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Immune evasion of Borrelia burgdorferi by acquisition of human complement regulators FHL-1/reconectin and Factor H.

To understand immune evasion mechanisms of Borrelia burgdorferi we compared serum-resistant B. afzelii and serum-sensitive B. garinii isolates for their capacity toacquire human complement regulators. Here we demonstrate that the two borrelial genospecies show different binding of the two important human complement regulators, FHL-1/reconectin and Factor H. All serum-resistant B. afzelii isolates bound FHL-1/reconectin and also Factor H, and all analyzed serum-sensitive B. garinii isolates showed no or a significantly lower binding activity. Using recombinant deletion mutants, the binding domains were localized to the C terminus of FHL-1/reconectin to short consensus repeats 5-7. The borrelial binding proteins were located in the surface of the bacteria as demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining of intact, serum-exposed bacteria and by enrichment of outer membrane proteins. The surface-attached complement regulators maintained complement regulatory activity as demonstrated in a cofactor assay. By ligand blotting two different borrelial binding proteins were identified that were responsible for the surface attachment of FHL-1/reconectin and Factor H. These borrelial complement regulators acquiring surface proteins (CRASP) were further characterized as either CRASP-1, a 27.5-kDa molecule which preferentially binds FHL-1/reconectin and which was present in all serum-resistant borreliae, or CRASP-2, a 20/21-kDa protein which interacts preferentially with Factor H and the expression of which was more restricted, being detected in four of the six isolates analyzed. In summary, we describe a new immune evasion mechanism of B. burgdorferi, as these bacteria acquire human complement regulators to control complement activation on their surface and to prevent formation of toxic activation products.

Adsorption↗

Structure-function mapping of BbCRASP-1, the key complement factor H and FHL-1 binding protein of Borrelia burgdorferi.

Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochaete transmitted to human hosts during feeding of infected Ixodes ticks, is the causative agent of Lyme disease, the most frequent vector-borne disease in Eurasia and North America. Sporadically Lyme disease develops into a chronic, multisystemic disorder. Serum-resistant B. burgdorferi strains bind complement factor H (FH) and FH-like protein 1 (FHL-1) on the spirochaete surface. This binding is dependent on the expression of proteins termed complement-regulator acquiring surface proteins (CRASPs). The atomic structure of BbCRASP-1, the key FHL-1/FH-binding protein of B. burgdorferi, has recently been determined. Our analysis indicates that its protein topology apparently evolved to provide a high affinity interaction site for FH/FHL-1 and leads to an atomic-level hypothesis for the functioning of BbCRASP-1. This work demonstrates that pathogens interact with complement regulators in ways that are distinct from the mechanisms used by the host and are thus obvious targets for drug design.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Different regulation of factor H and FHL-1/reconectin by inflammatory mediators and expression of the two proteins in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Factor H and the FHL-1/reconectin protein are two human plasma proteins that act as important regulators of the alternative complement pathway. Each protein is encoded by a unique transcript, but both mRNAs are derived from the factor H gene by means of alternative processing. In order to address potential functional differences between the two proteins we analysed their expression in hepatic and non-hepatic cells and studied their regulation by inflammatory mediators. We demonstrate that factor H and FHL-1/reconectin transcripts which are regulated by the same gene promoter and are initiated at the same transcription start site are differently expressed. Expression of the molecules is induced and regulated by the inflammatory mediators interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid dexamethasone. Both factor H and FHL-1/reconectin are expressed and secreted by synovial fibroblasts and are present in synovial fluid derived from patients suffering from rheumatoid or reactive arthritis. The local synthesis in synovial fibroblasts and their induction by IFN-gamma and dexamethasone, but not by tumour necrosis factor-alpha, suggests for each of the two complement regulators a protective role in RA.

Alternative Splicing↗

Double immunofluorescence studies of immunoglobulins, complement components and their control proteins in patients with IgA nephropathy.

