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Improved method for measuring C1-r-C1-s-(C1 inh)2 complexes by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Measurement of C1-r-C1-s-(C1 inh)2 complexes in serum or plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been proposed as a relatively convenient and sensitive means for assessing C1 activation. However, interference by unactivated C1q (r-s)2 at low serum or plasma dilutions has resulted in estimates that vary widely with the degree of serum or plasma dilution. Precipitating the interfering C1q (r-s)2 with 6% polyethylene glycol has been proposed to resolve this problem, but here it is shown that this procedure also precipitates or coprecipitates some of the C1-r-C1-s-(C1 inh)2 complexes. Satisfactory results have been achieved without PEG precipitation by testing high plasma dilutions under conditions where there is a sufficient excess of anti-C1s coating the microtitration plate wells that removal of C1q (r-s)2 is not necessary. Optimizing conditions for quantitating these complexes at high dilution have been investigated. The mean normal EDTA plasma C1-r-C1-s-(C1 inh)2 complex measurement was 36.6 +/- 7.0 (S.D.) ELISA units with a 95% confidence interval of 19.5-47.6u. Besides providing a sensitive assay for C1 activation, measuring C1-r-C1-s-(C1 inh)2 complexes may help to clarify the pathophysiologic mechanisms resulting from C1 inh deficiency under various conditions.

Adult↗

Protein engineering studies on C1r and C1s.

1. C1r and C1s cDNAs were placed downstream the strong polyhedrin promoter in the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus and the recombinant proteins were expressed in insect cells, in biologically active form. The yield of expression is high enough to get recombinant components for chemical and functional studies (5 micrograms/ml cell culture supernatant). 2. The biological activity and the post-translational modifications of the recombinant subcomponents were checked. The rC1r and rC1s proved to be biologically active in the hemolytic assay, although their glycosylations were different compared to that of the serum proteins. The insect cells are able to beta-hydroxylate the Asn residue of the EGF domain in the C1r but with a low efficiency. It is clear now, that this post-translational modification does not play a role in the Ca2+ dependent C1r-C1s interaction. 3. Two deletion mutants of C1r cDNA were constructed in order to clarify the role of domain I and II. The results show that both, domain I, and II are absolutely necessary for the tetramer formation and both have a regulatory role in the autoactivation. The autoactivation of the mutants is accelerated significantly. 4. Hybrid cDNA constructions were also made, and one of them was expressed. In the C1s alpha R hybrid the C1s alpha part cannot dimerize in presence of Ca2+, but it can form a tetramer with C1r2, that can bind to C1q. This observation indicates that the function of the C1s alpha part in the hybrid is modulated by the C1r part (gamma B) of the molecule. 5. In order to control the autoactivation process point mutant cDNAs were constructed through altering the Arg-Ile bond in the catalytic domain of the C1r. The Gln-Ile construction is a stable zymogen while the Arg-Phe mutant has a lower rate of autoactivation. These results do justify our approach of using domain-domain interchange, domain deletion and point mutations in combination, to reveal the structural background of C1 function at intramolecular level.

Animals↗

Evaluation of euglobulin methods for the study of blood fibrinolytic activity: results for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in the postoperative period.

Euglobulin fractionation is a frequently employed pretreatment of plasma for the determination of fibrinolytic activity. The fractionation procedure suffers from possible in vitro artifacts, e.g., variable precipitation of C1-inactivator. This is illustrated by the following two situations. It is shown that increased amounts of C1-inactivator not related to an increased plasma concentration are present in euglobulin fractions in cases of classic rheumatoid arthritis. Similarly, postoperatively, a disproportional increase in C1-inactivator in euglobulin fractions occurs. In both cases, an artificially reduced fibrinolytic activity is recorded due to increased inhibition by C1-inactivator. This is circumvented and recognized by adding sodium flufenamate or C1s-esterase to euglobulin fractions to uniformly eliminate C1-inactivator. Two specific assays for tissue-type plasminogen activator activity in euglobulin fractions (as C1-inactivator-resistant activator activity and a parabolic rate assay on a synthetic substrate) correlate excellently (r = 0.8728; p less than 0.001; n = 108). The first mentioned is corrected for variable endogenous C1-inactivator; the latter assay is found to be insensitive to inhibition by C1-inactivator. It is concluded that with euglobulin methods a misinterpretation of blood fibrinolytic activity is possible in rheumatoid arthritis patients. In the postoperative period, the fibrinolytic shutdown concerns tissue-type plasminogen activator activity; the pattern of the shutdown can be misjudged in using traditional euglobulin methods.

