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D T Fearon

Publications and source records attributed to D T Fearon.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Deficiencies of human C3 complement receptors type 1 (CR1, CD35) and type 2 (CR2, CD21).

CR1 (CD35) and CR2 (CD21) are structurally related integral transmembrane glycoproteins that function as cellular receptors for human C3b and C3dg, respectively. The primary sequence of the most common structural allotype of CR1 and that of CR2 have been established, and ligand binding on the molecules has been mapped. CR1 and CR2 genes are located in close vicinity in the RCA locus of chromosome 1. CR1 has a wide cellular/tissular distribution and mediates a variety of biologic functions, including the transport of C3-bearing immune complexes on erythrocytes, enhancement of phagocytosis, induction of IL-1 secretion and enhancement of B-cell differentiation. Expression of CR2 is restricted to B lymphocytes and follicular dendritic cells. The receptor modulates B-cell growth. CR2 also serves as the receptor for EBV and determines the cellular tropism of the virus. This review discusses the molecular biology and functional characteristics of CR1 and CR2. It focuses on alterations of expression of the receptors in disease, with particular emphasis on the genetic and acquired factors that contribute to the defective expression of CR1 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mapping of the Epstein-Barr virus and C3dg binding sites to a common domain on complement receptor type 2.

Complement receptor type 2 (CR2;CD21), a member of the superfamily of proteins containing short consensus repeats (SCRs), is the B cell receptor for both the gp350/220 envelope protein of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and for the C3dg protein of complement. By analysis of CR2 deletion mutants and chimeras formed with CR1 (CD35) we determined that of the 15 SCRs in CR2, the NH2-terminal two SCRs are necessary and sufficient to bind both gp350/220 and C3dg with affinities equivalent to those of the wild-type receptor. The epitope for OKB-7, a mAb that blocks binding of both EBV and C3dg and shares with these ligands B cell-activating capabilities, also requires both SCR-1 and SCR-2, whereas mAbs lacking these functions bind to other SCRs. Thus, EBV, a polyclonal activator of B cells, has selected a site that is proximate or identical to the natural ligand binding site in CR2, perhaps reflecting the relative immutability of that site as well as its signal transducing function.

Animals↗

Polymeric C3dg primes human B lymphocytes for proliferation induced by anti-IgM.

Polymeric C3dg (pC3dg), having an average m.w. of approximately 400,000 and saturating complement receptor type 2 (CR2) on B lymphoblastoid cells at 1 micrograms/ml, was preincubated with tonsillar B cells for 24 h, after which anti-IgM was added and proliferation assessed by thymidine incorporation. Preculture of B cells with 0.01 to 1.0 micrograms/ml of polymerized C3dg (pC3dg) caused a dose-dependent enhancement of proliferation and accelerated entry into S phase after addition of anti-IgM. The continued presence of pC3dg during stimulation by anti-IgM was not required. pC3dg alone did not induce proliferation and preculture of B cells with C3dg monomer had no effect on the subsequent response to anti-IgM. The priming effect of pC3dg required at least 6 h and was greatest after 24 h of preculture. Preincubation with pC3dg did not lower the concentration of anti-IgM necessary for induction of proliferation, but did enhance proliferation at all concentrations above this threshold. Augmented proliferation occurred only in B cells of higher density in Percoll gradients, and neither T cells nor monocytes were required. Thus, independent interaction of CR2 with its natural ligand primes the B cell for subsequent stimulation through the Ag receptor, an effect that might synergize with the previously described CR2 function of lowering the threshold for B cell activation when crosslinked to membrane IgM.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗

Structure of the human CR1 gene. Molecular basis of the structural and quantitative polymorphisms and identification of a new CR1-like allele.

