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Terminal complement component deficiencies and rheumatic disease: development of a rheumatic syndrome and anticomplementary activity in a patient with complete C6 deficiency.

Hereditary deficiencies of early complement components have usually been associated with the development of rheumatic diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), while terminal component deficiency is well known to predispose to recurrent neisserial infection. In contrast, only recently have patients been reported with rheumatic disease and hereditary deficiency of a terminal component. The clinical syndrome in these patients has been characterised as 'SLE-like'. We describe here a third patient with complete C6 deficiency and a systemic rheumatic illness characterised by fever, anaemia, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, episcleritis, and asymmetric arthritis. After blood transfusion her serum became anticomplementary; IgG antibody to human C6 was found to be the cause of anticomplement activity. Persistent absence of C6 in this patient and production of anti-C6 antibody after antigenic challenge indicate hereditary C6 deficiency. This case supports an association between hereditary deficiency of a terminal complement protein and the development of systemic rheumatic disease.

Complement Activation↗

Hereditary, complete deficiency of complement factor H associated with recurrent meningococcal disease.

Complement factor H (beta-1H globulin) is an important regulatory protein which inhibits the spontaneous complement activation via the alternative pathway. We describe a 15-year-old girl without any detectable factor H in plasma. She has had two episodes of meningococcal disease, but is otherwise completely healthy. Secondary to the factor-H deficiency, the levels of factor B, properdin, C3, and C5-C9 were strongly reduced due to spontaneous in vivo activation of the alternative complement pathway. Plasma C3dg was strongly elevated in spite of the factor-H deficiency; apparently erythrocyte CR1 substitutes for factor H in C3 degradation. Neither C3 nor complement lesions were demonstrable on her erythrocytes which did, however, show increased, spontaneous haemolysis in vitro in citrate plasma, but not in serum. The patient is a single child and her parents, who are unrelated and healthy, had half-normal levels of factor H. This reduction of factor H is sufficient to cause increased, spontaneous activation of the alternative pathway.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

[Hereditary angioneurotic edema in gynecology-obstetrics. Management].

Hereditary angioneurotic edema is a rare disease (250 cases currently identified in France). It is the most frequent among hereditary deficiencies of the complement system. This severe disease is fatal in 15-20% of the patients before 40 years of age. Death can be prevented if correct steps are taken in case of even minor trauma, which often trigger acute, potentially fatal, episodes. Danazol is used as preventive therapy before surgery and C1-esterase inhibitor or fresh frozen plasma is given for acute episodes. In case of obstetrical trauma, C1-esterase inhibitors should be used either as prophylaxy or as treatment. Fresh frozen plasma is used if C1-esterase inhibitors are not available. We report here our experience with three patients with known hereditary angioneurotic edema. Gynecology surgery was required in two.

Adult↗

Renal disease in a patient with hereditary complete deficiency of the fourth component of complement.

Hereditary complete deficiency of the fourth component of complement (C4) is an extremely rare disorder with 17 cases reported so far. Twelve of these patients suffered from a systemic-lupus-erythematosus-like illness. The patient we here describe presented with severe Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) at the age of 17. Immunofluorescence of a kidney biopsy showed granular deposits of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and fibrinogen in the mesangium and segmentally along the basement membrane. Six years later, the patient developed hypertension and nephrotic syndrome. Renal function deteriorated rapidly. He was on hemodialysis for 12 months and then received a cadaveric kidney graft. After 2 years of uncomplicated course, microhematuria and proteinuria developed. Immunofluorescence of a transplant biopsy was virtually identical to the pattern in the patient's own kidneys. We thus conclude that the patient had recurrence of his primary disease in the graft. Three and a half years after transplantation hemodialysis had to be restarted. This unique case supports the current view that deficiency of classical pathway components predisposes to the development of immune complex diseases and that the complement system is activated via the alternate pathway in HSP. Furthermore, we assume that complete C4 deficiency was the major cause for the recurrence and unfavorable outcome of HSP in the graft.

Adult↗

Complement-related diseases.

This review article will consider some basic aspects of complement biology, address the clinical effects of hereditary complement deficiencies and the role of complement related to host cell entry, pathogenesis of infectious diseases, and apoptosis. The immunomodulation of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders related to complement components, the role of intravenous gamma-globulin and mechanisms of autoimmune urticaria and tolerance will be discussed briefly.

Apoptosis↗

Inherited deficiencies of complement and complement-related proteins.

The complement cascade and cell-surface proteins related to the complement system are critically important to host defense, immune complex catabolism, and possibly immunoregulation. Genetically determined deficiency states have been described for many complement proteins as well as for fluid phase and cell-borne inhibitors of the complement cascade and cellular complement receptors. Autoimmune diseases and enhanced susceptibility to infection are the dominant clinical manifestation of these deficiencies. Classical pathway deficiencies and low numeric expression of erythrocyte C3b receptors (CR1) are typically associated with autoimmune disorders, while alternative pathway, terminal component, and leukocyte iC3b receptor (CR3) defects predispose to pyogenic bacterial disease. This distinction is not absolute, however, and both classes of disease may appear in most of the reported deficiency states. Specific pharmacologic therapy exists for C1-inhibitor deficiency (hereditary angioedema). Management of other complement deficiencies currently involves sustained diagnostic suspicion and meticulous management of complicating diseases.

