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[Changes in the synovial membrane in early diagnosed cases of rheumatoid arthritis. II. Immunohistochemical and serological studies].

To extend the histologic-histochemical examinations on so-called early cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA, Geiler and Emmrich 1980) additional immuno-histochemical and serological tests were carried out on the same subjects. The purpose was to find out to what extent the well-known humoral immunological abnormalities of RA cases with fully developed disease (so-called late cases) occur in the early stage of RA. It was also aimed to determine their diagnostic and pathogenetic significance. The synovial membranes were tested immuno-histochemically for rheumatoid factor, immunoglobulins, and complement fixation for the complement factors C3, C4 and C9. In the serum the rheumatoid factor was assayed by the latex test and its immuno-globulin class specificity by means of an immunofluorescence test. In contrast to observations in the late cases, rheumatoid factors, immuno-globulins and complement deposits are found less often. In the class specificity test of rheumatoid factor in the serum there are considerably more positive cases than with the latex test. In the synovial membrane and in the serum there are positive cases also in juvenile RA-cases. For the diagnosis of early cases the immuno-histochemical demonstration of the rheumatoid factor in the synovial membrane is of great importance. The diagnosis RA may thereby the secured. --In the pathogenesis the accumulation of vasculitides with deposits of immune-complexes may be important. Possibly a vasculitis induced by immune-complexes represents the initial reaction of the rheumatoid synovitis. Since in the early cases little synthesis and deposits of immuno-globulins, rheumatoid factors and complements are found, it may be assumed that the more active humoral immunological activity of the synovial membrane of the late cases develops slowly during the course of the disease.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Species-restricted target cell lysis by human complement: complement-lysed erythrocytes from heterologous and homologous species differ in their ratio of bound to inserted C9.

The cytolytic efficiency of the terminal complement complex (C5b-9) against erythrocytes of different species is, in part, dependent on the species of C9 origin. In the present study, we have examined the interaction of C9 with erythrocytes in terms of the binding, dimerization, and insertion of C9 into the membranes of sheep and human erythrocytes lysed by human complement (C). The membranes of these C-lysed erythrocytes were analyzed for bound, dimerized, and inserted C9 by a combination of photolabeling, SDS-PAGE, electroblotting, and immunostaining techniques. We found that neither binding nor dimerization of C9 could be correlated with the relative hemolytic efficiency of human C on these erythrocytes, but that C9 insertion into the membranes of these cells varied in direct relation to the extent of lysis. Interestingly, the binding of C3 to these cells under conditions of equivalent C1 fixation also correlated with lytic efficiency. These data indicate that the C9-related differences in the cytolytic efficiency of C against erythrocytes from different species is primarily due to the efficiency of C9 insertion into these cells. Moreover, these data emphasize that neither the binding of C9 to a target membrane nor the formation of C9 dimers necessarily leads to the insertion of C9 into the membrane, suggesting the presence of membrane-bound but inactive C5b-9 complexes. Because the extent of C3 binding also correlated with the relative degree of lysis of sheep vs human erythrocytes, the possibility exists that surface-bound C3 may regulate hemolysis by directing the insertion of C9 in terminal complexes into cells.

Animals↗

Meningococcal meningitis in a women with inherited deficiency of the ninth component of complement.

A 17-year-old woman presented with acute pyogenic meningitis; Neisseria meningitidis group C was isolated from blood on culture. Complement assays demonstrated a hemolytic complement titer of 12 u/ml; individual components were normal except for C9, which was absent by both functional and antigenic analysis. Family studies were consistent with a familial C9 deficiency, autosomal co-dominant inheritance. This is the first report of the association of C9 deficiency and disseminated neisserial infection; whether this complement deficiency predisposes to the neisserial infection remains to be established.

Adolescent↗

Sublytic complement attack protects tumor cells from lytic doses of antibody and complement.

