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Biomedical subjects

H R Colten

Publications and source records attributed to H R Colten.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Genetic deficiencies of complement.

Genetic deficiencies of proteins of the complement system are associated with diverse clinical phenotypes. These clinical manifestations vary as a function of the specific component that is missing. Molecular and cellular biological methods, coupled with more intensive clinical studies, have defined the pathophysiological basis for this set of genetic disorders. Insights into the normal function of complement and its role in immunopathology have been derived from the extensive work in this field during the past few years.

Complement C1↗
PubMed1994

Surfactant protein B deficiency: antenatal diagnosis and prospective treatment with surfactant replacement.

An infant with a family history of congenital alveolar proteinosis associated with surfactant protein B (SP-B) deficiency was identified when SP-B was not detected in amniotic fluid obtained at 37, 38, and 40 weeks of gestation. Surfactant replacement with commercially available preparations that contained SP-B was begun soon after delivery. Progressive respiratory failure developed despite continued surfactant replacement, corticosteroid therapy, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The infant died at 54 days of age while awaiting lung transplantation. Surfactant extracted from amniotic fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissue had no phosphatidylglycerol; surface tension was 24 dynes/cm (normal, < 10 dynes/cm) and did not decrease with in vitro addition of exogenous SP-B. Pulmonary vascular permeability measured with positron emission tomography was twice normal. At autopsy the alveolar proteinosis pattern was less prominent than that seen in affected siblings. Immunoreactivity of SP-B was absent in type II cells, but numerous foreign body granulomas with central immunoreactivity for SP-B and surfactant protein C were present. We conclude that exogenous surfactant replacement did not normalize surfactant composition, activity, or pulmonary vascular permeability. These findings suggest that endogenous SP-B synthesis is necessary for mature surfactant metabolism and function.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1994

Complement C3 deficiency: human, animal, and experimental models.

The third complement component (C3) is a multifunctional glycoprotein that interacts with numerous serum proteins, cell surface receptors, and membrane-associated regulatory proteins. Deficiencies of C3 have been reported in several human kindred of different ethnic backgrounds and from different geographic regions. In addition, inherited C3 deficiency has been discovered in certain strains of guinea pigs, dogs, and rabbits, and has been experimentally induced in animals by injections of cobra venom factor. Studies of the C3-deficient humans and animals have demonstrated the important roles performed by C3 in the immune response, opsonization and phagocytosis of pathogens, and immune complex solubilization. Current knowledge of the molecular and cellular basis of complement C3 deficiency indicates that C3 deficiency is caused by numerous molecular genetic mutations that include splicing defects, a partial gene deletion, and a critical amino acid substitution. With the advent of gene ablation technology, C3-deficient murine models can now be established, making it possible to examine the role that C3 plays in the molecular pathogenesis of many different diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Ultrastructure of lung in surfactant protein B deficiency.

Congenital alveolar proteinosis (CAP), a cause of respiratory failure in fill-term newborns, often leads to death in infancy despite medical therapy. We recently described an inherited deficiency of surfactant protein B (SP-B) (N. Engl. J. Med. 1993; 328:406-410) in two siblings with CAP. The SP-B deficiency was accompanied by marked abnormalities, both quantitative (increase) and qualitative (distribution), of SP-A and SP-C in the lungs of the affected infants. Ultrastructural studies of the lung of one of these infants and of a third affected sibling born in the index family showed abundant alveolar concentric multilamellated structures and membranous vesicles but no typical tubular myelin. In addition, membranous vesicles from type II cells and immunogold labeled SP-A and SP-C were found between type II cells and their basement membrane despite intact interepithelial cell junctions. These findings suggest an important role for SP-B in the directionality of surfactant secretion and in the formation of tubular myelin.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1994

A mutation in the surfactant protein B gene responsible for fatal neonatal respiratory disease in multiple kindreds.

To determine the molecular defect accounting for the deficiency of pulmonary surfactant protein B (SP-B) in full-term neonates who died from respiratory failure associated with alveolar proteinosis, the sequence of the SP-B transcript in affected infants was ascertained. A frameshift mutation consisting of a substitution of GAA for C in codon 121 of the SP-B cDNA was identified. The three affected infants in the index family were homozygous for this mutation, which segregated in a fashion consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance of disease. The same mutation was found in two other unrelated infants who died from alveolar proteinosis, one of whom was also homozygous, and in the parents of an additional unrelated, affected infant, but was not observed in 50 control subjects. We conclude that this mutation is responsible for SP-B deficiency and neonatal alveolar proteinosis in multiple families and speculate that the disorder is more common than was recognized previously.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Regulation of synthesis of complement protein C4 in human fibroblasts: cell- and gene-specific effects of cytokines and lipopolysaccharide.

