PubMed Health⌕ Search

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 1,459 records · Page 81Linked to original sources

Immunoprotection of xenocytes in a hollow fiber bioartificial liver.

A new, hollow fiber bioartificial liver (BAL) was tested in an anhepatic rabbit model to assess the hollow fiber membrane as an immunologic barrier. The extracorporeal BAL contained rat hepatocytes (xenocytes) entrapped in collagen gel inside the lumen of hollow fibers with 100 kd nominal molecular weight cut-off. Blood from the anhepatic rabbit flowed in the extracapillary compartment. After 4 h of BAL hemoperfusion, the hepatocyte gels were tested for evidence of rabbit immunoglobulin and complement. Samples of the gels were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled antibodies directed against rabbit IgM, rabbit IgG (Fc and F[ab]2), and rabbit complement (C3) and studied by immunofluorescence microscopy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting were used, respectively, to quantify and identify proteins inside the BAL and in the rabbit blood. These studies suggest that very little rabbit IgG (primarily fragments of IgG) and no IgM or C3 crossed the hollow fibers during hemoperfusion. Rat albumin steadily accumulated in the rabbit blood during hemoperfusion, which indicated membrane permeability to molecules of that size and stable hepatocyte function by the BAL. The authors conclude that hollow fibers with 100 kd nominal molecular weight cut-off provide immunoprotection for xenocytes in an extracorporeal BAL.

Animals↗

Intraprostatic antibody deposition in chronic abacterial prostatitis.

Sixty patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis and 21 men without prostatitis were studied. Transperineal prostatic biopsies taken under transrectal ultrasound control were examined for antibody, complement (C3) and fibrinogen deposition using a direct immunofluorescence (IF) technique; 34 patients (57%) had prostatic tissue that displayed IF staining compared with only 1 (5%) in the non-prostatitis group. IF staining for IgM was found in 85%, for C3 in 44%, for IgA in 35% and for fibrinogen in 24%, but the IgG subclass was not detected. Antibody deposition was mainly periglandular and glandular and in the wall of vessels. Five symptoms, particularly poor urinary flow, irritative voiding and urgency, were significantly correlated with IgM and C3 deposition and, to a lesser extent, fibrinogen deposition. The aetiology of chronic abacterial prostatitis remains obscure but several possible mechanisms are discussed. The link between symptomatology and immunology could rest with functional outflow obstruction causing intraprostatic reflux of urine, this in turn inciting an immunological response, the inducing antigens being organism remnants or products, urinary constituents or autoantibodies.

Adult↗

Some properties of marrow derived adherent cells in tissue culture.

It has previously been shown that monolayer cultures derived adherent cells (MDAC), apparently consisting of fibroblasts, macrophages, epithelioid cells, and fat cells, can support long-term stem cell proliferation in vitro. In the present study, the hematopoietic support capability of murine MDAC monolayers was confirmed and the cultured cells further characterized with respect to the following properties: esterase I activity, complement (C3) receptors, IgG (Fc) receptors, colony stimulating activity (csa) production, and collagen synthesis. The cultures were also examined immunohistochemically to localize fibronectin, laminin, and collagen synthesis and to identify the collagen subtypes synthesized. MDAC morphology was as described in previous studies, although fat cells were few in number. It was found that MDAC included some cells with esterase I activity and C3 receptors. Fc receptors were not, however, detected, nor did the cultures produce csa, indicating that mononuclear phagocytes were not present. MDAC synthesized collagen types I and III and also fibronectin. Staining for epithelial basement membrane proteins (collagen types IV and V and laminin) was negative. The results indicate that the vast majority of these cultured MDAC were fibroblasts.

Animals↗

[Plasma immunoadsorption treatment of malignant multiple sclerosis with severe and prolonged relapses].

