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PubMed1987

Regulation of the activity of platelet-bound C3 convertase of the alternative pathway of complement by platelet factor H.

The alternative pathway of complement is regulated on the surface of homologous blood cells at the C3 amplification step by the membrane protein decay-accelerating factor, as well as by the plasma protein factor H. We have reported elsewhere that platelets from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria regulate the activity of the C3 convertase C3bBb, even though they lack decay-accelerating factor. We now report that normal human platelets contain factor H, which was released from the platelet in response to complement deposition or thrombin stimulation. Factor H was localized to the platelet alpha granules by immunocytochemical techniques. As determined by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay, thrombin-stimulated platelets released approximately equal to 54 ng of factor H per 10(8) platelets. The release of factor H in response to complement or thrombin was inhibited by treating the platelets with metabolic inhibitors. Such inhibition resulted in a 3-fold increase in the activity of C3bBb. Platelets that released factor H bound only half as many molecules of radiolabeled factor B to platelet-bound C3b than platelets that could not release factor H. Treatment of platelets with anti-decay-accelerating factor antibody had no effect on the activity of C3bBb unless the release of factor H was blocked. Therefore, so far as we know, human platelets have a unique mechanism for the regulation of the alternative pathway of complement.

Complement Activating Enzymes↗

PubMed1989

Common binding region of complement factors B, H and CR1 on C3b revealed by monoclonal anti-C3d.

Fab fragments of a murine C3d-specific monoclonal antibody, clone 4C2, strongly inhibited the binding of H, and up to about 80% that of B, to C3b on sheep erythrocytes, as shown by using radiolabelled purified proteins. The inhibition was also detected in the fluid phase. Conversion of C3 by preformed solid phase alternative pathway C3 convertase was not affected by 4C2. Also, it did not affect the decay rate of the convertase, but reduced the decay-accelerating effect of H on it. The results suggest that the binding sites of B and H on C3b are close to each other, and their competition for binding to C3b is focused around the C3d region. In addition, 4C2 partially blocked noncovalent binding of C3b to human erythrocytes, which suggests that CR1 also binds close to the H- and B-binding region in C3b.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1987

Complement factor H-binding protein of Raji cells and tonsil B lymphocytes.

Several reports have indicated that Factor H has specific effects on certain cell populations, suggesting that Factor H receptors may exist. Lambris & Ross [(1982) J. Exp. Med. 155, 1400-1411] purified a protein from Raji B-lymphoblastoid cell culture supernatants, using Factor H-Sepharose affinity chromatography. This species appeared to consist of two disulphide-linked components each of Mr 50,000, with an additional 50,000-Mr chain attached non-covalently. The existence of cell-surface Factor H-binding proteins has now been re-investigated with 125I surface-labelled Raji and tonsil B cells. Non-ionic-detergent extracts of the cells, in 0.1% Nonidet P40/10 mM-sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, were incubated with Factor H-Sepharose in the presence of proteinase inhibitors. After the beads had been washed, bound components were eluted with 50 mM-NaCl. A single radioactive species was eluted from the resin, which migrates identically with Factor H (apparent Mr 170,000) in SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis under reducing and non-reducing conditions. Biosynthetic radiolabelling studies confirmed that this species was synthesized by Raji cells. Examination of culture supernatants from biosynthetically radiolabelled Raji cells showed again the presence of a single soluble species that bound to Factor H-Sepharose, but this species was of lower Mr (approx. 105,000) than the membrane-derived protein. The soluble form may be produced by proteolysis of the membrane form, or may be of separate origin. The similarity in size of the cell-surface protein to Factor H was initially confusing, but it is distinct from cell-surface Factor H on the basis of three criteria: (1) it is not recognized by anti-(Factor H) monoclonal antibodies MRC OX23 and MRC OX24, nor by polyclonal F(ab')2 anti-(Factor H); (2) it does not bind to Zn2+-chelate resin, whereas Factor H does; (3) cell-surface Factor H present on U937 cells does not bind to Factor H-Sepharose.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMed1985

Structural and functional analysis of the complement component factor H with the use of different enzymes and monoclonal antibodies to factor H.

