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Anaphylatoxin-mediated regulation of the immune response. II. C5a-mediated enhancement of human humoral and T cell-mediated immune responses.

C5a derived from the fifth component of human complement was found to potentiate both specific and non-specific human in vitro humoral immune responses. In addition, C5a is capable of potentiating antigen- and alloantigen-induced T cell proliferative responses. In contrast to these results, C5a was unable to modulate mitogen-induced B and T cell proliferative responses. The carboxyterminal arginine of C5a is not essential in order for C5a to enhance immune responses. C5ades Arg was found to augment the immune response to the level of C5a-mediated enhancement. The serum carboxypeptidase inhibitor, 2-mercaptomethyl-5-quanodinopentanoic acid, which prevents cleavage of the terminal arginine, allowed us to assay the effects of C5a on in vitro immune responses in the presence of serum. Helper T cells are involved in C5a-mediated immuno-potentiation. Substitution of T cells by soluble T cell-replacing factors, (Fc)TRF, rendered lymphocyte cultures refractory to the enhancing properties of C5a.

Adult↗

A role for sulfhydryl groups in granulocyte aggregation.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulated by high concentrations of the complement component C5A form cellular aggregates, and both the rate and degree of aggregation are influenced by changes in the PMN plasma membrane and cytoskeleton. Since sulfhydryls are important constituents of the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton, we investigated the effect of agents that oxidize and bind sulfhydryls on C5A-induced aggregation. PMN incubated with diamide, a nonspecific sulfhydryl-oxidizing agent, had a marked increase in their aggregation response to C5A. Tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (BHP), which reacts specifically with the soluble sulfhydryl glutathione (GSH), had no effect on aggregation. The enhancement of PMN aggregation by diamide, but not BHP, suggested that oxidation of non-GSH sulfhydryls contributes to the aggregation response. To test the requirement for sulfhydryls in PMN aggregation, PMN were treated with the sulfhydryl-binding agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). NEM markedly impaired aggregation without affecting resting or methylene blue-stimulated [14C]-L-glucose oxidation of the granulocytes. P-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid (PCMPSA), an external sulfhydryl-binding agent, had no effect on aggregation. These studies suggest that cellular sulfhydryls are required for optimal PMN aggregation and that oxidation of these sulfhydryls may be one of the biochemical changes that contributes to aggregation.

Cell Aggregation↗

Acute lung inflammation induced in the rabbit by local instillation of 1-0-octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine or of native platelet-activating factor.

The intratracheal instillation into rabbits of 1-0-octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (AGEPC) or native platelet-activating factor (PAF) was shown to induce a dose-dependent acute pulmonary inflammation characterized by accumulation of macrophages in the alveolar space, degenerative and necrotic changes of alveolar epithelium, and accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and platelets in the alveolar capillary lumens with degenerative changes of endothelial cells. Infiltration of alveolar septa by inflammatory cells and, in a later stage, pulmonary fibrosis were also observed. Intrabronchial instillation of lysoglyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (lyso-GEPC) produced no inflammatory changes or only mild ones. In comparison with acute inflammation induced by intratracheal instillation of C5a des Arg, which is mainly characterized by the presence of neutrophils, red blood cells, and fibrin in the alveolar space, AGEPC and native PAF seem to induce a more severe accumulation of macrophages in the alveolar space and septa and of platelet and PMNs in the lumens of alveolar capillaries. These results are compatible with the concept that during inflammatory reaction an intraalveolar release of PAF contributes to the development of pulmonary injury.

Acute Disease↗

Diverging effects of chemotactic serum peptides and synthetic f-Met-Leu-Phe on neutrophil locomotion and adhesion.

The chemotactic serum peptide preparations CAT 1.6.1. and C5adesArg induced marked directional locomotion over a wide concentration range without significant effects on random locomotion and adhesion of human neutrophils in Gey's solution containing 2% HSA. In contrast, f-Met-Leu-Phe produced marked negative chemokinetic effects and its capacity to induce directional locomotion was more limited with respect to magnitude and concentration range. The negative chemokinetic effect of f-Met-Leu-Phe correlated closely with increased spreading and cell adhesion.

Cell Adhesion↗

Rapid in vivo clearance of C5ades arg: a possible protective mechanism against complement-mediated tissue injury.