A study on double immunofluorescent staining of immunoglobulins, complement components, and their control proteins in renal tissues from patients with IgA nephropathy is described. Renal biopsy specimens were obtained from patients with IgA nephropathy. These biopsy specimens were stained with anti sera to human C1q, C4-binding protein, and beta 1H globulin by indirect immunofluorescent staining. These samples were then stained with rhodamine-conjugated anti human IgG, IgM, and IgA. Although C1q and C4-binding protein do not combine with IgA, they ubiquitously combine with IgG and/or IgM. beta 1H globulin also combine with IgG, IgM and/or IgA. It was demonstrated that the complement system activated in IgA nephropathy was via both alternative and classical pathways. The presence of C4-binding protein in glomeruli appeared to be a more sensitive indicator of classical pathway activation than the presence of C4.

Carrier Proteins↗

The role of C4-binding protein and beta 1H in proteolysis of C4b and C3b.

Two forms of C4-binding protein (C4-bp) (C4-bp low, C4-bp high), which differ slightly in net charge and apparent molecular weight, as determined by SDS- PAGE, were separated by ion-exchange chromatography and contaminants removed with specific antisera. Both forms of C4-bp served as cofactors for the cleavage of C4b in solution by C3b inactivator, and the resulting fragments of the a'-chain of C4b had identical molecular weights. In addition, similarly to beta1H, C4-bp low or high served as cofactors for the cleavage of fluid phase C3b by C3bINA. However, important quantitative differences between the activities of C4-bp and beta1H were observed. With regard to C3b in solution, the cofactor activity of beta1H was {approximately equal to}20 times greater than that of C4-bp on a weight basis. In relation to cell-bound C3b, the differences in activity were even more marked. Whereas beta1H enhanced the effects of C3bINA on the erythrocyte intermediate EC3b, inhibiting the assembly of EC3bBb, C4-bp was without effect even at concentrations {approximately equal to}300 times greater than beta1H. Therefore, under physiological conditions, it is likely that beta1H is the key protein which controls the function of C3b, and that C4-bp activity is directed mainly toward the cleavage of C4b. We also examined the relation between C4-bp and the C3b-C4bINA cofactor described by Stroud and collaborators (3, 4). By functional, physico-chemical and immunological criteria, they are the same protein.

Complement C3↗

Complement activation in chronic liver disease.

Patients with HBsAg positive chronic active liver disease (CALD) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) exhibit increased C3d concentrations and changes in the serum concentrations of the complement components consistent with activation of the classical and alternative pathways. In these patients the concentrations of the regulatory proteins, C3b inactivator (C3bINA) and beta IH globulin, are normal. Patients with HBsAg negative CALD and alcohol induced liver disease (ALD) exhibit no evidence of an increased level of complement system activation. In these patients diminished serum concentrations of complement components appear to be related to diminished hepatic synthetic function. C4 synthesis may be specifically reduced in autoimmune chronic active liver disease.

Complement Activation↗

Surface-associated heparin inhibits zymosan-induced activation of the human alternative complement pathway by augmenting the regulatory action of the control proteins on particle-bound C3b.

