PubMed HealthSearch

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Complement C3”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Brefeldin A arrests the intracellular transport of a precursor of complement C3 before its conversion site in rat hepatocytes.

The effects of brefeldin A on intracellular transport and posttranslational modification of complement C3 (C3) were studied in primary culture of rat hepatocytes. In the control culture C3 was synthesized as a precursor (pro-C3), which was processed to the mature form with alpha- and beta-subunits before its discharge into the medium. In the presence of brefeldin A the secretion of C3 was strongly blocked, resulting in accumulation of pro-C3. However, after a prolonged interval the mature form of C3 was finally secreted. The results indicate that brefeldin A impedes translocation of pro-C3 to the Golgi complex where pro-C3 is converted to the mature form, but not its proteolytic processing, in contrast to the effects of monensin and weakly basic amines.

Animals

Instability of immunoglobulins and complement (C3) as predictor of renal allograft rejection.

Ten renal allograft recipients were studied for a period of three months with weekly measurements of serum complement C3 including a baseline value before transplantation. Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) were studied in nine of these patients. Fifteen rejection episodes occurred, three patients losing their graft because of irreversible rejections. The patients were followed for 2.5 years. The degree of of change in serial C3 and immunoglobulin levels from baseline was determined by variability index s. Fourteen out of 15 rejections were preceded by si (C3) greater than .1, one to several weeks in advance. The si (Ig) was useful in week 1 and predicted the rejection missed by si (C3). We conclude that instability of immunoglobulins and complement as measured by s is not only associated with rejections but appears to be a precursor to rejection events. We suggest the following prognostic two-step procedure: (1) Week 1: If either si (C3) or si (Ig) greater than .1, predict rejection. (2) Cases that pass step 1 are monitored by C3 at weekly intervals. As soon as si (C3) greater than .1, predict rejection.

Complement C3

Targeted disruption of the murine gene coding for the third complement component (C3).

Complement is a system of more than 30 proteins found both in plasma and on cell membranes. The complement system has several important functions in the immune response including initiation of inflammation, neutralization and elimination of pathogens, regulation of antibody responses, clearance of immune complexes and disruption of cell membranes. Under certain conditions complement may, however, act as a mediator of deleterious inflammatory reactions and complement activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, bioincompatibility reactions and decompression sickness. Using gene targeting, we have generated mice deficient for the third complement component (C3). These mice represent an animal model in which complement activation by any pathway is prevented at an early stage. The C3-deficient mice should be valuable for the study of the roles of the complement system in vivo in a variety of physiological and pathological situations.

Animals

Synthetic Alzheimer amyloid beta/A4 peptides enhance production of complement C3 component by cultured microglial cells.

Primary microglial cultures prepared from newborn mice showed the production and release of the third component of complement (C3). Newly synthesized [35S]methionine-labelled C3 was purified by immunoprecipitation using anti-C3-antibody. C3 was detected by SDS-PAGE and fluoroaraphy of the immunoprecipitated protein from cell lysates as a 195 kDa band, and from the supernatants of cultures as two major bands corresponding to the C3 alpha-chain (125 kDa) and beta-chain (75 kDa), consistent with known C3 characteristics. Increased biosynthesis of C3 was elicited by endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Further, the synthesis of C3 was increased 5-10-fold in response to various synthetic peptides corresponding to the amyloid beta/A4 protein, which is the main constituent of extracellular amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The increased synthesis of C3 was shown to be dose dependent at concentrations of beta/A4 peptide ranging from 10 micrograms/ml to 50 micrograms/ml. These results suggest that complement components found previously in amyloid deposits may be partly derived from reactive microglia preferentially associated with senile plaques in AD brain.

Amyloid beta-Peptides

Interactions of the third component of human complement (C3) with tumour cells: evidence for presence of C3b acceptor sites and direct activation of C3 by tumour cells.

The interaction of C3 with different tumour cell lines was investigated. Our results indicated that nearly all the cell lines had C3b acceptors on their membranes. The binding of C3b was visualized by the detection of this protein on the cell surface with fluoresceinated anti-C3c serum. The involvement of proteases in the activation of C3 was demonstrated: complement-membrane fluorescence occurred in the presence of EDTA but was completely abolished with epsilon-aminocaproic acid. Experiments performed with purified C3 led to the conclusion that the protease activity might be the initial event for the activation of the alternative pathway by tumour cells.

