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Proteolysis of the heavy chain of major histocompatibility complex class I antigens by complement component C1s.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens contain a light chain, beta 2-microglobulin, non-covalently associated to the transmembrane heavy alpha-chain carrying the allotypic determinants. Since the C1q complement component is known to associate with beta 2-microglobulin, and we recently found that activated C1s complement was capable of cleaving beta 2-microglobulin, we decided to investigate the proteolytic activity of C1 complement towards the heavy chain of class I antigens. Our results demonstrate that human C1s complement cleaves the heavy chain of human class I antigens into at least two fragments, with apparent molecular weights of 22,000 and 24,000 g/mol on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), under both reducing and non-reducing conditions. The cleavage of the heavy chain is inhibited by the presence of C1 esterase inhibitor. The molecular weights of the fragments are in agreement with the cleavage located in the area between the disulphide loops of the alpha 2-and alpha 3-domains of the heavy chain. In addition human C1s complement is able to cleave H-2 antigens from mouse in a similar fashion but not rat MHC class I antigen or mouse MHC class II antigen (I-Ad). Mouse MHC class I antigen-specific determinants could also be detected in supernatant from mouse spleen cells incubated with C1r and C1s. These results indicate the presence in the body fluids of a non-membrane-bound soluble form of the alpha 1-and alpha 2-domains which represent the binding site for antigenic peptides.

Animals

Mode of interaction of different polyanions with the first (C1,C1) the second (C2) and the fourth (C4) component of complement. IV. Activation of C1 in serum by polyanions.

Treatment of serum with dextransulphate polyvinylsulphate or polyanetholsulphonate resulted in a dose-dependent activation of C1 and C3; this was found for normal serum as well as for C4-deficient guinea-pig serum. Activation of C1 and C3 occurred at the same concentration of polyanions. The consumption of C3 in C4 deficient serum and the requirement of factor D of the alternative pathway indicate that C3 is activated via the alternative pathway.

Animals

Two-domain structure of the native and reactive centre cleaved forms of C1 inhibitor of human complement by neutron scattering.

The C1 inhibitor component of human complement is a member of the serpin superfamily, and controls C1 activation. Carbohydrate analyses showed that there are seven O-linked oligosaccharides in C1 inhibitor. Together with six N-linked complex-type oligosaccharides, the carbohydrate content is therefore 26% by weight and the molecular weight (Mr) is calculated as 71,100. Neutron scattering gives an Mr of 76,000 (+/- 4000) and a matchpoint of 41.8 to 42.3% 2H2O, in agreement with this carbohydrate and amino acid composition. Guinier plots to determine the radius of gyration RG were biphasic. Neutron contrast variation of C1 inhibitor in H2O-2H2O mixtures gave an overall radius of gyration RG at infinite contrast of 4.85 nm, from analyses at low Q, and a cross-sectional RG of 1.43 nm. The reactive centre cleaved form of C1 inhibitor has the same Mr and structure as the native molecule. The length of C1 inhibitor, 16 to 19 nm, is far greater than that of the putative serpin domain. This is attributed to an elongated structure for the carbohydrate-rich 113-residue N-terminal domain. The radial inhomogeneity of scattering density, alpha, is large at 59 x 10(-5) from the RG data and 28 x 10(-5) from the cross-sectional analysis, and this is accounted for by the high oligosaccharide content of C1 inhibitor. The scattering data were modelled using small spheres. A two-domain structure of length 18 nm based on two distinct scattering densities accounted for all the contrast variation data. One domain is based on the crystal structure of alpha 1 antitrypsin (7 nm x 3 nm x 3 nm). The other corresponds to an extended heavily glycosylated N-terminal domain of length 15 nm, whose long axis is close to the longest axis of the serpin domain. Calculation of the sedimentation coefficient s0(20),w for C1 inhibitor using the hydrodynamic sphere approach showed that a two-domain head-and-tail structure with an Mr of 71,000 and longest axis of 16 to 19 nm successfully reproduced the s0(20),w of 3.7 S. Possible roles of the N-terminal domain in the function of C1 inhibitor are discussed.

Borohydrides

Circulating immune complexes and the complements system in lupus nephropathy.

From a group of 75 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 30 patients with lupus nephropathy presenting concomitant changes of the CIC level, of the complement system (C3 and C1q factors) and proteinuria were chosen for the study. In these 30 patients, no statistically significant correlation was observed between CIC level and the value of serum complement. Low serum complement was observed in 89% of the cases while low complement values associated with increases of the CIC level were observed only in 57.8% of the cases. From the values of the C3 and C1 complement factors it results that in 76.6% of the cases of lupus nephropathy the activation of complement was achieved in the classical way. The value of proteinuria presented no significant correlation with any of the parameters investigated. The serum immunogram presented varied aspects and the components of the CIC structure revealed a great diversity of this structure.

