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R P Levine

Publications and source records attributed to R P Levine.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

C4B deficiency is not associated with meningitis or bacteremia with encapsulated bacteria.

The two isotypes of the fourth complement component are C4A and C4B. C4B forms ester bonds more efficiently than C4A and so, in theory, is more likely than C4A to bind to polysaccharide capsules of encapsulated bacteria. Two studies have reported homozygous C4B deficiency in patients with meningitis or bacteremia caused by encapsulated organisms. In the present study the association between C4B deficiency and these disorders was evaluated in four groups: patients with bacteremia, those with meningitis, those who developed Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease after Hib polysaccharide vaccination, and patients less than 1 year old with meningitis. Healthy adults served as controls. Of the 257 patients, 2.3% had homozygous C4B deficiency compared with 3.7% of 349 controls. According to these data, there is no increase in homozygous C4B deficiency among patients with bacteremia or meningitis caused by encapsulated bacteria.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1991

Amino acid residues 1101-1105 of the isotypic region of human C4B is important to the covalent binding activity of complement component C4.

The C4A and C4B isotypes of human C4 show certain functional differences that stem from their relative preference for transacylation to amino (-NH2) vs hydroxyl (-OH) nucleophiles, respectively, on complement-activating surfaces. Comparison of amino acid sequences of the alpha-chain fragment of C4, C4d, has shown C4A- and C4B-specific sequences at residues 1101-1106 are the only consistent structural difference between isotype, i.e., Pro, Cys, Pro, Val, Leu, Asp in C4A and Leu, Ser, Pro, Val Ile, His in C4B. These residues may be responsible either in part or entirely for properties associated with isotype. To examine the functional role of residues 1101-1106 in C4B-mediated hemolysis, whole serum or immunopurified human C4 with allotypes, A3B1, A3, B2B1, or B1 were preincubated in the presence or absence of an antipeptide mAb (BII-1) specific for amino acid residues 1101-1105 of C4B. Sensitized sheep E and C4-deficient guinea pig serum was then added and lysis measured by absorbance at 415 nm. Our results show lysis of antibody-sensitized sheep E is inhibited by antibody and C4B2B1, C4B1, or C4A3B1 but not antibody and C4A3. The interference of hemolysis by BII-1 could not be explained by inhibition of activation of C4B or inhibition of C3 or C5 convertase activity. Furthermore, results from uptake experiments show that BII-1 interferes with the covalent binding activity of C4B, indicating residues 1101-1105 play a role in the covalent binding reaction of C4B to the target E-antibody complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

A covalent dimer of complement C4b serves as a subunit of a novel C5 convertase that involves no C3 derivatives.

A C intermediate, LAC14, was prepared from TNP-aminocaproyl liposomes sensitized with anti-TNP antibody (Ab) and purified human C1 and C4. LAC14, containing radiolabeled C4, was analyzed by SDS-PAGE followed by autoradiography, and yielded a 210-kDa band and a predominant 400-kDa band. The 210-kDa band consisted of monomeric C4b bound to low molecular mass acceptors. The 400-kDa band was comprised of a 200-kDa moiety, as well as beta- and gamma-chains of C4. The 200-kDa moiety contained neither C1 nor sensitizing Ab, but it was largely decreased by treatment with NH2OH to the 90-kDa moiety with the mobility corresponding to the alpha'-chain of C4b. A covalent dimer of C4b, therefore, is the predominant form of C4b deposited on liposomes sensitized with antibody. The C4b-C4b dimer formed rapidly (within 5 min) followed by slow dissociation into monomers. The LAC14 bearing the C4b dimer but not the monomer was lysed, although with relatively low efficiency, by the addition of oxyC2 and EDTA-supplemented C3-deficient serum (C3DS), and, furthermore, LAC142 possessed the ability to convert C5 into C5a and C5b. Moreover, lysis was inhibited not by anti-C3 Ab but by anti-C4 Ab. In other experiments, the dimer served as an element of C3 convertase, as well. These findings imply that the C4b dimer, when complexed with C2, expresses C3/C5 convertase activity without participation of C3, and may provide a molecular mechanism whereby sera from patients with complete C3 deficiency retain the ability to induce C-mediated cytolysis.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1988

Synthetic peptide inhibitors of complement serine proteases--I. Identification of functionally equivalent protease inhibitor sequences in serpins and inhibition of C1s and D.