C5ades arg is an important mediator of the tissue injury associated with intravascular complement activation and exerts its effects by causing granulocyte aggregation, leukoembolism, and oxidative damage to endothelial cells. We have now investigated some of the mechanisms responsible for deactivation of this potent complement fragment by studying the clearance of C5ades arg from the plasma of New Zealand white rabbits in vivo. Quantitative aggregation of human granulocytes was used as a bioassay for rabbit C5ades arg. After a bolus intravenous infusion of activated autologous plasma complement, athe plasma C5ades arg content peaked within 60 sec and was cleared rapidly and exponentially, with a mean half-life of 3.0 +/- 0.6 (S.E.M.) min. In neutropenic animals the half-life of C5ades arg was prolonged by 57% +/- 22 and splenectomy, but not hepatectomy, also significantly lengthened the half-life by 48% +/- 18. The most striking delay in C5ades arg clearance was induced by inhibition of endogenous proteases with EACA and aprotinin, which prolonged the half-life by 87% +/- 4 and 94% +/- 12, respectively. These data demonstrate that like other complement fragments such as C3a, C5ades arg has a very brief functional half-life in experimental animals and that although other mechanisms may be operative, endogenous proteases, circulating granulocytes, and the spleen may be important in deactivating this biologically important complement fragment. Impairment of these and other clearance mechanisms could lead to prolonged and excessive complement activation and subsequent exaggerated tissue injury.

Agranulocytosis↗

IgE-independent interleukin-4 expression and induction of a late phase of leukotriene C4 formation in human blood basophils.

T-helper cells can differentiate into at least two subtypes secreting distinct profiles of cytokines, Th1 and Th2, regulating immunoprotection and different immunopathologies. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is both the product and the inducer of Th2 cells, raising the question whether IL-4 can be produced in response to antigen-independent stimuli. Here we show that human basophils produce IL-4 on stimulation with IL-3 and C5a or C5adesarg in similar amounts as induced by IgE-receptor-cross-linking. C5a-induced IL-4 production requires the presence of IL-3, with little effect of the sequence of stimuli addition. No "Th1-cytokines" (interferon-gamma and IL-2) and even no "Th2-cytokines" (IL-3, IL-5, IL-10, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) are produced by basophils in response to either IgE-dependent or IgE-independent activation. The generation of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) is regulated in a similar manner. However, C5a induces a rapid, transient burst of leukotriene formation only if added after IL-3. Interestingly, upon prolonged culture, a late phase of continuous LTC4 production is observed, which also requires two signals (IL-3 and C5a), but rather depends on their continuous presence than on their sequence of action. These data describe an antigen-independent pathway of very restricted IL-4 expression. Thus, basophils must be considered as central immunoregulatory cells of the innate immune system. Furthermore, the results show that LTC4 can also be generated more continuously for many hours, a phenomenon that may be of particular importance in chornic allergic inflammation, such as asthma.

Basophils↗

Inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase attenuate human neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro.

Products released through the L-arginine/nitric oxide biosynthetic pathway regulate soluble guanyl cyclase activity, which in turn modulates polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis. We hypothesized that inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase attenuate polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis in vitro. To test this hypothesis, unstimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes were pretreated with buffer or the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, and L-canavanine before being exposed to three structurally unrelated chemoattractants, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, C5a des arginine, and leukotriene B4. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis was quantified with a modified blind-well chamber technique. We found that L-NMMA and L-canavanine but not NG-nitro-L-arginine significantly attenuated polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis (p < 0.05). L-Arginine but not D-arginine, the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside, and 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate restored polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis attenuated by L-NMMA. Chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes primed with lipopolysaccharide (Escherichia coli 0127:B8) or phorbol-13-butyrate was also significantly attenuated by pretreatment with L-NMMA and L-canavanine. Consistent with these observations, intracellular concentrations of cyclic guanosine monophosphate in polymorphonuclear leukocytes was decreased by L-NMMA during exposure to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. These data indicate that nitric oxide synthase inhibitors attenuate chemotaxis of unstimulated and primed polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro. We suggest that the L-arginine/nitric oxide biosynthetic pathway plays an important role in regulating polymorphonuclear leukocyte emigration in vivo.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Inactivation of human anaphylatoxin C5a and C5a des-Arg through cleavage by the plasminogen activator activity of a human fibrosarcoma cell line.

The HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cell line exhibited a plasminogen-dependent ability to inactivate recombinant anaphylatoxin C5a or zymosan-activated serum. The inactivation was obtained at physiological levels of both plasminogen (2 microM) and C5a (1-5 nM). Inactivated C5a and zymosan-activated serum were no longer able to induce chemotaxis and degranulation of neutrophils. Inactivation of C5a paralleled the emergence of plasmin activity, assayed by cleavage of the synthetic substrate H-D-valyl-L-leucyl-L-lysine-p-nitroanilide (S-2251). Both C5a inactivation and S-2251 cleavage were inhibited by the plasmin inhibitor alpha 2-antiplasmin, the urokinase inhibitor amiloride, and by anti-urokinase antibodies. In a cell-free system, inactivation of C5a was shown to depend on the simultaneous presence of urokinase and plasminogen and was inhibited by alpha 2-antiplasmin and by anti-urokinase antibodies. SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis demonstrated the cleavage of C5a by the plasminogen activation system and inhibition of the cleavage by amiloride. Amino acid sequencing of the band corresponding to the C5a degradation product revealed that C5a was cleaved at positions Lys14-His15 and Arg40-Ile41; cleavage at position Arg40-Ile41 seemed to be responsible for the loss of activity. Since neoplastic cells extensively produce and exhibit plasminogen activator activity, the present observations suggest that plasminogen activation may, by inactivation of C5a, reduce the anti-tumor immune response and support the immunological escape phenomenon of tumors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Quantification of chemotactic peptides (C5a anaphylatoxin and IL-8) in psoriatic lesional skin.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Psoriatic scale extracts contain a unique chemotactic peptide fraction that is likely to be involved in the induction of rhythmic transepidermal leukocyte chemotaxis. Recent studies have identified the presence of two unrelated chemotactic peptides in this fraction, ie, C5a/C5a des Arg and interleukin 8 (IL-8), and its related cytokines. To investigate their relative contribution to the transepidermal leukocyte migration as well as their interrelationship in psoriatic lesions, we have quantified concentrations of immunoreactive C5a/C5a des Arg and IL-8 in psoriatic lesional scale extracts and those from related sterile pustular dermatoses such as subcorneal pustular dermatosis and pustulosis palmaris et plantaris. RESULTS: The concentrations of C5a/C5a des Arg and IL-8 were more significantly increased in the horny-tissue extracts from lesional skin than in those from noninflammatory orthokeratotic skin (P < .01). The increase of C5a/C5a des Arg concentration was specific to the lesional scale extracts, but showed a rather wide range of variation. By contrast, IL-8 concentration, although consistently increased in the lesional scale extracts, was also moderately increased even in noninflammatory scale extracts prepared from ichthyosis vulgaris. The elevation of IL-8 levels in psoriatic lesions was also confirmed by measuring their levels in cutaneous tissue fluid samples collected from suction blisters. However, unexpectedly, some control samples obtained from normal skin also showed a moderate increase in the IL-8 level. Neutrophil chemotactic activity correlated significantly only with the levels of C5a/C5a des Arg in the scales (P < .05). No such significant correlation was found between chemotactic activity and IL-8 or between C5a/C5a des Arg and IL-8. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, we speculate that, although IL-8 may exert a synergistic effect with C5a/C5a des Arg in the induction of transepidermal leukocyte chemotaxis, it constitutes a proinflammatory cytokine that is involved in the production of the persistent inflammatory changes characterized by a T-lymphocyte infiltration. In contrast, C5a/C5a des Arg seems to be generated only in the inflammatory lesional skin under specific circumstances that preferentially favor complement activation and also seems to play a major role in the induction of cyclic transepidermal leukocyte chemotaxis from "squirting papillae."

Adolescent↗

Rabbits with elevated serum C-reactive protein exhibit diminished neutrophil infiltration and vascular permeability in C5a-induced alveolitis.

