neutrophils which had been harvested from peritoneal exudate cells. Venom-guinea pig complement mixtures were 42% more chemotactic than the complement alone and venom-human complement mixtures were 55% more chemotactic than human complement alone. Venom plus diluent was no more chemotactic than diluent alone, although venom plus heat inactivated guinea pig serum was slightly chemotactic. Purified guinea pig or human C3 or C5 incubated with recluse spider venom was not chemotactic nor did venom alter the serologically active quantity of C3 or C5 in human serum. Both C4 deficient and properdin deficient sera were suitable substrates for the chemotaxigen in recluse spider venom. © 1979.