Burkitt Lymphoma

Polymorphism of complement C3 in chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Predominance of the C3F gene in Crohn's disease.

Polymorphism of the third component of complement (C3), occupying a key position in cascade reactions, was investigated in 125 consecutive outpatients, 53 with Crohn's disease and 72 with ulcerative colitis. A sample of 1378 randomly selected healthy volunteers of Danish origin served as controls. Occurrence of the F and FS phenotype of C3 (C3F and C3FS ) was increased in the group of Crohn's disease patients (chi 2 = 2.80, p less than 0.05, one-tailed test) and in a subgroup of Crohn patients with the gastrointestinal disease process confined to ileum (chi 2 = 6.91, p less than 0.01). C3 phenotype distribution was unaffected in ulcerative colitis. Only S and F alleles of C3 ( C3S and C3F) were recognized and C3F frequencies were 0.33 in Crohn patients with small bowel disease, 0.23 in all Crohn patients, 0.18 in ulcerative colitis patients and 0.17 in healthy volunteers. The results are compatible with a positive association of the C3F gene and Crohn's disease located in the small bowel.

Alleles

Endogenous complement C3 synthesis in immune complex nephritis.

Human renal epithelial and mesangial cells have been shown to synthesise complement C3 in culture, but the relevance of this finding to the development of complement-mediated nephritis is uncertain. We investigated C3 gene expression in tissue biopsies that showed three main categories of renal injury. By semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction, biopsies from patients with immune-complex glomerulonephritis and those with cell-mediated interstitial nephritis showed increased C3 expression (p < 0.05), but biopsies from patients with non-immune glomerular injury did not. These findings suggest that local C3 production is enhanced in immune-mediated nephritis and are consistent with the hypothesis that locally synthesised complement components are involved in the pathogenesis of tissue injury.

Complement C3c

Production of the third component of complement (C3) by peripheral polymorphonuclear neutrophils of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Normal human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) can spontaneously produce the third component of complement (C3) in in vitro culture as detected by ELISA. This C3-producing capacity of PMN can be augmented by TNF-alpha (20 ng/ml) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (100 ng/ml), but not by IL-1 beta or IL-8. The C3 production by PMN was found to be temperature dependent and was suppressed by the addition of protein inhibitor. The C3 mRNA in PMN could be detected by reverse transcription assisted polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after TNF-alpha or LPS stimulation for 6 hours. To further understand C3 production by peripheral blood PMN in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spontaneous and TNF-alpha stimulated production of C3 by peripheral PMN were compared in 15 cases of active RA, 15 inactive RA and 15 normal individuals. We failed to find any significant difference among the three groups. We conclude that PMN plays a negligible role in C3 hypercomplementemia in patients with active RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Linkage of the LW blood group locus with the complement C3 and Lutheran blood group loci.

Segregation data on LW in families of informative males show that the LW (Landsteiner-Wiener) blood group locus is closely linked to the complement C3 locus and to the locus for the Lutheran blood group. This finding also confirms the presence of a larger linkage group on chromosome 19, including now the loci for apoE, Le, C3, LW, Lu, Se, H, PEPD, myotonic dystrophy (DM), neurofibromatosis (NF) and familial hypercholesterolemia (FHC). Linkage of LW with the Lewis blood group locus could not be definitely established by the present family data, but small positive scores between LW and Le suggest that the Le locus is situated outside the C3-LW region.

Chromosomes, Human, 19-20

The secretion of the third component of complement (C3) by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes from both normal and systemic lupus erythematosus cases.

Recently, murine peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) have been proved to secrete complement C3. In this report we show the secretion of C3 by normal human blood PMNs. ELISA assay was used to detect secreted C3 in culture supernatants of PMNs, while immunoperoxidase staining was used for intracellular C3 detection. 12-o-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13 acetate (TPA) had a flushing effect on C3 secretion by PMNs but not macrophages, suggesting a special C3 storing capability in PMNs. Dioctanoyl glycerol, mezerein and calcium ionophore A23187 caused the same marked increase in C3 secretion by PMNs. This suggests the contribution of protein kinase C and the calmodulin pathway in the mechanism of C3 secretion, similar to murine peritoneal exudate PMNs. In some cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, C3 secretion by blood PMNs was increased but no similar response to TPA could be detected.

Cells, Cultured

1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 regulates in vivo production of the third component of complement (C3) in bone.