The action of six different enzymes on the function and structure of Factor H was investigated by use of sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, haemagglutination, two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay systems and an assay for Factor I cofactor activity. Six monoclonal antibodies directed against the 38 kDa tryptic fragment of Factor H [which contains the binding site for C3b (a 180 kDa fragment of the third component of complement) and the cofactor activity] were also used to detect cleavage products derived from the same fragment. Elastase, chymotrypsin A4 or trypsin first cleaved Factor H to 36-38 kDa fragments carrying all six monoclonal anti-(Factor H)-binding sites. In parallel, the interaction of Factor H with surface-bound C3b was lost, whereas the cofactor function was preserved. Further cleavage of the 36-38 kDa fragments into two 13-19 kDa fragments (one carrying the MAH4 and MRC OX 24 epitopes, the other the MAH1, MAH2, MAH3 and MRC OX 23 epitopes) destroyed cofactor activity. Pepsin, bromelain or papain rapidly split off a 13-15 kDa fragment of Factor H carrying the MAH1, MAH2, MAH3 and MRC OX 23 epitopes and destroyed all tested functions of Factor H. Ficin cleaved Factor H into disulphide-linked fragments smaller than 25 kDa, but did not affect the functions of the Factor H molecule. The 38 kDa tryptic fragment of Factor H is the N-terminal end of the Factor H molecule, as determined by N-terminal sequence analysis. A model is presented of the substructure of Factor H.

Amino Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Regulatory system of guinea-pig complement C3b: tests for compatibility of guinea-pig factors H and I with human factors.

Two proteins that are involved in cleavage of methylamine-treated C3 of guinea-pig origin (C3(MA)gp) have been isolated from guinea-pig serum. One of them functioned as a cofactor of human factor I (Ihu) for cleavage of C3(MA)gp and its molecular size was 150 kDa. The other was functionally pure and able to cleave C3(MA)gp together with human factor H (Hhu). They appear to be analogous to human factors H and I in the guinea-pig and will be referred to as Hgp and Igp. Methylamine-treated human C3 [C3(MA)hu] was not a compatible substrate for Hgp or Igp: little cleavage of C3(MA)hu was observed if human factor H (Hhu) or I was substituted with the guinea-pig counterpart. C3(MA)gp, on the other hand, served as a substrate, though less efficiently, for Hhu and Ihu. Human C4b-binding protein (C4bp) and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) as well as Hhu could participate in cleavage of C3(MA)gp by Igp or Ihu. In these assays, C3(MA)gp was degraded again less efficiently than C3(MA)hu. Interestingly, human C3b/C4b receptor (CR1) mediated factor I-dependent cleavage of C3(MA)hu and C3(MA)gp to a similar extent regardless the sources of factor I. These results suggest that factor I-dependent C3b regulatory system is species-specific except in the case of CR1, which may function as a cofactor irrespective of species.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Expression of complement components of the alternative pathway by glioma cell lines.

Glioma cell lines express proteins of the complement alternative pathway, namely C3, factor B, factor H, and factor I. Secretion of these proteins was shown by a sensitive and specific ELISA. C3 and factor H were rapidly secreted by glioma cell line CB193 and reached a concentration of 140 ng/ml/10(6) cells after 72 h of culture. Factor B and factor I were secreted at a lower rate and reached concentrations of 25 and 15 ng/ml/10(6) cells, respectively. Western blot and immunoprecipitation experiments showed that secreted proteins were identical to the corresponding plasma proteins. For factor H, besides the well known 150-kDa species, an additional polypeptide of 45 kDa with factor H immunoreactivity was observed. This species corresponded to the N-terminal truncated form found in plasma. In preliminary experiments, we observed control of these syntheses by cytokines. IL-1 beta significantly increased C3 secretion, with no effect on factor H. Secretion of factor H was enhanced by IFN-gamma. These results show that a glioma cell line could be a useful tool to study complement biosynthesis by glial cells in humans.

Complement C3↗

PubMed1992

In vitro biosynthesis of complement factor I by human endothelial cells.