In previous studies, we have shown that C-reactive protein (CRP) inhibits chemotaxis of neutrophils to complement fragments in vitro. To evaluate the effect of CRP on C5a-induced inflammation in vivo, a rabbit model of alveolitis was used. Rabbits pretreated with subcutaneous injections of croton oil had serum CRP increase from undetectable levels to 270 +/- 70 micrograms/ml 48 hours later. Rabbits were intubated and C5a des arg (10 micrograms/ml) instilled directly into the lungs via an endotracheal tube. Four to six hours later, the animals were killed and bronchoalveolar lavage performed. Rabbits pretreated with croton oil had significantly (P < 0.01) reduced C5a des arg-stimulated neutrophil infiltration (30 +/- 5%) into alveolar air spaces compared to untreated rabbits (64 +/- 9%). Increased numbers of total leukocytes in the alveolar washes coincided with increased neutrophil numbers whereas alveolar macrophages remained unchanged in all groups. Rabbits pretreated with croton oil also had a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in total protein (320 +/- 50 micrograms/ml) in lavage fluid after C5a instillation compared with untreated animals (850 +/- 140 micrograms/ml). In vitro, rabbit CRP (50 micrograms/ml) added to normal rabbit serum significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited chemotaxis of human neutrophils by 41%. Finally, direct intravenous pretreatment of rabbits with purified CRP also significantly reduced C5a-induced alveolitis. The CRP-C5a group had 33 +/- 10% neutrophil infiltration, a significant (P < 0.01) reduction from the C5a group (71 +/- 6%). The total protein content of the CRP-C5a rabbits was 986 +/- 165 micrograms/ml in the lavage fluid, which was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the C5a group (1645 +/- 363 micrograms/ml). Therefore, CRP inhibits the development of neutrophil alveolitis and protein leakage in vivo and inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro. These data indicate that CRP offers a protective effect in neutrophil-mediated lung injury by reducing neutrophil influx and protein leak.

Animals↗

Priming of eosinophil recruitment in vivo by LPS pretreatment.

Eosinophils are important inflammatory cells in allergic diseases. Recent evidence suggests that priming mechanisms in the blood may be important for effective eosinophil recruitment to sites of allergic inflammation. We have investigated whether priming an inflammatory site could enhance eosinophil recruitment in vivo. Pretreatment of skin sites in the guinea pig with a low dose (30 ng) of LPS, which had little effect on eosinophil accumulation alone, enhanced by up to threefold the 111In-eosinophil accumulation in response to a passive cutaneous anaphylactic reaction and to intradermally injected eosinophil chemoattractants (leukotriene B4, PAF, and C5ades Arg). In contrast, LPS pretreatment did not enhance accumulation of 111In-neutrophils. Priming was seen only with a 1-h pretreatment time and was not associated with an increase in local edema or a change in cutaneous blood flow. It was independent of local protein synthesis, as assessed using cycloheximide, and was unaffected by a PAF antagonist, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, and the IL-1 receptor antagonist. The priming response was, however, reduced by co-injection with the LPS of TNFR-IgG, but not of CD4-IgG. Blockade of CD18 showed this adhesion molecule to be critical for eosinophil accumulation, and LPS-primed sites were inhibited as effectively as nonprimed sites. In conclusion, low dose LPS pretreatment of guinea pig skin sites primes for eosinophil accumulation induced by intradermally injected inflammatory mediators and cutaneous anaphylactic reaction. This may be an important process by which eosinophil recruitment is modulated in vivo.

Animals↗

Identification of neutrophil chemotactic factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic patients.

BACKGROUND: Although neutrophils have been implicated in bronchial asthma, the mechanism(s) which bring these cells into the airways is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence and identity of neutrophil chemotactic factors in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from atopic asthmatic subjects. METHOD: BAL fluid was obtained from 13 subjects (seven asthmatics and six normals), aged 19 to 60 yr, at bronchoscopy. Separation of neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) was achieved by FPLC cation exchange chromatography. Fractions were collected and assayed for chemotaxis in multiwell micro-chemotaxes chambers using polycarbonate filters, for the complement peptide C5a/C5a des Arg by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and for interleukin-8 (IL-8) by ELISA. RESULTS: NCA was found in FPLC fractions of BAL samples in four out of seven asthmatics and each of these subjects had at least three similar peaks of NCA. The major peak of NCA was found to contain immunoreactive C5a/C5a des Arg and chemotaxis. In response to this NCA could be blocked by desensitization of the neutrophils with recombinant C5a. Purified serum derived C5a/C5a des Arg was found to have altered chromatographic properties when added to BAL fluid; this suggested that BAL fluid contained proteins which interacted with the C5a/C5a des Arg. Immunoreactive IL-8 (iIL-8) was also detected but its concentration or chemical form was insufficient to induce neutrophil chemotaxis. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that bronchial asthmatic lavage fluid contains C5a/ C5a des/Arg and IL-8, together with other as yet unidentified factors which may contribute to neutrophil recruitment in this disease.

Adolescent↗

Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of intravenous formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) in rabbits.