Abdomen↗

Biotinylation of proteins via amino groups can induce binding to U937 cells, HL-60 cells, monocytes and granulocytes.

The use of biotinylated ligands for the flow cytometric detection of cell surface receptors has become a popular alternative to radioreceptor assays. Although the biotinylation of a protein is a relatively mild chemical reaction several reports have mentioned the fact that the number and location of biotin moieties coupled to amino groups of a protein can alter its physicochemical properties and impair biological activity. In the present study we show for a variety of biotinylated functionally unaltered ligands that biotinylation by N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) esters of biotin can induce a binding to cell surfaces, which is not specific for the respective unlabelled ligand. C1q, C1 inhibitor (C1-INH), alpha 1-antitrypsin (AT), ovalbumin (OV), transferrin and soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI) were labelled with S-NHS-LC-biotin and activated C1s (C1s) with NHS-biotin. Biotinylation of C1q, C1s and C1-INH exerted negligible effects on biological function, antigenicity or electrophoretic mobility but when labelled and unlabelled proteins were assayed for binding to monocytic U937 cells, promyelocytic HL-60 cells, monocytes and granulocytes, a remarkable binding was observed for biotinylated C1q, C1-INH and C1s. In contrast, no binding was observed when we used unlabelled C1q, C1s and C1-INH and employed specific antibodies, alpha-mouse-FITC or alpha-rabbit-FITC for detection. Increasing molar ratios of biotin-to-protein (B : P) for biotinylated AT, OV and STI evoked increased fluorescence intensities of the cells. Most importantly the unlabelled ligands did not compete for cell binding with their biotinylated derivatives, with the exception of transferrin. Preincubation of the cells with an excess of free d-biotin did not reduce binding of biotinylated proteins, thus excluding a potential involvement of biotin receptors. Hydrophobic interaction chromatography revealed a remarkable increase in hydrophobicity of the biotinylated proteins compared to their unlabelled counterparts, suggesting that the biotinylation-induced binding is due to increased hydrophobicity. Our findings indicate that biotinylation by the common amino acid esterification method may be critical for proteins if they are to be used as ligands for receptor binding studies.

Amino Acids↗

Immunofluorescence studies on the subcomponents of the first component of complement (C1): detection of C1q and C1s in different cells of biopsy material and on human as well as on guinea pig peritoneal macrophages.

The first component of complement (C1) is a macromolecule consisting of three distinct subcomponents, C1q, C1r, and C1s. In regard to its production site and its role in phagocytic processes it was of interest to find out whether these different subcomponents could be detected in human biopsy material only as a complex in individual cells or whether C1 subcomponents could be found on different cells. To study this question, monospecific fluorescein-labelled anti-human-C1q IgG and monospecific rhodamine-labelled anti-human C1q IgG were used. Biopsy material from human rectum was stained with fluoresceinated antisera, either by use of one antiserum or by double staining. Using this technique, these observations were made: C1q as well as C1s were detectable in individual cells in the subepithelial area of the gut. Furthermore, C1q and C1s could be found together in the same cell or separately in different cells. These findings were supported by experiments with cultured peritoneal macrophages either from human or from guinea pig. The examination of the cultured cells with the two antisera revealed that individual cells were stained either by anti-C1q or by anti-C1s antibodies. The specificity of the detection of the individual subcomponents was also proven by the peroxidase technique and by using fluoresceinated anti-human C1q F(ab')2. The membrane immunofluorescent staining revealed the presence of C1q on the membrane of the macrophage.

Animals↗

Purification and characterization of two functionally distinct forms of C1 inhibitor from a patient with angioedema.

A minority of patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) have normal concentrations of a dysfunctional C1 inhibitor protein (C1INH) in their plasmas. We purified C1INH from the plasmas of one such patient before and during treatment with the anabolic steroid stanozolol. Both the pretreatment plasma and plasma obtained during stanozolol treatment contained varying amounts of two extremely similar C1INH proteins that were functionally distinct. The pretreatment plasma contained primarily (94%) dysfunctional C1INH that did not inactivate or complex with either purified C1s, activated Hageman factor, or kallikrein and small amounts (6%) of functionally normal C1INH. Stanozolol treatment increased the plasma concentrations of both of these proteins as well as the proportion (23%) of functional C1INH in the plasma. The purified dysfunctional and functional C1INHs had identical or nearly identical molecular sizes, charges, amino acid compositions, and amino sugar contents, and could not be distinguished physicochemically from each other or from normal C1INH. From these studies of purified C1INH proteins we concluded that HAE associated with dysfunctional C1INH is due to a defect at the structural locus for one C1INH gene and that both the dysfunctional C1INH gene and the normal C1INH gene products are present in the plasma of the affected subject. Treatment with stanozolol comparably increased the synthesis of both C1INH proteins. The disproportionate rise in the level of the normal C1INH protein is consistent with the view that it is more rapidly catabolized as a consequence of its interaction with the proteases it inactivates.