Discrimination by the human alternative pathway between activating and nonactivating particles occurs after deposition of C3b by the continuous low-grade interaction of the alternative pathway components in biologic fluids and is dependent on the modulation by surface constituents of the interaction of bound C3b with the control proteins, beta 1H, and C3b inactivator (C3bINA). When heparin glycosaminoglycan was coupled to activating particles, such as zymosan or Sepharose, by cyanogen bromide activation, their capacity to activate the human alternative pathway was inhibited. The loss of alternative pathway-activating capacity was directly correlated to the number of heparin molecules bound/zymosan particle, whether the ratio was varied by increasing the amounts of heparin in the initial coupling reactions or by treating a fully inhibited particle with incremental concentrations of heparinase. Analysis by linear regression of the inhibitory effect of each procedure (r = 0.97, r = 0.98, respectively) for adjusting the number of heparin molecules/particle revealed that the dose-response relationships were identical and that complete inhibition occurred with greater than 12 X 10(8) molecules of heparin/zymosan particle. The coupling of heparin to zymosan did not impair the uptake of C3b from the fluid-phase interaction of C3, B, and D, and did not alter the capacity of bound C3b to associate with B so as to permit its inactivation by D. Although the regulatory proteins present in normal serum chelated with EDTA or presented as a combination of purified C3bINA and beta 1H were relatively inefficient in inactivating C3b function on an activating particle of the alternative pathway such as zymosan or zymosan-cyanogen bromide, the control proteins rapidly inactivated C3b on a nonactivating particle wuch as a sheep erythrocyte or zymosan with coupled heparin. The increased numbers of C3b sites susceptible to inactivation by C3bINA in the presence of beta 1H were significantly correlated to the number of molecules of heparin/particle. By linear regression analysis of the correlation (r = 0.99) the number of heparin molecules/particle required to promote total inactivation of bound C3b by purified control proteins was 13.8 X 10(6). This molecular analysis suggests that the action of heparin coupled to an activating particle of the alternative pathway is to promote the interaction between particle-bound C3b and the regulatory proteins, thereby preventing particle-associated amplified C3 cleavage. It is noteworthy that both surface constituents known to maintain a particle as a nonactivator of the alternative pathway, sialic acid and N-sulfated mucopolysaccharide, act by facilitating the inactivation by regulatory proteins of the function of particle-bound C3b.

Complement Activation↗

Further characterization of complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi.

The three genospecies Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia afzelii, all causative agents of Lyme disease, differ in their susceptibilities to human complement-mediated lysis. We recently reported that serum resistance of borrelias correlates largely with their ability to bind the human complement regulators FHL-1/reconectin and factor H. To date, two complement regulator-acquiring-proteins (CRASP-1 and CRASP-2) have been identified in serum-resistant B. afzelii isolates (P. Kraiczy, C. Skerka, M. Kirschfink, V. Brade, and P. F. Zipfel, Eur. J. Immunol. 31:1674-1684, 2001). Here, we present a comprehensive study of the CRASPs detectable in both serum-resistant and intermediate serum-sensitive B. afzelii and B. burgdorferi isolates. These CRASPs were designated according to the genospecies either as BaCRASPs, when derived from B. afzelii, or as BbCRASPs, for proteins identified in B. burgdorferi isolates. Each borrelial isolate expresses distinct CRASPs that can be differentiated by their mobility and binding phenotypes. A detailed comparison reveals overlapping and even identical binding profiles for BaCRASP-1 (27.5 kDa), BbCRASP-1 (25.9 kDa), and BbCRASP-2 (23.2 kDa), which bind FHL-1/reconectin strongly and interact weakly with factor H. In contrast, two B. afzelii proteins (BaCRASP-4 [19.2 kDa] and BaCRASP-5 [22.5 kDa]) and three B. burgdorferi proteins (BbCRASP-3 [19.8 kDa], BbCRASP-4 [18.5 kDa], and BbCRASP-5 [17.7 kDa]) bind factor H but not FHL-1/reconectin. Most CRASPs bind both human immune regulators at their C-terminal ends. Temperature-dependent up-regulation of CRASPs (BaCRASP-1, BaCRASP-2, and BaCRASP-5) is detected in low-passage borrelias cultured at 33 or 37 degrees C compared with those cultured at 20 degrees C. The characterization of the individual CRASPs on the molecular level is expected to identify new virulence factors and potential vaccine candidates.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Expression of complement factor H by lung cancer cells: effects on the activation of the alternative pathway of complement.

The complement system is important in immunosurveillance against tumors. However, malignant cells are usually resistant to complement-mediated lysis. In this study, we examine the expression of factor H, an inhibitor of complement activation, and factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1), its alternatively spliced form, in lung cancer. We also evaluate the potential effect of factor H/FHL-1 in the protection of lung cancer cells against the activation of the complement cascade. By Northern blot analysis we demonstrate a high expression of factor H and FHL-1 in most non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, although neuroendocrine pulmonary tumors (small cell lung carcinoma and carcinoid cell lines) had undetectable levels. Western blot analysis of conditioned medium showed the active secretion of factor H and FHL-1 by cells that were positive by Northern blot. Expression of factor H/FHL-1 mRNA was also shown in a series of non-small cell lung cancer biopsies by in situ hybridization. Interestingly, many cultured lung cancer cells were able to bind fluorescence-labeled factor H to their surfaces. Deposition of C3 fragments from normal human serum on H1264, a lung adenocarcinoma cell line, was more efficient when factor H/FHL-1 activity was blocked by specific antibodies. Blocking factor H/FHL-1 activity also enhanced the release of anaphylatoxin C5a and moderately increased the susceptibility of these cells to complement-mediated cytotoxicity. In summary, we demonstrate the expression of factor H and FHL-1 by some lung cancer cells and analyze the contribution of these proteins to the protection against complement activation.