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of prolonged, severe relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who respond poorly to high-dose intravenous corticosteroids is not yet established. Plasma immunoadsortion (IA) removes immunoglobulins (IgG), immune complexes, and complement from plasma. It may bear some advantages compared to plasmapheresis, a nonselective procedure that requires substitution of patient plasma by colloids solutions or plasma, which may carry a potential risk for viral infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three relapsing-remitting MS patients with a malignant course received IA. All they were experiencing a prolonged relapse unresponsive to high-dose intravenous corticosteroids, causing a locked-in state in two of the patients and severe pseudobulbar impairment in the third one. Five to six IA consecutive sessions were administered along a 7-10 days course. RESULTS: IA was followed by a prompt and unequivocal clinical response in all three patients, which paralleled a decrease in IgG, fibrinogen, and C3 complement serum levels. IA administration was followed by immunosuppressor therapy, either with cyclophosphamide and intravenous ACTH (2 cases) or mitoxantrone (1 case). Improvement has been sustained along a mean follow-up of 7.6 years (range: 7-8.5 years), only one of the patients suffering two mild clinical relapses. CONCLUSION: We believe that IA may be useful, either as a coadyuvant or alternative treatment in severe relapses in MS patients that do not respond to high-dose intravenous corticosteroid therapy.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Differences in the clinical manifestations of sicca syndrome in the presence and absence of rheumatoid arthritis.

In this restrospective study we review the clinical features of patients with the sicca syndrome in the presence and absence of rheumatoid arthritis. All patients were followed at the National Institutes of Health for at least five years after the diagnosis of sicca syndrome was established. Twenty-two patients had sicca syndrome alone, and 21 patients had definite rheumatoid arthritis and the sicca syndrome. Rheumatoid arthritis tended to precede the developement of sicca syndrome. The mean age at diagnosis of sicca syndrome is the same in both groups. No significant differences in serum innumoglobulins, the third component of complement (C3), rheumatoid factor titer and salivary histopathology were found. However, the clinical features were quite distinct. Patients with sicca syndrome alone had a significantly greater frequency of recurrent parotitis, Raynaud's phenomenon, purpura, lymphadenopathy, myositis and renal involvement. The clinical characteristics of these two groups coupled with the known serologic and genetic differences suggest that sicca syndrome alone is a distinct pathologic entity.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

The specific production of the third component of complement by osteoblastic cells treated with 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

A 190 kDa protein was purified from conditioned media of mouse marrow-derived stromal cell (ST2) cultures treated with 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha,25(OH)2D3) and identified as the third component of mouse complement (C3). Northern and Western blot analysis revealed that the production of C3 by ST2 and primary osteoblastic cells was strictly dependent on 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, but the production by hepatocytes was not. Adding 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 together with mouse C3 antibody to bone marrow cultures greatly inhibited the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclast-like multinucleated cells. Adding C3 alone induced no TRAP-positive cell formation. These results suggest that, in bone tissues, C3 is specifically produced by osteoblasts in response to 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 and somehow involved in inducing differentiation of bone marrow cells into osteoclasts in concert with other factors produced by osteoblasts in response to 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3.

Acid Phosphatase↗

The variability of immunologic laboratory tests.

To determine the clinical reliability of certain immunologic tests, serum complement (C3), DNA binding (DNAB), and fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA) were measured blindly at 2 university immunology laboratories on duplicate serum samples from 667 patients with connective tissue diseases. Twenty-seven percent of patients were differently classified as normal or abnormal for C3 by the 2 laboratories. The mean of paired differences was 25 mg% and large variability remained even after adjustment. Repeat assays on a random subset of 91 sera showed persistent variability. Fifteen percent of patients were differently classified by their DNAB results in 11% by FANA tests. Considering this variability, these "objective" laboratory tests alone are not sufficiently reliable for accurately defining diseases or disease activity.