Adult↗

C1 inhibitor-C1s complexes are internalized and degraded by the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein.

Like other serpin-enzyme complexes (SECs), proteinase-complexed C1 inhibitor (C1-INH) is rapidly cleared from the circulation and thought to be a neutrophil chemoattractant, suggesting that complex formation causes structural rearrangements exposing a domain which is recognized by specific cell surface receptors. However, the cellular receptor(s) responsible for the catabolism and potential mediation of chemotaxis by C1-INH-protease complexes remained obscure. To determine whether the SEC receptor mediates the binding and potential chemotaxis of C1-INH.Cs, we performed binding assays with HepG2 cells, neutrophils, and monocytes, and the results show that C1-INH.Cs neither bind to these cells nor cause a chemotactic response of neutrophils and monocytes. Furthermore, C1-INH.Cs, the COOH-terminal C1 inhibitor peptide, or the tetrameric C1-INH.Cs.Cr. C1-INH complex were found to be significantly less effective in competing with the SEC receptor ligand 125I-peptide 105Y for the binding to HepG2 cells than unlabeled 105Y, indicating that the SEC receptor does not sufficiently recognize C1-INH-protease complexes. The asialoglycoprotein receptor was also ruled out to be responsible for the removal of the heavily glycosylated C1-INH.Cs complex, since asialoorosomucoid did not compete for the clearance of C1-INH. 125I-Cs and asialoglycoprotein receptor knockout mice showed no alterations in the C1-INH.125I-Cs clearance rate. We found that C1-INH.125I-Cs complexes were efficiently degraded by normal murine fibroblasts expressing the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) and cellular degradation was significantly reduced by chloroquine and the receptor-associated protein, which is a potent inhibitor of the binding of all known ligands to LRP. Moreover, receptor-associated protein inhibited the in vivo clearance of C1-INH.125I-Cs and murine fibroblasts genetically deficient for LRP did not degrade C1-INH.125I-Cs. Our results demonstrate that C1-INH. Cs complexes do not stimulate neutrophil or monocytic chemotaxis but are removed by LRP, further underscoring its role as a serpin-enzyme complex clearance receptor.

Animals↗

Lack of activation of C1, despite circulating immune complexes detected by two C1q methods, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The activation of C1 by circulating immune complexes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was investigated. C1rC1s(C1-In)2 complexes in EDTA-plasma, reflecting C1 activation in vivo, were slightly raised in 35 of 57 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, though most patients had elevated levels of circulating immune complexes as measured with either the 125I-C1q binding test or the C1q solid phase assay. The activation of C1 by circulating immune complexes in vitro was investigated by measuring the generation of C1rC1s(C1-In)2 complexes during 60 minutes at 37 degrees C in diluted recalcified EDTA-plasma. In 16 of the 57 patients, a slightly increased C1 activation in vitro was observed. These patients tended to have high levels of circulating immune complexes. However, the majority of the patients with high levels of circulating immune complexes showed a normal C1 activation in vitro. Therefore, it was concluded that measurement of circulating immune complexes by either of the two C1q methods in patients with rheumatoid arthritis does not imply that these circulating immune complexes are able to activate C1.

Aged↗

Antibody density on rat red cells determines the rate of activation of the complement component C1.

It is a common observation that there is variability in the rate of activation of C1, the first component of complement, when bound to immune complexes. The cause of this variation has been investigated with experiments designed to assess separately the effect of antibody, antigen and C1 density. Using 125I-labeled C1 and a rat monoclonal antibody specific for the class I antigen, it has been found that the rate of activation is primarily dependent on antibody density on the cell surface and not on antigen or C1 density. This finding supports the suggestion that direct contact between the C1r2C1s2 subcomponent of C1 and antibody may be required for potentiation of C1 activation.