Blood Proteins↗

Inhibition of the alternative C3 convertase and classical C5 convertase of complement by group A streptococcal M protein.

When Streptococcus pyogenes group A type 3 strain C203 (M+) and its M-protein-lacking derivative, strain C203S (M-), were treated with normal human serum in the presence of magnesium-EGTA [ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid], virulent M+ bacteria bound only 10 to 30% as much C3 and factors B and P as did avirulent M- bacteria. After treatment of M+ bacteria with trypsin, which inactivates M protein, their binding of these substances was similar to that of M- bacteria. Pretreatment of M+ bacteria with the Fab fragment of rabbit immunoglobulin G anti-M antibody also increased their binding of C3 in the absence of Ca2+. Therefore, M protein inhibits the alternative C3 convertase. In contrast, in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+, M+ bacteria bound 75% as much C3 as M- bacteria. This binding was mostly mediated by classical pathway activation, because M+ bacteria bound much smaller amounts of factors B and P than did M- bacteria but consumed amounts of C4 and C2 comparable to those consumed by M- bacteria. On the other hand, the amount of C5 bound to M+ bacteria was much less than that bound to M- bacteria, and the consumption of C5 and C8 by M+ bacteria was also much less than that by M- bacteria. Therefore, M protein does not inhibit the classical C3 convertase but does inhibit the classical C5 convertase. When M+ and M- streptococci were incubated with normal human serum containing radiolabeled C3 in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+, more than 85% of the C3 bound to either type of streptococcus was extractable by sodium dodecyl sulfate and alkali treatment. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the C3 extracted from both strains showed that it was mostly C3b and iC3b. The proportions of C3b and iC3b, respectively, were 7.5 and 71.9% on M+ bacteria and 18.9 and 58.4% on M- bacteria. These results support and extend previous findings that the antiphagocytic activity of streptococcal M protein may be due to complement inhibition mediated by the binding of factor H.

Animals↗

Immune evasion of Borrelia burgdorferi: insufficient killing of the pathogens by complement and antibody.

The innate immune system and, in particular, the complement system play a key role in the elimination of micro-organisms after entrance in the human host. Like other pathogens, borreliae must develop strategies to inactivate host defence mechanisms. By investigating serum (NHS)-susceptibility of borreliae, we found that mainly B. afzelii isolates are serum-resistant, whereas the majority of B. burgdorferi s. s. isolates display an intermediate serum-sensitive phenotype. In contrast, B. garinii isolates are killed effectively by complement and therefore are classified as serum-sensitive. Up to now, we have identified two distinct proteins of 27.5 kDa and 20.7 kDa expressed on the outer surface of borreliae, which interact directly with FHL-1/reconectin and factor H, the two major regulators of the alternative complement pathway. These borrelial proteins are termed CRASPs (complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins). CRASPs are detectable only on serum-resistant borreliae and, accordingly, binding of FHL-1/reconectin and factor H only occur with serum-resistant borrelial isolates. We conclude from these results that the control of complement activation on the borrelial surface is due to the interaction of borrelial CRASPs with host complement regulatory proteins. Thus, CRASPs represent an important mechanism of immune evasion on the part of borrelial isolates belonging mostly to the genospecies B. afzelii. By analysing the humoral adaptive immune response of patients, we detected sera that killed NHS-resistant borreliae. Borreliacidal activity is observed most frequently with sera of patients at stage III of the disease. The killing of NHS-resistant isolates by these immune sera always requires the combination of antibodies and complement. Bactericidal activity, however, is not detected in all immune sera at the different disease stages, although specific anti-Borrelia antibodies are present according to serological test results. This observation suggests that not all borrelial antigens are able to induce a borreliacidal immune response. In an extensive analysis of 24 immune sera, we identified up to 12 borrelial antigens, including OspC, which possess the greatest potential for the induction of borreliacidal antibody. The borreliacidal potential of anti-OspC antibodies was tested directly on an OspC-expressing borrelial wild-type isolate and a corresponding variant lacking OspC. In these studies, only the wild-type isolate expressing OspC on its surface proved positive for the lytic complement complex, thereby indicating the great importance of this antigen for the control of the infection. Additional studies are required to identify further "protective" antigens among these 12 proteins, all of which are candidates for infection control according to our studies involving patient immune sera. These antigens may include the recently detected CRASPs.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