Antibodies↗

Elevated levels of soluble CD14 in serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A soluble form of CD14 (sCD14) was assessed with an ELISA assay in the serum of the following three clinical groups: 35 patients with an inactive phase of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 17 patients with SLE relapses, and 65 normal healthy volunteers. Increased levels of sCD14 were observed in all patients suffering from SLE compared with normal controls. In addition, patients with active SLE revealed higher serum concentrations of sCD14 (median 6.9 mg/l) than patients under remission (4.1 mg/l; P < 0.0001). Serum values of sCD14 correlated neither with the number of peripheral blood monocytes bearing the CD14 membrane antigen, nor with serum concentrations of IL-1 beta. Serum sCD14 was compared with other clinical parameters used to monitor the clinical course of patients with SLE, among them complement C3, anti-dsDNA antibodies and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R). A good correlation emerged between sCD14 and C3 as well as sIL-2R concentrations, but sCD14 and anti-dsDNA titres disclosed no significant correlation in both groups of patients with SLE. Serial studies in patients with severe SLE showed that serum sCD14 closely parallels the clinical course as defined by an activity score. Our data suggest that serum sCD14 represents a promising parameter to monitor disease activity in patients with SLE.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Assessment of immunological parameters following a qigong training program.

BACKGROUND: Qigong is a type of Chinese psychosomatic exercise that integrates meditation, slow physical movements, and breathing, and to which numerous physical as well as mental benefits have been classically ascribed. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of a qigong program on various immunological parameters. MATERIAL/METHODS: 29 naive subjects participated in the study, of whom 16 were allocated to the experimental group and the rest to the control group. The experimental subjects underwent a qigong training program, conducted by a qualified instructor, consisting of half an hour of daily practice for one month. The day before the experiment commenced and the day after it finished, blood samples were drawn from all subjects for the quantification of immunological parameters (leukocytes, immunoglobulins, and complement). As statistical analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was carried out. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the control and experimental groups, with the experimental group showing lower numbers of total leukocytes and eosinophils, number and percentage of monocytes, as well as complement C3 concentration. In addition, a similar result with a trend towards significance was observed in the number of eosinophils. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that after one month of practicing qigong, significant immunological changes occurred between the experimental and control groups, with a consistently lower and broadly significant profile of these measures within the qigong practitioner group.

Adolescent↗

Minimum steriod requirements in renal transplant patients monitored by urinary fibrin degradation products and complement.

The purpose of this study was to define the minimum steroid requirement in patients with a well established renal transplant, monitoring rejection by urinary fibrin degradation products (FDP) and complement (C3) measurements. Urinary FDP and C3 were measured daily over two years in ten patients who had a renal cadaveric transplant. Steroid therapy was reduced step-wise over an average period of fifty weeks to minimum values (range 5--10 mg, mean 7.0 mg prednisone). Three patients developed rejection when taking 7.5 mg prednisone for 10, 21 and 50 weeks respectively. In these three patients urinary FDP excretion rose markedly 12, 10 and 8 weeks respectively prior to the diagnosis of rejection and had fallen to pre-rejection values by the time any significant changes were observed in renal function. C3 appeared in the urine of two of the three patients who had graft rejection, heralding the diagnosis by 14 and 11 days respectively. The minimal steroid dosage varied from 0.06 to 0.24 mg prednisone/kg body weight (mean 0.11) and the three patients who rejected did so on doses of 0.10, 0.13 and 0.16 mg/kg. Doses of prednisone less than 10 mg per day risk the induction of rejection, depending upon the individual response of the patient.

Complement C3↗

Deposits of immunoglobulin and complement in psoriatic lesions.

Biopsy specimens from 43 patients with psoriasis were studied by immunofluorescence microscopy. Deposits of complement C3 and/or immunoglobulins were seen in the vessel walls and/or in the dermal-epidermal junction of all of 21 patients with pustular psoriasis, acute guttate psoriasis, psoriatic arthropathy and erythroderma. similar deposits were seen in nine out of 22 patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Deposits were found in clinically uninvolved skin in only one of 37 patients. The results might suggest that the deposition of immune complexes in the vessel walls are of importance for the development of psoriatic lesions.