We have studied the role of neutrophils and the effects of the chemotactic factor FMLP, using normal, neutropenic (after cyclophosphamide treatment) and C5a desArg-treated unanesthetized rabbits. The intravenous administration of FMLP in normal animals induces transient and dose-dependent hypotension, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, with a maximal response in 3 minutes. When a bolus of 5 x 10(-9) moles FMLP was administered, maximal arterial hypotension (40 +/- 1.1 v.s. 90 +/- 1.1 mmHg in the controls, P < 0.001) accompanied by a significant increase in central venous pressure (0.89 +/- 0.9 v.s. -2.2 +/- 0.7 mmHg in the controls, P < 0.01) and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance (90 +/- 15.6 v.s 187 +/- 16.4 mmHg/L/min, P < 0.005). Plasma pH and bicarbonate were significantly reduced, with a parallel increase in plasma lactate levels. A similar reduction of arterial blood pressure was also noted in neutropenic animals (31 +/- 3% of pretreatment levels respectively). C5a des Arg caused neutropenia similar to that seen after 5 x 10(-9) moles FMLP (120 +/- 60/mm3 and 170 +/- 25/mm3 respectively), but it did not induce hypotension. These data suggest that simple neutrophil activation is not the mechanism of the FMLP-induced hypotension and that this chemotactic factor may interact with other cell types to produce its effects.

Animals↗

Quantification of C5a/C5a(desArg) in bovine plasma, serum and milk.

Complement activation generates two potent inflammatory mediators from C5, C5a and its derivative C5a(desArg), which results from the removal of the C-terminal arginine by ubiquitous carboxypeptidases. In this paper we describe the purification of milligram amounts of bovine C5a(desArg) by a simplified procedure, and the preparation of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to C5a/C5a(desArg) which do not recognize native C5. A MAb was used to develop a sandwich ELISA which made it possible to quantify levels of C5a/C5adesArg in bovine biological fluids. Small amounts (means +/- SEM) of C5a/C5a(desArg) were found in EDTA-plasma (0.58 +/- 0.06 ng.mL-1). The anticoagulant EDTA was more efficient than citrate or heparin in inhibiting in vitro activation of the complement system. Complement activation occurred during coagulation since the baseline concentration of C5a/C5a(desArg) (15.4 +/- 4.1 ng.mL-1) was higher than in plasma. Zymosan, a potent activator of the complement cascade, was used to generate C5a/C5a(desArg). The time-course of the reaction and the dose-effect of zymosan were investigated. Optimal conditions were incubation at 39 degrees C for 1 or 2 h with 2 mg of zymosan per mL of serum. The maximal concentration of C5a/C5a desArg attained in zymosan-activated serum was 4.28 +/- 0.14 micrograms.mL-1. Normal milk (from healthy, uninflamed mammary glands) contained on average 0.12 ng of C5a/C5a(desArg).mL-1 (range 0.02-0.19 ng.mL-1). The maximal amount of C5a/C5a(desArg) which was generated in milk with zymosan was 1.1 ng.mL-1 (range 0.68-2.17 ng.mL-1). In milk from quarters with subclinical infections by coagulase-negative staphylococci, values were 0.18 ng.mL-1 and 2.37 ng.mL-1 for spontaneous and zymosan-generated C5a/C5a(desArg) concentrations, respectively. In milk from Escherichia coli endotoxin-induced mastitis, C5a/C5a(desArg) concentrations (means of four cows) before and after zymosan activation reached 6.5 ng.mL-1 and 55 ng.mL-1, respectively. These results indicate that a C5-convertase can operate in normal milk, that only minute amounts of C5a/C5a(desArg) can be generated (less than 1/1,000 of plasma potential), but that much higher concentrations are reached in milk during endotoxin-induced inflammation. The ELISA made it possible to determine normal ranges of C5a/C5a(desArg) in bovine blood plasma and in milk, and is a valuable tool to define the variations of its concentrations in exudates during inflammatory reactions.

Animals↗

Biocompatibility evaluation of polyamide hemofiltration.

