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The terminal membrane C5b-9 complex of human complement. Evidence for the existence of multiple protease-resistant polypeptides that form the trans-membrane complement channel.

C5b-9(m) complexes were incorporated into lecithin liposomes and subjected to proteolysis in the presence of DTT to remove the externally oriented annulus. Liposomes were recovered that selectively carried the membrane-bound, thin-walled cylindrical portion of the C5b-9(m) complex. The presence of DTT during proteolysis enhanced peptide bond cleavage in the C5b-9(m) complex. All C5-C9 components were degraded to lower m.w. fragments. A protease-resistant, but hydrophilic 85 to 86,000-dalton polypeptide derivative of C5, possibly representing the C5 beta-chain, was recovered in the fluid phase. This component is not intimately associated with the target lipid bilayer. Immunochemical analyses yielded evidence for the existence of minor C5-C9 antigenic determinants on the membrane-bound C5b-9(m) residue. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses of liposomes carrying the C5b-9(m) residues revealed the persistence of at least six major polypeptides of approximately m.w. 50,000, 45,000, 40,000, 38,000, 20,000, and 16,000. The data are interpreted to indicate that multiple protease-resistant polypeptide chains derived from several terminal C components participate in formation of the trans-membrane C channel.

Antigens↗

Life-span and size of the trans-membrane channel formed by large doses of complement.

To evaluate the life-span and size of trans-membrane channels in complement (C) treated membranes, resealed erythrocyte ghosts containing trapped native protein markers, as well as residual hemoglobin, were treated with anti-Forssman antibody and large doses of guinea pig C. Ovalbumin and hemoglobin were released slowly through the channels so produced, whereas human serum albumin was not. Release of hemoglobin was not blocked by extracellular bovine serum albumin. Release of hemoglobin continued for at least 72 hr at 4 degrees C. Semi-logarithmic plots of ovalbumin or hemoglobin release showed gradual diminution of the rate constant, which indicates slow loss of channels during the experimental period. These experiments demonstrate that the channels produced in erythrocyte ghost membranes by large C doses have a long, although finite, life-span. Their effective diameter is al least 55 A on the basis of ovalbumin and hemoglobin release, and not more than 150 A, since serum albumin was not released. However, an upper limit of 100 A would be more reasonable in light of electronmicroscopic observations by others. These results are compatible with the doughnut model.

Agglutination Tests↗

Size of the transmembrane channels produced by complement proteins C5b-8.

It has been shown previously that erythrocytes can be lysed by complement proteins C5b-8, albeit at a much lower rate than C5b-9. We have now performed kinetic sieving experiments with resealed erythrocyte ghosts using sucrose (0.9 nm molecular diameter) and inulin (3.0 nm molecular diameter) as markers. We found that treatment of the ghosts with C5b-8 released sucrose, but not inulin. Addition of C9 to ghosts carrying C5b-8 dramatically increased the rate of sucrose flux and, in addition, caused release of inulin. Hence, unlike C5b-9 channels, those formed by C5b-8 measure less than 3 nm in diameter. Formation of C5b-8 channels was very slow compared with that of C5b-9 channels. Also, we found that about two-thirds of the C5b-8 ghosts did not have sucrose-releasing channels, but such channels were formed on reaction with C9.

Cell Membrane Permeability↗

Transient autoantibodies with elevated complement levels in common viral diseases.

Autoantibodies including rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-DNA antibody (ADA), and anti-nuclear factor (ANF) in addition to cold agglutinin and heterophil antibody titers were tested for in a total of 219 patients with common viral diseases. The diseases included varicella, influenza, measles, mumps, herpes zoster, hand-foot-mouth syndrome, and exanthem subitum . A high incidence of RF (23%) was demonstrated in varicella patients, and ADA and ANF (16% and 12%, respectively) were most frequently detected in the influenza cases. Those autoantibodies were most frequently found in patients with influenza. Each serum complement component and total hemolytic complement (CH50) were also assayed. Elevated levels of the fourth (C4) and ninth (C9) components of complement, along with elevated CH50, were observed in most patients. Follow-up studies indicated that those autoantibodies as well as other antibodies disappeared 3 to 8 weeks after the onset of infection. The present study indicates that substantial but transient alterations in the immune system accompanied by autoimmune phenomena and elevated levels in the complement components can occur in viral infections.

Adolescent↗

Testing of hemolytic complement components in domestic animals.

Total complement (C) and its components were assayed in the serum of 8 species of domestic animals, using commercially prepared cellular intermediates of sheep erythrocytes and functionally pure guinea pig and human components of the C system. Testing was done according to methods recommended by the producer for testing human C components. The late-acting components (C6 throug C9) and C1 were detected in carnivorous (dog and cat) and omnivorous (swine) animals. Undetectable or low titers of C4, C2, C3, and C5 were present in large herbivorous animals (cattle, horse, sheep, and goat), indicating major differences in comparison with human or guinea pig components of C. Porcine serum contained an inhibiting substance which interfered with testing C2 and later-acting components at serum dilutions up to 1:100. All components except C2 were detected in chicken serum. The binding or activation (or both) of C4, C2, C3, and C5 is more species specific than is the binding or activation (or both) of other components. Requirements for species specificity between antibody and C1 were not detected. Presence of C1 inactivator was detected in bovine, caprine, equine, and ovine sera. The CH50 (50% hemolysis) titers of C components tested in pooled serum samples from the 8 species of clinically healthy domestic animals are presented.

Animals↗

Proteolysis of the monomeric and dimeric C5b-9 complexes of complement: alteration in the susceptibility to proteases of the C9 subunits associated with C5b-9 dimerization.