Structural and quantitative polymorphisms have been described in human CR1. In the former, the S allotype is larger than the F allotype by 40-50 kD, the size of a long homologous repeat (LHR). In the latter, homozygotes for a 7.4-kb Hind III fragment express fourfold more CR1 per erythrocyte than do homozygotes for the allelic 6.9-kb restriction fragment. The basis for these genomic polymorphisms has been determined by restriction mapping the entire S allele and part of the F allele. The S allele is 158 kb and contains 5 LHRs of 20-30 kb, designated -A, -B/A, -B, -C, and -D, respectively, 5' to 3'. Extensive homology was found among the LHRs in their restriction maps, exon organization, and the coding and noncoding sequences. The presence of LHR-B/A in the S allele but not in the F allele accounts for the longer transcripts and polypeptide associated with the former allotype. At least 42 exons are present in the S allele, with distinct exons for the leader sequence, the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions and most of the SCRs comprising the extracellular portion of CR1. Consistent with the mapping of the ligand binding site to the first two SCRs in each LHR, the second SCRs in LHR-A, -B/A, -B, and -C are encoded by two exons, reflecting a specialized function for this unit. The allelic 7.4/6.9-kb Hind III fragments extend from the 3' region of LHR-C to LHR-D. The 6.9-kb restriction fragment is the result of a new Hind III site generated by a single base change in the intron between the exons encoding the second SCR of LHR-D. A second cluster of genomic clones has been identified by hybridization to CR1 probes. Although they contain regions of hybridization to the cDNA and genomic probes derived from CR1, these cannot be overlapped with the structural gene owing to their distinct restriction maps. Three genomic polymorphisms previously identified by CR1 cDNA probes map to this region. These additional clones may represent part of a duplicated allele located nearby within the CR1 locus.

Alleles↗

Identification of distinct C3b and C4b recognition sites in the human C3b/C4b receptor (CR1, CD35) by deletion mutagenesis.

Complementary DNA clones encoding the NH2-terminal region of human CR1 have been isolated and sequenced. The deduced complete amino acid sequence of the F allotype of human CR1 contains 2,039 residues, including a 41-residue signal peptide, an extracellular domain of 1,930 residues, a 25-amino acid transmembrane domain, and a 43-amino acid cytoplasmic region. The extracellular domain is composed exclusively of 30 short consensus repeats (SCRs), characteristic of the family of C3/C4-binding proteins. The 28 NH2-terminal SCRs are organized as four long homologous repeats (LHRs) of seven SCRs each. The newly sequenced LHR, LHR-A, is 61% identical to LHR-B in the NH2-terminal two SCRs and greater than 99% identical in the COOH-terminal five SCRs. Eight cDNA clones were spliced to form a single construct, piABCD, that contained the entire CR1 coding sequence downstream of a cytomegalovirus promoter. COS cells transfected with piABCD transiently expressed recombinant CR1 that comigrated with the F allotype of erythrocyte CR1 on SDS-PAGE and that mediated rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes bearing C4b and C3b. Recombinant CR1 also had factor I-cofactor activity for cleavage of C3(ma). Analyses of six deletion mutants expressed in COS cells indicated that the NH2-terminal two SCRs of LHR-A contained a site determining C4 specificity and the NH2-terminal two SCRs of LHR-B and -C each had a site determining C3 specificity. The presence of these three distinct sites in CR1 may enable the receptor to interact multivalently with C4b/C3b and C3b/C3b complexes generated during activation of the classical and alternative pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Synergistic interaction between complement receptor type 2 and membrane IgM on B lymphocytes.

We sought biochemical evidence for a role of C receptors types 1 (CR1) and 2 (CR2) in B cell activation. A flow cytometer was used to measure the fluorescence of tonsillar cells that had been loaded with the calcium-dependent indicator indo-1, and cells were stimulated by cross-linking cell-bound DA4.4 anti-IgM, Yz-1 anti-CR1 or HB5 anti-CR2 with goat anti-mouse IgG. There was a direct dose-response relationship between the proportion of cells having increased cytoplasmic free calcium concentration (Cai) after addition of second antibody and the amount of cell-bound Fab' DA4.4. In contrast, no rise in Cai was observed after cross-linking bound Yz-1 or HB5. To determine whether CR1 or CR2 could modify the increase in Cai induced by cross-linking membrane IgM, Cai was monitored after addition of second antibody to cells bearing combinations of either Yz-1 or HB5 with a limited amount of DA4.4. The combination of Yz-1 with DA4.4 yielded little or no further increase in the percentage of cells responding to cross-linking with elevated Cai compared with DA4.4 alone. However, the combination of HB5 with limited DA4.4 synergistically enhanced this response, resulting in stimulation that was equivalent to that obtained with optimal concentrations of DA4.4. The synergistic effect of CR2 was also observed with avidin as the cross-linking reagent for bound biotinylated HB5 and DA4.4, occurred in the presence of EGTA, and did not require T cells. Studies of the proliferation of B cell-enriched PBMC demonstrated that, whereas HB5 coupled to Sepharose alone induced little or no DNA synthesis, the combination of HB5 with limited DA4.4 on Sepharose induced a dose-related synergistic increase in the incorporation of [3H]thymidine.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Selective synthesis of mRNA and proteins by human peripheral blood neutrophils.