INTRODUCTION: Postdilution hemofiltration with a polyamide membrane is a renal replacement technique widely used, but very little information is available regarding the biocompatibility of this treatment. In this paper we report the results of an acute study of the biocompatibility of polyamide hemofiltration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Complement activation such as C3a and C5a Des Arg (RIA), granulocyte degranulation like alpha 1 elastase intradialytic increase (ELISA) and the expression of high affinity membrane receptors for IL-2 (anti-TAC) were determined. Beta 2-microglobulin (RIA) intradialytic decrease, as well as its convective removal, was evaluated. The nature of protein layer adsorbed onto the polyamide membrane, at the end of the dialytic session was investigated with a new immunohistochemical technique. Cell-associated cytokine concentration (like IL-1 beta and IL-1Ra - ELISA) was determined on mononuclear cell lysates. RESULTS: A low degree of complement activation was detected with the polyamide membrane when data were adjusted for hemoconcentration and for 1 m2 of membrane surface area. An important convective removal not only of Beta 2-microglobulin (258+/-20 mg/session), but also of the activated anaphylatoxins (225+/-76 ng/ml for C3a and 22.5+/-4 ng/ml for C5a) was revealed. A marked deposition of all coagulation factors with no detectable amount of immunoglobulins and complement factors was revealed on the polyamide membrane at the end of the dialytic session. No intradialytic (for IL-1beta) (from 14. 1+/-3.0 to 13.5+/-2.9 pg/2.5 x 10(6) cell) and interdialytic (for IL-1Ra) (from 4572+/-1076 to 5408+/-615 pg/2.5 x 10(6) cell) cell-associated cytokine expression was induced by hemofiltration. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Polyamide hemofiltration is a highly biocompatible technique due to the use of a synthetic membrane with a sterile reinfusion fluid and the convective removal of the activated anaphylatoxins and Beta 2-microglobulin.

Adult↗

Complement activation and stimulation of chemotaxis by Chlamydia trachomatis.

The stimulus for the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in acute chlamydial infection was studied in vitro by examining the chemotaxigenic effect of L2 and DE Chlamydia trachomatis elementary bodies (EB) upon the plasma of three healthy donors. In each individual experiment, chemotactic response was assessed with PMNs and plasma from the same respective donor, and no specific antibodies against C. trachomatis were detected in the plasma of any donor. Chemotaxis was observed in an agarose plate assay and was quantitated as the chemotactic differential, or CD (directed migration of PMNs minus random movement of PMNs). For each donor, the mean CD was significantly greater (P less than 0.005) when plasma preincubated for 2 h with L2 EB was used as the chemoattractant than when (i) plasma alone, (ii) plasma preheated to 56 degrees C for 30 min before incubation with L2 EB, or (iii) L2 EB in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was used as the potential chemoattractant. Similarly, in the one donor in whom DE EB were studied, the mean CD was also significantly greater (P less than 0.005) for plasma preincubated with DE EB as compared with (i) plasma alone or (ii) DE EB in PBS. Complement activation by C. trachomatis EB was assessed by radioimmunoassay for C5a des-arginine in all chemoattractant preparations used in the chemotaxis assay. Mean C5a des-arginine levels were high in plasma samples preincubated with L2 EB (171.00 +/- 10.64, 107.00 +/- 4.76, and 89.70 +/- 1.74 ng per ml) or DE EB (37.40 +/- 15.76 ng per ml) but were undetectable (less than 4.0 ng per ml) in (i) plasma alone, (ii) preheated plasma incubated with L2 EB, and (iii) PBS containing L2 EB. Thus, L2 EB and DE EB of C. trachomatis exert a chemotaxigenic effect upon normal antibody-negative plasma, and this effect is at least in part a result of complement activation and generation of the potent chemotaxin C5a.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗

Release of histamine from rat mast cells by the complement peptides C3a and C5a.

Suspensions of rat mast cells were used to study the histamine-releasing actions of anaphylatoxins C3A and C5a in vitro. The peptides, derived from human or porcine complement proteins C3 and C5, were less potent than 48/80 but more potent than bradykinin in stimulating release of histamine from mast cells. The pattern of release resembled that of the anaphylactic release action, e.g. release was limited to less than 30 per cent of the cell histamine, the reaction was calcium-dependent and was potentiated by phosphatidyl serine. When C3a and C5a were added together to mast cell suspensions, the amount of histamine released was additive. Similarly, release by either peptide combined with bradykinin was additive. Histamine-releasing activity (as well as smooth muscle-stimulating activity) was abolished when the peptides were treated with pancreatic carboxy-peptidase B. Active or inactive peptides were bound by mast cells and addition of active C3a in combination with the inactive, des-arginine derivative, C3ai, resulted in partial inhibition of histamine release.

Anaphylaxis↗