The C5b-9 monomer having the sedimentation coefficient of 23S was extracted from the rabbit erythrocyte membranes that had been treated with a limiting amount of C9-deficient human serum and of 125I-C9. Upon proteolysis by trypsin and chymotrypsin, the C9 subunits of this complex were cleaved by these enzymes at multiple sites, yielding fragments with m.w. ranging fro 40,000 to 19,000. The uncomplexed C9 was also cleaved by both enzymes at multiple sites. By contrast, the C9 subunits of the C5b-9 dimer were found to be totally insusceptible to chymotrypsin under the conditions studied (37 degrees C; 24 hr) and only partially susceptible to trypsin (33% of the C9 subunits were cleaved by trypsin into 2 fragments during incubation at 37 degrees C for up to 24 hr). Therefore, these results indicate that, although the binding of C9 molecules to the C5b-8 complex (C5b-9 monomer formation) does not significantly affect the susceptibility to proteases of the C9 molecules, C5b-9 dimer formation markedly limits the accessibility of proteases to the C9 subunit molecules. A implication of this finding to a role for C9 in C5b-9 dimerization is discussed.

Animals↗

Analysis of solute diffusion across the C5b-9 membrane lesion of complement: evidence that individual C5b-9 complexes do not function as discrete, uniform pores.

We have investigated the diffusion of radiolabeled nonelectrolytes across the membranes of resealed erythrocyte ghosts that had been treated with the terminal complement components C5b-9 and incubated under nonlytic steady state conditions. For all solutes tested, we note that diffusion across the C5b-9 lesion is retarded to rates more than 2 orders of magnitude slower than can be anticipated for a transmembrane diffusional channel of the dimensions suggested by the ultrastructure of the C5b-9 membrane lesion. Furthermore, direct measurement of the relative selectivity of the C5b-9 membrane lesions to permeation by solutes of differing molecular radii suggests that individual membrane lesions are not of uniform functional size. Data are presented that suggest that the functional heterogeneity of the membrane lesion is due to the aggregation of individual membrane bound C5b-9 complexes into larger functional units and not due to variable stoichiometry of C9 within the individual C5b-9 complex.

Cell Membrane Permeability↗

The structural events associated with the attachment of complement components to cell membranes in reactive lysis.

Electron microscopic study of the events occurring at the cell membrane during reactive lysis by complement, showed that a foliaceous particle was formed at the C5b-7 stage, that enlarged to a particle with a variable number of arms at the C5b-8 stage. Up to this point, no typical complement lesions were found. At the C5b-9 stages, the particles were completely converted to typical complement lesions, i.e. hollow cylinders projecting from the cell membrane and partly penetrating it. C5b-9 complexes assembled in the fluid phase did not show the typical structure of the lesions, but were amorphous masses of fibres.

Complement C5↗

Structure of the human C7 gene and comparison with the C6, C8A, C8B, and C9 genes.

The seventh component of complement is a single chain plasma glycoprotein that is involved in the cytolytic phase of complement activation. We have determined the structure of the C7 gene, which is encoded by 18 exons whose sizes vary from 56 to 244 bp. For the most part, the exons do not correspond to the protein homology units. However, two intron/exon boundaries occur at junctions between different functional parts of the protein. The first is at a site between the end of the C9 homology unit and the carboxyl-terminal extension which is also a feature of C6. The second of these boundaries occurs between the regions encoding two pairs of cysteine-rich modules (the short consensus repeats and the factor I modules) located in the carboxyl-terminal part of C7. In contrast to the exons, the introns range considerably in size from 0.5 to 8.5 kbp. The complete analysis indicates that the gene encoding C7 is approximately 80 kbp in length. We show here that the C7 gene is highly homologous to that for C6, and also to C8A, C8B, and C9, confirming and extending the published data. With the exception of exon 1, all intron/exon boundaries are preserved with respect to phase when compared with C6.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Deviated lysis: Transfer of complement lytic activity to unsensitized cells II. Generation of the activity by inulin and by antigen antibody complexes.

Deviated lysis (d.l.) activity, i.e. lysis of unsensitized cells by lytic C activity, was generated via the classical pathway of Cactivation (ag ab complexes) and via the alternative pathway (inulin). The activity was observed on the surface of the activating particles and in the fluid phase. The activity was relatively stable at 32 degrees C. Its generation involved the C components C6 through C9 and possibly also C5.

Animals↗

Interaction between apolipoproteins A-I and A-II and the membrane attack complex of complement. Affinity of the apoproteins for polymeric C9.

We have previously observed enhanced binding of HDL and apolipoproteins A-I and A-II to human endothelial cells exposed to activated complement. Induction of these binding sites required complement activation through C9, suggesting a specific role for the C9 component of the C5b-9 complex. We now report that specific and saturable binding sites for apoA-I and -A-II are expressed by C9 polymers (polyC9), whereas little binding was observed to native monomeric C9. These data suggested an interaction of the apoproteins with a site(s) which is exposed only upon C9 polymerization, and also suggested that binding of the apoproteins to this new site might interfere with assembly of C9 into the polyC9 tubule and insertion into the cell membrane. ApoA-I was found to inhibit zinc-catalyzed polymerization of C9 in a concentration-dependent fashion. Formation of SDS-resistant C9 polymers was completely inhibited at apoA-I or -A-II concentrations > or = 5 microM. ApoA-I also produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of C9 incorporation into C5b-9 complexes on endothelial cells, which was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in SDS-resistant C9 polymers associated with the cell membrane. In summary, the ability of the HDL apoproteins A-I and A-II to interact with an activation-dependent conformer(s) of the C9 component of the C5b-9 complex appears to explain the expression of HDL binding sites on endothelial cells exposed to complement. These apoproteins are also inhibitors of C9 polymerization, which may underlie the protective effect of HDL for blood cells exposed to activated complement.

Amino Acid Sequence↗