Complement C3↗

Respiratory involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus. A clinical and immunological study.

Thirty patients fulfilling conventional criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus and who presented with extensive pleural and pulmonary involvement were studied retrospectively. Four overlapping patterns of respiratory disease were identified and observations were made on their clinical presentation, radiographic abnormalities and response to treatment. A low incidence of severe renal disease was found in this series of patients and this was in keeping with the general finding of low serum binding using native DNA in a globulin Farr-binding technique (greater than 20% binding in only 4/21 (19%) of the series) and normal or elevated serum complement (C3) levels. Precipitating antibody detected by double diffusion and counter-current immunoelectrophoresis and probably reacting in most cases with single-stranded DNA was, however, detected in 66% of pretreatment serum samples tested. This evidence supports the idea that different types of anti-nuclear antibody may be associated with different clinical manifestations seen within a group of patients who broadly fulfil the criteria for SLE.

Adolescent↗

Peripheral detection of S100beta during cardiothoracic surgery: what are we really measuring?

BACKGROUND: S100beta has been used in cardiac surgery to identify patients with postoperative neurologic complications. However, extracranial proteins may falsely elevate measurements of serum S100beta;. Objectives of this study were (1) to quantify S100 beta levels in serum and pericardial cavity during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and (2) to identify proteins recognized by standard immunodetection as S100beta. METHODS: Systemic and pericardial cavity blood from 5 patients undergoing CABG were sampled before, during, and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). A commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was used to quantify S100beta. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, Western blot, and mass spectroscopy were also performed to identify S100a and other proteins. RESULTS: Mean S100beta levels measured by ELISA, systemic and pericardial cavity blood were (in ng x mL(-1)) 1.0 +/- 0.46 and 111 +/- 71 before CPB, 0.6 +/- 0.11 and 113 +/- 54 during CPB, and 1.7 +/- 0.64 and 101 +/- 42 after CPB, respectively. However, gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis revealed proteins other than S100beta to be present in the pericardial cavity giving a falsely elevated serum S100a levels measured by immunoassay. Mass spectroscopy of identified potential candidates revealed contaminants including haptoglobin I precursor, apolipoprotein A-1 precursor, complement factor B precursor, and complement C3 precursor. CONCLUSIONS: S100beta immunoassays are not specific for S100a and give a falsely elevated reading due to contaminants from the surgical field that cross react with the assay's antibody. This does not appear to be an issue in nonsurgical patients. Caution must be exerted when evaluating immunodetection results for low-abundance proteins under conditions where contamination of the sample is likely.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗

[Genetic aspects of endometriosis: features of the distribution of polymorphic gene frequencies].

In a group of patients with endometriosis and in a control group of healthy women, the polymorphism of the following systems were studied: ABO and RH blood-group systems; serum proteins haptoglobin (HP), transferrin (TF), vitamin D-transporting protein (GC), protease inhibitor (PI), and the third component of the complement (C3); serum enzymes-amylase of the loci 1 and 2 (AMY1 and AMY2), pseudocholinesterase (E2), and alkaline phosphatase (PP); erythrocytic enzymes-acid phosphatase (ACP1), phosphoglucomutase (PGM1), superoxide dismutase (SOD-A), esterase D (ESD), and glyoxalase (GLO1). Statistically significant differences between the groups compared were established for five genetic systems: ABO, E2, C3, TF, and PGM1. Among patient with endometriosis, the rare alleles of the locus ESD-ESD5 and ESD7-were found, along with ESD 5-5 homozygotes. Several genetic loci can be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis; their products can be specifically realized due to peculiarities of biochemical reactions in the organisms of people predisposed to this pathology.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

[Pemphigus vegetans. A historical perspective].

