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Histopathologic and immunofluorescence study of skin lesions associated with circulating lupus anticoagulant.

We reviewed the histopathologic findings in 28 specimens from 25 patients who had skin lesions associated with lupus anticoagulant. The clinical lesions were ulcers, gangrene, thrombophlebitis, hemorrhage, and cutaneous necrosis. Noninflammatory thrombosis of small dermal vessels was observed in all 8 biopsy specimens from gangrene lesions, 10 of 13 specimens from ulcer lesions, and 2 of 5 specimens from thrombophlebitis lesions. Necrotizing vasculitis was not significant in these biopsy specimens. Immunofluorescence findings included a positive lupus band test in lupus erythematosus-associated disease and nonspecific deposits in occasional cases. Focal noninflammatory intravascular coagulation is responsible for the microscopic and clinical skin lesions in these patients.

Blood Coagulation Factors↗

Acute hypotension due to platelet serotonin-induced chemoreflexes after intravenous injection of dextran sulfate in the rabbit.

The hypotension and bradycardia observed after intravenous injection of dextran sulfate in rabbits was prevented by prior depletion of circulating platelets, but was not prevented by depletion of the third component of complement or Hageman factor. Dextran sulfate injection caused immediate thrombocytopenia with temporary localization of platelets within lungs. Morphological analysis revealed platelet aggregates in lung capillaries. The platelets had changed shape and were in the process of degranulating. Serotonin and histamine levels in blood increased approximately 5-fold and 7-fold, respectively, after dextran sulfate injection. The cardiovascular events following dextran sulfate injection were mimicked by intravenous serotonin but not by intravenous histamine injection, although a combination of serotonin and histamine reproduced the pattern of blood pressure changes better than did either agent alone. Quantification of platelets trapped in lung revealed that the potential release of serotonin from trapped platelets could account for the rise in plasma serotonin concentration and the hemodynamic changes observed. Both the dextran sulfate-induced cardiovascular effects and serotonin-induced hypotension were markedly diminished by cutting vagus and depressor nerves, and were virtually abolished by carotid ligation in addition to nerve section. These results support the concept that platelet activation within rabbit lungs may cause hypotension via serotonin-induced chemoreflexes.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Evolution of human alpha 2-macroglobulin.

A papain-binding protein (PBP) resembling human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) but of Mr half that of alpha 2M was purified from plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) plasma. The plaice protein displayed most of the distinctive inhibitory properties of the human macroglobulin, and was therefore considered, despite its smaller molecular size, to be homologous with alpha 2M. Plaice PBP was shown to consist of four dissimilar subunits; two I chains (Mr 105 000) and two II chains (Mr 90 000). Each of the larger I chains contained a "bait region" sensitive to proteolytic attack by a variety of proteinases, and an autolytic site analogous to the autolytic site of alpha 2M. Subunit I, almost certainly at the autolytic site, formed SDS-stable, covalent links with methylamine or a proportion of the trapped proteinase molecules. A scheme is proposed for the evolution of human alpha 2M from the smaller fish protein, and the possibility of a shared evolutionary origin for alpha 2M and the complement components C3 and C4 is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human seminal plasma inhibition of complement.

Recent studies have shown that human seminal plasma contains chemically and biologically distinct factors which inhibit lymphocyte functions and the serum bactericidal and opsonic activities associated with the killing of gram-negative organisms. Because of the direct association between complement action and serum bactericidal and opsonic activities, inhibition of complement may be one of the possible mechanisms of action of seminal plasma immunoinhibitory factors. Complement hemolytic activity was measured for C3 and C4 in serum Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Escherichia coli bactericidal reaction mixtures with and without addition of seminal plasma. In the presence of seminal plasma, where there was no bactericidal action, C3 and titers were reduced to approximately 50% of the titers in the reactions with complement donor serum. The C3 titers were lower than in the reaction mixtures with immune serum and complement donor serum, where N. gonorrhoeae bactericidal activity occurred. Individual human seminal plasma specimens depressed CH50 activity of pooled normal human sera up to 50% of normal levels. There were no differences in inhibition by seminal plasma specimens from normal or vasectomized men. Treatment with seminal plasma depressed the functional activity of complement components C1 and C3 by more than 50%. Seminal plasma also inhibited alternate pathway activity. Cleavage of factor B was demonstrated. The seminal plasma factor which inhibited complement was of low molecular weight. DPF blocked the seminal plasma complement-inhibitory factor. However, amidolytic activity for serine protease substrates could not be demonstrated. It is likely that the seminal plasma complement inhibitor is a protease inhibitor acting singly or in combination.