Sequence homology comparisons between serum serine protease inhibitors led to the prediction that the C-terminal sequences are functionally equivalent and represent an essential protease binding domain. Inhibition of complement serine protease D cleavage of factor B and of C1s cleavage of C4 by synthetic peptides containing sequences from the C-termini of three serum serine protease inhibitors supports this prediction. These functionally equivalent peptides represent a new class of inhibitors of D and C1s as well as other serum serine proteases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Synthetic peptide inhibitors of complement serine proteases--II. Effects on hemolytic activity and production of C3a and C4a.

Synthetic peptides based on the amino acid sequence at the site of cleavage of C3 by classical and alternative pathway convertases were found to be poor inhibitors of hemolysis except at concns of 1 mM and higher. Synthetic peptides of a second type, based on the C-terminal sequence of antithrombin III, were more effective; the best among them caused significant inhibition of hemolysis at a concn of 5 microM. A hybrid peptide composed of the sequence at the site of cleavage of C4 by C1s attached to an antithrombin III sequence was selective, inhibiting the classical pathway with no effect on the alternative pathway at a concentration of 25 microM. Several of the antithrombin III peptides that inhibited hemolysis did not inhibit C4 activation by the classical pathway or activation of C3 by the classical and alternative pathways suggesting that these peptides affect hemolysis by inhibiting enzymes other than C1s and C4b2a of the classical pathway and C3bBb of the alternative pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

The fluid-phase binding of human C4 and its genetic variants, C4A3 and C4B1, to immunoglobulins.

Covalent binding of the fourth complement protein, C4, to immune complexes is an important first step in the complement mediated processing of the complexes. Many of the initial encounters between the proteins of the complement system and antigen and antibody occur in solution, and prior to this report, studies of the interactions between them have focused on complement binding to preformed immune precipitates that most likely are not found in vivo. We have characterized the covalent binding of C4b to immunoglobulin molecules in a fluid-phase system consisting only of antibody in solution and purified C4 and C1s. We demonstrate that human C4b binds to IgG in the fluid phase, that its covalent binding is predominantly to the heavy chain of IgG, and that the covalent linkage is by either amide or acyl ester bonds. In addition, we compare the covalent binding efficiencies of two genetic variants of C4, C4A3 and C4B1, to IgG. C4A3 binds 3-4 times more IgG than C4B1 over a range of C4 concentrations, and C4A3 has a higher binding efficiency than C4B1 for IgM, IgA, IgG2a and F(ab')2 as well as for a protein antigen, BSA. Furthermore, we found that whereas C4A3 is bound to immunoglobulins in the fluid-phase predominantly by amide linkage, C4B1 is bound by either amide or acyl ester bonds. The results presented here suggest that the covalent binding efficiency of C4A3 and C4B1 to IgG is similar to that reported for their covalent binding to small molecules.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1988

The esterase-like activity of covalently bound human third complement protein.

The acyl ester bond between the third complement protein, C3, and a variety of molecules is hydrolyzed spontaneously at neutral pH (Venkatesh et al., 1984). Modification of the free, single sulfhydryl group of bound C3 by thiol reagents suggested that a functional group other than the -SH acts as a "catalytic" group in this intramolecular hydrolytic reaction. Complete inhibition of the esterase-like activity is observed with stoichiometric amounts of mercuric chloride, palladium chloride, and the bifunctional organic mercurial, 3,6-bis-(acetoxymercuri)-o-toluidine [BAMT]. Since alkyl and aryl mercuric ions do not inhibit the esterase-like activity of C3-[3H]glycerol, it is conjectured that divalent mercury, palladium, and BAMT will form a complex with the -SH group and an atom of the "catalytic" group X having a lone pair of electrons. The structural features of C3 that are essential for the esterase-like activity remain intact after subjecting C3-[3H]glycerol to covalent chromatography on organomercurial agarose. Based on the observed effects of chemical reagents and the kinetic deuterium solvent isotope effect on the esterase-like activity, a general-base mechanism is proposed for the intramolecular hydrolysis of the acyl ester bond in covalently bound C3. The "catalytic" group X is located in the C3d region (residues 317-632 of the alpha chain), since C3d-[3H]glycerol also has esterase-like activity. A general-base mechanism mediated by the same "catalytic" group X may also apply to the formation of acyl ester bonds following the hydrolysis of the internal thiolester bond in native C3.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1988

Origin of the fourth component of complement related Chido and Rodgers blood group antigens.