We have studied the secretion of the complement regulatory protein factor I by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Northern and Western blot analysis and biosynthetic labeling experiments indicate that HUVEC secrete factor I at very low levels in basal conditions and that this secretion is significantly enhanced by interferon-gamma. Analysis of the proteolytic inactivation of C3b by HUVEC supernatants show that factor I is secreted in a functional form and can promote the specific proteolytic inactivation of C3b to iC3b. Together with previous studies establishing the secretion of complement factor H by HUVEC, this work demonstrates that the endothelial cell is able to secrete in its environment two complement regulatory proteins, factor I and factor H, which can mediate the degradation of C3b to iC3b. The secretion of factor I by HUVEC provides a useful in vitro model to analyze the modulation of this secretion and may be relevant to the local deposition of iC3b at the surface of the endothelium during the inflammatory reaction.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1989

Factor C3f is a spasmogenic fragment released from C3b by factors I and H: the heptadeca-peptide C3f was synthesized and characterized.

C3f, a heptadeca-peptide having the amino acid sequence of NH2-Ser-Ser-Lys-Ile-Thr-His-Arg-Ile-His-Trp-Glu-Ser-Ala-Ser-Leu-Leu-Arg- COOH, is liberated during the catabolic degradation of C3b in serum. The amino acid sequence of C3f is known both from the cDNA-derived structure of C3 and from protein analysis after isolation of the natural factor. C3f was synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis. Both natural and synthetic C3f had identical retention times by RP-18 high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and the respective amino acid compositions agreed with the expected theoretical values. C3f, but not des-Arg-C3f, was weakly spasmogenic inducing contraction of guinea pig ileum at a level of 5-10 x 10(-6) M. Since C3f and C3a were cross-tachyphylactic, it was concluded that these two spasmogens compete for the same receptors. Both C3f and des-Arg-C3f at concns of 1-4 x 10(-4) M enhanced vascular permeability in guinea pig skin. These observations further suggest that C3f functionally resembles C3a anaphylatoxin. Formation of C3f in human serum following CVF activation of C3 could be demonstrated by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Digestion of C3f with purified human serum carboxypeptidase N produced C3f-desArg. These observations suggest that when serum complement protein C3 undergoes conversion to C3b, further degradation by Factors H and I readily generates C3f. C3f is a weak spasmogen that functions like C3a anaphylatoxin and C3f-desArg is a major metabolite in serum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Secondary structure of a complement control protein module by two-dimensional 1H NMR.

The complement control protein (CCP) module (also known as the short consensus repeat) is a consensus sequence of about 60 amino acid residues which is thought to fold independently. It occurs over 140 times in more than 20 extracellular mosaic proteins including 12 proteins of the complement cascade. An isolated CCP module, the 16th repeat from human complement factor H, has been expressed in a yeast vector and shown to fold with the same pattern of disulfide bond formation as is seen in the native protein. Two-dimensional 600-MHz 1H NMR spectra of this module have been recorded at pH 3.3 and 6.0 and analyzed to permit determination of secondary structure in solution. The CCP module comprises two predominantly extended segments (Glu1-His13 and Ala17-Glu27), two segments of double-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet (Gly14-Val16 paired with Tyr31-Cys33 and Gly38-Asp40 paired with Ser57-Ile59), and a short piece of triple-stranded beta-sheet (Glu27-Thr30, Ile44-Leu48, and Lys51-Ser53). Turns occur at Asp22, Gly36, and Glu50, while Gly41-Ala43 appear to form a looped-out segment or bulge. This structure is compared with a secondary structure prediction made on the basis of an alignment scheme of 101 sequences for CCP modules [Perkins, S. J., Haris, P. I., Sim, R. B., & Chapman, D. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 4004-4012]--the experimentally determined secondary structure bears an overall resemblance to the predicted one but differs in the number and position of turns. Some of those amino acid residues which are highly conserved throughout the range of CCP modules appear to play a role in stabilizing the global fold.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1985

Regulation of immunoglobulin secretion by factor H of human complement.