We previously reported that 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3] specifically stimulates production of the third component of complement (C3) by murine osteoblastic cells and marrow-derived stromal cells (ST2) in vitro. In the present study we examined tissue-specific production of C3 in vivo in vitamin D-deficient mice, some of which received supplemental 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3. Western blot analysis indicated that the C3 protein band in bone was undetectable in vitamin D-deficient mice, but became distinct 48 h after 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 administration. The mRNA expression of C3 in bone was also undetectable in vitamin D-deficient mice and appeared as early as 24 h after 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 administration. mRNA expression apparently preceded the appearance of C3 protein. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the expression of hepatic C3 mRNA among normal mice fed laboratory chow and vitamin D-deficient mice with and without 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 administration. The serum concentration of C3 in vitamin D-deficient mice was almost identical to that in normal mice and was unchanged after 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 administration. 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 receptor (VDR) mRNAs were detected in the kidney and intestine, whereas no appreciable mRNA expression of VDR occurred in the liver. Osteopontin mRNA was expressed in response to 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 in the kidney, but not in the intestine. Immunohistochemical studies showed that in normal mice, the C3 protein was located mainly in the periosteal regions of calvaria and on the surfaces of bone trabeculae in the tibial metaphyses. These results demonstrate that 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 tissue-specifically regulates in vivo production of C3 in bone. The production of bone C3 cannot be attributed to the presence of VDR alone, and we speculate that other tissue-specific factors are required.

Animals

Fc gamma R-dependent regulation of the biosynthesis of complement C3 by murine macrophages: the modulatory effect of IL-6.

The effect of murine IgG isotypes on the gene expression and secretion of the third component of complement (C3) has been studied using the monocytoid cell line P388D1 and oil-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages. It is demonstrated that the binding of IgG2a and IgG2b but not IgG1 and IgG3 augments the biosynthesis of C3 both in the presence and in the absence of the phorbol ester, phorbol myristate acetate in the case of both cell types. The multifunctional cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) alone reveals no effect on the gene expression of C3, but increases the effectiveness of mouse IgG2a and IgG2b. Confirming the role of Fc gamma RII, a strong up-regulation of C3 gene expression and C3 secretion was found when macrophages were cultured with the F(ab')2 fragment of the Fc gamma RII-specific monoclonal antibody 2.4G2.

Animals

Primary structure of cobra complement component C3.

Complement component C3 is a multifunctional protein known to interact specifically with more than 10 different plasma proteins or cell surface receptors. Cobra venom contains cobra venom factor, a structural analogue of C3 that shares some properties with C3 (e.g., formation of a C3/C5 convertase) but differs in others (e.g., susceptibility to regulation by factors H and I). The elucidation of structural differences between C3 and cobra venom factor can be expected to help identify functionally important regions of C3 molecules. To that end we have undertaken the molecular cloning of both cobra C3 and cobra venom factor to take advantage of the unique biologic system where both proteins are produced by the same species. We report the primary structure of cobra C3 mRNA and the derived protein structure. Cobra C3 mRNA is 5211 bp in length. It contains an open reading frame of 4953 bp coding for a single pre-pro-C3 molecule, consisting of a 22-amino acid signal sequence, a 633-amino acid beta-chain (70 kDa), and a 992-amino acid alpha-chain (112 kDa) which is separated from the beta-chain by four arginine residues. There are no N-glycosylation sites in cobra C3. Cobra C3 exhibits approximately 58% nucleotide sequence identity with C3 from mammalian species. At the protein level, sequence identity is approximately 52% and sequence similarity approximately 71%. All 27 cysteine residues are highly conserved as are the C3 convertase cleavage site, the thioester site, and the factor B binding site. Cobra C3 also seems to have homologous binding sites for factor H and properdin, as well as a conserved sequence in the functionally important region of the C3a anaphylatoxin. The sequence homology at the CR2 and CR3 binding sites does not exceed the overall sequence homology. Accordingly, the existence of CR2 and CR3 binding sites can neither be deduced nor excluded.

Amino Acid Sequence

Endotoxemia in mice stimulates production of complement C3 and serum amyloid A in mucosa of small intestine.

