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Biomedical subjects

G Hetland

Publications and source records attributed to G Hetland.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Posttransfusion hepatitis B transmitted by blood from a hepatitis B surface antigen-negative hepatitis B virus carrier.

A female blood donor at our institution was implicated in three cases of clinical posttransfusion hepatitis B. She had given blood 25 times in 8 years. Twenty-seven recipients were followed up, and about one-half of those who were still living had serologic markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The donor was repeatedly negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody, but she had high titers of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. We conclude that blood from this HBsAg-negative blood donor was capable of transmitting hepatitis B.

Blood Donors↗

S protein binds to serum-treated agarose beads independently of complement activation and the formation of the terminal complement complex on the beads.

Comparison of initial (early-phase) and terminal (late-phase) sequence activation of complement by agarose beads and endotoxin was evaluated in an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) of serum levels of C3c and C9 neoepitopes, respectively. EIA and Western blotting with anti-S protein monoclonal antibody revealed lower S protein values and weaker S protein bands in serum activated by agarose beads than by endotoxin, implying that S protein was removed from serum by binding to agarose. The binding of S protein to the beads was confirmed by radioimmunoassay and was found to be equal in normal and heat-inactivated serum. In contrast, the terminal complement complex was formed only on agarose beads incubated with normal serum and not with inactivated serum.

Blood Proteins↗

Synthesis of complement by alveolar macrophages from patients with sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown aetiology. Alveolar macrophages (AM) in sarcoidosis release a variety of mediators important to the pathogenesis of the disease. Complement is essential for the inflammatory response and we investigated whether there were any major defects in the potential for sarcoidosis AM to synthesize complement in vitro. AM from 11 patients with active sarcoidosis and three healthy controls were cultured under serum-free conditions. There was a significant binding of polyclonal (anti-C5, -C6, -C7, -C8) and monoclonal anti-complement antibodies (anti-C3c and anti-C9 neoepitope (aE11] to agarose beads incubated with unstimulated AM for 24, 48, or 72 h. A significant and inhibitable production of soluble C3c, C5, C9, and S-protein was found in the harvested medium as detected by enzyme immunoassays. Activated C3 and C9 were also detected based on neoepitope expression. Presence of co-cultured agarose beads reduced the amount of soluble S-protein due to deposition on the agarose. We argue that the C9 neoepitope is an integral part of the terminal complement complex (TCC), both in the fluid and solid phase when bound to the agarose. In the fluid phase, SC5b-9 was generated, whereas the agarose-bound S-protein is assumed not to be associated with TCC on the beads. The results demonstrate for the first time that AM from sarcoidosis patients synthesize the functional alternative and terminal pathway of complement.

Adult↗

Quantification of non-activated (native) complement component C9 synthesized by alveolar macrophages from patients with sarcoidosis.

Alveolar macrophages (AM) from sarcoidosis patients synthesize the functional alternative and terminal pathways of complement, and increased complement production may be one of multiple factors in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. We thus examined whether AM from sarcoidosis patients produced quantitatively more C9 in vitro than AM from healthy controls. AM from 16 patients with active sarcoidosis and seven healthy controls were cultured under serum-free conditions for 6, 12, 24, 48, or 72 h. A quantitative production of C9 was found in the harvested medium in 10 of 16 sarcoidosis patients. There were no detectable levels of C9 in the seven controls. Activated C9 was found in all patients and in the majority of the controls. C9 was quantified by an enzyme immunoassay based on a monoclonal antibody (M1) to non-activated C9. Our results indicate greater production of C9 by sarcoidosis AM than by their healthy counterparts.

Adult↗

Synthesis of C3, C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9 by human fibroblasts.

We investigated the ability of human fibroblasts to produce the components of the final common pathway (C3-C9) of complement in vitro by co-culturing an alternative complement activator (agarose beads) with the cells. The test system involved incubation of beads with anti-complement antibodies followed by radioactive-labelled anti-Ig detection antibodies. Subsequently, the beads were examined in a radioimmunoassay. Our results indicate that human fibroblasts produce C3, C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9. A neoepitope selectively expressed on activated C9 was detected, indicating assembly of the terminal complement complex and thus formation of a functional terminal complement pathway by the fibroblasts.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

S-protein is synthesized by human monocytes and macrophages in vitro.

