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Immune evasion properties of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein gC.

Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) glycoprotein gC binds complement component C3b, and purified gC inhibits complement activation. Two HSV strains carrying mutations in the gC gene which rendered them unable to bind C3b were compared with wild-type and marker-rescued viruses to evaluate the role of gC on the virion in protecting HSV-1 from complement-mediated neutralization. The gC mutant viruses were markedly susceptible to neutralization by nonimmune human serum, showing up to a 5,000-fold decline in titer after 1 h of incubation with serum. In contrast, wild-type or marker-rescued viruses showed a twofold reduction in titer. Studies with hypogammaglobulinemic and immunoglobulin G-depleted serum supported the observation that neutralization occurred in the absence of antibody. Neutralization of gC mutant strains by nonimmune serum was rapid; their half-life was 2 to 2.5 min, compared with 1 h for wild-type virus. Ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA)-treated human serum or C4-deficient guinea pig serum failed to neutralize gC mutant strains, indicating a role for components of the classical complement pathway. gC had little additional effect on neutralization by the combination of antibody plus complement compared with complement alone. The results indicate that the magnitude of the protection offered by gC-1 is larger than previously recognized; that in the absence of gC-1, complement neutralization is rapid and is mediated by components of the classical complement pathway; and that gC mainly protects against antibody-independent complement neutralization, suggesting a probable role for gC early in infection, before antibodies develop.

Animals↗

Interaction of peptidoglycans with anti-IgGs and with complement.

This report describes the interaction of peptidoglycan (Streptococcus group A, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus lysodeikticus) with 2 serum mediator systems, namely with the anti-IgG system and with complement. The observation that the majority of rabbits hyperimmunized with A-variant streptococcal vaccine produced anti-group carbohydrate antisera containing anti-IgGs and antibodies directed to peptidoglycan suggested that the production of these 2 latter antibodies was related. This view was supported by the finding of a monoclonal 7S anti-IgG with antibody specificity for the pentapeptide of peptidoglycan as evidenced by inhibition of the coprecipitation of 7S anti-IgG with antigen-antibody complexes by the pentapeptide. Inhibition of the anti-idiotype reaction by the pentapeptide provided further evidence for the antibody specificity of 7S anti-IgG for peptidoglycan. When added to normal human sera all peptidoglycan preparations inhibited the hemolytic activity of the sera. Consumption of C3 in C2 deficient serum and consumption of C2 in normal serum indicated the activation of both known complement pathways. Activation of the classical pathway of complement was more efficient since 50 mug of peptidoglycan consumed approximately 70% of C2 per ml normal serum whereas more than 2 mg of the same preparations was required to inactivate 17-24% of C3 in C2 deficient sera. Each of the different peptidoglycan preparations consumed similar amounts of complement in all 20 sera tested. This finding suggested that activation of the classical complement pathway by peptidoglycan was not mediated by anti-peptidoglycan antibodies present in only 20-40% of normal human sera.

Animals↗

A sensitive method to detect synthesis of the functional classical, alternative and terminal pathway of complement by cells cultured in vitro.

A new method used to study in vitro synthesis by human monocytes and alveolar macrophages of the essential complement components for the functional classical, alternative and terminal pathway is presented. The method is based on accumulation of major complements components on activators of the alternative (agarose beads) and classical (lgM-sensitized sheep erythrocytes; ElgM) pathway during co-culture with the phagocytes. There was a time-dependent increase in binding of labelled protein to the co-cultured activators, demonstrating de novo protein synthesis by the phagocytes. Moreover, there was a significant binding to the co-cultured agarose beads and ElgM of monoclonal anti-C3c, anti-C3g, polyclonal anti-C5-C9 and of two monoclonal antibodies (poly C9-MA and MCaEll) to a neoantigen of polymerized C9 present in the terminal complement complex (TCC). In addition, we found a significant binding of polyclonal anti-C4 antibodies to co-cultured ElgM. Incubation of the activators in human serum, subsequently revealed the same pattern of antibody binding. There was no binding of anti-S protein antibodies to the activators after incubation with serum or with the phagocytes. We thus conclude that mononuclear phagocyte-produced complement in the form of C3b, iC3b, and the TCC (C5b-9) was deposited on both activators, whereas C4b was detected on the ElgM. It is our hope that this method can be applied when studying complement biosynthesis by cells other than mononuclear phagocytes.