Pemphigus vegetans is a rare variant of pemphigus which is mainly localized in the intertriginous areas (Neumann type, Hallopeau type) or primarily involves the mucous membranes (pyostomatitis vegetans). A 18-year-old patient with erosive stomatitis developed a vegetating plaque with papillomatous and verruciform features in her left axilla. Histopathological examination of the axilla revealed papillomatosis and acanthosis as well as suprabasal clefting with acantholytic cells. By direct immunofluorescent examination, deposits of immunoglobulin IgG and complement (C3) were found in the intercellular space of the epidermis. Serological examination by indirect immunofluorescent techniques was indicative of pemphigus autoantibodies at a titer of 1:40. This case report demonstrates that the classical differentiation of pemphigus vegetans in two types, Neumann type and Hallopeau type, is mainly of historical importance, because both entities may represent variants of the same disease. In addition, other disorders such as IgA pemphigus may also present with vegetating plaques in intertriginous sites.

Adolescent↗

Circulating immune complexes and symptoms in Hodgkin's disease.

Increased quantities of the third component of complement (C3) were found in the macromolecular fractions of plasma from patients with untreated Hodgkin's disease (H.D.) These changes provide indirect evidence that immune complexes are present in the plasma of patients with this disease; their presence is closely correlated with the symptoms of night sweats and fever which are associated with a poor prognosis. It is suggested that the detection of circulating complexes may help in assessing the severity of H.D.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Isolation and characterization of rat glomerular epithelial cells in vitro.

Rat glomeruli were isolated by a graded sieving technique, and the nature and purity of the preparation were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A great majority of the glomeruli (86.0 +/- 6.0%) were not encapsulated, and there was very little contamination of the preparations with tubular fragments. By supplementing tissue culture medium with conditioned medium (CM) and insulin, we were able to grow single cells from dissociated rat glomeruli. From these single cells, we were able to clone and maintain in culture three distinct cell types. Also, with this specialized medium, we were able to clone these three cell types from outgrowths of whole golmeruli. One of these cell types was characterized as glomerular epithelial cells (GEC). GEC, as opposed to the other two cloned cell types obtained in this study, had cilia on their surfaces and also possessed receptors for complement (C3) in vitro. Low concentrations of the aminonucleoside of puromycin (AMNS), which have been shown to be specifically cytotoxic to GEC in vivo, were found to be cytotoxic to GEC but not to the other two glomerular cells in vitro. In addition, GEC did not contain antihemophilic factor (factor VIII), a marker for endothelium, nor were they able to phagocytose polystyrene spherules in vitro, as can mesangial cells in short-term culture.

Animals↗

Differential function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes between in vivo and in vitro in tumor-bearing mice.

In the present report, we compared activities of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) such as phagocytosis and bactericidal activity in vivo with those in vitro in sarcoma 180 (S 180)-bearing mice. Mice showed a remarkable leukocytosis and in increase in PMN fraction of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) after intraperitoneal injection of S 180 cells. Tumor-bearing mice infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli) intravenously and intraperitoneally showed an apparent delay in the clearance of bacteria compared to the non-tumor-bearing control mice. However, PBL of tumor-bearing mice showed a high phagocytic activity against beads and a high chemiluminescence (CL) activity. Dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) oxidation capacity of peripheral blood PMN in S 180-bearing mice after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was about the same or a little stronger than that in control mice. On the contrary, serum and ascites of tumor-bearing mice strongly suppressed the phagocytic and bactericidal activities of casein-induced PMN against E. coli. During the early phase of E. coli infection, serum level of complement (C3) was not depressed in tumor-bearing hosts. From these results, it is concluded that leukocytosis and activation of functions of PMN in tumor-bearing mice were observed in vitro but they were not effective for the protection in the early phase of actual E. coli infection in vivo. The delay of in vivo clearance may be accounted for by a suppressive effect of serum components in tumor-bearing mice.

Animals↗