Human monocytes and alveolar and peritoneal macrophages were cultured in serum-free medium with or without endotoxin (ET), agarose beads, or cycloheximide. The cell culture supernatants were collected after various intervals and examined by a monoclonal anti-S-protein antibody in Western blot and in a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. We found that the phagocytes synthesize and secrete S-protein. ET stimulation or prolonged incubation of the cells did not favour S-protein production, which was inhibited by cycloheximide. Agarose stimulation increased the S-protein level in supernatants from monocyte but not from macrophage cultures.

Adult↗

A sensitive method to detect synthesis of the functional classical, alternative and terminal pathway of complement by cells cultured in vitro.

A new method used to study in vitro synthesis by human monocytes and alveolar macrophages of the essential complement components for the functional classical, alternative and terminal pathway is presented. The method is based on accumulation of major complements components on activators of the alternative (agarose beads) and classical (lgM-sensitized sheep erythrocytes; ElgM) pathway during co-culture with the phagocytes. There was a time-dependent increase in binding of labelled protein to the co-cultured activators, demonstrating de novo protein synthesis by the phagocytes. Moreover, there was a significant binding to the co-cultured agarose beads and ElgM of monoclonal anti-C3c, anti-C3g, polyclonal anti-C5-C9 and of two monoclonal antibodies (poly C9-MA and MCaEll) to a neoantigen of polymerized C9 present in the terminal complement complex (TCC). In addition, we found a significant binding of polyclonal anti-C4 antibodies to co-cultured ElgM. Incubation of the activators in human serum, subsequently revealed the same pattern of antibody binding. There was no binding of anti-S protein antibodies to the activators after incubation with serum or with the phagocytes. We thus conclude that mononuclear phagocyte-produced complement in the form of C3b, iC3b, and the TCC (C5b-9) was deposited on both activators, whereas C4b was detected on the ElgM. It is our hope that this method can be applied when studying complement biosynthesis by cells other than mononuclear phagocytes.

Animals↗

Human peritoneal macrophages. Production in vitro of the active terminal complement components C5 to C9 and a functional alternative pathway of complement. Brief report.

Endotoxin-stimulated human peritoneal macrophages were cultured in serum-free medium with agarose beads. Monospecific antibodies to human C3c, C3g, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9 and to C9-neoantigen bound to the beads. This shows that activated C3 and the terminal complement complex (TCC), made from complement components C5 to C9, were generated on the beads. De novo synthesis was confirmed by agarose binding of tritium-labelled protein. Moreover, C3-derivatives and C9-neoantigen were detected on normal serum-treated agarose beads but not on beads kept in factor B-depleted or heat-inactivated sera, implying that an intact alternative complement pathway was required for our findings. The macrophages thus synthesize the active complement components of the alternative and terminal pathways in vitro.

Ascitic Fluid↗

Human alveolar macrophages synthesize active complement components C6, C7, and C8 in vitro.

We investigated whether serum-free human alveolar macrophage cultures synthesize active C6, C7, and C8. There was a significant binding of polyclonal anti-human C6 antibodies to agarose beads incubated with unstimulated macrophages for 24 or 48 h. Endotoxin stimulation of the macrophages was necessary for significant binding of polyclonal anti-C7 and anti-C8 antibodies to agarose beads co-cultured for 48 or 96 h. Two monoclonal antibodies (poly C9-MA and MCaE11) specific for a neoantigen of polymerized C9 in the terminal complement complex (TCC), bound to beads mainly incubated with endotoxin stimulated macrophages. The MCaE11 was more sensitive than the poly C9-MA in detecting the C9 neoantigen on beads incubated with the macrophages or human serum diluted 1:16. We thus conclude that human alveolar macrophages synthesize active C6, C7, and C9 that together with C5 and C9, assemble as the TCC on co-cultured agarose beads. Activation of the alternative pathway on the agarose with generation of fixed C3 and C5 convertases is a prerequisite for the subsequent generation of the TCC.

Adult↗

Formation of the membrane attack complex of complement (MAC) on erythrocytes from monocyte-produced terminal complement components.

By using antibodies against C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9, we found that terminal complement components were deposited on IgM-coated sheep erythrocytes (EIgM) kept in serum-free endotoxin-stimulated monocyte cultures for 24 or 48 h. Monoclonal antibodies revealed C9 neoantigens on the EIgM. There was no specific binding of an anti-S protein antibody, which reacts with the SC5b-9 complex, to the EIgM. Controls were native sheep erythrocytes (E) treated similarly which, in contrast to EIgM, do not activate the classical pathway of complement. Cycloheximide (1.0 microgram/ml) in the cell cultures resulted in no specific binding of the anti-C9 antibodies to EIgM. A fraction of the EIgM was lysed during incubation with the monocytes. We conclude that the monocytes secrete C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9, which form the membrane attack complex of complement (C5b-9) on the EIgM.