Human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) have been considered to be capable of little if any protein biosynthesis. We evaluated the ability of PMN to synthesize both mRNA and proteins. Using in vitro [35S]methionine pulse-chase labeling of purified PMN, followed by immunoprecipitation of cell lysates with immobilized mAb and analysis by gel electrophoresis, PMN were shown to synthesize CR1, FcR, CR3 alpha-chain, MHC class I, and actin. In contrast, incorporation of [35S]methionine into either CR3 beta-chain or the secondary granule protein lactoferrin was not detected. Purification of mRNA from PMN and analysis by Northern blots demonstrated the presence in PMN of CR1, actin, and MHC class I transcripts. However, despite the apparent lack of CR3 beta-chain biosynthesis, specific beta-chain message was detectable in PMN RNA. Inhibition of mRNA synthesis in PMN with actinomycin D resulted in decreased synthesis of nascent CR1, FcR, MHC class I, and actin compared with control cells. Thus, PMN continue to transcribe and translate the genes for certain membrane and cytoskeletal proteins. In contrast, the lack of detectable synthesis of either lactoferrin or CR3 beta-chain suggested that biosynthesis in circulating PMN is selective.

Blood Proteins↗

Organization of the genes encoding complement receptors type 1 and 2, decay-accelerating factor, and C4-binding protein in the RCA locus on human chromosome 1.

The organization and physical linkage of four members of a major complement locus, the RCA locus, have been determined using the technique of pulsed field gradient gel electrophoresis in conjunction with Southern blotting. The genes encoding CR1, CR2, DAF, and C4bp were aligned in that order within a region of 750 kb. In addition, the 5' to 3' orientation of the CR1 gene (5' proximal to CR2) was determined using 5'- and 3'-specific DNA probes. The proximity of these genes may be related to structural and functional homologies of the protein products. Overall, a restriction map including 1,500 kb of DNA was prepared, and this map will be important for positioning of additional coding sequences within this region on the long arm of chromosome 1.

CD55 Antigens↗

Structure of the human B lymphocyte receptor for C3d and the Epstein-Barr virus and relatedness to other members of the family of C3/C4 binding proteins.

Human complement receptor type 2 (CR2) is the B lymphocyte receptor for C3d and the Epstein-Barr virus. This protein is also a member of a family of C3b/C4b binding proteins that regulate complement activation, comprise tandemly repeated 60-75 amino acid sequences, and whose genes map to band q32 on chromosome 1. Overlapping cDNA clones encoding the entire human CR2 protein have been isolated from a human tonsillar cDNA library. The derived amino acid sequence of 1,032 residues encodes a peptide of 112,716 mol wt. A signal peptide was identified, followed by 15 copies of the short consensus repeat (SCR) structure common to the C3/C4 binding protein family. The entire extracellular portion of the protein comprised SCRs, thus, the ligand binding sites both for C3d and the EBV protein gp350/220 are positioned within this structure. Immediately following the final SCR was a transmembrane sequence of 24 amino acids and a cytoplasmic region of 34 amino acids. One of five cDNA clones isolated contained an additional SCR, providing evidence for alternative mRNA splicing or gene products of different human alleles. The CR2 cDNAs were used to isolate CR2-specific genomic phage. The entire CR2 coding sequences were found within 20 kb of human DNA. Analysis of the CR2 cDNA sequence indicated that CR2 contained internally homologous regions and suggested that CR2 arose by duplication of a primordial gene sequence encoding four SCRs. Comparison of the CR2 peptide sequence with those of other members of the gene family has identified many regions highly homologous with human CR1, fewer with C4bp and decay accelerating factor, and very few with factor H, and suggested that CR2 and CR1 arose by duplication of the same ancestral gene sequence. The homology between CR2 and CR1 extended to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions, suggesting that these sequences were derived from a common membrane-bound precursor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of murine L cells expressing recombinant human EBV/C3d receptor.