Absorption↗

Complement-mediated immune mechanisms in renal infection.

The belief that the inactivation of complement by renal ammonia enhances the susceptibility of renal tissue to infection has been held for some years. This thesis has been investigated in the present experiments using cultures of renal tissue maintained in vitro under physiological conditions. The experiments have confirmed that exposure of normal serum to renal issue in culture does result in the rapid loss of complement activity, but that the inactivation was not due to renal ammonia. Furthermore, in quantitative experiments, the liver was found to have even greater anti-complementary activity than renal tissue. In experiments where the biological significance of this phenomenon was examined, it was shown that the bactericidal capacity of serum was maintained even after exposure to renal tissue. The results of these investigations suggest that the biological significance of the inactivation of complement by renal tissue in vitro has been over-emphasized and requires further studies in vivo.

Ammonia↗

Comparison of clinical and laboratory parameters for systemic lupus erythematosus activity in Israelis versus Europeans.

The clinical activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be influenced by ethnic and environmental factors. The Consensus group on Activity Criteria for SLE attempted in a multicenter study to determine well-accepted criteria for disease activity. Of the 704 randomly assigned patients, 41 (5.8%) were from Israel. A detailed history including epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data was recorded. Significant differences were found between Israeli and European patients in the occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon [12 (30%) vs. 358 (51%), respectively (P < 0.05)] and skin vasculitis [6 (15%) vs. 216 (34%), respectively (P < 0.05)]. In addition to those clinical differences, significant differences were also found in the occurrence of VDRL, low complement levels and lupus anticoagulant. Additional differences were found in some laboratory data, indicating differences in the sensitivity of the various laboratories. We conclude that the differences between the Israeli and European groups in the clinical data can be attributed mainly to environmental factors (weather, viruses), and in the laboratory data to ethnic differences (e.g., HLA) and to the different diagnostic methods used.

Adult↗

The complement inhibitor, CRIT, undergoes clathrin-dependent endocytosis.

Complement C2 receptor inhibitor trispanning (CRIT) is a receptor for the second component of complement and is found in various tissues and hemopoietic cells. On binding to CRIT, C2 cannot be activated to potentially form a variant-C3 convertase as it is rendered non-cleavable by C1s. CRIT thus limits the amount of C3 convertase formed on the cell surface. In this study we have shown, using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy, that human CRIT undergoes endocytosis from the plasma membrane. The endocytosis, possibly ligand mediated, occurs via clathrin-coated pits as it can be inhibited by prior incubation of cells in hypertonic medium or with chlorpromazine, at 37 degrees C. However, inhibition of endocytosis was not possible after treatment with nystatin, or filipin, inhibitors of caveolae/raft-dependent endocytosis. In the presence of C2 alone, CRIT associates with the adapter protein, beta-arrestin-2, and whether in association with C2 or not, then appears in the perinuclear region, but does not appear to be translocated into the nucleus. Apart from the C3aR and C5aR that internalize the anaphylatoxic peptides, this is the first report of the internalization via the clathrin pathway of a receptor for a complement serum protein.

Arrestins↗

Natural substrates and inhibitors of mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-1 and -2: a study on recombinant catalytic fragments.

Mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease (SP) (MASP)-1 and MASP-2 are modular SP and form complexes with mannan-binding lectin, the recognition molecule of the lectin pathway of the complement system. To characterize the enzymatic properties of these proteases we expressed their catalytic region, the C-terminal three domains, in Escherichia coli. Both enzymes autoactivated and cleaved synthetic oligopeptide substrates. In a competing oligopeptide substrate library assay, MASP-1 showed extreme Arg selectivity, whereas MASP-2 exhibited a less restricted, trypsin-like specificity. The enzymatic assays with complement components showed that cleavage of intact C3 by MASP-1 and MASP-2 was detectable, but was only approximately 0.1% of the previously reported efficiency of C3bBb, the alternative pathway C3-convertase. Both enzymes cleaved C3i 10- to 20-fold faster, but still at only approximately 1% of the efficiency of MASP-2 cleavage of C2. We believe that C3 is not the natural substrate of either enzyme. MASP-2 cleaved C2 and C4 at high rates. To determine the role of the individual domains in the catalytic region of MASP-2, the second complement control protein module together with the SP module and the SP module were also expressed and characterized. We demonstrated that the SP domain alone can autoactivate and cleave C2 as efficiently as the entire catalytic region, while the second complement control protein module is necessary for efficient C4 cleavage. This behavior strongly resembles C1s. Each MASP-1 and MASP-2 fragment reacted with C1-inhibitor, which completely blocked the enzymatic action of the enzymes. Nevertheless, relative rates of reaction with alpha-2-macroglobulin and C1-inhibitor suggest that alpha-2-macroglobulin may be a significant physiological inhibitor of MASP-1.

Binding, Competitive↗

Clearances of complement components, C3 proactivator and other serum proteins in chronic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (CMPGN).

In chronic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (CMPGN) the activation of the complement system through the properdin pathway plays an important role. The clearance of complement components and of the C3-proactivator (C3-PA) have been determined in 18 patients. Hemolytically active C5, C6, C7 and C3-PA were detected in the urine for the first time. The clearances of the complement components did not correlate with the clearances of other serum proteins with similar molecular weights. The specificities of the single complement components in the urine were tested by specific complement inhibitors such as hydrazine, KSCN, and the C4-inactivating factor.

Adolescent↗

Effects on serum complement of normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancy and of oral contraceptives.

The complement system was studied in normal gestation and puerperium, in pre-eclampsia and in women taking oral contraceptives. In 12 normal pregnancies, CH50 titres, C4, C3, C6 and C7 were increased throughout pregnancy; the serum concentration of C1 inhibitor was decreased in the last 2 quarters but greatly raised after delivery. Oral oestrogen-progestogen contraceptives also raised C3 but in contrast to pregnancy lowered CH50, C6 and C7. The different effects of pregnancy and of oral contraceptives may be due to materno-foetal immune reactions. In 9 patients with pre-eclamplsia, complement levels showed a wider scatter and a significantly higher C3 level than in normal pregnancy. Conversion of C3 to C3i was found in 2 of these patients.

Complement C3↗

The murine complement regulator Crry: new insights into the immunobiology of complement regulation.

Complement has an important role in inflammation and in the normal function of the immune system. Activated complement fragments have the capacity to bind and damage self-tissues. Cells from vertebrates express on their surface regulators of complement activation that protect them from the deleterious effects of cell-bound complement fragments. Abnormalities in these regulators of complement activation may participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders. Murine Crry is one of these regulators that inhibits the activation of the third component of complement and protects self-tissues from complement-mediated damage. Experimental work on Crry has increased our understanding of the immunobiology of complement regulation and the potential role of complement and complement inhibitors in the development and treatment of human diseases.

Animals↗

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid blocks protein transport in the secretory pathway causing redistribution of Golgi proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum.

