PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

J D Lambris

Publications and source records attributed to J D Lambris.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Conformational differences between surface-bound and fluid-phase complement-component-C3 fragments. Epitope mapping by cDNA expression.

In previous studies a subset of complement-component-C3 (C3) epitopes, C3(D), expressed in denatured and surface-bound C3 and C3 fragments, has been described. These epitopes were detected by antibodies raised against denatured C3. In the present study we used a cDNA expression strategy to localize epitopes recognized by monoclonal and polyclonal anti-C3(D) antibodies. First, DNAse I digestion of C3 cDNA was used to generate 200-300 bp fragments. These cDNA fragments were expressed as beta-galactosidase-C3 fusion proteins using the lambda gt11 vector. The fusion proteins were tested by Western-blot analysis for reactivity with monoclonal and polyclonal anti-C3 antibodies, and the location of the epitopes were determined by sequencing the cDNA fragments. Affinity-purified polyclonal anti-C3(D) antibodies specific for denatured C3 reacted strongly with the C3 fusion fragments corresponding to segments of the 40 kDa subunit of C3c (residues 1477-1510) and the C3d fragment (residues 1117-1155 and 1234-1294) of C3. Adsorption of the polyclonal antibodies with a mixture of EAC3b and EAC3bi (degradation fragments of C3 bound to sheep erythrocytes) abolished binding to fusion proteins spanning the C3d region, but not the 40 kDa fragment of C3c. No effect was seen with the corresponding soluble C3 fragments. The monoclonal anti-C3(D) antibodies (mAbs) 7D326.1 and 7D331.1, specific for EAC3b and EAC3bi, bound to a fusion protein corresponding to amino acid residues 1312-1404, whereas mAb 7D9.2, specific for EAC3d, reacted with a fusion protein spanning amino acid residues 1082-1118. mAbs 4SD11.1 and 4SD18.1, which did not bind to any physiological C3 fragment, detected a fusion protein covering residues 1477-1510. In summary, the segments of C3 represented by amino acid residues 1082-1118, 1117-1155, 1234-1294 and 1312-1404 accommodate C3(D) epitopes that are expressed by erythrocyte-bound C3 fragments, but not by the corresponding fluid-phase fragment, whereas the segments spanning residues 973-1026 and 1477-1510 contain C3(D) epitopes that are exposed exclusively in denatured C3 and therefore hidden in physiological fragments of the protein.

Animals

Segment spanning residues 727-768 of the complement C3 sequence contains a neoantigenic site and accommodates the binding of CR1, factor H, and factor B.

CR1, CR2, DAF, MCP, factor H, C4bp, factor B, and C3 are members of a family of structurally related molecules, the majority of which belong to the complement system. Several of these molecules also share functional features such as cofactor and decay/dissociation activity and compete with one another in binding to C3b. Since factor H appears to bind to multiple sites in C3, we investigated the relationship between the factor H- and CR1-binding sites in C3b. Factor H binding to C3b is inhibited by either the C3c or C3d fragments, and addition of both fragments together augments this inhibition. One monoclonal anti-C3c antibody, anti-C3-9, which recognizes a neoantigenic epitope expressed upon cleavage to C3 to C3b, inhibited both factor H and CR1 binding to EC3b cells. This monoclonal antibody (MoAb) also inhibited factor B binding to EC3b. Two observations further supported our hypothesis that these molecules bind to proximal sites in C3b. First, a synthetic peptide spanning this region of C3b (C3(727-768)) inhibited factor H binding. Second, antibodies raised against this peptide inhibited binding to CR1, factor H, and factor B to C3b. These data show that H binds to at least two sites in C3b: the site in the C3c fragment is within the identified CR1-binding domain while the site in the C3d fragment surrounds the CR2-binding site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence

Interaction between Epstein-Barr virus and a T cell line (HSB-2) via a receptor phenotypically distinct from complement receptor type 2.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the causative agent of mononucleosis and several human cancers, infects cells via complement receptor type 2 (CR2, CD21) which also serves as the receptor for the third complement component, C3. Expression of this receptor is restricted to B lymphocytes, immature thymocytes, and certain epithelial cells. In the present investigation; we describe the presence of a seemingly novel EBV receptor which is phenotypically distinct from CR2. Among various leukemic T cells studied, one, HSB-2, demonstrates no reactivity to several anti-CR2 antibodies, yet it reacts strongly with EBV as detected by incubation with biotin-conjugated virus and streptavidin-phycoerythrin. The virus binding is specific as demonstrated by blocking with anti-EBV antibodies and with non-conjugated virus. Aggregated C3 also binds HSB-2 and is capable of partially inhibiting EBV binding. The absence of CR2 on HSB-2 is further supported by the lack of expression of specific mRNA, assessed by Northern blotting analysis and polymerase chain reaction. Viral internalization and infection is demonstrated with electron microscopy, with detection of EBV-DNA by Southern blotting, and with detection of EBNA-1 transcripts by the polymerase chain reaction. Even though HSB-2 does not express CR2, it nevertheless displays transcripts which have some homology to a CR2 cDNA probe under low stringency hybridization conditions. This probe encompasses approximately the N-terminal half of CR2 which includes the EBV-binding epitope(s). The HSB-2 message is 5.2 kb, a size distinct from the 4.7-kb message of B cell CR2s. In contrast, the 5.2-kb message in not seen, under similar hybridization conditions, with a probe comprising the C-terminal half of CR2. Collectively, the data indicate that a receptor molecule having distinct phenotypic characteristics from the known CR2 protein on B cells is utilized by EBV to target human T lymphocytes.

Animals

Infection of human thymocytes by Epstein-Barr virus.

The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) causes infectious mononucleosis, and has been strongly associated with certain human cancers. The virus is thought to exclusively bind to B lymphocytes and epithelial cells via receptors (CR2/CD21) that also interact with fragments of the third component of complement (C3). Recent evidence, however, has challenged this belief. We have used two-color immunofluorescence analysis using biotin-conjugated EBV and streptavidin-phycoerythrin along with fluorescein-conjugated anti-T cell antibodies and demonstrated that CD1-positive, CD3-dull (immature) human thymocytes express functional EBV receptors. In four replicate experiments, the binding of EBV to thymocytes ranged between 8 and 18%. This interaction is specific as evidenced by inhibition with nonconjugated virus, anti-CR2 antibodies, aggregated C3, and an antibody to the gp350 viral glycoprotein that the virus uses to bind to CR2. EBV can infect the thymocytes as evaluated by the presence of episomal EBV-DNA in thymocytes that had been incubated with the virus as short as 12 days or as long as 6 weeks. Episomal DNA analysis was performed by Southern blotting with a EBV-DNA probe that hybridizes to the first internal reiteration of the viral DNA. The presence of the EBV genome is also supported by the detection of EBV nuclear antigen 1 in infected thymocytes, assessed by Western blotting with EBV-immune sera. The EBV infection is specific as determined by blocking experiments using anti-CR2 and anti-gp350 antibodies. Finally, virus infection of thymocytes can act synergistically along with interleukin 2 and induce a lymphokine-dependent cellular proliferation. In view of previously reported cases of EBV-positive human T cell lymphomas, the possibility is raised that EBV may be involved in cancers of T lymphocytes that have not been previously appreciated.

Antigens, CD19

Evidence for multiple sites of interaction in C3 for complement receptor type 2 (C3d/EBV receptor, CD21).