The normal host range of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is limited to primate B lymphocytes and certain epithelial cells that express the C3d/EBV receptor [complement receptor 2 (CR2, CD21)]. In the present study, expansion of the tissue tropism of EBV has been accomplished by stably transfecting the murine fibroblast L cell line with pMT.CR2. neo.1, a eukaryotic expression vector promoting the transcription of a complementary DNA insert encoding human CR2. High CR2-expressing transfected L cells were selected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The recombinant CR2 was shown to have the same molecular weight as wild-type CR2 from Raji cells and to mediate the binding by the transfectants of particles bearing the iC3b and C3d fragments of the third component of complement. All CR2-expressing L cells, but not nontransfected controls, also bound EBV, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence. After a 60-hr culture, approximately 0.5% of the CR2-expressing cells preincubated with EBV demonstrated immunofluorescent staining of EBV nuclear antigen with serum from a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. No fluorescent staining of cells was seen with monoclonal antibodies to the early antigen complex or to gp350/220, indicating that the infection was predominantly latent. Infected cells cultured for up to 4 weeks remained EBV nuclear antigen-positive. The capacity of recombinant human CR2 to confer on murine L cells susceptibility to stable latent infection by EBV indicates that this receptor is a primary determinant of the tissue tropism of EBV and may facilitate studies of cell-specific factors that regulate the viral growth cycle.

Animals↗

Expansion of the complement receptor gene family. Identification in the mouse of two new genes related to the CR1 and CR2 gene family.

Human cDNA probes encoding the C3b/C4b complement receptor, CR1, have been used to identify, in the mouse, two new genes which are related to CR1 but which appear to encode a different protein product. These new mouse genes, arbitrarily designated mouse genes X and Y, hybridize specifically to three different cDNA probes derived from human CR1. The degree of hybridization homology between the mouse X and Y genes suggests they are very closely related to one another; however, the chromosomal localization of the mouse X gene to chromosome 8 and the mouse Y gene to chromosome 1 indicates they are distinct gene sequences. The mRNA species detected with the X and/or Y (X/Y) sequences are approximately 2000 bases in length, but vary in both quantity and size depending upon the tissue analyzed. DNA sequence analysis of a cDNA specific for the X and Y sequences indicates the mature protein(s) will contain the 60 amino acid consensus repeat characteristic of a group of other proteins including CR1, the C3d receptor (CR2), H, C4 binding protein (C4bp), the interleukin 2 (Il 2) receptor and others. The identity of the mouse X and Y genes, and the function of the proteins which they encode, is not known; however, the small size of the mRNA and the tissue specific expression suggests they do not encode mouse CR1 or CR2 but instead encode a related protein (or proteins) which is expressed in a wide variety of mouse tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Deficiency of the C3b/C4b receptor (CR1) of erythrocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus: analysis of the stability of the defect and of a restriction fragment length polymorphism of the CR1 gene.

The role of genetic factors in controlling CR1 quantitative expression on erythrocytes (E) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was reexamined by determining the temporal stability of CR1 numbers and the frequency of a CR1 genomic restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The mean number of binding sites/(E) for Yz-1 monoclonal anti-CR1 correlated with the number of sites for polyclonal anti-CR1 that had been determined 2 to 4 yr previously in 18 normal persons (p less than 0.001), 18 patients (p less than 0.001), and 28 relatives (p less than 0.001), indicating that CR1 sites/E was a stable characteristic in all three groups. The mean number of Yz-1 sites/E was 281 +/- 34 (+/- SEM) in 28 probands with SLE and 457 +/- 21 in 93 relatives, both determinations being less than that for 100 normal persons, 553 +/- 21 (p less than 0.002). Thirty-six patients and 51 normal individuals were also assessed for the presence of the 7.4 kb and 6.9 kb HindIII CR1 allelic restriction fragments that correlate with high and low expression, respectively, of CR1 on E. The distribution of patients differed from normal (p less than 0.05), with a smaller proportion being homozygous for the 7.4 kb allele. In addition, the mean numbers of Yz-1 sites/E for patients and relatives who were homozygous (p less than 0.02) and heterozygous (p less than 0.05) for the 7.4 kb allele were significantly lower than those for normal persons matched for the HindIII RFLP, suggesting the existence of additional heritable factors that decrease CR1 expression. The stability over time of the CR1 deficiency among patients, the finding of decreased CR1 number among an expanded group of relatives, the altered frequency among patients of CR1 alleles defined by the HindIII RFLP, and the decreased expression of CR1 on E among patients and relatives compared with normal individuals having the same HindIII RFLP indicate a role for genetic factors in CR1 deficiency in SLE.