As human B lymphocytes and macrophages carry surface receptors for Factor H (B1H), we investigated the possibility that this complement component regulates their function. Factor H inhibits immunoglobulin secretion by peripheral mononuclear cells (MNC) stimulated with pokeweed mitogen if present at the initiation of the cultures and at concentrations greater than 50 micrograms/ml. Factor H also inhibited stimulation and differentiation of purified B cells into immunoglobulin-secreting cells by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The inhibitory effect of Factor H was abrogated if anti-Factor H antibody was present in the cultures. EBV-transformed B-cell lines secreted less immunoglobulin if Factor H was present in the culture for at least 4 days. Culture of MNC with Factor H did not lead to the generation of suppressor T cells or macrophages. In contrast, Factor H did not cause proliferation of human peripheral total MNC or enriched T-cell or B-cell subpopulations. Also, Factor H did not inhibit the proliferation of MNC in response to several mitogens and antigens. Our results strongly indicate that Factor H is able to block human B-cell differentiation in vitro without blocking the proliferative ability of the cells. Factor H seems to act directly on the B cells through its receptor on their surface, since it inhibited T-dependent and T-independent B-cell differentiation but generated no suppressor cells.

Antibody-Producing Cells↗

PubMed1985

Prevention of immune precipitation by purified components of the alternative pathway.

The role of the alternative pathway in complement-mediated prevention of immune precipitation has been investigated by the use of BSA-anti-BSA immune complex (IC) purified components. For immune precipitation to be prevented all six alternative pathway components (C3, factors B D, P, H and I) were required. In the absence of one or both of the control proteins H and I, excessive fluid phase turnover of C3 occurred with precipitation of IC. Kinetic studies showed that in the presence of the control proteins, an initial phase of precipitation occurred, and was followed by a phase of resolubilization of IC. When the efficiency of classical and alternative pathways in the prevention of immune precipitation was compared it was found that the classical pathway proteins were more effective than the alternative pathway components. A reaction mixture containing the components of both pathways was no better than the classical pathway protein alone. 125I-C3 was bound to IC which had been rendered soluble in the presence of classical or alternative pathway components. A molar ratio of two molecules C3b:five molecules IgG was calculated. Other complement components which were bound to IC which had been formed in the presence of serum were C1q, C4, C2, C3, C5, P and H. Factors B and I were not detected. Our findings suggest that the alternative pathway is of secondary importance to the classical pathway in the prevention of immune precipitation.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

PubMed1987

Decay accelerating factor (DAF) peptide sequences share homology with a consensus sequence found in the superfamily of structurally related complement proteins and other proteins including haptoglobin, factor XIII, beta 2-glycoprotein I, and the IL-2 receptor.

Amino acid sequence data derived from tryptic peptides of the decay accelerating factor indicate that this complement regulatory protein contains a sequence with homology to the superfamily of structurally related complement proteins, including the C4 binding protein, factor H, complement receptor type 1, complement receptor type 2, Ba, C1r, and to their non-complement relatives, including beta 2-glycoprotein I, factor XIIIb, the alpha 1 chain of haptoglobin, and the interleukin 2 receptor. Identifying DAF as a member of the superfamily of structurally related complement proteins provides evidence that DAF may contain a functionally important C4b and C3b binding domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

Anti-idiotypic antibodies in antisera against human C3 and factor H and their application in the enrichment of antibodies specific for H-binding domains of C3.

Antisera separately raised against C3 and factor H should contain antibodies against the binding domains by which these factors interact. Because these interacting domains are likely to be sterically complementary to each other, antibodies specific for these domains should also be sterically complementary or of anti-idiotypic specificity. To test this hypothesis, rabbit anti-human C3 IgG antibodies which bound to Sepharose-coupled rabbit anti-factor H IgG (anti-H-binding anti-C3) were separated by affinity chromatography. In a control experiment, the anti-human factor H column was found to bind 10 times more anti-C3 antibodies than a Sepharose column coupled with nonimmune rabbit IgG. The binding specificity of the control eluate was indistinguishable from the original anti-C3 preparation, whereas the anti-H-binding anti-C3 was shown to be enriched in regard to antibodies directed against the 42 kd fragment of the C3 alpha-chain of C3c, as demonstrated by immunoblotting of electrophoretically separated polypeptides of C3c and C3d in polyacrylamide gels. In competition binding studies, factor H was 25 times more potent as inhibitor of the anti-H-binding anti-C3 than of the original anti-C3 preparation. This similarity in binding specificity also paralleled a functional similarity in that anti-H-binding anti-C3 in the presence of factor I effected a 20% degradation of the alpha'-chain of C3b into fragments of 65, 45, and 42 kd which are the normal degradation products in the presence of factors I and H. These results suggest that the affinity procedure described resulted in the enrichment of anti-C3 antibodies with selective specificities for factor H-binding domains of C3, from a polyclonal antibody source.