Multivalent but not monovalent CR2 ligands are required to elicit Raji cell proliferation as well as other B cell responses. It has been reported (C. Servis and J. D. Lambris, J. Immunol. 1989. 142: 2207) that the tetrameric peptide T-(C31202-1214)4, which represents the CR2-binding site in C3d, was able to support Raji cell growth. We show here that the tetrameric peptide T-(gp350(19-30)4, which contains the CR2-binding site in gp350 protein of EBV also induces Raji cell growth and this effect is inhibited by the monomeric peptides gp350(19-30) and C3(1201-1214). We also investigated the nature of the interaction between C3 fragment and CR2 in order to explain the Raji cell growth-supporting effect exerted by C3. The following findings suggest that there are multiple sites in the C3 molecule able to interact with CR2: (1) both C3c and C3d immobilized on microspheres are able to bind to Raji cells through CR2. (2) soluble C3d inhibits to a greater extent the binding of CR2 to fixed C3d than to fixed C3b, which suggests the existence of additional CR2-binding sites within C3b not present in the C3d portion of the molecule; (3) synthetic peptides C3(1187-1214), C3(741-757) and C3(295-307) which represents regions of similarity in the C3 molecule bind specifically to CR2 on Raji cells and compete with each other for binding to the receptor and (4) preincubation of microtiter plate-fixed C3b with monoclonal or polyclonal anti-peptide antibodies (C3-9, anti-C3(727-768) recognize the N terminus of the alpha chain of C3 (including residues 741-757) inhibited CR2 binding. Therefore, these data suggest that the N terminus of the alpha chain of C3 is involved in binding to CR2.

Amino Acid Sequence

Variations in the cytoplasmic region account for the heterogeneity of the chicken MHC class I (B-F) molecules.

Molecular variation among major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I (B-F) proteins from B-homozygous chickens is apparently caused by C-terminal variation. Analysis of the total B-F protein pool revealed substantial heterogeneity with two or three molecular mass constituents, each being comprised by several isoelectric focusing variants. This heterogeneity could not be reduced by enzymatic deglycosylation. By contrast, proteolytic removal of a small (Mr 1000-4000) fragment from the alpha chain resulted in the generation of a Mr 36,000 fragment, common to all the molecular mass variants. Unlike the parent proteins, the Mr 36,000 fragment derived from isolated variants yielded identical, simple patterns in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and identical finger prints in peptide mapping. This, together with N-terminal amino acid sequencing, as well as comparison of hydrophobicity properties of fragments obtained by gradual proteolytic digestion, indicated that the small peptide responsible for the major B-F heterogeneity was situated in the intracellular, C-terminal part.

Amino Acid Sequence

Neoantigens in complement component C3 as detected by monoclonal antibodies. Mapping of the recognized epitopes by synthetic peptides.

The different fragments of the third complement component, C3, generated upon complement activation/inactivation have the ability to bind to several other complement components and receptors as well as to proteins of foreign origin. These multiple reactivities of C3 fragments are associated with a series of conformational changes occurring in the C3 molecule during its degradation. The conformations acquired by the different C3 fragments are also associated with the exposure of neoantigenic epitopes that are specific for (a) particular fragment(s). In order to study these epitopes and thus the conformational changes occurring in C3, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing such epitopes were produced in Balb/c mice after immunization with denatured human C3. Two of the three antibodies (7D84.1 and 7D264.6) presented in this study recognized predominantly surface-bound iC3b, and one mAb (7D323.1) recognized both surface-bound and fluid-phase iC3b. Although none of the mAbs recognized any other fluid-phase C3 fragment, all three antibodies detected micro-titre-plate-fixed C3b and iC3b, but not C3c or C3d. In addition to the reaction with human C3, mAb 7D323.1 also bound to micro-titre-plate-fixed rabbit C3. The epitopes recognized by the three mAbs were further localized by using synthetic peptides that were designed on the basis of the differential binding of the mAbs to the C3 fragments. All three antibodies reacted with C3-(924-965)-peptide, which represents the region of C3 between the kallikrein-cleavage site (923-924) and the elastase-cleavage site (965-966). On the basis of the binding of the mAbs to five different overlapping peptides spanning the region between residues 924 and 965 of the human C3 sequence, and the sequence similarity between human C3 and rabbit C3 within this area, the epitopes recognized by these antibodies are mapped. The contribution of the individual amino acid residues in the formation of the epitopes is discussed.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Monovalent ligands of complement receptor 2 inhibit whereas polyvalent ligands enhance anti-Ig-induced human B cell intracytoplasmic free calcium concentration.