We have reviewed the relationship between C4 and its related blood group and discussed the mechanisms whereby a fragment of C4 could become attached to erythrocytes (E). We hypothesize that there is chronic fluid-phase activation of C4 by either C1 to form C4b or spontaneous cleavage of the thioester to form iC4. These activated molecules bind to E. Proteolytic degradation of the bound C4b or iC4 would leave a covalently attached fragment of C4 on E and thereby give rise to the Ch and Rg blood group antigens. This system is of further immunopathologic interest since this 'normal' activation or turnover of C4 is closely regulated. In patients deficient in regulatory proteins, this spontaneous or normal turnover of C4 and C3 may initiate a pathologic condition.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

C4-mediated inhibition of immune precipitation and differences in inhibitory action of genetic variants, C4A3 and C4B1.

The inhibition of immune precipitation is mediated by the classical complement pathway. We report here that the rate of precipitate formation depends on the genetic form of human C4 present during immune precipitation. C4A3 is more effective than C4B1 in its capacity to inhibit the rate of immune precipitate formation in serum and in serum-free reaction mixtures containing C1 and C4. Immune precipitates form within seconds after antigen is mixed with antibody, and the activation of the classical pathway is known to occur within seconds after C1 binds to antibody molecules. The covalent deposition of C4b on immune complexes is an essential step in the inhibition of immune precipitate formation, and if any of the reactions that lead to covalent C4b deposition become limiting, the rate of immune precipitation could exceed the complement system's inhibitory capacity. Hence, the inhibition of this rate may be an important function underlying the complement-mediated processing of immune complexes, and a decreased ability of the complement system to mediate this process in the presence of C4B1, in contrast to C4A3, could explain, at least in part, the association between the C4A-null phenotype and autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Deletion of C4A genes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

To define the relationship between inheritance of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles and susceptibility to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we examined the MHC class I, II, and III phenotypes of white SLE patients and characterized the structures of their class III MHC genes, using Southern blotting. Nine of 88 SLE patients (10.2%) were C4A null. As detected by Southern blot analysis, the C4A gene was deleted from both chromosomes in 8 of the 9 C4A-null patients. Deletions affecting only 1 chromosome (heterozygous) were detected in the remaining C4A-null patient and in 34.5% of SLE patients who were not C4A deficient (compared with 12.5% of controls; P less than 0.05). These results indicate that deletion of the C4A gene is a common genetic marker for SLE. Deletions of C4A were observed most commonly as part of the HLA-B8;DR3 extended haplotype, although deletions were also detected in different HLA haplotypes. Because of the critical role of C4A in the processing of immune complexes, deficiency of C4A may, itself, confer susceptibility to the development of SLE.

Alleles↗
PubMed1985

Resistance to phagocytosis by group A streptococci: failure of deposited complement opsonins to interact with cellular receptors.

The previous finding that phagocytosis-resistant M+ group A streptococci bear quantities of C3 which are sufficient for phagocytosis of their M- derivatives was investigated at two levels. It was first established that the C3 associated with M+ streptococci was not able to promote adherence to cells bearing the complement receptors CR1 and CR3 under conditions in which M- streptococci readily attached. The molecular form of C3 bound to M+ and M- streptococci was then defined by adding 125I-C3 to serum used for opsonization. C3 eluted from the bacteria by chaotropic and hydrolytic agents was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and revealed that both cell types bound the opsonic forms of C3, C3b, and iC3b. Furthermore, approximately 80% of the C3b and iC3b associated with both cell types was covalently bound to a surface component, although most of the C3 bound to M+ streptococci was detergent-extractable, whereas greater than 50% of that bound to M- streptococci was not. These findings demonstrate that the M+ surface is interfering with the receptor binding of deposited C3b and iC3b, and that this contributes to resistance to phagocytosis by these organisms.

Complement Activation↗
PubMed1984

Covalent binding efficiency of the third and fourth complement proteins in relation to pH, nucleophilicity, and availability of hydroxyl groups.

The binding of [3H]glycerol and [3H]putrescine to C3 was studied in a fluid-phase system using trypsin as the C3 convertase. The binding of glycerol showed little variation in the pH range between 6.0 and 10.0. The binding of putrescine (pKa = 9.0) is rather ineffective below pH 7.5 but becomes more efficient as the pH of the reaction mixture increases. These results agree with the contention that the final step of the binding reaction is the transfer of the acyl group of the exposed thio ester of C3 to a nucleophile since the nucleophilicity of hydroxyl groups is rather independent of pH whereas only the unprotonated form of amino groups is nucleophilic. The inefficient reaction of amino groups with the exposed thio ester of C3 is also supported by the study of the inhibitory activity of serine and its two derivatives, N-acetylserine and O-methylserine, to the binding of [3H]glycerol to C3. N-Acetylserine showed an inhibitory activity equivalent to that of serine, whereas O-methylated serine showed only minimal activity. It can be concluded, therefore, that serine reacts with the thio ester of C3 by its hydroxyl group but not by its alpha-amino group. The ability of the alcohol group of various alkanes to inhibit the binding of [3H]glycerol to C3 was also studied. The primary alcohols inhibit the binding reaction with an efficiency that is similar to glycerol, and there are no significant differences in the binding efficiencies of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alcohols↗
PubMed1984

Antibody-dependent alternative pathway killing of Haemophilus influenzae type b.

