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Italian extended HLA haplotypes in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

In order to complete the data on human 21-Hydroxylase deficiency, we present a study on HLA markers in 35 Italian families (14 from Northern, eight from Central and 13 from Southern Italy) with one affected child. Three children from the issue of first cousin marriages were homozygous for the whole HLA haplotype. Extended haplotypes shared by unrelated patients were not found, and a total absence of the HLA Bw47 allele among the haplotypes carrying the disease as well as normal haplotypes was observed. The absence of A1 Cw7 B8 BfS C4AQ0 C4B1 DR3 extended haplotype was instead confirmed. Allele frequencies in the different clinical forms were analyzed: BfSO7 allele frequency was significantly increased on haplotypes of the salt-wasting form (p less than 0.01). We noticed two duplications (C4B1-2) of C4B genes, on haplotypes involved in the disease. Allele distribution in the regions studied showed that Bw22 (w55), Cw3 and DR2 were characteristic of Northern patients, while B15 was found in patients from Central Italy.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗

Failure of the synthetic androgen, danazol, to increase protein S levels and prevent thrombosis in a patient with severe protein S deficiency.

A 34-year-old man with recurrent deep and superficial thromboses was found to have severe protein S deficiency. Treatment with both warfarin and adjusted-dose subcutaneous heparin failed to completely prevent thrombosis. Based on reports of increases in the endogenous anticoagulants (protein C, protein S, antithrombin III and plasminogen) with synthetic androgen therapy, the patient was treated with danazol for 8 weeks. Although the levels of antithrombin III, protein C and plasminogen increased, no change in the levels of total or free protein S or C4b binding protein was observed. Treatment was discontinued at 8 weeks when the patient developed a recurrence of superficial thrombophlebitis. The role of synthetic androgens in the treatment of patients with inherited thrombotic disorders is reviewed and potential reasons for treatment failure in this patient are discussed.

Adult↗

Rapid recovery of acquired purpura fulminans in a patient with familial C4bBP deficiency.

A 32-year-old pregnant woman developed meningococcemia associated purpura fulminans and quickly improved with therapy. After this disease C4b-Binding Protein (C4bBP) plasma levels remained very low while protein S activity was in the normal range. Familial investigation proved a hereditary C4bBP deficiency. This observation points out the role of the protein C-protein S system during acquired purpura fulminans.

Adult↗

Maternal coagulation inhibitors and the effects of cesarean delivery.

Maternal hypercoagulability in normal pregnancy results from significant increases in blood factors that promote thrombosis or decreases in factors that inhibit thrombosis, such as antithrombin III (AT-III) and proteins C and S. The precise role of these factors in puerperal hemostasis is not clear. In 10 normal, pregnant women at term undergoing scheduled repeat cesarean section, the percent activities of AT-III, proteins C and S, and C4b-binding protein were determined in peripheral venous blood preoperatively and in samples of uterine venous blood before the uterine incision was made and 5 and 15 minutes after placental delivery using the Laurell Rocket electroimmunodiffusion technique. The mean percent activities of AT-III (73%), protein S (81%) and C4b-binding protein (85%) were lower than those in nonpregnant controls, were similar in peripheral and uterine venous blood and were unchanged after placental delivery. These data suggest that such factors may not play an important role in acute uteroplacental hemostasis during normal pregnancy.

Antithrombin III↗

Polymorphic markers in MHC class II/III region: a study on Italian patients with myasthenia gravis.

With an Italian case series of 81 Italian patients and 130 controls, we analysed associations between myasthenia gravis (MG) and genetic polymorphisms in the MHC class II/III region. Increases in the frequency of the TNF-B*1, C4A*Q0, C4B*1, DRB1*03 supratype, which is likely part of the 8.1 ancestral haplotype, were maximal in females with early onset (EO) MG vs. controls [p<0.05, relative risk (RR)=9.9]. These patients showed neither a significantly high frequency of thymic hyperplasia, nor high levels of serum anti-acethylcholine receptor antibodies. The DRB1*03 allele was absent in patients with thymoma; however, in comparison with controls, occurrence of this marker was frequent in MG patients (p<0.005; RR=6.2), more frequent in females (p<0.005; RR=7.8) and most frequent in EOMG female patients (p<0.005; RR=15.1). Analysis of the TNF-B*1, C4A*Q0, C4B*1, DRB1*03 supratype and its recombinants showed that the MHC region between C4 and TNF might contain genes that influence susceptibility to MG in females. Polymorphic markers within the supratype, e.g. TNF-B*1 and C4A*Q0, might contribute to pathogenetically significant abnormalities in immune responses in a subset of female MG patients. The combined effect of other intervening genes cannot be excluded.

Adult↗

Association of vitamin K-dependent coagulation proteins and C4b binding protein with triglyceride-rich lipoproteins of human plasma.

The triglyceride (TG) concentration in plasma is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. There is evidence that TG-rich lipoprotein (TGRLP), ie, chylomicrons (CMs), chylomicron remnants (CMRs), and VLDLs associate with factor VII and prothrombin and that the association enhances a platelet factor Xa-mediated prothrombin activation when the CM-prothrombin complex is exposed to platelets. In this study, we examined the association of the vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors VII, IX, X, and prothrombin, as well as the anticoagulation protein C and its cofactor protein S, in plasma lipoproteins obtained from human fasting and postprandial plasma. We also analyzed some other proteins that are related to the coagulation system but not to vitamin K-dependent proteins, including factor V, serum amyloid P component (SAP), C4b binding protein (C4BP), and thrombomodulin (TM), and as a control, Ig G. Human TGRLP (d < 1.006 kg/L), LDL (d = 1.006 to 1.063 kg/L), and HDL (d = 1.063 to 1.210 kg/L) were separated from normal subjects both in fasting and 2 to 3 hours after the ingestion of a meal containing 100 g fat. The different coagulation proteins, SAP, C4BP, TM, and Ig G were determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis combined with Western blotting, using specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, and were visualized by peroxidase staining. All the vitamin K-dependent proteins associate with TGRLP in both fasting and postprandial plasma, but not with LDL or HDL. Factor V, SAP, TM, and Ig G were not found in any lipoprotein classes. C4BP, which is a regulatory protein of the classic pathway of the complement system and which binds protein S in vivo to regulate blood coagulation, was present in TGRLP, especially postprandial, but not in LDL or HDL. The amounts of prothrombin, protein S, and C4BP in postprandial TGRLP were larger than those in fasting TGRLP. Vitamin K-dependent procoagulation and anticoagulation proteins, as well as C4BP, could be associated with TGRLP in vivo. If the association enhances prothrombin activation, this effect may thus be counteracted by simultaneous binding of protein S.

Adult↗

Interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor fully activate liver-specific gene expression of the alpha chain of C4b-binding protein.

We investigated the gene expression of the alpha chain of C4b-binding protein (C4bp alpha) in a variety of tissues, and in liver cell and hepatoma lines. C4bp alpha mRNA was detected in the liver, but not in the other tissues examined. The constitutive gene expression of C4bp alpha by a hepatoma line, HepG2, was significantly augmented by treatment with monocyte-conditioned medium (MoCM), 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), interleukin-6 (IL6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) but not by a calcium ionophore (A23187) or interleukin-1 beta (IL1 beta).

Blotting, Northern↗

Characterization of the interaction of human C4b-binding protein with physiological ligands.

The binding of C4b to C4b-binding protein (C4BP) was demonstrated at physiological ionic strength by analytical ultracentrifugation. The sedimentation rate of C4BP gradually increased from 9.4 S to a maximum of 18.5 S with increasing C4b concentration. The stoichiometry of different C4BP X C4b complexes was calculated from the sedimentation-velocity data. A linear relationship was established between the number of C4b bound per C4BP and the sedimentation rate of the complex. In order to define further the C4BP-C4b interaction, sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation was also used. Trace amounts of 125I-C4BP were centrifuged through 12 sucrose density gradients, each of which contained a different concentration of C4b throughout the gradient. The sedimentation rate of the C4BP increased with increasing C4b input to a maximum of 19.5 S. These binding data, in conjunction with the stoichiometry measurements determined in the analytical ultracentrifuge, were analyzed by the methods of Scatchard and Hill. At physiological ionic strength, C4BP exhibited four binding sites for C4b, each having an association constant of 1.2 X 10(7) M-1. A Hill coefficient of 1.1 was calculated, indicating that the four binding sites were independent. At reduced ionic strength, two additional sites were detected. The sedimentation coefficient of C4BP(C4b)6 was 24 S. The hydrodynamic data suggest that after four C4b molecules have bound to C4BP, the binding of additional C4b is sterically hindered. This interpretation implies that all six binding sites on C4BP are identical. C4BP also bound C4(H2O) (the product resulting from spontaneous hydrolysis of the thiol ester bond in native C4) and weakly bound C4c, but had no measurable affinity for native C4 or C4d at physiological ionic strength. A low-affinity interaction between C3b and C4BP was also demonstrated in the analytical ultracentrifuge. The C4BP X C3b complex was specific because C4BP mediated the cleavage of C3b by Factor I to C3bi with concomitant dissociation of the complex.

Carrier Proteins↗

Attenuated deletion mutant of vaccinia virus IHD-W recovered virulence by reinsertion of a terminal restriction fragment.

Since vaccinia virus is being considered as a potential immunization vector, it is important to identify genes responsible for pathogenicity. One approach to identify virulence genes is the use of attenuated deletion mutants with a null background to reintroduce regions of the deleted genome material. We have previously described an attenuated deletion mutant of vaccinia virus strain IHD-W (Z-19) that lost 21 kb from the left terminus comprising fragments HindIII C and N, displays rearrangements at the right terminus and is unable to grow in vivo. To establish whether the loss of genes present at the left terminus is the basis for the attenuated phenotype, rescue experiments were performed to reintroduce fragment HindIII C, using growth in vivo as a selection system to isolate recombinant viruses. Several recombinants were isolated and molecularly and biologically characterized. The results indicate that recovery of virulence in mice was correlated with the presence and expression of two genes: vaccinia growth factor and C4b binding protein, which are located at the left terminus. Serpin I and II genes, located at the right terminus, were not affected in Z-19 and seem not to play a role in virulence in the IHD-W strain; interestingly, a copy of the serpin I gene was found at the left terminus. Moreover, a gene involved in virulence in the WR strain, the 13.8 kDa virokine gene (N1L) was found to be located in fragment HindIII G in the IHD-W strain, and therefore did not contribute to the attenuated phenotype.

Animals↗

Possible role for increased C4b-binding-protein level in acquired protein S deficiency in type I diabetes.

In this study, total protein S (PS) immunological levels, free-PS and C4b-binding-protein (C4bBP) concentrations, and PS functional activity were investigated in insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic patients and compared with nondiabetic subjects. Mean total PS antigen concentration was not different between diabetic patients and nondiabetic subjects, whereas free-PS levels and PS functional activity were significantly reduced in diabetic patients. C4bBP was increased in diabetic patients and correlated with HbA1 levels. This study shows that type I diabetic patients have depressed free PS and PS activity despite the presence of normal total PS concentration and suggests that this phenomenon is probably linked to the increase of circulating C4bBP.

Adult↗

Mechanism of activation of the classical pathway of complement by monoclonal IgE (DES). Restricted regulation of C4b by C4b-binding protein.

A human monoclonal IgE from patient DES, IgE (DES), has been shown to activate the classical pathway of complement. The mechanism of this activation has been investigated and can be summarized as follows: (a) IgE (DES) is able to bind and activate C1 in a dose-dependent fashion. This activation increases with the size of the aggregates used, but the affinity of C1 for IgE (DES) is weaker than for IgG. (b) A classical pathway C3 convertase can be assembled on IgE (DES) using purified C1, C4 and C2. The formation decay of this convertase is similar to that formed on IgG with an half-life of 9 min at 37 degrees C. (c) The extrinsic regulation of the C3 convertase by C4bp is restricted on IgE (DES) as compared to IgG. This restriction is shown on both the formation and the decay of the convertase. The mechanism of activation of the classical pathway of complement by IgE (DES) thus present some similarities with the assembly of the C3 convertase by the alternative pathway.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Polymorphisms of HLA class III genes in allergic contact dermatitis.

HLA class III polymorphisms (BF, C4A, C4B) were studied in 55 patients of different age and sex suffering from allergic contact dermatitis, with sensitization to different substances. In the overall group of patients no significant correlation between the disease and HLA markers was found. BF F allele was present in 34% and BS S in 64% of patients suffering from allergic contact dermatitis to nickel only versus 16.45% (relative risk, RR = 2.61) and 80.76% (RR = 0.42), respectively, of the control population. The BF FB subtype frequency was 23.91% versus 7.57% in the control samples (RR = 3.88). We thus hypothesize that this polymorphic serum protein might be involved in the pathogenesis of allergic contact dermatitis to nickel.

Adolescent↗

Multicenter evaluation of three commercial methods for measuring protein S antigen.

This collaborative study was designed to assess the performance of commercial methods for protein S (PS) antigen measurement. Twenty-five different samples were distributed deep-frozen (24 plasmas) or lyophilized (one plasma) to five laboratories. They were analyzed blind in each laboratory by the method used locally and by three commercial methods which included two electroimmunoassays (EIA), Asseraplate-PS (Diagnostica Stago), Rellplate-S (American Diagnostica) and an ELISA system, Asserachrom-PS (Diagnostica Stago). 1. Reproducibility. Average between-laboratory coefficients of variation were 15.4%, 17.6% and 25.3% for Asserachrom-PS, Asseraplate-PS and Rellplate-S. 2. Specificity. Results of all methods showed that PS is underestimated when C4b binding protein is high. This influence was particularly evident for the ELISA Asserachrom-PS and disappeared when the antibody-antigen incubation period was prolonged to overnight. 3. Sensitivity. In all laboratories ELISA detected even the lowest PS concentration (4 U/dl), whereas the two EIAs were less sensitive (lower detection limit 14 U/dl). All methods and laboratories correctly diagnosed a plasma sample from a PS congenitally deficient patient. Conclusions. This study shows that better standardization of PS immunoassays is necessary to improve accuracy and reduce interlaboratory variability before a candidate plasma standard can be successfully calibrated in an international collaborative study.

Anticoagulants↗

Relevance of complotyping and subtyping of MHC class I gene products in haplotype definition for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

In preparation for a bone marrow transplantation 217 patients and their families were complotyped for Bf, C4A and C4B in addition to the routinely performed HLA-A,B,C,DR and HLA-D typing. In 147 families uncertainties in haplotype definition occurred which could be solved in 37 cases (25%) by complotyping. Additionally, patients and their relatives were subtyped for class I gene products by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing, a method by which serologically identical HLA-A, B, or C antigens could be split in five out of 22 cases tested. The results obtained clearly show the relevance of both methodologies for finding the best match of donor/recipient pairs to help to prevent MHC-induced graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

The thrombotic diathesis associated with the presence of phospholipid antibodies may be due to low levels of free protein S.

PURPOSE: To determine if abnormalities in the protein C/protein S anticoagulant system exist in patients with phospholipid antibodies who had the primary clinical complaint of fetal wastage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with fetal wastage and phospholipid antibodies were selected for study. Some patients also gave a history of previous thrombotic events related to oral contraceptives and/or pregnancy, but patients were not selected because of a history of clinical thrombosis. The levels of protein C (chromogenic assay), protein S (both free and bound) (Laurell rocket), and C4b-binding protein (Laurell rocket) were measured, and assays for the presence of antibodies against protein S or protein C were performed. RESULTS: Seven of the 11 patients were found to have low levels of free protein S. Total protein S and protein C levels were within the normal range in all patients. Antibodies to protein C and protein S were not found in any patient. These findings suggest that free protein S levels may be abnormally low in some patients with phospholipid antibodies. CONCLUSION: Free protein S levels are abnormally low in some patients with phospholipid antibodies, and this abnormality may be a factor contributing to the thrombotic diathesis associated with phospholipid antibodies.

Abortion, Habitual↗

A case report of deficiency in an inhibitor of calcium-dependent association of protein S with C4B-binding protein suggested by a modified crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

We have experienced a coagulation factor VIII-deficient patient whose plasma has normal protein S (PS) activity and masses of free PS and its bound form in complex with C4b-binding protein (C4BP). Although the patient's plasma showed a normal ratio of free PS to PS-C4BP complex in the presence of 5 mM EDTA, the plasma gave an abnormally retarding major C4BP peak together with a major PS peak in the crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2. It was revealed that the major peak was formed by a mixture of PS-C4BP complex and free form. The addition of normal human plasma (NHP) to the patient's plasma inhibited the retardation of the major PS-C4BP complex. These suggest that the patient's plasma lacks some component(s) to inhibit Ca(2+)-dependent association of PS with C4BP.

Adult↗

Assessment of coagulation factor activation during cardiopulmonary bypass with a new monoclonal antibody.

Antithrombin-III (AT) is a key inhibitor of blood coagulation that neutralizes activated serine esterases by forming covalent modified complexes (ATm). A new monoclonal antibody directed against short-lived AT-activated serine protease complexes provides a means of measuring subclinical coagulation activity during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Twelve patients undergoing CPB for coronary artery bypass grafting were studied and AT, ATm, D-dimers (DD), and several other coagulation and fibrinolytic markers were measured during the surgical procedure. There were decreases in AT, factors V, II, X, IX, protein S (total and free), C4b-binding protein, thrombomodulin, and platelets counts, whereas heparin, ACT, thrombospondin, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) increased. ATm and the percentage of ATm available (ATm/AT) showed a peak during CPB. These results demonstrate that during CPB, the use of heparin produces an equilibrium involving increased coagulation activation and consumption in association with increased fibrinolysis. The equilibrated consumption of both coagulation and fibrinolytic factors leads to low levels of all factors after cardiac surgery. The ATm assay allows assessment of the differential effects of CPB and surgical trauma on coagulation activation. It is speculated that ATm levels may be useful in monitoring the consumption of coagulation factors.

Adult↗

Disulfide bonds are localized within the short consensus repeat units of complement regulatory proteins: C4b-binding protein.

Several plasma and membrane proteins belong to a superfamily of structurally related proteins that contain internal homology of a variable number (2-30) of repeating units. Each SCR (short consensus repeat) unit is approximately 60 amino acid residues in length, with the positions of 1 Trp, 2 Pro, and 4 Cys residues being conserved. The aim of this study was to provide experimental evidence that each SCR may exist as an independent structural domain maintained by disulfide bonds. The well-characterized C4b-binding protein (C4BP) with eight SCR units in each of its seven identical chains was chosen for this study. Analysis of the disulfide-bonding pattern indicated that intrachain disulfide bonds may be localized within each SCR unit, with the first and third and the second and fourth half-cystines in each unit being linked. This pattern of disulfides may confer to C4BP (and to other structurally related proteins) a conformation which apparently allows the assembly of the SCR units (4-30) in a tandem fashion. Such an arrangement of the polypeptide chain(s) may explain, in part, the elongated shape of these protein molecules. The structural motif of the SCR units of C4BP is discussed in relation to those previously described for the type II domain of fibronectin and the kringle structure present in various proteins of the coagulation system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