Sublytic doses of the membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement are known to exert multiple stimulatory effects on metabolically active cells. Results presented herewith demonstrate that pretreatment of the human leukemic cells K562 and HL-60 with sublytic doses of antibody and normal human serum protects them from lytic complement concentrations, a phenomenon proposed to be called "complement-induced protection". C7- and C8-deficient human sera are ineffective in inducing resistance unless they are reconstituted with purified human C7 and C8, respectively. The complement-induced protection is inhibitable by actinomycin D and cycloheximide indicating that the increased complement resistance depends on RNA and protein synthesis triggered by the sublytic complement doses. Free extracellular Ca2+ is also required to achieve maximal protection, indicating a role for Ca2+ ions in the cell stimulatory events which culminate in increased complement resistance. Quantitative analysis of bound complement components indicated that similar amounts of C3 and C9 molecules are deposited on "protected" and control cells during complement activation. The "protected" K562 and HL-60 cells regain sensitivity to lytic MAC doses after about 8 or 3 h, respectively, of culture in growth medium, in the absence or presence of actinomycin D and cycloheximide. The "induced protection" is not species restricted and protection from human complement can be induced in K562 cells by treatment with sublytic doses of antibody and rabbit or guinea pig sera.

Animals↗

Studies of the association of the eighth and ninth components of human complement within the membrane-bound cytolytic complex.

The association of the eighth (C8) and ninth (C9) components of human complement within membrane-bound C5b-9 was investigated using the photosensitive cross-linking reagent N-succinimidyl-6-(4'-azido-2'-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate. Reaction of this reagent with either the purified alpha-gamma or beta subunit of C8 resulted in the introduction of 6-8 mol/mol of photosensitive 6-(4'-azido-2'-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate (ANH) as an intrinsic ligand on each protein. The resulting ANH-(alpha-gamma) or ANH-(beta) was capable of recombining with equimolar amounts of beta or alpha-gamma, respectively, to yield ANH-C8. Parallel modifications of purified C9 resulted in incorporation of 3-4 mol/mol of ANH-ligand. Both ANH-C8 and ANH-C9 retained their ability to incorporate into C5b-9. Two approaches were used to determine the proximity of C8 subunits to C9 within C5b-9. In one, the complex was assembled on erythrocytes by incubating EAC1-7 cells separately with each form of ANH-C8 and subsequently saturating with 125I-C9. After lysis, membranes were irradiated, solubilized, and analyzed by gel electrophoresis. Cross-linking was assessed by a shift in electrophoretic mobility of 125I-C9 to a higher molecular weight. Results using either form of ANH-C8 in C5b-9 showed that, although at least 30% was involved in cross-linking, none was cross-linked to C9. Similar results were obtained using a second approach in which cross-linker and radiolabel were transposed between C8 and C9. Here, EAC1-7 cells were incubated first with 125I-C8 containing either 125I-(alpha-gamma) or 125I-(beta) and subsequently with ANH-C9. Although at least 48% of ANH-C9 in C5b-9 was involved in cross-linking in these experiments, no cross-linking to either subunit of C8 was detected. These results suggest that C8 is not in close physical association with C9 within membrane-bound C5b-9.

Azides↗

The surfaces of the parasitic nematodes Trichinella spiralis and Toxocara canis differ in the binding of post-C3 components of human complement by the alternative pathway.

The binding of human complement components C3, C5 and C9 to the surface of the infective larvae of the nematode parasites Toxocara canis and Trichinella spiralis, by the alternative pathway, was examined by direct and indirect immunofluorescence on the intact parasites. This showed that although C3 bound to both nematodes, they differed markedly in the binding of C5 and C9; C5 bound only minimally to T. spiralis, and C9 binding to this parasite was barely detectable. In contrast, both early and late components bound to T. canis to a high density, comparable to, or in excess of, the binding of these components to the infective larvae of the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. The lack of binding of the post-C3 components to T. spiralis did not correlate with enhanced binding of the control protein, Factor H.

Animals↗

Binding of human and rat CD59 to the terminal complement complexes.