Animals↗

The first component of human complement (C1): activation and control.

The first component of human complement (C1) is a 750 000 dalton glycoprotein that requires calcium or other specific metal ions to maintain its native structure and function. Under physiologic conditions, C1 comprises two weakly interacting subunits, C1q and C1r2s2, with C1q containing the binding site(s) for activators and C1r2s2 possessing enzymatic potential. C1 circulates in a precursor state and only after "activation" does it acquire functional activity, manifested as enzymatic activity specific for its natural substrates C2 and C4. C1 activation, which is accompanied by limited proteolysis and conformational changes, can be induced by immune complexes or certain nonimmune substances. With C1 binding to an immune complex, the strength of interaction between C1q and C1r2s2 increases. C1 also spontaneously activates at 37 degrees C by an intramolecular autocatalytic mechanism although at a slower rate than that induced by activators. C1 functions are controlled by the serum glycoprotein C1-inhibitor (C1-In) which blocks the enzymatic activities of activated C1 (C1). Under physiologic conditions, C1 has a half-life of only 13 seconds in the presence of C1-In. C1 is efficiently disassembled by C1-In, thereby releasing two inactive C1rC1s(C1-In)2 complexes per C1 molecule, leaving C1q activator-bound with biologically reactive sites uncovered that are not expressed in macromolecular C1. The most recently recognized function of C1-In is that of controlling the C1 activation process itself. While having only limited effect on immune complex-induced C1 activation, C1-In effectively controls certain nonimmune-induced as well as spontaneous C1 activation. Thus C1-In plays an important role in regulating nonspecific complement activation. The latter observation is relevant for the understanding of the human disease hereditary angioedema. An overabundance of spontaneous C1 autoactivation, due to low C1-In levels, might underlie the abnormal activation of complement via the classical pathway detected in the sera of these patients. Finally, recent studies indicate that C1 may have other important biologic functions in addition to initiating the complement cascade.

Angioedema↗

Hereditary angioneurotic oedema and blood-coagulation: interaction between C1-esterase-inhibitor and the activation factors of the proteolytic enzyme systems.

C-1-inactivator (C-1-INA) does not only exert its important inhibitory functions in the complement system but also in the first step in the activation of the coagulation, fibrinolytic and kallikrein system. We therefore determined in nine patients with hereditary angioneurotic oedema (HANE) with obvious quantitative or functional defects of C-1-INA, and one further patient with Quincke-type oedema of different origin, the coagulation factors of the initial phase such as Hageman factor, plasma thromboplastin antecedent (PTA) and high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK). These factors were further correlated with the concentration as well as functional activity of C-1-INA. Nine of ten patients showed a significant, sometimes even excessive, increase in the levels of factor XII (mean +/- SD = 146% +/- 63), HMWK (mean +/- SD = 126% +/- 56) and PTA (mean +/- SD = 289% +/- 294), and a decrease of C1-esterase inhibitor (C-1-inactivator), which was measured with a immunologic method (mean +/- SD = 9.6 mg/dl +/- 6.6) for its concentration as well as being measured for its activity (mean +/- SD = 30.4% +/- 24.9).

Angioedema↗

Structural analysis of the uEGF gene in the sea urchin strongylocentrotus purpuratus reveals more similarity to vertebrate than to invertebrate genes with EGF-like repeats.

The gene uEGF, a member of the epidermal growth factor family in the sea urchin Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus, is known to express two transcripts that are regulated developmentally in the embryo. We have partially sequenced several uEGF genomic and cDNA clones. We suggest that the smaller transcript is the result of splicing out an internal region present in the larger mRNA, probably with eight EGF-like repeats. The predicted two uEGF products have a signal peptide followed by an EGF-like repeat and a region with approximately 120 amino acids homologous to domain III in complement component C1s. Following these domains, the short product has 12 tandem EGF-like repeats, whereas the long product has approximately 20 tandem repeats. At the carboxy terminus both products have a region homologous to avidin. Unlike Notch and lin-12, no transmembrane domain was found in uEGF. We also show here that uEGF shares two characteristics with vertebrate members of the EGF family, but not with invertebrate members of the same family. (1) All the EGF-like domains sequenced are represented by single exons. (2) All the introns sequenced follow the first nucleotide of a codon. This supports the hypothesis that the organization of the EGF-like domains in vertebrates and in uEGF derived from a common ancestor. Thus, an alternative molecular datum is provided to support the hypothesis of echinoderm-chordate relationships.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

In vivo microscopy reveals that complement inhibition by C1-esterase inhibitor reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury in the liver.