Anaphylatoxins↗

[Application of cell engineering techniques for medical science].

The characteristics of the medical science is always fresh utilizing and applying newest techniques developed in the surrounding scientific fields at each time. The molecular biology developed after the 2nd world war has given so great impacts that some technological problems in the medical science have been broken through and many excellent new findings in molecular level have been taken. The most important technique is the culture of somatic cells from human body and the cell biology in vitro was followed by the development of a lot of cell engineering techniques which was quite effective to the research for medical science. Cell fusion is one of the cell engineering techniques. I would like to talk about the 3 kinds of results which have been open corresponding to the cell fusion. I. Gene complementation test became possible among families of a hereditary disease by this technique which was the daybreak of the genetic analyses of human hereditary diseases in laboratories. For a example, 10 complementation groups have been detected in xeroderma pigmentosum which is a recessive hereditary disease showing deficiency in excision repair of damaged DNA. The next step is the isolation of the gene relating to each complementation group. Recently, a gene corresponding to the complementation group A has been isolated in my lab. II. As well known, formation of hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies has given a great impact to cell biology, diagnosis of some diseases and the treatment of cancers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Inherited disorders of complement.

Isolated complement component deficiencies are uncommon. Deficiencies of all eleven components and two inhibitors of the classical pathway have been described. Complete absence of the components of the alternative pathway has not been described. The consequences of a single defect in complement are often predictable from an understanding of the biologic activities associated with activation of the complement system. Deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor gives rise to the disease, hereditary angioedema; deficiency of the early components of the classical pathway are associated with lupus erythematosus; C3 and C3 inactivator deficiencies with pyogenic infections; C5 dysfunction with Leiner's disease; deficiencies of the terminal components with recurrent Neisseria bacteremia; and C9 deficiency with normal health. The complement system and its associated biologic activities are reviewed. The present knowledge of the inherited complement deficiencies and associated diseases, with particular emphasis on the dermatologic manifestations, genetics, and diagnosis, is summarized.

Angioedema↗

Hereditary angioedema: case report of a family.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease resulting from deficiency of complement 1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). The clinical manifestations of this disease include recurrent attacks of self-limiting edema affecting face, extremities, gastrointestinal system and upper airways. In this report, we present eleven members of a family with HAE. Edema of the extremities was the most common symptom, occurring in ten patients. Three patients experienced severe laryngeal edema that required tracheotomy. Three patients developed facial and scrotal edema. Three patients experienced severe abdominal pain. The mean age at onset of symptoms was 11 years. C1-INH levels were undetectable in two patients and low in nine patients. CH50 was undetectable in all of the patients. C4 level for all patients was low. HAE in our first case, a 10-year-old boy, was diagnosed on the basis of low C1-INH, CH50 and C4, in addition to his familial history. Eleven members of this family, for whom laboratory studies could not be done, had similar symptoms and course. Two patients died as a result of laryngeal edema before establishment of diagnosis. This case report indicates the importance of recognition and early treatment of HAE to prevent a potentially fatal outcome.

Adult↗

Genetic studies of human lupus in families.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex multigenic disease in which the contributing genetic systems are being rapidly identified. Most of the currently recognized genes have been discovered from case-control association studies, but, increasingly, family linkage studies are being employed to confirm previous genetic associations, to examine their relative contributions, and to identify new susceptibility loci. Most of the loci identified thus far appear to contribute only modest effects on susceptibility overall but rather influence more strongly disease expression and/or severity. MHC class II alleles, for example, seem to show only weak linkage to SLE itself but instead mediate specific T cell driven pathogenic autoantibodies which produce many of the clinical disease features, similar to their effects in many other autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, complete and partial hereditary deficiencies of early complement components are more lupus-specific. Homozygous complement deficiencies, while powerful risk factors, are rare causes of lupus and heterozygous deficiencies exert only modest effects on susceptibility. Other genes, such as low-binding IgG Fc receptor alleles (FcgammaIIa and FcgammaIIIa), appear to promote nephritis by modifying the efficiency of immune complex clearance. A variety of cytokine genes appear also to promote severity, including those for TNFalpha, IL-10, IL1 receptor antagonist, and perhaps others (IL-6, IL-4 and TNFalpha receptor). Family studies and recent genome-wide scans in lupus and other autoimmune diseases support the likelihood that some susceptibility loci, as yet unidentified, predispose to several or many autoimmune diseases. Only thorough the identification and elucidation of function of these many genes is the pathogenic picture of lupus likely to be complete.

Complement System Proteins↗

[Complement component deficiencies in human disease].