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↗

Mechanism of activation of the classical pathway of complement by monoclonal IgE (DES). Restricted regulation of C4b by C4b-binding protein.

A human monoclonal IgE from patient DES, IgE (DES), has been shown to activate the classical pathway of complement. The mechanism of this activation has been investigated and can be summarized as follows: (a) IgE (DES) is able to bind and activate C1 in a dose-dependent fashion. This activation increases with the size of the aggregates used, but the affinity of C1 for IgE (DES) is weaker than for IgG. (b) A classical pathway C3 convertase can be assembled on IgE (DES) using purified C1, C4 and C2. The formation decay of this convertase is similar to that formed on IgG with an half-life of 9 min at 37 degrees C. (c) The extrinsic regulation of the C3 convertase by C4bp is restricted on IgE (DES) as compared to IgG. This restriction is shown on both the formation and the decay of the convertase. The mechanism of activation of the classical pathway of complement by IgE (DES) thus present some similarities with the assembly of the C3 convertase by the alternative pathway.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Effects of zinc on factor I cofactor activity of C4b-binding protein and factor H.

Complement inhibition is to a large extent achieved by proteolytic degradation of activated complement factors C3b and C4b by factor I (FI). This reaction requires a cofactor protein that binds C3b/C4b. We found that the cofactor activity of C4b-binding protein towards C4b/C3b and factor H towards C3b increase at micromolar concentrations of Zn(2+) and are abolished at 2 mM Zn(2+) and above. 65Zn(2+) bound to C3b and C4b molecules but not the cofactors or FI when they were immobilized in a native form on a nitrocellulose membrane. Zn(2+) binding constants for C3met (0.2 microM) and C4met (0.1 microM) were determined using fluorescent chelator. It appears that higher cofactor activity at low zinc concentrations is due to an increase of affinity between C4b/C3b and cofactor proteins as assessed by surface plasmon resonance. Inhibition of the reaction seen at higher concentrations is due to aggregation of C4b/C3b.

Animals↗

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↗

Molecular cloning of a human serum protein structurally related to complement factor H.

Two cDNA clones termed H36-1 and H36-2 were isolated from a human liver cDNA library. Clone H36-1 appears to represent the recently isolated human serum proteins h37 and h42, which are two differently glycosylated forms of a protein antigenically related to human complement factor H. The H36-1 deduced protein sequence is 327 amino acid long and possesses a leader sequence. The secreted part of the protein is comprised of five tandem repeating units, termed short consensus repeats (SCRs). SCR 1 and 2 display high homology to the corresponding region of the recently isolated murine factor H-related cDNA clone 13G1. In contrast, the 3'-end of the H36-1 clone shows sequence homology to the 3'-end of human complement factor H. The second clone, H36-2, is nearly identical to H36-1. Within 1148 base pairs, where the two clones overlap, their nucleotide sequences differed at nine positions. One nucleotide exchange in the sequence of H36-2 which was located within SCR 1 creats a stop codon (TAA). Consequently, the corresponding mRNA cannot code for a functional protein, suggesting that this clone is a transcribed pseudogene. These two clones represent new human members of the family of proteins structurally related to complement factor H.

Amino Acid Sequence↗