Animals↗

DNA binds and activates complement via residues 14-26 of the human C1q A chain.

The mechanism by which DNA activates the classical complement pathway was investigated, with emphasis upon the C1q binding sites involved. DNA bound to both the collagen-like and globular regions of C1q. Binding reactivity with DNA was retained after reduction/alkylation and sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment of C1q. DNA bound preferentially to the A chain of C1q. Binding sites for DNA were localized by using synthetic C1q A chain peptides to two cationic regions within residues 14-26 and 76-92, respectively. Peptides 14-26 and 76-92 avidly bound DNA in enzyme-linked immunosorbent and gel shift assays. Peptide 14-26 also precipitated with DNA and blocked its ability to bind C1q and activate C. Replacement of the two prolines with alanines or scrambling the order of the amino acids resulted in loss of ability of peptide 14-26 to inhibit C1q binding and complement activation by DNA; similar investigations showed a sequence specificity for peptide 76-92 as well. These experiments identify C1q A chain residues 14-26 as the major site, and residues 76-92 as a secondary site, through which DNA binds C1q and activates the classical complement pathway, and demonstrate that a peptide identical to residues 14-26 can modulate C1q binding and complement activation by DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Binding of the pentamer/hexamer forms of mannan-binding protein to zymosan activates the proenzyme C1r2C1s2 complex, of the classical pathway of complement, without involvement of C1q.

The serum lectin, mannan binding protein (MBP), was isolated in a yield of 40 micrograms/liter from pooled normal human serum by affinity chromatography on mannan-Sepharose, followed by gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography and finally by passage down an anti-IgM Sepharose column. A rabbit antiserum was prepared against the purified MBP and an enzyme-linked immunoassay developed that used both the specificity of the polyclonal antibody and the Ca+(+)-dependent carbohydrate binding property of MBP. Assay of the sera from 103 blood-donors showed a wide range of MBP levels, ranging from 0 to 870 micrograms/liter. MBP, after interaction with zymosan, caused efficient activation of a C1r2 125I-C1s2 complex that was prepared by incubation of 125I-C1s2 with serum, from a patient with a complete genetic deficiency of C1q, followed by gel-filtration on Sepharose 6B. The purified MBP is composed of a mixture of trimers, tetramers, pentamers, and hexamers of an approximate 90-kDa structural unit as judged by chromatography, SDS-PAGE and electron microscopy studies. Only the molecules in the pentamer/hexamer fraction, which have a similar overall structure to that of C1q, appeared to cause efficient, zymosan-dependent, activation of C1s within the C1r2C1s2 complex. The pentamer/hexamer form of MBP may therefore play an important role in antibody-independent activation of the C system during the early stages of certain infections.

Calcium↗

Antibody-independent activation of C1. II. Evidence for two classes of nonimmune activators of the classical pathway of complement.

Nonimmune activation of the first component of complement (C1) by cardiolipin (CL) vesicles present specific features which were not demonstrated on immune complexes. CL vesicles which activate C1 in the presence of C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) were found to bind C1s in the absence of C1r, and to induce a specific C1r-independent cleavage of C1q-bound C1s. Therefore, several known natural nonimmune activators were analyzed by comparing their ability to activate C1 in the presence of C1-INH and to mediate a C1r-independent cleavage of C1s. Freshly isolated human heart mitochondria (HHM) activated C1 only in the absence of C1-INH. However, mitoplasts derived from HHM (HHMP) activated C1 regardless of the presence of C1-INH, and induced a specific cleavage of C1q-bound C1s. The same pattern was observed in the case of smooth E. coli and a semi-rough E. coli strain. DNA, known to activate C1 only in the absence of C1-INH, does not induce C1s cleavage in the absence of C1r. Thus, nonimmune activators can be classified into two distinct categories. "Strong" activators, such as CL vesicles, HHMP, or the semi-rough E. coli strain J5 can activate C1 in the presence of C1-INH. By using C1qs2 as a probe, they exhibit a specific, C1r-independent cleavage of C1s. C1s-binding to C1q is a critical factor for the activation process in this group. In the case of "weak" activators, such as E. coli smooth strains, DNA, or HHM, no C1s-binding to activator-bound C1q was detected, and C1r-independent C1s cleavage and C1 activation in the presence of C1-INH were not observed. As in the case of immune complexes, C1r activation appears to play a key role in the C1 activation by "weak" activators.