We examined the effect of endotoxemia in mice on protein and mRNA levels for the acute phase proteins complement C3 and serum amyloid A (SAA) in jejunal mucosa. Endotoxemia was induced in mice by the subcutaneous injection of 250 microg lipopolysaccharide per mouse. Control mice were injected with saline. C3 and SAA were measured by ELISA. Messenger RNA levels were determined by Northern blot analysis or competitive PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine in which cell type(s) C3 and SAA were present. Mucosal C3 and SAA protein and mRNA levels were increased in endotoxemic mice. Immunohistochemistry showed that C3 was present in both enterocytes and cells of the lamina propria, whereas SAA was seen mainly in lamina propria cells. Results suggest that endotoxemia stimulates production of C3 and SAA in small intestinal mucosa. The response may be regulated at the transcriptional level and probably reflects increased synthesis of the acute phase proteins in both enterocytes and cells of the lamina propria.

Animals

Deposits of immunoglobulins and complement C3 in clinically normal skin of patients with lupus erythematosus.

Deposits of immunoglobulins and/or complement C3 were found in two-thirds of biopsies from clinically normal skin of 64 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, as judged by well defined criteria. The incidence of deposits in clinically normal skin was identical in patients with and without clinical skin lesions. IgM was found more frequently in the deposits (88%) than was IgG (36%) but equally frequently in involved and uninvolved skin, whereas C3 was found more often in patients with skin lesions (59% in involved skin, 36% in uninvolved skin) than in patients without skin lesions (14%). The occurrence of IgG and IgA was less frequent than that of C3 but the distribution was similar to that of C3. In normal skin of 20 patients with chronic discoid LE, deposits were found in one. Deposits were found in the skin of one-third of patients with nuclear antibodies in their sera and symptoms compatible with SLE but with a score of symptoms too low to meet the criteria.

Adolescent

Differential expression of complement C3 and C4 in the human kidney.

Complement activation is associated with a variety of immunologically-mediated renal diseases. Proximal tubular epithelial cells in situ constitutively express messenger RNA for C4 of the complement system. These same epithelial cells in culture have been reported to contain message for C3 and to secrete this protein when stimulated by IL-2. The present study compared the in situ localization of C3 and C4 message in parallel in a variety of renal biopsy and nephrectomy specimens. All adequate tissue samples (n = 23) had C4 mRNA throughout in the cortical tubular epithelium. Although C3 message was also expressed in tubular epithelial cells, there was much greater variation in its distribution. mRNA for C3 was not detected in histologically normal specimens (n = 4) either by in situ or Northern hybridization. Focal C3 message correlated with focal histologic abnormalities (e.g., focal glomerulosclerosis), while more generalized C3 signal occurred in specimens with more diffuse inflammatory processes (e.g., SLE). Infiltrating inflammatory cells and cells of the glomeruli were uniformly negative for C3 (and C4) message. Tubular C3 and C4 mRNA appeared to be translated, since selected specimens showed cytoplasmic staining by monoclonal antibodies to C3c and C4c. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that local production of inflammatory mediators could induce C3 synthesis in the renal interstitium, with the possibility that subsequent complement activation could enhance the pathogenic process.

Complement C3

Diversity of the third form of complement, C3, in fish: functional characterization of five forms of C3 in the diploid fish Sparus aurata.

We have recently shown that Sparus aurata, the gilthead sea bream (a diploid species), similarly to rainbow trout (a quasi-tetraploid species), possesses multiple forms of the third form of complement (C3). In the present study we have evaluated the ability of the gilthead sea bream proteins to function as active C3 molecules. All five C3 isoforms could be fixed covalently to sheep erythrocyte ghosts and were able to bind to various complement-activating surfaces in the presence of MgEGTA. In the absence of MgEGTA their binding capacities generally increased, presumably as a result of classical-pathway activation by the natural antibodies present in the serum. The presence of EDTA abrogated the binding of all C3 isoforms to the various surfaces tested. The C3 isoforms differed in the efficiency of their binding to complement-activating surfaces: the two most abundant C3 isoforms (C3-1 and C3-2) bound to zymosan as well as to sheep and rabbit erythrocyte ghosts, whereas C3-3, C3-4 and C3-5 were unable to bind to zymosan. Upon complement activation, all five C3 isoforms were cleaved to 'iC3b' by factor H and I-like proteins, generating fragments similar to those generated from C3 molecules of other species. Furthermore the degradation of methylamine-hydrolysed C3 isoforms to iC3b was significantly inhibited by EDTA. The structural and functional diversity that we have observed in the C3 isoforms of S. aurata would increase the capacity of this fish to recognize a broader spectrum of potential pathogens and reinforce a specific immune response, which in fish is delayed compared with that of higher vertebrates, and is based on a single Ig type (IgM).

Animals