ANTIBODY-INDEPENDENT COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION BY CARDROOM COTTON DUST

The in vitro activities of cardroom cotton dust (before treatment, BCD) and treated cotton dust (TCD) on the human complement cascade were examined. While both dusts consumed hemolytic complement and reduced C3, quantifiable differences were observed. Untreated BCD was much more active than was TCD. Complement was activated via the alternative pathway, and although endotoxin was 58 times greater in BCD than TCD, the endotoxin content of BCD could not account for the total complement consumed. Activation of the complement cascade in vivo may provide one mechanism to account for the symptoms experienced by byssinotic subjects after exposure to cotton dust. © 1979.