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Identification of C3 acceptors responsible for complement activation in Crithidia fasciculata.

Crithidia fasciculata, an insect trypanosomatid is readily lysed by normal human serum at concentrations as low as 3%. Lysis occurs in the presence of Mg+2-EGTA and is antibody independent, indicating that the alternative pathway of complement activation is involved. Analysis of [131I]C3 deposition on C. fasciculata cells using C8-deficient serum, revealed that about 4 x 10(5) C3 molecules bound to each cell. Most of the C3 was bound to cells as C3b, part of it forming high molecular weight complexes, which could be dissociated by methylamine treatment at alkaline pH. To characterize the C3 acceptors on C. fasciculata, surface-iodinated cells were incubated with C8D or heat-inactivated serum, extracted and immunoprecipitated with anti-C3 or anti-arabinogalactan antisera. Analysis of the immunoprecipitated material on SDS gels showed high-molecular weight components, which disappeared after methylamine treatment, giving rise to a component of 200 kDa molecular size. This 200-kDa component corresponded to a purified arabinogalactan complex, which was immunoprecipitated from labeled cell extracts, without incubation with C8D, using anti-arabinogalactan antibodies. These results suggest that the arabinogalactan glycoconjugate is a C3 acceptor in C. fasciculata during complement activation. Purified arabinogalactan complexes were able to inactivate C3 in vitro. Solubilization in KOH to cleave the peptide moiety rendered it unable to inactivate C3. Apparently, the aggregated state of the purified arabinogalactan component at the cell surface is important for C3 deposition and activation.

Animals↗

Interaction between components of the human classical complement pathway and immobilized Cibacron Blue F3GA.

The interaction between the complement components in human serum and the dye, Cibacron Blue F3GA, immobilized on cross-linked agarose (Affi-Gel Blue) has been studied. All nine components of the classical complement pathway bound to the dye and could be recovered using a linear salt gradient. With the exception of C5 and C8, all the components were eluted over a narrow NaCl concentration range, with the following yields: C1, 17%; C2, 69%; C3, 92%; C4, 87%; C6, 105%; C7, 109%; C9, 128%. C5 and C8 eluted throughout the NaCl gradient with yields of 103% and 14%, respectively. Since all components could be eluted without substantial contamination by albumin or IgG, this procedure may prove valuable as an initial step in the purification of complement components. In addition, the ability of immobilized Cibacron Blue F3GA to physicallly remove complement components may prove useful for both the decomplementation of serum and in elucidating the role of complement in immunological reactions.

Anthracenes↗

Sublytic complement attack exposes C-reactive protein binding sites on cell membranes.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase serum protein synthesized by the liver. CRP has been localized to acute inflammatory sites and has been postulated to facilitate the removal of damaged cells. CRP binds to a number of ligands that may be present in inflammatory sites, and the extent to which individual ligands are involved in its binding to tissue sites is unknown. Complement activation is important in the tissue damage in many inflammatory conditions causing cell membrane damage and recruitment of inflammatory cells. This paper describes the binding of CRP to complement-damaged cell membranes. Raji cells activate the alternative complement pathway resulting in the deposition of C3b and membrane attack complexes (MAC) on the cell membrane. However, Raji cells are relatively resistant to killing by human complement. Treatment of Raji cells with human serum led to calcium-dependent phosphocholine-inhibitable CRP binding. CRP binding was eliminated by depletion of C3, C5, or C8 and reduced by depletion of C9 from serum. CRP binding preceded cell death and co-localized with MAC on cell membranes. CRP binding to complement-treated liposomes required phosphatidylcholine in addition to the MAC indicating that membrane phospholipids rather than the MAC proteins provide the binding sites for CRP. However, for both liposomes and Raji cells disruption of the lipid bilayer by complement attack was required for CRP binding to occur. These results support the hypothesis that CRP binding at sites of inflammation may be mediated by exposed phospholipids on damaged cell membranes.

Binding Sites↗

Simultaneous phenotyping of genetic markers for paternity testing.

Time-and cost-saving methods for paternity testing are described. Seventeen genetic systems were divided into six groups: (1) transferrin (Tf), factor B (Bf), and phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1); (2) group-specific component (Gc) or alpha 1-antitrypsin (PI) and alpha 2HS-glycoprotein (HSGA); (3) complement components C6 and C7, factor 13B (F13B), and plasminogen (PLG); (4) haptoglobin (Hp), C8 alpha-gamma chain (C81), and factor I (IF); (5) red cell acid phosphatase (ACP), esterase D (ESD), and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT); and (6) 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD) and glyoxalase I (GLO). Each group of systems was typed simultaneously by electrophoresis or isoelectric focusing (IEF) followed by staining or immunoblotting. These methods are very practical because they afford a considerable saving of time, work and expense, and facilitate semipermanent preservation of electrophoretic patterns.