Antibody Specificity↗

PubMed1985

Factor I co-factor activity of CR1 overcomes the protective effect of IgG on covalently bound C3b residues.

We have shown previously that C3b resides in a protected site when it is covalently bound to IgG (C3b-IgG). Such C3b displays a reduced affinity for factor H, with consequent enhanced survival in the presence of factors H and I and increased capacity for promoting alternative pathway consumption of C3. Because erythrocyte CR1 may be a major co-factor for factor I-mediated inactivation of immune complex-borne C3b in blood, we have examined the effect of covalently bound IgG on the C3b-CR1 interaction. Binding of monomeric C3b and C3b-IgG to human erythrocyte CR1 demonstrates identical ionic strength dependence for both species. Identical numbers of binding sites with indistinguishable affinities are detected by both ligands. Cleavage of the alpha'-chain of C3b and the alpha'-heavy chain of C3b-IgG proceeds at the same rate when erythrocyte CR1 serves as co-factor for factor I. Unlike factor H, CR1 supports a second cleavage of fluid-phase iC3b alpha'1 chain (free or bound to IgG) that generates C3c and a 33,000 m.w. fragment, which bears antigenic markers characteristic of C3g. Inactivation of C3b and C3b-IgG by CR1 and factor I also occurs at physiologic ionic strength, but proceeds very slowly relative to rates attainable with sub-physiologic inputs of factor H. CR1 does not recognize IgG-bound C3b as being in a protected site but, because of low binding affinity at physiologic ionic strength, is probably highly dependent on multivalent ligand-receptor interactions to efficiently exert its co-factor functions. Thus, inactivation of C3b-IgG heterodimers or small immune complexes bearing limited numbers of C3b residues may remain largely factor H-dependent in vivo, with resultant enhanced C3b survival.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

PubMed1986

Murine protein H is comprised of 20 repeating units, 61 amino acids in length.

A cDNA library constructed from size-selected (greater than 28 S) poly(A)+ RNA isolated from the livers of C57B10. WR mice was screened by using a 249-base-pair (bp) cDNA fragment encoding 83 amino acid residues of human protein H as a probe. Of 120,000 transformants screened, 30 hybridized with this cDNA probe. Ten positives were colony-purified, and the largest plasmid cDNA insert, MH8 (4.4 kb), was sequenced by the dideoxy chain termination method. MH8 contained the complete coding sequence for the precursor of murine complement protein factor H (3702 bp), 100 bp of 5'-untranslated sequence, 448 bp of 3'-untranslated sequence, and a polyadenylylated tail of undetermined length. Murine pre-protein H was deduced to consist of an 18-amino acid signal peptide and 1216 residues of H-protein sequence. Murine H was composed of 20 repetitive units, each about 61 amino acid residues in length. Similar repetitive units are present in the C4b binding protein, the C3b-receptor (CR1), complement factor B and C2, and in beta 2-glycoprotein I and the interleukin 2 receptor. This finding suggests a common evolutionary origin for regions of these proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

Characterization of the human erythrocyte complement receptor CR1 (C3b receptor) by epitope mapping.