Calcium↗

Activation of the classical pathway of complement by the C3NeF-stabilized cell-bound amplification convertase.

C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) has been shown to be composed of two heavy and two light chains, like IgG; in addition it shares antigenic determinants with IgG. C3NeF, purified from the sera of eight patients by incorporation of C3NeF into the stabilized fluid phase amplification C3 convertase, C3bBb(C3NeF), followed by its release after decay of convertase function, was investigated for its ability to bind 125I-C1q and to activate 125I-C1. It was found that although fluid phase C3b,Bb(C3NeF) is fully capable of binding 125I-C1q, it is not able to activate 125I-C1 even at concentrations of 1.3 x 10(12) C3bBb(C3NeF) complexs/ml. On the other hand, cell-bound C3bBb(C3NeF) is capable of both binding 125I-C1q and activating 125I-C1. This discrepancy between fluid phase and cell-bound, C3bBb(C3NeF) was found for C3NeF preparations from eight different patients and therefore seems to apply to all C3NeF preparations.

Binding Sites↗

Alternate and classical pathway components of complement in the normal cornea.

Activation of complement by either the classical or alternate pathway may be involved in corneal inflammation. This study was undertaken to determine whether the normal human cornea contains components for both classical and alternate pathway activation of complement. Direct immunofluorescence of corneas from human donors using fluorescein-labeled antiserums was used to demonstrate C1q, C3, C4, and C5. The C1q component (the recognition unit of the classical pathway and largest complement component) was found in the periphery of the cornea. Normal donor corneas were also eluted in phosphate-buffered saline at 4 degrees C for one to four days. Ouchterlony plates, in which the corneal eluate was reacted against antiserums to complement components, disclosed the presence of C1q, C3, C4, C5, properdin, and properdin factor B. Plasminogen was also found. Radial immunodiffusion was used to obtain estimates of the concentrations of C3, C4, and C5 in the cornea.

Aged↗

Immunological aspects of adverse reactions to althesin.

Sequential plasma samples from 30 patients showing clinical signs of hypersensitivity to Althesin were investigated to determine if a specific immune response to the drug was present (as measured by classical complement pathway activation) or if a non-antibody-dependent alternative complement pathway activation was taking place. The patients were classified as those reacting on first exposure to Althesin and those who reacted adversely only on a second exposure. The alternative complement pathway, but not the classical pathway, was activated in five of the 13 first-time reactors, while in the remaining eight no complement activation was detected. In contrast, classical complement pathway activation was demonstrated in the blood samples of all 17 patients reacting on repeat exposure. Severe reactions occurred in nine of the 17 previously exposed patients compared with only one of the 13 reacting on first exposure to Althesin.

Adolescent↗

Immunomodulatory activity of three Sri-Lankan medicinal plants used in hepatic disorders.

The effects of aqueous extracts of Osbeckia octandra whole plant, Melothria maderaspatana whole plant and Phyllanthus debelis leaves on the human immune system were investigated. The extracts showed strong anticomplement effects on both the classical and alternate pathways of the human complement system in vitro. The effects were dose-dependent and most pronounced in the classical complement pathway assay. The extracts also exhibited a direct dose-dependent inhibition of luminol-induced chemiluminescence of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes upon stimulation with zymosan.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Interactions of the classical and alternate complement pathway with endotoxin lipopolysaccharide. Effect on platelets and blood coagulation.

