Gc-globulin concentrations modify the effect of profibrogenic C5 haplotypes on serum activities of complement factor C5

Aims: Complement factor C5 is a quantitative trait gene that modifies liver fibrogenesis in mice. Haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (htSNPs) of the human C5 gene have been shown to be associated with higher total C5 serum levels and with advanced liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Our aim now was to investigate the role of group-specific component (Gc)-globulin as co-factor in regulation of C5 serum activities, since Gc-globulin is known to enhance the chemotactic activities of C5. Methods: To assess the interaction of Gc-globulin and C5, we determined C5 gene variants, C5 ser…