CD59-antigen (protectin) is a widely distributed glycolipid-anchored inhibitor of complement lysis. CD59 interacts with complement components C8 and C9 during assembly of the membrane attack complex (MAC). To evaluate species specificity of these interactions we have in the present study examined cross-species binding of isolated human and rat CD59 to the terminal complement components C8 and C9. By using primarily soluble CD59 isolated from urine (CD59U) potentially non-specific binding interactions of the phospholipid portion of the membrane forms of CD59 could be avoided. Sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation analysis showed that human CD59U bound to both human and rat C8 in the SC5b-8 complexes. Similar binding occurred when rat CD59U was used. The degree of binding did not significantly differ between the heterologous and homologous CD59-C8 combinations. C9 from both species inhibited the binding of CD59 to soluble SC5b-8. In ligand blotting analysis human and rat CD59U bound to human and rat C8 alpha gamma-subunit and C9. Binding of human and rat CD59U was stronger to human than rat C9. In plate binding assays the erythrocyte form of CD59 (CD59E) bound to both human and rat C8. Binding of CD59E to heterologous C9 was considerably weaker than to homologous C9. Our results imply that the reciprocal binding sites between C8 and CD59 and to a lesser degree between CD59 and C9 are conserved between human and rat. Interactions of CD59 with the terminal C components are thus species selective but not 'homologously restricted'.

Animals↗

Ninth component of complement: self-aggregation and interaction with lipids.

We have investigated environmental conditions that might be of importance for the polymerization of the ninth component (C9) of human complement. In disagreement with earlier reports summarized by Tschopp et al. [Tschopp, J., Müller-Eberhard, H. J., & Podack, E. R. (1982) Nature (London) 298, 534-538] we find no evidence for significant aggregation or loss of hemolytic activity of C9 when incubated at 37 degrees C even after 12 days of incubation. Higher temperatures cause denaturation of the protein and formation of stringlike aggregates. In contrast, short-term proteolysis with 1% (w/w) trypsin at room temperature causes rapid polymerization of part of the C9 into tubular structures (poly-C9), and the remainder of the monomeric C9 is digested. This polymerization reaction is inhibitable by trypsin inhibitor; alpha-thrombin and proteinase K are ineffective in creating polymers. A second discrepancy to the earlier reports is our finding that monomeric C9 immediately interacts with small unilamellar lipid vesicles (SUV) without a required heating step. As a result of this interaction about half of the C9 aggregates to form strings and tubules, and these aggregates cause agglutination of vesicles. The other half of the C9 associates with a second population of SUV without causing a change in Stokes' radius of these vesicles, and no proteinaceous structures are detectable on the vesicle surface by electron microscopy. When these two vesicle populations are tested for their membrane integrity, no release of an encapsulated fluorescent marker can be detected, nor is there leakage of potassium ions across the bilayer membrane since a membrane diffusion potential can be developed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Complement C9↗

An enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay for the quantitation of the terminal complement complex from cell membranes or in activated human sera.

A sensitive and simple enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to measure the terminal complement complex (TCC) in solution. Commercially available antibodies to the native complement (C) components C5 and C9 were used in a double antibody sandwich technique sensitive enough to detect 0.3 microgram/ml of purified TCC. The TCC was not detected in normal human serum (NHS) nor was it generated when sera from patients with a genetic deficiency of functional C5, C7, C8 beta or C9 were activated with cobra venom factor (CVF). If the C8 beta deficient serum was reconstituted with the C8 beta chain and incubated with CVF, TCC were formed and detected by the assay. In in vitro experiments, the TCC was detected in NHS activated by either the classical or alternative pathway even when there was no measurable consumption of C5, C8 or C9. In addition, adaptation of a detergent extraction procedure permitted the quantitation by the assay, of TCC which were generated on sensitized sheep erythrocyte membranes. Experiments to test sample handling conditions showed no generation of TCC in NHS after four freeze/thaw cycles and spontaneous formation only if NHS had been incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 h. The TCC in zymosan-activated NHS were stable at 37 degrees C for 1 week. Patients with C activation associated diseases such as SLE and rheumatoid arthritis had increased levels of TCC that correlated with positive clinical tests for inflammation, even though C levels were normal when measured by routine techniques. These results suggest that this ELISA will provide a valuable tool for studying the role of C in the pathogenesis of C-mediated diseases and in examining the mechanism of tissue injury in in vitro experimental systems.