The contributions of the classical and alternate pathways of complement activation to the biological effects of endotoxin have been examined in the guinea pig, with particular reference to thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and the development of the hypercoagulable state. Injection of endotoxin into normal guinea pigs led to a 95% fall in the level of circulating platelets within 15 min as well as a fall in circulating granulocytes. C4-deficient guinea pigs, known to have a complete block in the activity of the classical complement pathway, but with the alternate pathway intact, sustained no fall in platelets. The development of granulocytopenia proceeded normally. Endotoxin did activate the alternate complement pathway in C4D guinea pigs, as evidenced by the fall in C3-9 titers. With restoration of serum C4 levels, endotoxin-induced thrombocytopenia was observed in C4D animals. Thus, function of the classical complement pathway was an absolute requirement for the development of thrombocytopenia. Experiments performed in cobra venom factor (CVF)-treated normal guinea pigs, with normal levels of C1, C4, and C2, but with less than 1% of serum C3-9 demonstrated the importance of the late components in the development of thrombocytopenia but not leukopenia.C4-deficient guinea pigs had normal clotting times demonstrating that C4 was not required for normal clotting. In addition, development of the hypercoagulable state, evidenced by a marked shortening of the clotting time, was not observed on injection of endotoxin into C4D animals. Therefore, development of the hypercoagulable state paralleled the development of thrombocytopenia and required function of the classical complement pathway. Again, the importance of the late components of complement was emphasized by the failure of CVF-treated normal animals to develop hypercoagulability. These results demonstrate that endotoxin is capable of activating both the classical and alternate complement pathways in guinea pigs but that function of the classical pathway is an absolute requirement for the development of thrombocytopenia and the hypercoagulable state.

Animals↗

Interaction of desialated guinea pig erythrocytes with the classical and alternative pathways of guinea pig complement in vivo and in vitro.

We examined the fate of desialated autologous erythrocytes injected intravenously into guinea pigs (GP). Desialated GP erythrocytes (E) were lysed directly or cleared by the reticuloendothelial system in normal GP (NIH-GP) and cleared by the reticuloendothelial system in GP genetically deficient in the classical complement pathway component C4 (C4D-GP), which activate complement only via the alternative pathway. Desialated E were also cleared in cobra venom factor-treated GP (CVF-GP), which had less than 1% of normal C3 levels, but were not cleared at all in C4D-CVF-GP. Preinjection of asialoorosomucoid (ASOR) and ovalbumin (OVA) had no effect on the rate of E clearance. These in vivo studies indicated that complement activation is essential for clearance of desialated E and that clearance is unaffected by blockade of galactose or mannose receptors. Inhibition of complement-mediated clearance required blockade of both classical and alternative complement pathways. In vitro studies showed that lysis of desialated E could occur in NIH-GP serum (GPS) but not in C4D-GPS. Surprisingly, CVF-GPS also caused lysis of desialated E. Lysis was dependent on both natural antibody to desialated E and classical pathway activation; natural antibody was of both the IgG and IgM classes. C3 uptake studies demonstrated that almost 10 times as many C3 molecules/E were deposited by NIH-GPS as by C4D-GPS or CVF-GPS onto desialated E. Approximately equal numbers of C3 molecules were deposited by CVF-GPS, which did lyse desialated E, and by C4D-GPS, which did not. We suggest that the molecular mechanism of in vivo clearance and in vitro lysis of desialated E by CVF-GP is via classical pathway deposition of C3b into sites on the erythrocyte surface protected from inactivation by H (beta 1H) and I (C4b/3b inactivator). Deposition of C3b into these sites by alternative pathway activation is sufficient to cause clearance but not lysis of desialated E. CVF-GPS may not represent an adequate reagent for testing the complement dependence of various biologic phenomena, particularly if the question involves surfaces that can provide protected sites for C3b molecules.

Animals↗

The classical and alternate pathways of complement in oral contraceptive users.

Whole complement (CH50), C3, C4, the alternate pathway activity of complement (APH50) and factor B were measured in 159 women currently taking oral contraceptives and in 186 women who were not taking the pill. The mean levels of all components of the complement, except APH50, were found to be elevated in current users compared to non-users. The elevation in serum levels was seen in the first year after initiation of oral contraceptive use. Thereafter, levels changed little with duration of use. Among women who stopped using oral contraceptives, complement levels were similar to those of women who had never used the pill. Results appeared to be similar irrespective of the type of progestagen included in the oral contraceptive. These data provide support for the view that oral contraceptives have no adverse effect on the classical and the alternate pathways of complement.

Adolescent↗