Antigen-Antibody Complex

Increased plasma concentrations of complement modulating proteins (C1 inhibitor, C4-binding protein, factor H and factor I) in psoriasis.

By using single radial immunodiffusion we measured the plasma levels of four complement modulating proteins, i.e., C1 inhibitor, C4-binding protein, factor H and factor I in 19 psoriatic patients in comparison with those of healthy controls. Except for C1 inhibitor which was only marginally elevated, they were found to be significantly increased in psoriatic patients. When psoriatic patients were classified into subgroups based on the clinical severity, the levels of factor H and those of factor I showed a close positive correlation with the activity and extent of the skin lesions, whereas such clear relationship could not be found with C1 inactivator or with C4-binding protein. These results offer additional support for the hypothesis that the complement system is involved in psoriasis.

Adult

Autoreactivity to mouse C1q in a murine model of SLE.

A large proportion of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients develop glomerulonephritis, coincident with the appearance of autoantibodies to C1q, the Fc-recognizing collagen-like subcomponent of the first component of complement, C1. The MRL/lpr/lpr mouse is an established model for SLE, developing both antinuclear and anti-type II collagen autoantibodies, and rheumatoid factors(s), exhibiting reduced complement levels and later on developing glomerulonephritis and often arthritis. We report here an age-dependent decrease in serum C1q levels coincident with the development of IgG2b autoantibodies reactive with mouse C1q in MRL/lpr/lpr mice. Unlike IgG2b, although high levels of IgM, IgG1 and IgG2a are present in these mice, few, if any, antibodies of these subclasses reactive with mouse C1q were observed in this study. This is the first report of autoantibodies against autologous C1q in an animal model, and the results should facilitate in clarification of the roles of C1q and autoantibodies reactive with C1q in SLE, as well as their potential connection with glomerulonephritis.

Animals

Kinin formation in hereditary angioedema plasma: evidence against kinin derivation from C2 and in support of "spontaneous" formation of bradykinin.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is due to a functional deficiency of the inhibitor of the activated first component of complement (C1 INH). This abnormality is thought to be responsible for the generation of a kininlike peptide in HAE plasma that is derived from the second component of complement (C2). Specifically, a combination of C2 cleavage by C1s and C2 fragment cleavage by plasmin has been reported to generate a kinin that is distinguishable from bradykinin. We have attempted to generate this peptide by activating the classical complement pathway by incubation of plasma with immune complexes and then adding plasmin or by incubating purified C1s with C4 and C2 and then adding either plasmin or trypsin. We performed a total of 13 experiments, and in no case was a kininlike molecule generated as assessed by contraction of the estrus rat uterus. However, incubation of EDTA-treated HAE plasma at 37 degrees C for time intervals up to 1 hr progressively generated a smooth muscle-contracting activity. This activity was resistant to tryptic digestion but was destroyed after incubation with carboxypeptidase B, an inhibition profile consistent with that of bradykinin. We therefore propose that bradykinin alone, or in combination with other factors heretofore unrecognized, might be responsible for the swelling that is characteristic of hereditary angioedema.

Angioedema

Phagocytic function of neutrophils during dialysis in relation to some immunological findings.

Haemodialysis neutropenia and impaired granulocyte function are transitory, but the consequences of altered granulocyte function are observed at the end of haemodialysis. Activity of polymorphonuclear receptor for Fc and C3 complement component, circulating immune complexes and components of complement (C1 inactivator, C4, C3, C3 proactivator) were measured in ten patients before and at the end of haemodialysis. Significant decrease in polymorphonuclear Fc receptor activity (1689 cells/mm3 before and 1277 cells/mm3 after HD) and increase of circulating immune complexes (69.9 micrograms/dl before and 112.7 micrograms/dl after HD) were observed at the end of haemodialysis. A decrease in complement C3 component was observed after haemodialysis (866 mg/l before and 804 mg/l after HD); the other components: C1 inactivator, C4 component, and C3 proactivator, remained unchanged. Increase of circulating immune complexes and decrease of Fc receptor activity correlated with a decrease in phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Adult

The C4 and C2 but not C1 components of complement are responsible for the complement activation triggered by the Ra-reactive factor.