Animals↗

Transmembrane channel formation by complement: functional analysis of the number of C5b6, C7, C8, and C9 molecules required for a single channel.

Earlier studies have shown that sequential treatment of resealed erythrocyte ghosts with C5b6, C7, C8, and C9 leads to insertion of hydrophobic peptides from these complement proteins into the membrane and assembly of transmembrane channels. The number of molecules of each of the proteins required for assembly of the membrane-associated channel structure was evaluated by measuring the quantitative relationship between the doses of the individual proteins and the release of two trapped markers, sucrose and inulin, from ghosts after channel formation. The incubation period was sufficient to attain equilibrium of marker distribution between the ghosts and the extracellular fluid. Two markers of different size (sucrose and inulin, 0.9 and 3 nm molecular diameter, respectively) were used in order to develop information on the molecular composition of small and large channels, respectively. We found that participation of C5b6, C7, and C8 in channel formation displayed one-hit characteristics, regardless of marker size. By contrast, the participation of C9 was one-hit with respect to the sucrose marker, whereas with respect to the inulin marker the C9 reaction was multi-hit. Our results are compatible with the view that these markers are released through a channel structure in the membrane that is a monomer of C5b--9 of the composition C5b61 C71C81C9n, in which n = 1 for channels permitting passage of sucrose and n = 2 for channels allowing transit of inulin.

Animals↗

Complementary DNA cloning of complement C8 beta and its sequence homology to C9.

The complete amino acid sequence of mature C8 beta has been derived from the DNA sequence of a cDNA clone identified by expression screening of a human liver cDNA library. Comparison with the amino acid sequence of C9 shows an overall homology with few deletions and insertions. In particular, the cysteine-rich domains and membrane-inserting regions of C9 are well conserved. These findings are discussed in relation to a possible mechanism of membrane attack complex formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

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↗

[The complement system].

The complement system may be activated by at least two different pathways: the clinical pathway involving C1, C4 and C2 and the alternative pathway involving properdin, C3, factor B and factor D. The classical pathway can be activated by antigen antibody complexes, while the alternative pathway can be activated by other substances such as natural polysaccharides. Both pathways lead to an activation of C3 and of the last complement components (C5 to C9). Congenital defects of the complement system have been described for several components. Some of these defects are relatively well tolerated, but others, such as C3 deficiency, lead to increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. Acquired complement defects are frequently observed in association with several diseases. Usually they are characterized by an increased level of complement components involved in the classical pathway and therefore reflect activation by antigen antibody complexes. Such changes may be systematic, as in lupus erythematodes, or localized to some biological fluids such as synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis. In some renal diseases the complement profile suggests activation of the complement system by the alternative pathway, and this may reflect a different pathogenesis.

Angioedema↗

Human protectin (CD59), an 18,000-20,000 MW complement lysis restricting factor, inhibits C5b-8 catalysed insertion of C9 into lipid bilayers.

Human cells are relatively resistant to lysis by the homologous complement system. Here we describe the mechanism of action of a recently discovered and widely distributed 18,000-20,000 molecular weight (MW) membrane glycoprotein (CD59), which appears to act as a major protective element against complement-mediated lysis (hence called protectin). When incorporated into heterologous erythrocyte membranes, protectin efficiently prevented cell lysis by human serum. Neutralization with antibody of the naturally occurring protectin on human erythrocytes or on nucleated K562 cells increased their susceptibility to lysis by homologous complement. During complement activation, protectin became incorporated into the membrane attack complex (MAC). By interacting with newly exposed regions in the C5b-8 complex and in aggregating C9 it limited the number of C9 molecules associating with the C5b-8 complex to a C8:C9 ratio of 1:1.5 instead of a normal average of 1:3.5. The results demonstrate directly that protectin is a powerful inhibitor of complement cytolysis and acts by inhibiting the C5b-8 catalysed insertion of C9 into the lipid bilayer.