We have performed experiments to investigate the role of ligands for complement receptor 2 (CR2) in human B cell activation. Flow microfluorimetry was used to assess changes in free intracytoplasmic calcium concentration [Ca2+] in indo-loaded B cells, immediately after exposure to anti-mu antibody and to monovalent or polyvalent CR2 ligands. As monovalent ligands we used the C3d fragment and synthetic C3 peptides (peptides P14, residues 1201-1214, and P28, residues 1187-1214). As polyvalent ligands we used i) an intact monoclonal mouse anti-CR2 antibody (HB5) and its F(ab')2 fragment, ii) tetravalent P13 [residues 1202-1214) 4-template), and iii) P28 conjugated to BSA (molar ratio 5/1). Anti-CR2 antibody HB5, tetravalent P13, and P28 conjugated to BSA, enhanced the ability of F(ab')2 fragments of the IgG fraction of goat anti-human mu antibody to increase human B cell [Ca2+]i. In contrast, the monomeric CR2 ligands C3d and P28 inhibited the anti-mu-induced increase in human B cell [Ca2+]i. Multivalent P13, P28, and the HB5, by themselves, did not affect B cell [Ca2+]i. These experiments suggest that the valence of the CR2 ligands is crucial for the nature (synergistic vs antagonistic) of the message transmitted through the CR2.

Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte

Isolation and characterization of the third complement component of axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum).

1. Using a monoclonal anti-human C3 antibody and a polyclonal anti-cobra venom factor antibody as probes, a protein homologous to the mammalian third complement component (C3) was purified from axolotl plasma and found to be axolotl C3. 2. Axolotl C3 consists of two polypeptide chains (Mr = 110,000 and 73,000) linked by disulfide bonds. An internal thiolester bond in the alpha chain was identified by the incorporation of [14C]methylamine and NH2-terminal sequence from the C3d fragment of C3. 3. Digestion of C3 by trypsin resulted in the cleavage of both the alpha and beta chains, generating fragments with a cleavage pattern similar to that of human C3. 4. The amino acid composition of axolotl C3 and the amino acid sequences of the thiolester site (and the surrounding amino acids), the cleavage site for the C3-convertase, and one of the factor I cleavage sites are similar to C3 from other vertebrates. 5. In contrast to human C3, which has concanavalin A binding carbohydrates on both the alpha and beta chains, only the beta chain of axolotl C3 contains such carbohydrates.

Ambystoma

C3 synthetic peptides support growth of human CR2-positive lymphoblastoid B cells.

The nature of CR type 2 (CR2)-ligand interactions which leads to the activation of human B cells was analyzed by using synthetic peptides and CR2-positive cell lines. The third component of C (C3) supported the growth of human lymphoblastoid B cells in serum-free medium containing human transferrin. This effect was inhibited by an antibody to C3d (mAb 130) which specifically inhibits C3d binding to CR2, but not by other anti-C3 mAb. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the CR2-binding site on C3d, P28 (residues 1187-1214) or multivalent P13 [1202-1214)4-template), supported the proliferative response of CR2-positive human lymphoblastoid lines in a similar way as C3 and this response could be inhibited by the anti-CR2 mAb OKB7. The proliferative response to C3 or peptides was dose dependent and a 60-fold higher concentration of P28 peptide was required to induce the same level of proliferation as C3. This stimulation of growth was observed only on CR2 expressing cell lines Raji and Daudi, and not on the CR2-negative Burkitt lymphoma cell line Rael and the monocytic cell line U937. In contrast to the stimulatory effect of P28 and P13-template, monomeric P14 (1201-1214) was not able to support the growth of these cell lines. This peptide, however, inhibited the proliferative response of the CR2-positive lines to C3, P28, and multivalent-P13, thus indicating that cross-linking of the CR2 receptor is necessary for B cell proliferation. Another peptide, E12 (from glycoprotein (GP)350, the major EBV outer membrane GP) which shows a high degree of similarity with P14, also inhibited the proliferative response of Raji cells, suggesting that this segment on GP350 is involved in the interaction of EBV with CR2. The possibility of using the above peptides as well as other peptides with "tailor-made" structure in studying the multifunctional role of C3 is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence

Isolation of rat IgM to IgG hybridoma isotype switch variants and analysis of the efficiency of rat Ig in complement activation.