Ra-reactive factors (RaRF) are the name of a group of C-dependent bactericidal factors that bind specifically to Ra chemotype strains of Salmonella. These factors are present in the sera of a wide variety of vertebrates and have common characteristics. Here we investigate the C components required for the C activation induced by mouse RaRF, by using hemolysis of Ra LPS-coated E (ELPS) as a model system. It was found that C1-depleted and C1q-depleted sera were as effective as the undepleted serum in the lysis of ELPS sensitized with RaRF. Addition of the C1 component or C1q subcomponent to the depleted sera did not increase the effect. On the other hand, C4 and C2 components were found to be essential for the lysis of RaRF-sensitized ELPS. Activities of C4 and C2 remained on the sensitized cells even after washing the cells, suggesting that the classical C3 convertase, C4b2a, is generated on the RaRF-sensitized ELPS.

Animals

Functional model of subcomponent C1 of human complement.

The domain organization of the zymogen subunits of the first component of human complement C1s, C1r2 and the complex C1s-C1r2-C1s was studied by electron microscopy. In the absence of Ca2+, monomeric C1s was visualized as a dumb-bell-shaped molecule consisting of two globular domains (center-to-center distance 11 nm) connected by a rod. One of the globular domains is assigned to the light chain (B-chain) of the activated molecule, which is homologous to trypsin and other serine proteases. The second globular domain and the rod are assigned to the heavy chain (A-chain) of CIs. The subunit C1r is a stable dimer in the presence or absence of Ca2+. This dimer C1r2 was visualized as composed of two dumb-bells of dimensions similar to those observed for C1s. These are connected near the junctions between the rod and one of the globular domains. This leads to the structure of an asymmetrical X with two inner closely spaced globules (center-to-center distance 7 nm) and two outer globules at a larger distance (14 nm). By comparison with fragment C1rII2, in which part of the A-chain is removed, the inner globular domains were assigned to the catalytic B-chains. This characteristic structure of C1r2 is readily recognized in the central portion of the thread-like 54 nm long C1s-C1r2-C1s complex formed in the presence of Ca2+. By affinity-labeling of C1s with biotin and visualization of avidin-ferritin conjugates in the reconstituted complex, it was demonstrated that C1s forms the outer portion of the complex. A detailed model of C1s-C1r2-C1s is proposed, according to which two C1s monomers bind to the outer globes of C1r2 by contacts between their heavy chains and those of C1r. According to this model the catalytic domains of C1r are located in the center and those of C1s at the very tips of the C1s-C1r2-C1s complex. On the basis of the structure of C1s-C1r2-C1s, we derived a detailed model of the C1 complex (composed of C1q and the tetrameric complex) and we discuss this model with a view to finding a possible activation mechanism of C1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Complement Activating Enzymes

Complement C1q binding affects spin-labeled heterosaccharides of rabbit antibodies in immune but not artificial immunoglobulin G aggregates.

IgG anti-hapten antibodies were purified from the sera of rabbits homozygous for allotypic determinants d11 and d12 in the constant region of the heavy chain. Correlative with this determinant is the absence (d11) or presence (d12) of an oligosaccharide chain just below the hinge region of the IgG molecule. Both d11 and d12 molecules contain a complex heterosaccharide chain located near the carboxyl terminus of the second constant region domain. The two populations of IgG antibodies were thus selectively labeled with the spin probe Tempamine in their second constant region domains by reductive amination primarily of terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid residues. Chemical and enzymatic cleavages showed about 80% of the attached spin labels were N-acetylneuraminic acid-associated. Analysis of probe adducts by ESR spectrometry showed the presence of slower and faster moving subcomponents. Formation of immune complexes by antigen induces slight but significant restrictions of spin label mobility for both d11 and d12 IgG molecules. This restriction is qualitatively different from that seen in glutaraldehyde-, carbodiimide-, or ethanol-induced aggregates of the same IgG antibodies. The addition of purified complement C1 subcomponent C1q to immune aggregates resulted in marked immobilization of spin labels, the rotational correlation time of which was 30-40 mu s for both d11 and d12 molecules (evaluated by saturation transfer spectroscopy). A similar spin probe immobilizing effect is not seen when C1q binds to chemically aggregated IgG antibodies (which also do not activate C1). A novel model is proposed in which C1q is hypothesized to juxtapose Fc moieties in a discrete fashion required for subsequent C1 activation processes mediated by immune complexes.

Animals

Domain structure and associated functions of subcomponents C1r and C1s of the first component of human complement.