Antigens, Differentiation↗

A high incidence of C9 deficiency among healthy blood donors in Osaka, Japan.

By the use of sucrose gelatin veronal buffer (SGVB), a simple screening test was developed by us to detect sera with low complement activity, including C9-deficient sera. Using this screening test, we were able to identify sera with low complement activity including C9-deficient sera among a large number of samples. Further examinations, estimation of the protein concentration of C9, C4, C3, etc., enabled classification of serum with low complement activity into C9-deficient serum, serum deficient in the other components, and serum with low complement activity caused by non-specific activation of complement through the classical pathway by low temperature in vitro. Among 145,640 sera from Osaka donors, 138 sera were found to be deficient in C9 by these methods. The whole complement activity (CH50) of the 138 sera was 13.1 +/- 3.0 U/ml. The C9 protein in these sera was undetectable, not only by the single radial immunodiffusion method, but also by the sensitive ELISA method. C9 activities in these sera were less than 0.1% of the level in pooled normal human serum. These findings and the family studies revealed that 138 blood donors unquestionably had a hereditary C9 deficiency. The incidence of C9 deficiency among Osaka donors was calculated to be 0.095%.

Blood Donors↗

Complement component 9 activation, consumption, and neuronal deposition in the post-hypoxic-ischemic central nervous system of human newborn infants.

The role of complement in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is not known. Therefore, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and post-mortem cerebral tissue were analyzed to determine whether complement is activated and complement component 9 (C9) is deposited on neurons in the central nervous systems (CNS) of newborn infants who developed moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Control CSF samples were obtained during routine evaluation for possible sepsis from infants who were not depressed at birth. In ELISA assays of CSF obtained from 16 infants with HIE, compared to CSF from 7 control infants, the mean concentration of terminal complement complexes was elevated and the mean C9 concentration was diminished. Immunofluorescence microscopy of post-mortem frozen brain tissue obtained from two infants who expired at 4-5 days of life after severe HIE revealed that activated C9 was deposited on cells in all lobes. Double label immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that nearly all of the C9-positive cells were neurons and essentially all of the neurons were C9-positive. Immunoperoxidase immunohistochemistry of formalin-fixed tissue also confirmed the presence of many C9-positive cells, particularly in the hippocampus. The C9-positive cells usually manifested morphology consistent with neurons, most of which contained fragmented nuclei. In summary, complement was activated in the CNS of newborn infants who developed moderate to severe HIE. C9 was deposited on neurons, including morphologically apoptotic neurons. Further investigations into a possible role of complement in the pathogenesis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury are warranted.

Brain↗

The membrane attack mechanism of complement. Verification of a stable C5-9 complex in free solution.

The membrane attack mechanism of complement, C5 to C9, has previously been postulated to associate on the target cell surface to a stable decamolecular complex with a calculated mol wt of 995,000. A soluble and stable complex consisting of C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9 has now been demonstrated to arise as a consequence of complement activation by the classical or alternate pathway. It has a sedimentation coefficient of 22.5S and a mol wt of 1 million daltons, and it migrates on electrophoresis at pH 8.6 as an alpha-globulin. The stable and soluble C5b-9 complex cannot bind to erythrocytes and has no demonstrable cytolytic activity. However, due to partially unsaturated binding sites for C9, it can bind additional C9 and thus function as an inhibitor of lysis of EAC1-8 by C9. These results support the concept according to which the membrane-bound attack system of complement represents a stable, decamolecular assembly of C5b-9. Unlike its analogue in free solution, the membrane-bound complex is cytolytically active.

Cell-Free System↗