Blood Grouping and Crossmatching↗

Isolation and characterization of a low molecular weight complement inhibitor present in normal human serum.

Normal human serum and urine were found to contain a low molecular weight complement inhibitor (LMWI). LMWI was separated from serum by dialysis in membrane tubing or through an Amicon PM10, and then concentrated on an Amicon UM05 membrane. On Bio-Gel P-2 filtration, LMWI was eluted just after the column calibration marker, stachyose hydrate (6666 . 6 daltons), and was estimated to be 500 daltons. Both pathways of complement activation were susceptible to modulation by LMWI. Addition of LMWI reduced the haemolysis of sheep erythrocytes sensitized with antibody, rabbit erythrocytes and guinea-pig erythrocytes bearing human C3 and C4. Formation of EAC142 from EAC14 and guinea-pig C2 was blocked, indicating a failure to generate the classical pathway C3 convertase: however, the lysis of preformed EAC142 was not suppressed. Conversion of factor B and C3 did not occur when LMWI was present during zymosan activation of serum. This indicates that the inhibitor either prevented, or acted at a step prior to, the cleavage of factor B by factor D. LMWI did not prevent formation of erythrocyte C567 intermediates nor their subsequent lysis by C8 and C9. Thus, serum contains a 500-dalton inhibitor which modulates the activities of both complement pathways at an early step in each of the activation sequences. LMWI may serve as a regulator of the inflammatory process by suppressing C3 convertase formation and generation of complement-derived, biologically reactive molecules.

Blood↗

Mechanism of killing of Giardia lamblia trophozoites by complement.

Only antibodies of the IgM class support the lytic effect of complement on Giardia lamblia (GL). We sensitized GL trophozoites (SGL) at 4 degrees C with serum containing anti-GL antibodies or IgM purified from this serum, and either normal human serum (NHS), complement 2-deficient human serum (C2d-HS), or C4-deficient guinea pig serum was used as source of complement. SGL were killed by NHS (86%) and by the deficient sera (50 and 40%, respectively), suggesting activation of the alternative pathway. However, the reaction was inhibited by Mg-EGTA. These observations led to studies of the role of C1. The lytic effect of NHS and C2d-HS on SGL was abolished by immunochemically depleting C1 from these sera, and reconstituted by adding purified C1q plus C1r and C1s. Factor B-depleted C2d-HS also lost its capacity to mediate killing, but reconstitution with factor B led to a dose-dependent increase in the killing of SGL. We next investigated the participation of the membrane attack complex in this system. SGL carrying C5b to C7 were lysed when incubated with C8 alone (56%); the addition of C9 further increased killing (98%), while C9 in the absence of C8 had no effect. We concluded that although activation of the classical pathway produces lysis of SGL, lysis may also proceed through a unique pathway of complement activation that requires C1 and factor B, but is independent of C4 and C2. Lysis of SGL can be accomplished by C5b to C8 in the absence of C9.

Animals↗

Evidence suggesting the occurrence of C3-independent intravascular immune hemolysis. Reactive hemolysis in vivo.

The authors present circumstantial evidence for the involvement of reactive hemolysis, i.e., C3-independent binding of the cytolytic C5b-9 complement complex to bystander red cells (RBC), in a case of intravascular immune hemolysis. Fresh serum obtained from a 6-year-old patient during the hemolytic episode, but not obtained thereafter, induced C5b-9-dependent hemolysis of human RBCs but the indirect C3 antiglobulin test remained negative. Particles (presumably RBC ghosts) isolated from the patient's plasma anticoagulated with EDTA at the peak of hemolysis were coated with C5b-9 complexes, whereas the direct antiglobulin test was strongly positive for IgA, only weakly positive for IgG, and negative for C3. Moreover, neither the autoantibodies isolated by elution (IgG plus IgA), nor free serum autoantibodies (IgA alone) activated complement in vitro. Additionally, serum samples collected later during the 12-month period of observation contained normal levels of C3, C4, C8, and C9, but markedly reduced levels of C7. These serums all produced strong reactive lysis in agarose plates, but not in test tubes. These results appear compatible with the working hypothesis that the intravascular hemolytic episode in this patient might have arisen through a local initiation of complement activation with subsequent C3-independent binding of C5b-9 to and hemolysis of bystander RBCs.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗

Complement membrane attack complex and protectin (CD59) in liver allografts during acute rejection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The complement system is important in the rejection of xenografts, but very little is known about its activation in the rejection of allografts. Complement lysis is induced by the membrane attack complex (MAC), an aggregate of C5b, C6, C7, C8 and C9 molecules. The main defender against MAC is the CD59 molecule, also called protectin. In this study, the aim was to analyze the possible deposition of MAC and the fate of CD59 on distinct cell populations during liver allograft rejection. METHODS: Liver allografts were monitored by frequent fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) to demonstrate the immunoactivation of rejection. To examine MAC and CD59 in the FNAB, in relation to the activation markers of rejection, IL2-receptor, MHC class II and ICAM-1 expression, specific monoclonal antibodies and immunoperoxidase staining were used. RESULTS: Ten out of 21 consecutive liver transplants underwent a histologically confirmed episode of reversible acute rejection. In the FNAB, a significant increase of the activation markers IL2-receptor, class II and ICAM-1 correlated with the peak of inflammation during the episode. In association with inflammation, a significant deposition of MAC was recorded in neutrophils and lymphocytes infiltrating the graft and in the parenchymal cells. MAC deposition subsided together with the inflammation. A significant decrease in CD59 expression was seen in neutrophils during rejection, but CD59 expression on other inflammatory cells and hepatic tissue cells varied greatly. CONCLUSIONS: Complement activation was seen in association with acute rejection of liver allografts and it led to MAC assembly on leukocytes and tissue cells. A decrease in CD59 expression was less clear-cut, but it may predispose the cells to complement-mediated elimination.

Acute Disease↗

Beta-lactam antibiotics potentiate magainin 2 antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo.

The ability of magainin 2 to augment antibiotic therapy was examined. Susceptibility to magainin 2 was determined on Escherichia coli incubated in the presence and absence of sublethal concentrations of antibiotics both in vitro and in vivo. Experiments in buffer and normal human serum revealed that E. coli exposed to sublethal amounts of cefepime, a beta-lactam antibiotic, was significantly more susceptible to the antimicrobial activity of magainin 2. Bacteria incubated with subinhibitory concentrations of other beta-lactam type antibiotics, but not amikacin (an aminoglycoside) or ciprofloxacin (a quinolone), were also more susceptible to magainin 2 in normal human serum. Bacteria were less susceptible to magainin 2 when they were examined in heat-inactivated serum. Complement was shown to be required for magainin 2 activity in serum by using C8-deficient sera. The combination of magainin 2 and cefepime was shown to be more antimicrobial in normal human serum for a variety of bacterial strains. Magainin 2 was completely inactive as a therapeutic agent when it was administered alone (2 mg per mouse) but significantly increased the survival of mice when it was administered with a low level of cefepime.

Animals↗

Haemolytic complement in peripheral lymph of normal men.

The haemolytic activity of nine individual components of complement and the concentrations of C1q, C1s, C4, C3, C3PA and C9 proteins were measured in the leg lymph and serum of four normal men. The mean lymph/serum ratio for total haemolytic complement was 0.257, for C1H50 it was 0.138, for C4H50 0.105, for C2H50 0.279, for C3H50 0.063, for C5H50 0.266, for C6H50 0.145, for C7H50 0.25, for C8H50 0.244 and for C9H50 0.253. The mean lymph/serum ratio for complement proteins was: for C1q 0.048, for C1s 0.06, for C4 0.199, for C3 0.225, for C9 0.244 and for C3PA 0.263. The low haemolytic activity of total complement and of all components in lymph seems to be dependent on the low complement protein concentration. The remarkably low lymph C1q protein concentration may play a physiological role in controlling total complement activity in lymph and interstitial fluid. The total complement haemolytic activity in lymph exceeded the haemolytic activity of C1 and C3, which may indicate the possibility of independent activation of C5-7 and C8-9. The considerably low C3H50 level, with high C3 protein concentration, at present lacks a proper explanation.

Adolescent↗

The membrane attack mechanism of complement. Reversible interactions among the five native components in free solution.

Reversible interactions in free solution were demonstrated to occur (a) between C5 and C8, (b) between C5, 6, 7 and C8, and (c) between C8 and C9. No interaction was observed between C8 and C6 or C7 and between C9 and C5, 6, 7. Interactions between C8 and C9 were enhanced at lowered ionic strength (0.05) and a molar excess of C8 over C9. Complex formation was independent of pH over the range of 6.5-8.5. Under optimal conditions the C8, 9 complex had a sedimentation coefficient of 10.2-10.6S, while native C8 and C9 sedimented at 8.5 and 4.8S, respectively. Specificity and reversibility of these interactions were established. In spite of the limited number of interactions observed, all five of the native proteins of the membrane attack mechanism interacted to form an association product that sedimented at 10.8-11.2S. Demonstration of this product in free solution supports the concept that C5-9 on acquisition of cytolytic activity assemble into a stable multimolecular complex.

Animals↗

Detection of refolding conformers of complement protein C9 during insertion into membranes.