The serine protease subcomponents of the activated form of the first component of human complement (C1), C1r and C1s, were observed by electron microscopy after the native proteins and their limited proteolysis products, obtained from autolytic cleavage (C1r) or from incubation with plasmin (C1s) were rotary shadowed. At the monomeric level, both C1r and C1s comprised two globular domains, a smaller interaction domain (corresponding to the NH2-terminal half of the A chain, alpha, and responsible for calcium binding and C1r-C1s interaction) and a larger catalytic domain (corresponding to the COOH-terminal part of the A chain, gamma, disulfide-linked to the B chain and bearing the serine protease active site). The two globular domains are linked by a connecting strand, beta. The (C1r)2 dimer appeared as a "croissant"-like association, where the two monomers interact through their catalytic domains. On the basis of the domain structure of C1r and C1s, a model of the calcium-dependent C1s dimer is proposed, in which the two monomers interact through their NH2-terminal interaction domains; in the same way, a model of the C1s-(C1r)2-C1s catalytic subunit of C1 is presented, in which (C1r)2 forms a core, its distal interaction domains interacting with the corresponding domains of C1s.

Complement Activating Enzymes

Selective deficiency of C1s associated with a systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome. Report of a case.

We describe a patient who developed a systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome characterized by bilateral malar erythema, antinuclear antibody, and anti-double-stranded DNA antibody. He was started on hemodialysis (3 times/week) because of renal failure. He completely lacked total hemolytic complement (CH50) activity, which was subsequently determined to be due to the absence of the first component of complement (C1). The specificity was further defined, by Ouchterlony analysis using anti-C1s antiserum, and was found to be the C1 subcomponent C1s. There was no absence of C1r. We conclude that this is a case of selective deficiency of C1s.

Adult

Electron microscopic study showing antibody-independent binding of C1q, a subcomponent of the first component of complement, to serum-sensitive salmonellae.

Effective serum-mediated killing of sensitive gram-negative bacteria requires all the complement components. In the preimmune phase the antibody-independent interaction of the first component of complement, C1, with the bacteria might be especially important. Electron microscopic studies showed that the C1 subcomponent C1q binds only to the serum-sensitive R form of Salmonella minnesota and not to the serum-resistant S form.

Cell Wall

Examination of baseline levels of carboxypeptidase N and complement components as potential predictors of angioedema associated with the use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if mean levels of complement components and carboxypeptidase N differed when comparing patients who exhibited angioedema following angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy to those who received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy but did not have angioedema. DESIGN: Case-control study nested within an 8-week, open-label study of the use of quinapril hydrochloride for hypertension in 12275 patients. SETTING: Multicenter, with sites throughout the United States. PATIENTS: Of the 36 patients with angioedema described, 22 participated in the study. They were matched to 48 controls by age, sex, race, length of follow-up, and geographical region. INTERVENTION: All patients received quinapril therapy prior to participation in this case-control study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Levels of carboxypeptidase N, total hemolytic complement, C1 esterase inhibitor, and C4, along with questionnaire data, including a history of angioedema-like episodes and family history of angioedema. RESULTS: The 22 patients had significantly lower mean levels of carboxypeptidase N (kininase I) (P = .03) and C1 esterase inhibitor (P = .04) compared with the 48 matched controls, but all mean values were within normal laboratory ranges. A history of prior angioedema-like episodes was associated with an approximate 6-fold increase in the subsequent risk of angioedema following angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Small differences in levels of carboxypeptidase N or C1 esterase inhibitor may contribute to an increased risk of angioedema with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy. Given the large overlap in the distributions of carboxypeptidase N and C1 esterase inhibitor levels, prior testing could not be used to evaluate angioedema risk for an individual patient considering angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy. A history of prior angioedema-like episodes was associated with increased risk, but this result should be interpreted with caution because of possible recall bias.

Angioedema

Exon structure of the gene encoding the human mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease light chain: comparison with complement C1r and C1s genes.

Mannan or mannose-binding protein (MBP) requires a novel serine protease termed MBP-associated serine protease (MASP) for activation of the complement cascade. In this study, we analyzed MASP genomic clones and found that the light chain (catalytic domain) is encoded by six exons, whereas those of the complement C1 subunits, C1r and C1s, and the haptoglobin segment have been reported to be encoded by a single exon. We confirmed the intron-lacking sequence of C1r by analysis of its genome. These results, in conjunction with those obtained by constructing a phylogenetic tree for these proteins, suggest that the MASP gene is prototype and that the intron-lacking sequences of the other serine proteases have a more recent history.

Binding Sites