Monoclonal antibodies and an anti-idiotypic serum against human complement receptor CR1 (C3b receptor, immune adherence receptor) were used to identify CR1 and some of its proteolytic fragments by an immunoblotting technique. The anti-idiotypic serum had a specificity for the C3b-binding site, as could be shown by its cross-reactivity with complement factor H. The monoclonal antibodies GARP-4 and GARP-37 were specific for epitopes located nearby the ligand-binding site, because they blocked the immune adherence reaction. For the immunoblotting technique, it was essential to use non-reducing conditions, since reduction of CR1 destroyed the epitopes. Therefore, mainly large (disulphide-linked) fragments of CR1 were obtained. A chymotryptic fragment of Mr 56,000 identified by GARP-4, was the smallest cleavage product to be associated with the C3b-binding domain. Different proteases gave CR1 degradation products of similar Mr, indicating the presence of distinct domains, three of which had a Mr approximately 38,000. A schematic model of CR1 substructure was deduced from the epitope mapping data.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1989

Activation and binding of opsonic fragments of C3 on encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans by using an alternative complement pathway reconstituted from six isolated proteins.

Encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans yeast cells are potent activators of the complement system. We examined the interaction of the yeast cells with an alternative complement pathway reconstituted from isolated factor D, factor B, factor H, factor I, C3, and properdin. Incubation of encapsulated cryptococci with the reconstituted pathway led to activation and binding of C3 fragments to the yeast cells that was quantitatively and qualitatively identical to that observed with normal human serum. Incubation with either normal serum or a mixture of isolated proteins led to binding of 4 x 10(7) to 5 x 10(7) C3 molecules to the yeast cells. The kinetics for activation and binding of C3 were identical, with maximum binding observed after a 20-min incubation. Immunoglobulin G was not needed for optimal activation kinetics. C3 fragments eluted from the yeast cells by treatment with hydroxylamine and subsequent analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the presence primarily of iC3b on yeast cells incubated with either normal serum or the reconstituted pathway. Ultrastructural examination of the opsonized yeast cells showed that the cryptococcal capsule was the site for binding of C3 activated from normal serum or the reconstituted pathway, with a dense accumulation of C3 at the periphery of the capsule. Thus, incubation of encapsulated cryptococci in the reconstituted pathway led to deposition of opsonic complement fragments at a site that was appropriate for interaction with phagocyte receptors. Cryptococci opsonized with the reconstituted pathway showed a markedly enhanced interaction with cultured human monocytes compared with unopsonized yeast cells, indicating that the alternative pathway alone is opsonic for yeast cells. However, the results indicate that additional serum factors are needed for optimal opsonization of yeast cells because a 35% reduction in the number of cryptococci bound to macrophages was observed with cryptococci opsonized with the reconstituted pathway compared with that observed when yeast cells were opsonized with normal serum.

Complement Activation↗

PubMed1991

Three-dimensional structure of a complement control protein module in solution.

The complement control protein (CCP) modules (also known as short consensus repeats) are defined by a consensus sequence within a stretch of about 60 amino acid residues. These modules have been identified more than 140 times in over 20 proteins, including 12 proteins of the complement system. The solution structure of the 16th CCP module from human complement factor H has been determined by a combination of 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and restrained simulated annealing. In all, 548 structurally important nuclear Overhauser enhancement cross-peaks were quantified as distance restraints and, together with 41 experimentally measured angle restraints, were incorporated into a simulated annealing protocol to determine a family of closely related structures that satisfied the experimental observations. The CCP structure is shown to be based on a beta-sandwich arrangement; one face made up of three beta-strands hydrogen-bonded to form a triple-stranded region at its centre and the other face formed from two separate beta-strands. Both faces of the molecule contribute highly conserved hydrophobic side-chains to a compact core. The regions between the beta-strands are composed of both well-defined turns and less well-defined loops. Analysis of CCP sequence alignments, in light of the determined structure, reveals a high degree of conservation amongst residues of obvious structural importance, while almost all insertions, deletions or replacements observed in the known sequences are found in the less well-defined loop regions. On the basis of these observations it is postulated that models of other CCP modules that are based on the structure presented here will be accurate. Certain families of CCP modules differ from the consensus in that they contain extra cysteine residues. As a test of structural consensus, the extra disulphide bridges are shown to be easily accommodated within the determined CCP model.

Amino Acid Sequence↗