Animals↗

Mouse peritoneal macrophages cultured serum-free deposit complement on IgM-coated sheep erythrocytes in vitro.

We conclude that the macrophages during cultivation produce the complement components of the classical pathway of complement, deposit complement components on EIgM and then phagocytose these cells via complement receptors. The conclusion is based on the following: EIgM, an activator of the classical pathway, are ingested when cultured serum-free with mouse peritoneal macrophages. We found a significantly higher binding of labelled protein to EIgM than to E kept in macrophage cultures in the presence of tritiated leucine, showing that de novo synthesis of macrophage-derived protein with affinity to EIgM takes place. A fraction of the bound protein is C3b and iC3b, since anti-mouse C3 antibodies bound to the co-cultured EIgM. Cycloheximide or anti-Mac-1 in the cultures inhibited macrophage attachment and uptake of EIgM. The phagocyte uptake of EIgM coated with complement by serum pretreatment was not inhibited by cycloheximide. This shows that the phagocytosis of the EIgM is dependent on erythrocyte-bound complement proteins made by the macrophage.

Animals↗

Human alveolar macrophages and monocytes generate the functional classical pathway of complement in vitro.

Binding of labelled protein to EIgM kept with macrophage or monocyte cultures with 3H-leucine under serum-free conditions, shows that de novo synthesis of protein with affinity to EIgM takes place. We find that monoclonal anti-C3c and anti-C3g antibodies and polyclonal anti-C4 and anti-C5 antibodies bind to such erythrocytes. This demonstrates that C4b, C3b and iC3b are deposited on the EIgM. Additional evidence for complement synthesis is the increase in binding of anti-C4 antibodies to EIgM when the incubation time was increased from 48 to 96 hours. Stimulation of the mononuclear phagocyte cultures with ET was necessary to obtain significant amounts of erythrocyte-bound complement proteins. From these results we conclude that the functional classical pathway of complement is produced in vitro by the monocytes and macrophages.

Cells, Cultured↗

Formation of the functional alternative pathway of complement by human monocytes in vitro as demonstrated by phagocytosis of agarose beads.

Native agarose beads (diameter 5-10 micron), activators of the alternative complement pathway, are slowly phagocytosed when incubated with human monocytes cultured under serum-free conditions. Agarose beads preincubated with monocyte cultures and then transferred to new cultures are more easily phagocytosed than native beads. These results indicate that the phagocytosis of agarose beads depends on opsonization of the beads by one or several substances of monocyte origin. By using antihuman C3 antibodies, trypsin treatment, and sodium dodecyl sulphate washing, we were able to demonstrate C3b and iC3b on the agarose beads. The molecules were covalently bound to the surface of the beads. We conclude that in vitro human monocytes produce and secrete the essential factors for activation and propagation of the alternative complement pathway (factors C3, B, D, H and I), which becomes evident with an external activator like agarose beads in the cultures. The activation of complement by agarose beads results in the attachment of C3b and iC3b to the surface of the beads, which are then phagocytosed by means of C3b and iC3b receptors on the monocytes.

Cell Communication↗

Synthesis of complement components C5, C6, C7, C8 and C9 in vitro by human monocytes and assembly of the terminal complement complex.

Monocytes cultured under serum-free conditions secreted protein which bound covalently and non-covalently to agarose beads, an activator of the alternative pathway of complement. There was a significantly binding of monoclonal anti-C3c antibodies, polyclonal anti-C5, anti-C6, anti-C7, anti-C8, and anti-C9 antibodies, and of a monoclonal antibody against a neoantigen of polymerized C9 to agarose beads incubated with the monocytes for 24, 48, 72 or 96 h. From these results, we conclude that monocytes produce C5, C6, C7, C8 and C9 that assemble as the terminal complement complex on the surface of the agarose beads. Activation by agarose of the alternative pathway with generation of particle bound C3 and C5 convertases is a prerequisite for the subsequent formation of the terminal complement complex. Whether SC5b-9 or the membrane attack of complement (C5b-9) is formed on the beads will be examined.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