The bactericidal activities of human complement and human antibody directed against specific Haemophilus influenzae type b cell surface determinants were investigated. Strain Eagan, a laboratory isolate, and strain Kn, a clinical isolate, were used as the test organisms and gave qualitatively similar results. In the absence of antibody, both isolates were resistant to killing by 60% agammaglobulinemic serum (AGS) containing normal complement levels. The addition of affinity-purified immunoglobulin G anticapsular antibody was bactericidal with 15% AGS as the complement source. Bactericidal activity was also demonstrated with this antibody when the complement source was AGS-Mg-EGTA [ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid], C2-deficient human serum (alternative complement pathway), or AGS in which factor D and properdin had been selectively inactivated (classical pathway). Immunoglobulin G fractions from a human serum pool or from serum from an adult who had recovered from H. influenzae type b (Kn) sepsis were absorbed to remove anticapsular antibody. The absorbed fractions containing noncapsular antibodies also activated complement-dependent bactericidal activity. But, in contrast to the results with anticapsular antibody, noncapsular antibodies did not elicit alternative pathway bactericidal activity. Incubation of cells of H. influenzae type b in C2-deficient serum or AGS-Mg-EGTA did not cause complement consumption (total hemolytic complement and C3). The addition of immunoglobulin G anticapsular antibody (but not noncapsular antibody) increased consumption of total complement and C3, paralleling the results of the bactericidal assays. These studies demonstrated an absolute requirement for anticapsular antibody in alternative pathway activation and killing of H. influenzae type b.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Monoclonal antibodies to human C4. I. Purification of hemolytically active C4 from small volumes of normal serum.

A C4-specific monoclonal antibody has been developed that allows the rapid purification of C4 from whole serum or plasma by affinity chromatography. 1- to 2-ml volumes of serum are loaded onto a small column of antibody-coupled agarose beads and washed through with buffer. C4 is eluted by adjusting the pH to 11.2. The purified C4 is free of extraneous proteins as detected by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and retains high activity as assessed by hemolytic assay and incorporation of [14C]-methylamine. Columns are reusable, and the entire procedure can be adapted for large-scale purifications.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1984

Natural release of covalently bound C3b from cell surfaces and the study of this phenomenon in the fluid-phase system.

Covalently bound C3b is released from cell surfaces (EAC1423 and zymosan-C3b) on incubation under physiologic conditions. The release of C3b from cell surfaces occurs by the cleavage of the covalent bond. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) abolishes the release, thereby indicating the requirement of the native structure of C3b in this process. The phenomenon of release of C3b from cell surfaces has also been observed in the fluid-phase system by using C3b-[3H]glycerol. The kinetics of the release of [3H]glycerol from C3b-[3H]glycerol were studied at 37 degrees C in 0.15 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The first-order rate constant was found to be 0.028 +/- 0.003 hr-1. The release does not take place in either 8 M urea or 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, at pH 7.4. Under alkaline conditions, the rate of release is unaffected in the presence of SDS, indicating that the release in this pH range is not dependent on the native structure of the protein. From the Arrhenius plot in the temperature range 18 to 37 degrees C, an apparent activation energy for the hydrolysis reaction of 21.2 kcal/mol was calculated. The release phenomenon is exclusive for ester-linked complexes, as inferred by the absence of release of [3H]threonine from C3b-[3H]threonine, wherein the linkage is of the amide type. The presence or absence of the C3a portion of the molecule has no effect on the rate of release. The modification of the -SH group of C3i-/C3b-[3H]glycerol alters the rate of hydrolysis of the ester bond between C3i/C3b and [3H]glycerol. Protease inhibitors (PMSF, benzamidine HCl, and DFP) do not alter the rate of release, indicating that the hydrolysis reaction is not due to trace amounts of contaminating proteases. Thus, it appears that some chemical group(s) of C3i/C3b is (are) involved in the intramolecular hydrolysis of the ester bond between C3i/C3b and small molecules. This phenomenon may play an important role in the release of C3b from receptive surfaces once the biologic functions that require covalently bound C3b have been mediated.

Alkylation↗