Sequential sublining was used in combination with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to isolate mu----gamma isotype switch variants of the rat IgM secreting mouse-rat B cell hybridoma line BA1.8. Switch variants to all four subclasses of IgG were obtained. The variant antibodies retained the antigen specificity of the parental IgM for the O18 (lipopolysaccharide) antigen of Escherichia coli. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels the apparent molecular mass of the gamma heavy chains decreased in the order gamma 2b greater than gamma 1 greater than gamma 2c greater than gamma 2a. IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG2c of the BA1.8 variant family and IgG2b, IgE and IgA of the previously described BA1.2 family were used for a comparative analysis of the capacity of rat Ig to activate complement. Efficient lysis of sheep erythrocytes coated with the O18 antigen was observed with IgM and all IgG subclasses, but no lysis was triggered by IgE or IgA. One hundred to 1000 IgG molecules were required to mediate the same hemolytic activity as one IgM molecule. The four IgG subclasses were equally efficient at mediating lysis by rat or human complement, while IgG2a was less efficient with guinea pig complement than the other three IgG subclasses. Antibody-triggered binding of C3 to pathogenic O18:K1 E. coli bacteria was measured using serum containing 125I-labeled C3. K1-encapsulated strains did not fix C3 efficiently in the absence of specific antibodies while acapsular mutants fixed C3 via the alternative pathway. IgM and all IgG subclasses triggered C3 binding to the K1 encapsulated bacteria. The capacity of IgM to mediate C3 fixation was not greater than that observed with IgG.

Animals

Minimum length of an idiotypic peptide and a model for its binding to a major histocompatibility complex class II molecule.

We have defined the minimum length of a synthetic peptide which can activate I-Ed-restricted BALB/c T cell clones specific for a mutated self-antigen: an idiotope on the syngeneic lambda 2315 immunoglobulin light chain. A peptide comprising residues 91-101 of the lambda 2315 sequence had full stimulatory potency. Surprisingly, a peptide analogue in which His97 was deleted was almost fully active. Truncated, deleted or substituted peptide analogues did not distinguish between seven T cell clones that use different alpha/beta T cell receptors. The 91-101 region in the lambda 2315 light chain does not form an amphipathic helix even though such a helix has been suggested to be important for T cell epitopes. Further, a motif proposed by Rothbard and Taylor as being common to T cell immunogenic peptides is not necessary for the lambda 2315 idiotypic peptide. Comparison with seven other I-Ed-restricted peptides revealed that the peptides are generally positively charged and have two basic amino acids clustered around the centre. On the basis of a model of the class II molecule peptide binding site, we suggest that these positively charged residues may interact with the negatively charged residues at positions 114(Glu) and 155(Asp) of the E beta d chain.

Amino Acid Sequence

A role for Lys-His-Gly-NH2 in avian and murine B cell development.

Lys-His-Gly-NH2 has been claimed to selectively induce B cell precursors to differentiate into mature B lymphocytes. In the present study, the effects of this tripeptide and a control compound having the reverse sequence (Gly-His-Lys-NH2) on growth and differentiation of chicken and mouse B cell precursors were investigated. When chicken bone marrow (BM) cells from 15-day-old embryos were treated for 18 hr with either of the tripeptides, the frequency of Bu-1 antigen-bearing cells increased. Moreover, when embryonic bursa cells were stimulated in vitro with phorbol myristate acetate, which induces them to proliferate and undergo terminal differentiation into immunoglobulin (Ig)-secreting cells, these compounds caused a 10-fold increase in the number of Ig-secreting cells but did not increase cell proliferation. They had no effect on neonatal or adult bursa cells. Embryonic bursa cells were cultured in the presence of either of the tripeptides and metabolically labeled with [35S]methionine. When immunoprecipitated Ig was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, no differences in mu heavy or lambda light chain diversity patterns could be detected, indicating that neither of these compounds enhances Ig diversification. The effect of these tripeptides on murine B cell precursors was assayed in cultures of BM cells depleted of mature B cells by 5-fluorouracil. When precursor cells were incubated without adherent BM stromal cells, they did not respond to the tripeptides. However, after incubation of precursors with adherent stromal BM cells for 2 days, followed by treatment with either of the two tripeptides, differentiation into lipopolysaccharide-reactive mature B cells took place. Incubation of precursors with adherent stromal BM cells in the absence of tripeptides was not sufficient to allow the precursors to complete differentiation. In addition, both tripeptides acted synergistically with interleukin 1 or interleukin 3. In conclusion, these tripeptides seem to enhance precursor B cell differentiation in a lineage-nonspecific manner rather than to function as lineage-specific differentiation hormones.