Complement plays a decisive role in postischemic tissue injury, a process responsible for severe damage after organ ischemia. Several pathophysiologic mechanisms initiated upon reperfusion are mediated by complement inducing microcirculatory disturbances. Here, we demonstrate the effects of complement inhibition using C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) on microcirculation after liver ischemia by in vivo microscopy (IVM). In rats, the left liver lobe was clamped for 70 min. C1-INH was given 1 min prior to reperfusion. Controls received Ringer's solution. IVM was performed 30-100 min after reperfusion. Non-perfused acini decreased and sinusoidal perfusion increased substantially after treatment. Leukocyte adherence to sinusoidal and venular endothelium was markedly reduced by C1-INH. Transaminases were significantly decreased by C1-INH. Our data obtained by IVM suggest that complement activation is an early key event of ischemia/reperfusion injury. These observations demonstrate for the first time that reperfusion related microcirculatory disorders can be minimized by C1-INH. This compound should be evaluated in clinical application.

Animals↗

Complement Cls, a classical enzyme with novel functions at the endochondral ossification center: immunohistochemical staining of activated Cls with a neoantigen-specific antibody.

The secondary ossification center of 14- to 16-day-old hamster tibiae was examined immunohistochemically with active and inactive Cls-specific antibodies, RK5 and RK4, respectively. At the ossification center, chondrocytes differentiate from proliferating and hypertrophic to degenerating stages, and their site is occupied by the bone marrow. Cls was strongly immunostained in hypertrophic chondrocytes. In order to discover whether Cls is activated at a particular site, the cartilage was immunostained with RK5 and RK4. RK5 mainly reacted with degrading matrix around invading vessels. In contrast, RK4 strongly stained hypertrophic chondrocytes. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed Cls on degrading fragments of chondrocytes and fibers of cartilage matrix. Decorin, one of the major matrix proteoglycans, was dose and time dependently degraded by Cls. Type II collagen and type I gelatin were also degraded. Articular cartilage from patients with rheumatoid arthritis was positively immunostained (11/12 cases) with an anti-Cls monoclonal antibody (mAb) PG11, whereas normal articular cartilage (5/5 cases) was negative, suggesting Cls participation in the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Hereditary angioedema: its diagnostic and management perspectives.

Although hereditary angioedema accounts for only a small fraction of all cases of angioedema, it is the most common genetically linked clinical disorder caused by the deficiency of a protein associated with complement activation. Attacks may be complicated by incapacitating cutaneous swelling, life-threatening upper airway impediment, and severe gastrointestinal colic. Recent physicochemical and genetic studies have contributed significantly to our understanding of the structure of the inhibitor protein. Measurement of serum C4 titer is an efficacious screening test. Normal levels during symptomatic periods rule out the diagnosis, whereas decreased levels warrant determination of C1 esterase inhibitor titer by immunoassay or functional assay. The functional assay is necessary to ascertain the genetic variant form. The importance of making the correct diagnosis cannot be overemphasized. It can avert potentially fatal consequences, such as upper airway obstruction and unnecessary abdominal surgery. The application of short-term preventive measures can avoid complications associated with trauma. Finally, abatement or elimination of symptoms in patients with incessant and disabling attacks can be attained by long-term therapy with currently available attenuated androgens.

Angioedema↗

A sensitive method to assay blood complement C1- inhibitor activity.

Hereditary angioneurotic edema results from deficiency of complement protein C1- inhibitor. Using a new spectrophotometric assay for C1-s esterase activity on the N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester, we describe a routinely available method for quantifying low C1- Inhibitor functional activities in EDTA-treated plasma of hereditary angioneurotic edema patients. C1- Inhibitor activity is deduced from the residual esterase activity of C1-s incubated with 20-80 microliters plasma samples. Arbitrary units (volume of sample inhibiting 50% of C1-s activity) were used to express C1- Inhibitor normal activity which was estimated as 22,500 +/- 5,000 (SD) U/l in 45 healthy individuals. The correlation with C1- Inhibitor antigen in these healthy individuals and 89 patients with varying concentrations of C1 Inhibitor ranging from 0.05-1.05 g/l was r = 0.91. Levels down to 2,000 U/l could be estimated. Specific inhibitory activity is an absolute requirement to distinguish between type I and type II hereditary angioneurotic edema.

Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins↗