Human complement protein C9 is a hydrophilic serum glycoprotein responsible for efficient expression of the cytotoxic and cytolytic functions of complement. It assembles on the surface of a target cell together with C5, C6, C7 and C8 to form the membrane attack complex (MAC) and therefore has to change structure to become an integral membrane protein. As the protein assumes a stable structure in an aqueous environment, the question arises as to how it can enter the hydrophobic interior of a membrane. During MAC assembly C9 polymerizes into a circular structure, termed poly(C9) (ref. 8), which is responsible for the cylindrical electron microscopic appearance of the MAC. The suggestion has been made that C9 must at least partly unfold in order to enter a membrane and also that polymerization of the molecule is intimately linked to insertion and cytotoxicity. The extent of unfolding and the mechanism of polymerization are not understood, nor is it known precisely which parts of the molecule participate in the proposed structural changes. We have been able to capture refolding C9 conformers during membrane insertion with the help of sequence-specific anti-peptide antibodies. Some of these antibodies inhibit C9-mediated haemolysis but not C9 polymerization, while others have the opposite effect. This suggests that the two processes are independent.

Complement C9↗

Glutathione-catalyzed disulfide-linking of C9 in the membrane attack complex of complement.

The membrane attack complex of complement (the dimeric C5b-9 complex) is a multimolecular assemblage of five proteins (C5b, C6, C7, C8, and C9) which are held together by noncovalent forces. We found that C9 molecules in the complex can be covalently crosslinked (disulfide-linked) by glutathione. In this experiment, the tetramolecular C5b-8 complex bound to phospholipid vesicles was first prepared from purified C5b-6, incubated (37 degrees C, 20 min) with an excess of 131I-C9 in the presence of 1 mM glutathione; an average of 5.3 molecules of C9 per C5b-8 were bound and the C5b-9 complex formed was predominantly a dimeric C5b-9 complex. About one-third of C9 in this C5b-9 complex was found to be in a disulfide-linked dimeric form. The C5b-9 complex, having only an average of 0.9 molecules of C9 per C5b-8, was also prepared in the presence of glutathione; this C5b-9 preparation contained both monomeric and dimeric C5b-9 complexes, and about one-fifth of the C9 subunits was in a cross-linked dimeric form. By contrast, C9 in the absence of the C5b-8 complex was not significantly cross-linked by glutathione. These results indicate that C9 has a unique property to associate with itself upon reaction with the C5b-8 complex.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗

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↗

Preconditioning reduces tissue complement gene expression in the rabbit isolated heart.

Both preconditioning and inhibition of complement activation have been shown to ameliorate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The recent demonstration that myocardial tissue expresses complement components led us to investigate whether preconditioning affects complement expression in the isolated heart. Hearts from New Zealand White rabbits were exposed to either two rounds of 5 min global ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion (ischemic preconditioning) or 10 microM of the ATP-dependent K+ (KATP) channel opener pinacidil for 30 min (chemical preconditioning) before induction of 30 min global ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Both ischemic and chemical preconditioning significantly (P < 0.05) reduced myocardial C1q, C1r, C3, C8, and C9 mRNA levels. Western blot and immunohistochemistry demonstrated a similar reduction in C3 and membrane attack complex protein expression. The K(ATP) channel blocker glyburide (10 microM) reversed the depression of C1q, C1r, C3, C8, and C9 mRNA expression observed in the pinacidil-treated hearts. The results suggest that reduction of local tissue complement production may be one means by which preconditioning protects the ischemic myocardium.

Animals↗

Complement C5b-9 increases plasminogen binding and activation on human endothelial cells.

Deposition of the terminal complement proteins (C5b-9) on human endothelial cells can result in cell lysis or nonlytic alterations of cell function including procoagulant responses. Because regulation of fibrinolysis is a central endothelial function and because C9 contains a carboxyl-terminal lysine similar to other proteins that bind and facilitate activation of plasminogen (PG), the effects of complement injury on PG binding and activation on these cells were investigated. Activation of complement through deposition of C5b67 complexes on endothelial cells resulted in a small increase (approximately 20%) in PG binding. Incorporation of C8 into C5b-8 resulted in no further increase in binding; however, specific 125I-PG binding was increased by approximately 100% after C5b-9 deposition. Moreover, PG was found to bind specifically to C7 and C9. The PG bound to endothelial cells after C5b-9 deposition was readily activated by tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA). In a cell-free system, complement C9 and a synthetic peptide composed of the 20 carboxyl-terminal amino acids of C9 enhanced PG activation by TPA. Removal of the carboxyl-terminal lysine of C9 abolished the enhancement of PG activation without diminishing PG binding. We conclude that membrane C9 may comprise a binding site for PG and serve to enhance activation of this zymogen by TPA. These findings suggest that immune injury to the endothelium may enhance both the fibrin-generating and fibrinolytic capacity of the vessel wall.

Binding Sites↗