Animals

Peptides of myelin basic protein stimulate T lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis.

Peripheral blood T lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases (OND) were tested for primary in vitro proliferation in response to four synthetic peptides derived from the sequence of human myelin basic protein (HuMBP) and to HuMBP 45-89 peptide fragment, using a [3H]thymidine incorporation assay. The synthetic peptides used corresponded to residues HuMBP 15-31, 75-96, 83-96 and 131-141 of human myelin basic protein. Significant proliferation of T lymphocytes to peptides was noted only in the MS group (with the exception of peptide 131-141): the majority of control subjects and OND patients did not respond to the above-mentioned peptides. The sensitized T lymphocytes in MS patients displayed the inducer/helper phenotype and required autologous monocytes for optimal proliferation. An anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibody, directed against a monomorphic determinant of DR molecules, was able to block the responses in a dose-dependent fashion. These results suggest that autoimmune inducer/helper T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of MS patients may initiate and/or regulate the demyelination process in patients with MS. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that monocytes and HLA-DR molecules are essential for activation of these cells. Finally primary in vitro T cell proliferation to HuMBP synthetic peptide may be used as an additional diagnostic test in MS.

Female

Conservation of structural and functional domains in complement component C3 of Xenopus and mammals.

The cDNA sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence of the Mr 34,000 C-terminal fragment of Xenopus laevis complement component C3 are presented. The sequence of Xenopus C3 has 57% nucleotide identity to the corresponding sequence of human C3 and approximately 49% amino acid identity to C3 from human, mouse, and rabbit. The Xenopus C3 sequence shows clusters of high and of low similarity to the mammalian C3 sequences. One of these regions of high similarity represents the domain of mammalian C3b involved in the binding of properdin, a regulator of the alternative pathway of complement activation. It is not clear whether the other highly conserved regions are involved in binding to other C3 ligands. The Xenopus C3 sequence completely lacks the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence, which has been suggested to be the recognition site of the human complement receptor type 3 on the iC3b fragment of human C3. The Xenopus C3 gene is shown not to be linked to the Xenopus major histocompatibility complex, as is also the case in mammals. Since the gene of the related molecule C4 is MHC-linked in both mammals and Xenopus, the C3 and C4 genes may have separated before Xenopus and mammals speciated.

Amino Acid Sequence

The central segment of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C (gC) is not involved in C3b binding: demonstration by using monoclonal antibodies and recombinant gC expressed in Escherichia coli.

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been raised against cell membrane-derived herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C (gC-1). By using different DNA constructs of gC-1 expressed in Escherichia coli the sites recognized by these antibodies could be assigned to a peptide in the more hydrophobic and probably non-glycosylated middle third of the gC-1 molecule. This peptide segment corresponds to a 571 bp segment on the gC-1 gene located between the NcoI and the NruI restriction sites. None of the three MAbs interfered with the binding of the human serum complement component C3b to gC, which has been shown to be rather glycosylation-dependent. Since the data of other groups have suggested that antibodies directed against all regions of gC-1 inhibit C3b binding to gC-1, whereas our results suggest that the central part of gC-1 is not actually involved in C3b-binding activity, it can be inferred that the N- and C-terminal segments are involved in C3b binding by gC-1.

Animals