Synthesis and secretion of the class III major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene product, C4, were detected in human skin fibroblasts by metabolic labelling, immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE analysis. Pro-C4 (approximately 185,000 MW) was present in intracellular lysates, and the mature protein was present in extracellular media, with three bands of approximately 93,000, 75,000 and 33,000 MW, corresponding to the alpha, beta and gamma chains, respectively. C4 expression was increased in a dose-dependent manner by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), but was unaffected by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) alone, each of which augmented the expression of factor B, C3 and other complement proteins synthesized in fibroblasts. Simultaneous incubation of fibroblasts with IFN-gamma and TNF resulted in a synergistic increase in C4 synthesis. RNA blot analyses indicated that regulation of C4 synthesis by IFN-gamma and the combination of IFN-gamma and TNF was mediated primarily at a pretranslational level. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) had no effect on C4 or HLA-DR synthesis in fibroblasts, either constitutive or IFN-gamma-regulated. These results are in contrast to the effects of LPS in monocytes, where LPS decreased constitutive synthesis and counter-regulated the IFN-gamma-enhanced expression of both C4 and HLA-DR. C2 expression in fibroblasts was also increased primarily by IFN-gamma. However, C2 synthesis was increased by LPS, 1L-1 and TNF, although to a lesser extent than the increase in synthesis of factor B stimulated by these mediators. These results show that up-regulation by IFN-gamma is a common feature of C2 and C4 expression in human cells that constitutively synthesize these proteins. In contrast, regulation of MHC class III and class II genes by LPS, TNF, IL-1, and IL-6 is cell- and gene-specific.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1994

Cellular specificity of murine renal C3 expression in two models of inflammation.

The expression of the complement protein C3 in extrahepatic tissues is highly regulated during the course of inflammation. Hence, systemic acute phase stimuli such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and autoimmune nephritis in aged 'lupus mice' (MRL-lpr/lpr and NZB x NZW F1) both lead to increased C3 mRNA expression in whole kidney. In situ hybridization was used to determine the intrarenal cell type(s) capable of constitutive and regulated C3 mRNA expression. Normal mice injected with Escherichia coli LPS show a marked increase in whole kidney C3 mRNA over control (saline-injected) animals. The renal C3 mRNA in LPS-stimulated mice was found in cortical tubular epithelium. By contrast, in aged (18 week) MRL-lpr/lpr mice, which develop lupus nephritis, the increased intrarenal C3 messenger RNA was localized to perivascular inflammatory cells surrounding medium-sized arteries. Similar perivascular infiltrates were seen in the lungs of the MRL-lpr/lpr mice, and focal inflammatory cell infiltrates were also found in the myocardium. Leucocytes in these infiltrates accounted for the increased C3 expression in these tissues. These findings suggest cell as well as tissue specificity of the response to inflammatory stimuli in the local extrahepatic production of the third component of complement.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Transinhibition of C1 inhibitor synthesis in type I hereditary angioneurotic edema.

To ascertain the mechanism for decreased synthesis of C1 inhibitor (C1 INH) in certain patients with the autosomal dominant disorder hereditary angioneurotic edema, we studied expression of C1 INH in fibroblasts in which the mutant and wild type mRNA and protein could be distinguished because of deletion of exon 7 (delta Ex7). In the HANE delta Ex7 cells, the amount of wild type mRNA (2.1 kb) was expressed at 52 +/- 2% (n = 5) of normal, whereas the mutant mRNA was 17 +/- 1% (n = 5) of normal. Rates of synthesis of both wild type and mutant proteins (11 +/- 3 and 3 +/- 1% of normal, respectively) were lower than predicted from the mRNA levels. There was no evidence of increased C1 INH protein catabolism. These data indicate that there are multiple levels of control of C1 INH synthesis in type I hereditary angioneurotic edema. Pretranslational regulation results in < 50% of the mutant truncated 1.9-kb mRNA. In addition, translational regulation results in decreased synthesis of both wild type and mutatn C1 INH proteins. These data suggest a transinhibition of wild type C1 INH translation by mutant mRNA and/or protein.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Type I human complement C2 deficiency. A 28-base pair gene deletion causes skipping of exon 6 during RNA splicing.

