Generic Assays Anti-Factor H is a chromogenic ELISA kit used for the quantitative determination of IgG antibodies to complement Factor H in human serum.  Factor H is a regulator of the alternative pathway of the complement system that acts to protect self-cells from complement induced damage.  Because of its central role in the regulation of complement, aberrant Factor H activity is associated with a number of clinical implications.

Reagents, composition, storage, and stability

  • Microtiter plate. 6 breakable strips with 8 wells each (48 wells total) coated with human recombinant complement Factor H. The plate is supplied vacuum sealed with a drying agent.
  • Concentrated wash buffer. 100 mL of 10X concentrated wash buffer.
  • Sample Diluent. 100 mL of ready to use diluent buffer
  • 15 mL of goat anti-human IgG coupled to HRP. Ready to use.
  • 15 mL of TMB in citrate buffer containing H2O2. Ready to use.
  • Stop Solution. 15 mL of 0.25 M Sulfuric Acid. Ready to use.
  • 1 mL each of serum diluted to 1, 10, 30, 100, and 300 U/mL.   Ready to use.
  • Positive Control. 1 mL of diluted serum with known concentration of Factor H. Ready to use.
  • Negative Control. 1 mL of diluted serum with known concentration of Factor H. Ready to use.

Complement is the primary humoral component of innate immunity.  Complement identifies molecular patterns associated with both damage as well as pathogens.  Following said recognition, complement initiates and coordinates the immune systems response.  When active, complement carries out its anti-pathogen protocol by releasing powerful cytotoxic agents and inflammatory signals.  Tight control of this system is clearly necessary to prevent damage to host tissue and cells and to restore homeostasis.

By binding to cellular self-markers, Factor H prevents complement activation and amplification on host systems.  Therefore, Factor H is the major inhibitor of complement activation.  Unsurprisingly, both pathogens and cancers have evolved mechanisms to hijack Factor H and to evade this layer of the immune response.

Multiple disease states have been linked to mutations in the Factor H gene.  These include: macular degeneration, schizophrenia, ischemic stroke, and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS)—a condition associated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure.