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Regulation of the function of the first component of complement by human C1q receptor.

A membrane-associated receptor for the C1q subcomponent of complement is widely distributed among different cell types. While a number of possible physiological functions of the C1q receptor (C1qR) on different cell types have been described, the way in which C1qR regulates complement activity remains unclear. This report describes the mechanism by which C1qR regulates activation of the first component of complement, C1. Using purified components of complement, we were able to show that membrane-associated C1qR as well as detergent-solubilized C1qR, purified from polymorphonuclear leukocytes, human umbilical vein endothelial cells or an endothelial cell line, EA.hy 926, are able to inhibit complement-mediated lysis of C1q-sensitized erythrocytes. Using hemolytic assays, we were able to demonstrate that C1qR prevents the association of C1q with C1r and C1s to form macromolecular C1. In addition, incubation of C1qR with the collagen-like stalks, but not with the globular heads of C1q, inhibits the effect of C1qR. This demonstrates that C1qR exerts its complement inhibitory effect by binding to the collagen-like stalk of C1q. No complement regulatory effect of C1qR was observed on preformed macromolecular C1. These data suggest that besides such-well-known complement regulatory molecules as CD55 (DAF), CD46 (MCP), CD35 (CR1) and CD59 (HRF), C1qR too is able to regulate complement activity.

Carrier Proteins↗

The mechanism of carbohydrate-mediated complement activation by the serum mannan-binding protein.

Serum mannan-binding protein (S-MBP), a lectin specific for mannose and N-acetylglucosamine, was documented to activate complement through the classical pathway. In this study, we examined the mechanism that initiates this activation. By a passive hemolysis test using sheep erythrocytes coated with yeast mannan, the activation of complement by human S-MBP was shown to proceed in the absence of C1q. The following binding studies using 125I-labeled C1r2s2 and C1s indicated that the activated form of C1r2s2 bound to S-MBP located on the surface of the cells with high affinity. The binding of C1s to the cell-bound S-MBP require the presence of C1r, suggesting that C1r2s2 binds to S-MBP through C1r. The activation of C1s from a proenzyme to a protease was mediated by cell-bound S-MBP in the presence of C1r and the activated protease remained associated with the cells and was not released into the medium. The activation of complement with S-MBP was a solid phase event and did not proceed in a fluid phase. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that S-MBP is responsible for the initiation of carbohydrate-mediated complement activation as C1q does in immune complex-mediated complement activation.

Animals↗

C1 subcomponent complexes: basic and clinical aspects.

C1 subcomponents form a variety of complexes that can be detected in normal and pathological sera. Since aberrations of C1 subcomponents in disease could reflect in vivo interactions with influence on complement function, studies of C1 subcomponent complexes might provide insight into pathogenetic mechanisms. C1 inhibitor (C1Inh)-dependent dissociation of the C1q(C1r-C1s)2 complex gives rise to C1Inh-C1r-C1s or C1Inh-C1r-C1s-C1Inh complexes. Increased concentrations of C1Inh-C1r-C1s probably signify prevention of C1 activation, while C1Inh-C1r-C1s-C1Inh appears to be a clinically useful marker of efficient classical pathway activation. "Free" C1q as found in some pathological sera, and in joint fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis could be a result of C1Inh-dependent dissociation of C1q(C1r-C1s)2. The presence in serum of zymogen (C1r-C1s)2 is an expected finding in various conditions with low C1q concentrations without evidence of C1 activation. It is not excluded that circulating (C1r-C1s)2 might sometimes be acquired due to factors capable of interacting with the collagenous part of the C1q molecule.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Structural biology of C1: dissection of a complex molecular machinery.

The classical pathway of complement is initiated by the C1 complex, a multimolecular protease comprising a recognition subunit (C1q) and two modular serine proteases (C1r and C1s) associated as a Ca2+-dependent tetramer (C1s-C1r-C1r-C1s). Early studies have allowed identification of specialized functional domains in these proteins and have led to low-resolution models of the C1 complex. The objective of current studies is to gain deeper insights into the structure of C1, and the strategy used for this purpose mainly consists of dissecting the C1 components into modular fragments, in order to solve their three-dimensional structure and establish the structural correlates of their function. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the structural and functional information generated by this approach, with particular emphasis on the domains involved in the assembly, the recognition function, and the highly specific proteolytic properties of C1.

Animals↗

Functional effects of domain deletions in a multidomain serine protease, C1r.

The C1r subcomponent of the first component of complement is a complex, multidomain glycoprotein containing five regulatory or binding modules in addition to the serine protease domain. To reveal the functional role of the N-terminal regulatory domains, two deletion mutants of C1r were constructed. One mutant comprises the N-terminal half of domain I joined to the second half of the highly homologous domain III, resulting in one chimeric domain in the N-terminal region, instead of domains I-III. In the second mutant most of the N-terminal portion of domain I was deleted. Both deletion mutants were expressed in the baculovirus-insect cell expression system with yields typical of wild type C1r. Both mutants maintained the ability of the wild type C1r to dimerize. The folding and secretion of the recombinant proteins was not affected by these deletions, and C1-inhibitor binding was not impaired. The stability of the zymogen was significantly decreased however, indicating that the N-terminal region of the C1r molecule contains essential elements involved in the control of activation of the serine protease module. Tetramer formation with C1s in the presence of Ca2+ was abolished by both deletions. We suggest that the first domain of C1r is essential for tetramer formation, since the deletion of domain I from C1r impairs this interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interaction of fucoidan with the proteins of the complement classical pathway.

Fucoidan inhibits complement by mechanisms that so far remain to be unraveled, and the objective of this work was to delineate the mode of inhibition by this sulfated polysaccharide. For that purpose, low molecular weight fractions of algal (Ascophyllum nodosum) fucoidan containing the disaccharide unit [-->3)-alpha-L-Fuc(2SO3(-))-(1-->4)-alpha-L-Fuc(2,3diSO3(-))-(1-->](n) have been studied. Gel co-affinity electrophoresis and a new affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) method have been implemented to characterize fucoidan-complement protein complexes. Fucoidan binds C1q, likely to its collagen-like region through interactions involving lysine residues, and then prevents the association of the C1r(2)-C1s(2) subunit, required to form the fully active C1. In addition to C1q, fucoidan forms a complex with the protein C4 as observed by ACE. The fucoidan inhibits the first steps of the classical pathway activation that is of relevance in view of the proinflammatory effects of the subsequent products of the cascade. This study shows that a high level of inhibitory activity can be achieved with low molecular weight carbohydrate molecules and that the potential applicability of fucoidan oligosaccharides for therapeutic complement inhibition is worthy of consideration.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Recombinant human complement subcomponent C1s lacking beta-hydroxyasparagine, sialic acid, and one of its two carbohydrate chains still reassembles with C1q and C1r to form a functional C1 complex.

In contrast to the human serum protein which is approximately one-half erythro-beta-hydroxyasparagine at asparagine 134 [Theilens et al. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 3570-3578], recombinant C1s expressed by insect cells after infection with recombinant baculovirus entirely lacks posttranslational modification at asparagine 134. It is also incompletely glycosylated, lacking, at least, sialic acid. Site-directed mutagenesis of one of the two sites of carbohydrate attachment (Asn 159 to Gln 159) yields a faster migrating recombinant C1s still abundantly secreted. Furthermore, the mutated protein displays good hemolytic activity when reassembled with C1q and either human serum or recombinant C1r, demonstrating that these posttranslational modifications are not critical for any of the multiple interactions between C1s and C1q, C1r, C2, and C4 required for reassembly of the C1 complex, activation, and initiation of the classical complement pathway. The 4.0S recombinant C1s dimerizes to yield 5.6S C1s2 in the presence of Ca2+ and forms the 9.1S C1s-C1r-C1r-C1s tetramer upon the addition of human serum C1r and the 15.6S C1 complex upon the addition of C1q to the tetramer. The recombinant C1s and human serum C1s have identical N-terminal amino acid sequences, indicating proper recognition by the insect signal peptidase. The recombinant C1s is secreted and isolated as the unactivated zymogen, and it may be activated by human serum C1r which cleaves at Arg422-Ile423 to yield the characteristic heavy and light chains. A very tight complex is formed between C1-inhibitor and the light chain of recombinant C1s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Activation of C1.

The first component of complement, C1, is a calcium-dependent complex of two loosely interacting subunits: C1q, responsible for the binding of activators to C1; C1r2-C1s2, which supports the autoactivation potential of C1, together with the proteolytic activity of activated C1- on its two substrates, C4 and C2. Isolated dimeric C1r2 is able to autoactivate through an intradimer cross-proteolysis; this capacity is lost when C1r2 is associated with two molecules of C1s inside the calcium-dependent C1r2-C1s2 subunit; this capacity is again observed in reconstituted C1. A model for reconstituted soluble C1 is proposed, based on electron microscopy, neutron diffraction, ultra-centrifugation, various biochemical findings, as well as functional properties of C1 or of its subcomponents. The flexible rod-like structure of C1r2-C1s2 is folded around two arms of C1q, with the catalytic domains of C1r and C1s inserted inside the cone defined by the C1q stalks. Activation of C1 which, in vivo, is controlled by C1 inhibitor, can be achieved by various activators, such as immune complexes; it appears to result from the suppression of a negative control and resides in a positive modulation of the intrinsic autocatalytic potential of C1r inside C1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cold-dependent activation of complement: recognition, assessment, and mechanism.

Cold-dependent activation of complement (CDAC) is a phenomenon characterized by low hemolytic complement activity in chilled serum. Complement component levels are normal when measured immunologically, and there is normal hemolytic activity in EDTA plasma or serum maintained at 37 degrees C. Little attention has been paid to CDAC except in Japan, and current unfamiliarity with it, even by clinical immunologists, can lead to confusion and unnecessary laboratory tests. A 66-year-old patient with a complex medical history is described whose complement tests showed abnormalities characteristic of CDAC. Evidence for classical complement pathway activation in the cold was obtained by CH50 measurements, by hemolytic C4 determinations, by C4a, C3a, and C4d generation, and by quantitating C1s-C1r-(C1 inhibitor)2 complexes. A good correlation was observed among these parameters. Cryoprecipitates were absent. CDAC activity has persisted for over 5 years and is greater at 13 than at 4 degrees C. Activation is ablated by heating at 56 degrees C and restored by the addition of C1 to the heated serum. Adsorption by streptococcal protein G-Sepharose and precipitation by 2.5% polyethylene glycol support the hypothesis that CDAC is caused by aggregated IgG. The CDAC factor(s) also induces complement activation in normal serum but has not interfered with Raji cell or C1q binding tests or with FACS analysis. More limited studies of a second individual experiencing CDAC yielded similar results.

Adult↗

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↗

The quaternary structure in solution of human complement subcomponent C1r2C1s2.

C1r2C1s2 is a subcomponent of first component C1 of the complement cascade. Previously two distinct models for its structure have been described, in which C1r2C1s2 is either a linear rod-like assembly of the globular domains found in each of C1s and C1r, or these domains are arranged to form an asymmetric X-shaped structure. These two models were evaluated by using hydrodynamic simulations and neutron scattering. The data on C1s, C1s2 and C1r are readily represented by straight hydrodynamic cylinders, but not C1r2 or C1r2C1s2. Tests of the X-structure for C1r2 and C1r2C1s2 successfully predicted the experimental sedimentation coefficients, thus supporting this model. Neutron scattering analyses on C1s and C1r2 are consistent with a linear structure for C1s, but not for C1r2. An X-shaped structure for C1r2 was found to give a good account of the neutron data at large scattering angles. The total length of the C1s and C1r monomers was determined as 17-20 nm, which is compatible with electron microscopy. On the basis of the known sequences of C1r and C1s, this length is accounted for by a linear arrangement of a serine-proteinase domain (length 4 nm), two short consensus repeat domains (2 x 4 nm), and a globular entity containing the I, II and III domains (4-7 nm).

Complement C1r↗

Structure, function and molecular genetics of human and murine C1r.

C1r, the enzyme responsible for intrinsic activation of the C1 complex of complement, is a modular serine protease featuring an overall structural organization homologous to those of C1s and the mannan-binding lectin-associated serine proteases (MASPs). This review will initially summarize current information on the structure and function of C1r, with particular emphasis on the three-dimensional structure of its catalytic domain, which provides new insights into the activation mechanism of C1. The second part of this review will focus on recent discoveries dealing with a truncated, C1r-related protein, and the occurrence in the mouse of two isoforms, C1rA and C1rB, exhibiting tissue-specific expression patterns.

Animals↗

A molecular mechanism for the activation of the first component of complement by immune complexes.

The proposed activation mechanism is based upon several key concepts, including the "S"-structure for the folding of the C1r2C1s2 tetramer among the C1q arms [Poon, et al., J. molec. Biol. 168, 563-577 (1983)]; the locations of the catalytic domains on the tetramer and the resulting functional relevance of the "S"-structure [Colomb et al., Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B306, 282-292 (1984)]; the structure of C1-inhibitor [Odermatt et al., FEBS Lett. 131, 283-289 (1981)]; and the control of C1 activation by C1-inhibitor [Ziccardi, J. Immun. 128, 2505-2508 (1982)]. The proposed activation mechanism has four main features: steric exclusion of C1-inhibitor from C1 when it binds to an immune complex; signal generation through multivalent binding of the C1q heads to an irregularly-arranged cluster of antibody Fc regions, and signal transmission through the movement of the stiff C1q arms about their semi-flexible joints, causing distortion of the symmetrical cone of C1q arms; induction of rapid activation by a shift in equilibrium favoring the autocatalytic conformation of C1r2C1s2; and release of the activated C1s from the C1q arms, so that the ends of the tetramer are free for interaction with C4 and C2 and C1-inhibitor, and the C1q subcomponent becomes more flexible, allowing access of C1-inhibitor to C1r.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

MASP1 (MBL-associated serine protease 1).

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a serum component which participates in innate immunity by activating complement via a novel pathway. Human MBL forms complexes with two types of serine proteases termed MASP (MBL-associated serine protease). These two proteases, MASP1 and MASP2, are structurally similar to one another as well as to C1r and C1s. Together, MASP, C1r and C1s constitute a novel serine protease family. It is likely that human MASP1 is able to activate C3, while human MASP2 cleaves C4, although further functional studies are required to confirm this. Based on the analysis of MASP cDNA of vertebrates and ascidians, the MASP/C1r/C1s family can be classified into two groups. The first group is characterized by a histidine loop in its serine protease domain, an active-center serine encoded by TCN, and a proline as the amino acid residue at the-3 position from the active serine. Human MASP1, mouse MASP1, Xenopus MASP1 and ascidian MASPs all belong to this group. MASP of the second group has structural features which are distinct from those of the first group: an absence of a histidine loop, an active-serine encoded by AGY, and an alanine or valine as the amino acid residue at the -3 position from the active-serine. The second group includes human MASP2, Xenopus MASP2, carp MASP, shark MASP, C1r and C1s. The TCN-type of MASP may have emerged prior to the AGY-type as an ancestral protease of the MASP/C1r/C1s family and played a crucial role in cleaving C3.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of activation of the classical pathway of complement by Hageman factor fragment.

The mechanism by which a fragment of activated Hageman factor (HFf) activates the classical pathway of complement in serum or platelet-poor plasma has been further delineated. When serum or platelet-poor plasma was incubated with various concentrations of HFf, the total complement hemolytic activity was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. This activation appears to be due to the direct interaction of HFf with macromolecular C1, since incubation of purified C1 with HFf resulted in dissociation of the subunits with concomitant reduction of C1r antigenicity that is indicative of C1 activation. HFf-dependent activation was prevented by prior treatment of HFf with the active site-directed inhibitor, H-D-proline-phenylalanine-arginine chloromethyl ketone or with a specific inhibitor of activated HF derived from corn. Incubation of HFf with highly purified C1r also resulted in activation of C1r as assessed directly using a synthetic substrate or indirectly by activation of C1s and consumption of C2. However, incubation of HFf with highly purified C1s resulted in formation of activated C1s (C1s-) but this was less efficient than HFf activation of C1r. We therefore conclude that activation of C1 in macromolecular C1 is the result of HFf conversion of C1r to C1r; activation of C1s then occurs primarily by C-1r and to a lesser degree by the direct action of HFf.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

The structure and function of the first component of complement: genetic engineering approach (a review).

The availability of cDNA and genomic clones for the subcomponents of C1, as well as the recognition of the modular organization of serine-proteases have opened up exciting new possibilities for approaching structural problems. In this review the latest achievements of combined protein engineering, functional and structural studies are summarized. The concept of this research is to construct deletion, point and hybrid mutants of the highly homologous C1r and C1s subcomponents, to reveal the functional role of individual modules, map the interaction sites between subcomponents of the C1 complex and refine the structural model of C1. The first prerequisite of such an approach was the expression of the subcomponents in a eukaryotic system, in biologically active form. This was followed by expression of various mutants. Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus was used as vector to express human C1r and C1s in Spodoptera frugiperda cell culture and in lepidopteran larvae. The yield of expression was high enough to isolate recombinant subcomponents for structural and functional studies. Recombinant viruses containing the A-, B-, and C-chains of C1q were also constructed. The insect cells are able to beta-hydroxylate the Asn residue of the EGF domain in the C1r but with a low efficiency. It is clear now, that this post-translational modification does not play a role in the Ca2+ dependent C1r-C1s interaction. The results with deletion mutants of C1r show that both, domain I, and II are absolutely necessary for the tetramer formation and both have regulatory role in the autoactivation. The C1s alpha R hybrid does not dimerize in presence of Ca2+, however it can form a tetramer with C11(2) that can bind to C1q. This observation indicates that the function of the C1s alpha part in the hybrid is modulated by the C1r part (gamma B) of the molecule. The C1Rs hybrid behaves like C1r, providing haemolytically active C1 with C1q and C1s. This observations shows that the regulatory domains determine the high functional specificity of the serine-protease subcomponents of C1. In order to control the autoactivation process point mutant cDNAs were constructed by altering the Arg-Ile bond in the catalytic domain of the C1r. The Gln-Ile construction is a stable zymogen while the Arg-Phe mutant has a lower rate of autoactivation.

Animals↗

Surfactant protein A regulates complement activation.

Complement proteins aid in the recognition and clearance of pathogens from the body. C1, the first protein of the classical pathway of complement activation, is a calcium-dependent complex of one molecule of C1q and two molecules each of C1r and C1s, the serine proteases that cleave complement proteins. Upon binding of C1q to Ag-bound IgG or IgM, C1r and C1s are sequentially activated and initiate the classical pathway of complement. Because of structural and functional similarities between C1q and members of the collectin family of proteins, including pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A), we hypothesized that SP-A may interact with and regulate proteins of the complement system. Previously, SP-A was shown to bind to C1q, but the functional significance of this interaction has not been investigated. Binding studies confirmed that SP-A binds directly to C1q, but only weakly to intact C1. Further investigation revealed that the binding of SP-A to C1q prevents the association of C1q with C1r and C1s, and therefore the formation of the active C1 complex required for classical pathway activation. This finding suggests that SP-A may share a common binding site for C1r and C1s or Clq. SP-A also prevented C1q and C1 from binding to immune complexes. Furthermore, SP-A blocked the ability of C1q to restore classical pathway activity to C1q-depleted serum. SP-A may down-regulate complement activity through its association with C1q. We hypothesize that SP-A may serve a protective role in the lung by preventing C1q-mediated complement activation and inflammation along the delicate alveolar epithelium.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Molecular characterization of a novel serine protease involved in activation of the complement system by mannose-binding protein.

Mannose-binding protein (MBP) plays an important role in host defense by recognizing sugar residues on certain pathogens and activating the complement cascade. Recently, we described a new protease, designated MBP-associated serine protease (MASP) which is required for complement activation by MBP. We have cloned the cDNA that encodes this protease and found that the deduced amino acid sequence contains an epidermal growth factor-like domain, two short consensus repeats and a serine protease domain. The overall structure of MASP is similar to serine proteases of the first complement component complex, C1r-C1s. Unlike C1r-C1s, however, MASP has a histidine loop structure common to many serine proteases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin. The MASP gene was mapped on the long arm of chromosome 3 which is different from C1r-C1s as well as from trypsin and chymotrypsin. These findings suggest that MASP may have emerged prior to C1r-C1s from a common ancestor. This implies that MBP-MASP, a complex of lectin and serine protease, presumably evolved prior to adaptive immune recognition involving antibody and the classical complement pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