Two variants of a genetic deficiency of complement protein C2 (C2D) have been previously identified. No C2 protein translation is detected in type I deficiency, while type II deficiency is characterized by a selective block in C2 secretion. Type I C2 deficiency was described in a family in which the C2 null allele (C2Q0) is associated with the major histocompatibility haplotype/complotype HLA-A25,B18,C2Q0,BfS,C4A4, C4B2,Drw2; this extended haplotype occurs in over 90% of C2-deficient individuals (common complotype/haplotype). To determine the molecular basis of type I C2 deficiency, the C2 gene and cDNA were characterized from a homozygous type I C2-deficient individual with the common associated haplotype/complotype. We found a 28-base pair deletion in the type I C2Q0 gene, beginning 9 base pairs upstream of the 3'-end of exon 6, that generates a C2 transcript with a complete deletion of exon 6 (134 base pair) and a premature termination codon. In studies of eight kindred, the 28-base pair deletion was observed in all C2Q0 alleles associated with the common type I deficient complotype/haplotype; this deletion was not present in normal C2 nor in type II C2-deficient genes. These data demonstrate that: 1) type I human complement C2 deficiency is caused by a 28-base pair genomic deletion that causes skipping of exon 6 during RNA splicing, resulting in generation of a premature termination codon, 2) the 28-base pair deletion in the type I C2Q0 gene is strongly associated with the HLA haplotype/complotype A25,B18,C2Q0,BfS,C4A4,C4B2,Drw2, suggesting that all C2-deficient individuals with this haplotype/complotype will harbor the 28-base pair C2 gene deletion, and 3) type II C2 deficiency is caused by a different, as yet uncharacterized, molecular genetic defect.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Cis- and trans-acting elements required for constitutive and cytokine-regulated expression of the mouse complement C3 gene.

The third component of complement (C3) is an important mediator of inflammation. Murine and human genomic cosmid clones were isolated, characterized and sequenced 5' to the complement C3 gene transcriptional initiation sites to determine cis elements that participate in constitutive and regulated C3 gene expression. The murine and human 5' flanking regions are 51% identical overall, with positions -36 to -1 and -146 to -68 showing 80% identity. Four TATA boxes were identified upstream of the murine transcriptional initiation site, but deletion and transfection analysis using reporter gene constructs in HepG2 cells indicated that only the TATA element at position -30, together with sequences -395 to -111, are essential for constitutive expression of murine C3 in hepatocytes. Deletion analysis also suggested that sequences between -1457 and -800 contain regulatory elements that are involved in suppressing basal expression. Sequences between -90 to -41 confer both enhancer activity and interleukin-1/-6 (IL-1/IL-6)-responsiveness. Mutation analyses showed that both sequences between -88 and -83 and -77 to -72 are essential for enhancer activity and responsiveness to IL-1, but only sequences between -88 and -83 are necessary for IL-6-responsiveness. A gel-retardation assay showed that several nucleoproteins, perhaps of the C/EBP family, from HepG2 cells bound to sequences between -88 to -83. Collectively, these results localize cis-acting elements involved in constitutive and IL-1/IL-6-regulated murine C3 gene expression and provide evidence for specific transacting factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

cis and trans elements differ among mouse strains with high and low extrahepatic complement factor B gene expression.

Factor B (Bf), an enzyme of the alternative pathway of complement activation, is one of four major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class III genes. To ascertain the genetic mechanism for tissue-specific constitutive and regulated expression of Bf, we sequenced the regulatory regions 5' of the gene from mice of different H-2 MHC haplotypes and assessed trans-acting factors, specific DNA binding nucleoproteins, in liver and kidney. Striking tissue-specific differences in constitutive expression of Bf were demonstrated in mice of H-2f or H-2z haplotypes when compared with H-2d or H-2u (kidney and intestinal Bf in H-2d or H-2u much greater than H-2f or H-2z). These differences correlated with a point nucleotide substitution 3 bp downstream of the upstream Bf initiation site that affects interaction with a DNA binding protein. This and additional cis differences localize the sequence substitutions responsible for previously identified restriction fragment length polymorphisms among inbred mouse strains and also reveal two previously unrecognized polymorphisms generated by SmaI and HinfI digestion. Evidence for differences in trans was found in a comparison of DNA binding nucleoproteins from kidney, but not liver, of B10.PL when compared with B10.M. These data, together with the high degree of sequence homology between human and mouse Bf 5' flanking regions, should prompt a search for polymorphic restriction sites and cis binding elements in the Bf promoter that could serve as markers of human MHC-associated renal pathology and variants in local MHC class III gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Complement deficiencies.

The complement system consists of about two dozen plasma and cell membrane proteins which function as cofactors in defense against pathogenic microbes and in the generation of many immunopathogenic disorders. The complexity of this system and its role in other biological functions has been appreciated within the last two decades. Recognition of genetic deficiencies of the complement proteins and their phenotypic expression has provided additional insights into the physiological role of the complement system. Complementary DNA (cDNA) clones for most of the complement components are now available, and the gene structures for many have been elucidated. Application of molecular biological methods to studies of the complement system and its deficiencies has permitted both the determination of primary structure and chromosomal localization of complement genes (Figure 1) and the capacity to elucidate the molecular basis of complement deficiency disorders.

Chromosome Mapping↗