Usage Information
Abstract
Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) is a constitutively expressed plasma membrane glycoprotein on blood cells and endothelium that inhibits cell surface C3/C5 convertase formation, thus inhibiting complement activation and protecting cells from lysis by the terminal complement components. Using monoclonal anti-DAF antibodies in conjunction with anti-smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific myosin antibodies, it was found by immunohistochemistry that vascular SMC in advanced human carotid atherosclerotic lesions express DAF antigen. The percentage of DAF-positive SMC ranged from 20 to 60% between different patient samples and SMC DAF expression was limited to SMC in the lesion proper. Normal arterial wall SMC exhibited no DAF-specific immunostaining. Essentially 100% of passaged cultured vascular SMC derived from normal human uterine artery, or from umbilical vein, expressed DAF as assessed by immunocytochemistry. A 68-kD band was observed on SDS-PAGE autoradiograms of DAF-immunoprecipitated radiolabeled cultured SMC extracts. Sensitization of rabbit erythrocytes with DAF-containing SMC extracts conferred protection against complement-mediated hemolysis in normal human serum and the protective effect could be reversed by treatment with anti-DAF antibodies. We conclude that DAF is induced on vascular SMC during atherogenesis and in culture.
Authors
P S Seifert, G K Hansson
Usage data is cumulative from March 2025 through March 2026.
| Usage | JCI | PMC |
|---|---|---|
| Text version | 189 | 7 |
| 81 | 7 | |
| Figure | 0 | 7 |
| Scanned page | 255 | 3 |
| Citation downloads | 54 | 0 |
| Totals | 579 | 24 |
| Total Views | 603 | |
Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.
Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.
Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)