The complement system, composed of several plasma and membrane proteins, is an integral part of the innate immune system and plays a role in inflammatory response, destruction of infectious agents, elimination of immune complexes, and control of the specific (adaptive) immune response. Hereditary deficiencies of complement components are relatively rare and associated with susceptibility to a wide variety of clinical diseases. Complement components may be target of antibodies (anti-C1q, factor H, C3 alternative convertase, or C3NeF autoantibodies or anti-C1 inhibitor antibodies) that lead to acquired deficiencies. Testing the complement system is especially necessary in patients with autoimmune diseases, some kidney diseases, recurrent infections (especially meningococcal), and angioedema. Precise clinical descriptions of the phenotypes associated with these deficiencies and their molecular diagnosis are necessary to improve our understanding of the role that the complement system plays in the physiopathological mechanisms of these diseases and to propose the most specific treatment for them.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

The role of hypocomplementaemia and low erythrocyte complement receptor type 1 numbers in determining abnormal immune complex clearance in humans.

Defective clearance of immune complexes (IC) may contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases such as SLE. We studied the effect of hypocomplementaemia and the influence of erythrocyte complement receptor type 1 (CR1, CD35) number on the clearance of radiolabelled tetanus toxoid (TT)-anti-TT IC from the circulation. These were injected intravenously into 9 normal subjects and 15 patients with diseases characterized by IC formation and/or hypocomplementemia, including 2 with hereditary complement deficiency. IC were found to bind to erythrocyte CR1 in a complement-dependent manner and their degree of uptake was directly correlated with CR1 numbers. Two phases of IC clearance were identified. The first was rapid, occurring within 1 min. Since this phase might represent inappropriate deposition of IC in target organs we called it trapping. It was seen predominantly in subjects with low CR1, low complement, and low binding of complexes to red cells. The second phase was monoexponential with a mean elimination rate of 14.1%/min; it was inversely correlated with CR1 numbers and binding of complexes to red cells. In a second study each individual was injected with IC bound to autologous erythrocytes in vitro using normal serum so that the effects of complement deficiency were eliminated. Up to 81.4% of these bound IC were released in vivo from erythrocytes in 1 min, and the proportion was inversely correlated with CR1 numbers. Only five patients showed trapping, and these had low CR1 numbers and high percentage release of IC. The second phase of elimination was inversely correlated with CR1 numbers and the proportion of IC remaining bound to red cells at 1 min. The two complement-deficient patients had normal CR1: when IC were injected, trapping and very fast clearance rates were observed; however complexes that had been opsonized and bound to erythrocytes were cleared at a slower rate without evidence for trapping. These studies show that complement and erythrocyte CR1 may determine the physiological clearance of certain types of IC and suggest that this system may function abnormally when CR1 number or complement function are reduced.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Recurrent hematuria: a novel clinical presentation of hereditary complete complement C4 deficiency.

A 10-year-old boy suffered from recurrent attacks of fever, vomiting, and hematuria. During disease flares, circulating immune complexes were detected in the serum. Elevated levels of Bb, Ba, and C3a indicated complement activation through the alternative pathway. Complement C4 was undetectable. C4 phenotyping by agarose gel electrophoresis showed complete C4 deficiency. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) studies showed a homozygous deletion of the C4B and 21-hydroxylase A genes. A mild mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis with mesangial deposits of immunoglobulin (1g) G, IgM, IgA, Clq, C3, properdin, and terminal complement complex was probably caused by immune complex deposition and alternative complement pathway activation. Treatment with low-dose prednisolone substantially reduced the frequency of further episodes.

Biopsy↗

[Abdominal sonography in hereditary angioneurotic edema. A contribution to the early diagnosis of a disease of interdisciplinary significance].

Hereditary angioneurotic oedema is a rare complement-related disorder (C1-esterase-inhibitor deficiency) characterised by recurrent episodic swelling of the limbs, face, gastrointestinal tract, or airways. The mortality rate of the unrecognised disorder is 30 per cent, mainly due to airway obstruction. Two female patients (aged 29 and 61 years) with proven disease were studied by ultrasonography while they suffered from acute abdominal pain: Ultrasound imaging showed a diffuse oedematous but compressible gut wall with reduced bowel motility, distended bowel loops with intraluminal fluid accumulation and free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The ultrasonographic feature was different from that of other gastrointestinal diseases. In combination with the patient's history, the clinical pattern and the normal routine laboratory findings, abdominal ultrasonography is a suitable tool for early diagnosis of a potentially life-threatening disorder.

Adult↗

Modification of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte surface receptors and Langerhans cell numbers in hereditary angioedema.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a disease related to a complement disorder, namely a deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor. Complement-split products are implicated in the regulation of the immune response, and we have compared some immunologic parameters between HAE and normal individuals. T-lymphocytes with receptors for IgG were increased in HAE, but no difference in T-cell suppressor activity for B-cells was detected. Furthermore, increased IgG receptor expression was not accompanied by any significant changes in the ratios of OKT4- and OKT8-defined antigens. Numbers of peripheral mononuclear cells (MNC) detected by alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) staining positivity were not significantly modified in HAE patients, although there was a trend toward higher absolute numbers of them showing paranuclear localization of ANAE. HAE patients had significantly reduced numbers of Langerhans cells (LC) showing different morphology and localization patterns. These observations are discussed in terms of differential membrane arrangements related to particular stages of cell activation, possibly attributable to continual complement activation resulting from a lack of control by C1 esterase inhibitor.

Adult↗