Alleles↗

Human C3b/C4b receptor (CR1). Demonstration of long homologous repeating domains that are composed of the short consensus repeats characteristics of C3/C4 binding proteins.

10 overlapping CR1 cDNA clones that span 5.5 kb were isolated from a tonsillar library and sequenced in whole or in part. A single long open reading frame beginning at the 5' end of the clones and extending 4.7 kb downstream to a stop codon was identified. This sequence represents approximately 80% of the estimated 6 kb of coding sequence for the F allotype of CR1. Three tandem, direct, long homologous repeats (LHRs) of 450 amino acids were identified. Analysis of the sequences of tryptic peptides provided evidence for a fourth LHR in the F allotype of CR1. Amino acid identity between the LHRs ranged from 70% between the first and third repeats to 99% between the NH2-terminal 250 amino acids of the first and second repeats. Each LHR comprises seven short consensus repeats (SCRs) of 60-70 amino acids that resemble the SCRs of other C3/C4 binding proteins, such as complement receptor type 2, factors B and H, C4 binding protein, and C2. Two additional SCRs join the LHRs to a single membrane-spanning domain of 25 amino acids; thus, the F allotype of CR1 probably contains at least 30 SCRs, 23 of which have been sequenced. Each SCR is predicted to form a triple loop structure in which the four conserved half-cystines form disulfide linkages. The linear alignment of 30 SCRs as a semi-rigid structure would extend 1,140A from the plasma membrane and might facilitate the interaction of CR1 with C3b and C4b located within the interstices of immune complexes and microbial cell walls. The COOH-terminal cytoplasmic domain of 43 residues contains a six-amino-acid sequence that is homologous to the sequence in the epidermal growth factor receptor that is phosphorylated by protein kinase C.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cellular distribution of complement receptor type 4 (CR4): expression on human platelets.

Neutrophils have been shown to express a receptor for C3dg that is distinct from CR2 and is termed complement receptor type 4 (CR4). In the present study, other peripheral blood cell types were examined by indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry for the presence of C3dg binding activity. Specific uptake of C3dg occurred with neutrophils, platelets, and B lymphocytes, but not with eosinophils or T lymphocytes. Monocytes, contained within a mixed cell population of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and platelets, also bound C3dg, whereas purified monocytes did not. Binding of 125I-labeled glutaraldehyde-cross-linked C3dg to platelets was saturable, with an average of 1940 C3dg molecules bound per platelet at saturation (n = 8), ranging in number from 660 to 3930 molecules bound. Activation of platelets with thrombin did not consistently cause an increase in the expression of CR4 sites. 125I-C3dg binding to platelets was competitively inhibited equally well by unlabeled C3dg and iC3b, and approximately fourfold less well by C3b. The addition of platelets to elutriated monocytes generated C3dg binding activity on these cells by the formation of platelet-monocyte complexes. Thus, the CR4 on platelets accounted for the C3dg binding activity initially observed with partially purified monocytes. The adherent property of platelets may enable them to confer on certain other cell types the ability to localize C3dg-coated immune complexes or particles.

Blood Platelets↗

A complement receptor locus: genes encoding C3b/C4b receptor and C3d/Epstein-Barr virus receptor map to 1q32.

The alternative or classical pathways for complement system component C3 may be triggered by microorganisms and antigen-antibody complexes. In particular, an activated fragment of C3, C3b, covalently attaches to microorganisms or antigen-antibody complexes, which in turn bind to the C3b receptor, also known as complement receptor 1. The genes encoding the proteins that constitute the C3-activating enzymes have been cloned and mapped to a "complement activation" locus in the major histocompatibility complex, and we demonstrate in this study such a locus on the long arm of chromosome 1 at band 1q32.

Chromosome Mapping↗