We have investigated the effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), an inhibitor of lipoxygenase, on the intracellular protein transport and the structure of the Golgi complex. Pulse-chase experiments and immunoelectron microscopy showed that NDGA strongly inhibits the transport of newly synthesized secretory proteins to the Golgi complex resulting in their accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Despite their retention in the ER, oligosaccharides of secretory and ER-resident proteins were processed to endoglycosidase H-resistant forms, raising the possibility that oligosaccharide-processing enzymes are redistributed from the Golgi to the ER. Morphological observations further revealed that alpha-mannosidase II (a cis/medial-Golgi marker), but not TGN38 (a trans-Golgi network marker), rapidly redistributes to the ER in the presence of NDGA, resulting in the disappearance of the characteristic Golgi structure. Upon removal of the drug, the Golgi complex was reassembled into the normal structure as judged by perinuclear staining of alpha-mannosidase II and by restoration of the secretion. These effects of NDGA are quite similar to those of brefeldin A. However, unlike brefeldin A, NDGA did not cause a dissociation of beta-coatomer protein, a subunit of coatomer, from the Golgi membrane. On the contrary, NDGA exerted the stabilizing effect on beta-coatomer protein/membrane interaction against the dissociation caused by brefeldin A and ATP depletion. Taken together, these results indicate that NDGA is a potent agent disrupting the structure and function of the Golgi complex with a mechanism different from those known for other drugs reported so far.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Angiotensin II infusion ameliorates the early phase of a mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND: Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system slows the progression of chronic renal disease. METHODS: To test whether angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion aggravates or ameliorates an acute glomerulonephritis, the peptide was infused (200 ng/min by osmotic minipump) in rats with an anti-thymocyte antibody-induced glomerulonephritis (ATS). RESULTS: Ang II significantly increased blood pressure. Following injection of the antibody, similar glomerular binding of rabbit IgG and rat complement C3 was detected in ATS and Ang II+ATS rats, indicating no differences in delivery and binding of the antibody. Ang II infusion, however, induced a significant reduction in glomerular monocyte infiltration, cell proliferation and matrix expansion in nephritic rats compared to rats with nephritis without Ang II. The antiproliferative effect of Ang II was inhibited by the Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker irbesartan, but not by the AT2 receptor blocker PD 123319, indicating that this effect was likely transduced by AT1 receptors. Norepinephrine infusion (600 ng/min) produced a similar degree of hypertension, but did not affect glomerular proliferation in nephritic rats. Ang II induced the glomerular expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p27KIP1 and of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and inhibited expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1). CONCLUSION: Ang II surprisingly ameliorates glomerular monocyte infiltration, proliferation and matrix expansion in ATS nephritis. Ang II-mediated induction of cyclin kinase inhibitors and TGF-beta may contribute to the protection of the glomerulus from inflammatory injury by inducing cell cycle arrest and attenuating activation of local and recruited cells. Alternatively, Ang II might protect the kidney at least in part by less inflow of disease activators due to reduction of renal blood flow. Therefore, activation of the renin-angiotensin system may have protective effects in certain pathophysiological situations.

Angiotensin II↗

In vitro inhibition of the classical pathway of human complement by a natural microbial product, colistin sulphate.

Colistin sulphate was found to be an inhibitor of the classical pathway of the complement system. The main sites of inhibition were the interaction of EAC14 with C2 and EAC142 with C3. It also inhibited EAC14 formation from EA and C2-deficient serum, EAC1-7 formation from EAC1-3, C5, C6 and C7 and the interaction of EAC1-7 with C8 and C9, though less efficiently. It did not inhibit formation of C3/C5 convertase of the alternative pathway. The inhibition of the classical pathway was reversible since hemolytic activity was completely restored after dialysis.

Animals↗

In vitro inhibition of the classical pathway of human complement by polymyxin B.

Polymyxin B was found to be an inhibitor of the classical pathway of the complement system. The main sites of inhibition were the interaction of EAC14 with C2 and EAC142 with C3. It also inhibited EAC1-9 formation from EAC1-3 and C5-9 though slightly less efficiently. It did not inhibit C3/C5 convertase of the alternative pathway or its formation. The inhibition of the classical pathway was reversible since hemolytic activity was almost completely restored after dialysis.

Animals↗