Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Complement C5b”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on neonatal and paediatric inflammatory profiles.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes significant morbidity in paediatric patients, yet the mechanisms involved in the related inflammatory processes (resulting in capillary leak and edema) are poorly understood. Moreover, earlier palliative and corrective intervention in neonates and infants has provided the cohorts of patients about whom little is known of their proinflammatory response. METHODS: In the present two group study, 14 neonates (age 1-28 days, 2.5-4.5 kg) and 13 infants (2-12 months, 3-7 kg), undergoing CPB for congenital heart disease were consecutively recruited. The two cohorts were well matched in terms of CPB and aortic cross-clamp times (P > 0.1). Blood samples were collected on induction of anaesthesia, 5 min following onset of CPB, at the end of CPB, and 30 min, 2 and 24 h post-protamine (PP) administration. Plasma concentration of cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), terminal complement complex (C5b-9) neutrophil counts and leucocyte elastase were measured. RESULTS: Plasma levels of all inflammatory markers significantly increased in both groups during and following CPB as compared to baseline. During and following CPB the change in IL-8 level was more pronounced in neonates (peak 30 min PP, median(range): 1062 (182-3872) pg/ml) than in infants 568 (172-1368) pg/ml), P = 0.01. Changes in IL-6 level were indistinguishable between groups intraoperatively, but remained significantly higher at 24 h in neonates (P = 0.02). Peri and postoperative levels of C5b-9 were significantly higher in infants than in neonates (peak 30 min PP, median (range): 984 (118-1142) ng/ml vs 458 (22 1340) ng/ml in neonates respectively, P = 0.01) but were similar at 24 h. Despite this, leucocyte elastase profiles did not differ significantly between the respective cohorts. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that there may be differences between neonates and infants with regard to the inflammatory response to CPB and neonatal patients merit further investigation in order to elucidate whether the pathophysiology of their CPB related inflammatory response and its clinical sequelae differs from their older counterparts.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗

Biocompatibility of silicone-coated oxygenator in cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to analyze the biocompatibility of silicone-coated oxygenators using inflammatory response as the outcome measure, and to investigate whether the silicone-coated oxygenators perform better in terms of postoperative organ dysfunction. METHODS: The 32 patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were divided into 3 groups: group A (n = 10), heparin-coated circuit with silicone-coated oxygenator; group B (n = 11), whole heparin-coated circuit; and group C (n = 11), whole untreated circuit. The plasma concentrations of the proinflammatory markers, made of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-8), terminal complement complex (C5b-9), and polymorphonuclear elastase (PMN-E), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. RESULTS: All proinflammatory markers were significantly lower in groups A and B than in group C, especially C5b-9 and PMN-E concentrations, which were significantly lower in group A than in group B. The alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients (A-aDO2) and the respiratory index were significantly better in group A than in group C. In group B, however, only the A-aDO2 was significantly better than in group C. The duration of intubation and the length of stay in the intensive care unit stay were significantly shorter in groups A and B than in group C. CONCLUSIONS: Silicone-coated oxygenators are biocompatible and prevent postoperative organ dysfunction.

Anticoagulants↗

A flow cytometric immunoassay to quantify adsorption of complement activation products (iC3b, C3d, SC5b-9) on artificial surfaces.

Crosslinked agarose microspheres and various polystyrene microspheres were analyzed for complement components after incubation with serum at 37 degrees C for times up to 2 h. Quantification involved direct flow cytometric analysis of the beads after the bound complement proteins were indirectly fluorescently tagged by use of a monoclonal antibody against a complement protein: C5b-9, iC3b, C3d, C4d, Bb, C3a, and C1q. Calibration with fluorescein microbead standards demonstrated that the membrane attack complex (SC5b-9) was surface bound on all surfaces and that the surface concentration gradually increased to levels as high as 0.5 micrograms/cm2. Further, the surface bound represented a substantial percentage of the total generated. The iC3b level on polystyrene beads rapidly reached 0.09 micrograms/cm2 and the C3d levels were an order of magnitude less. On agarose beads the iC3b levels continually rose to 0.17 micrograms/cm2 and, as before, the C3d levels were substantially lower. The surface concentration of C4d and Bb on both surfaces were significant but less than 1.0 ng/cm2. There was minimal evidence of C3a and C1q adsorption for any surface. Use of amino-polystyrene beads moderately reduced the level of bound iC3b, C3d, and SC5b-9, whereas carboxylated beads reduced the levels by almost a factor of two. The appreciable amounts of iC3b and SC5b-9 consistently noted on the artificial surfaces tested in this paper suggests that for these two activation products in vitro analysis of material induced complement activation should also include surface analysis.

Adsorption↗

Evidence that C5b recognizes and mediates C8 incorporation into the cytolytic complex of complement.

The aim of this study was to identify constituents of the intermediate C5b-7 complex of human complement that mediate binding of C8 and formation of C5b-8. Analysis of interactions between purified C8 and C5, C6, or C7 indicate that C5 and C8 associate to form a dimer in solution. This interaction is specific and involves a single C5 binding site located on the beta-subunit of C8. Simultaneous interaction of C8 with C5 and C9 in solution suggests that during assembly of the cytolytic C5b-9 complex on membranes, C8 binds to C5b-7 through association of beta with C5b, after which C9 associates through interaction with the previously identified C9-specific site on the alpha-subunit. Other evidence of interaction with C5b was provided by the fact that C8 can bind purified C5b6. Also, in situ cross-linking experiments showed that within C5b-8, the beta-subunit is in close proximity to C5b. These results indicate that C8 binding to C5b-7 is mediated by a specific C5b recognition site on beta, thus explaining the requirement for this subunit in C5b-8 formation. They also reveal that C5b contains a specific site for interaction with beta.

Binding Sites↗

Assembly of the platelet prothrombinase complex is linked to vesiculation of the platelet plasma membrane. Studies in Scott syndrome: an isolated defect in platelet procoagulant activity.

Activation of human platelets by complement proteins C5b-9 is accompanied by the release of small plasma membrane vesicles (microparticles) that are highly enriched in binding sites for coagulation factor Va and exhibit prothrombinase activity. We have now examined whether assembly of the prothrombinase enzyme complex (factors VaXa) is directly linked to the process of microparticle formation. Gel-filtered platelets were incubated without stirring with various agonists at 37 degrees C, and the functional expression of cell surface receptors on platelets and on shed microparticles was analyzed using specific monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence-gated flow cytometry. In addition to the C5b-9 proteins, thrombin, collagen, and the calcium ionophore A23187 were each found to induce formation of platelet microparticles that incorporated plasma membrane glycoproteins GP Ib, IIb, and IIIa. These microparticles were enriched in binding sites for factor Va, and their formation paralleled the expression of catalytic surface for the prothrombinase enzyme complex. Little or no microparticle release or prothrombinase activity were observed when platelets were stimulated with epinephrine and ADP, despite exposure of platelet fibrinogen receptors by these agonists. When platelets were exposed to thrombin plus collagen, the shed microparticles contained activated GP IIb-IIIa complexes that bound fibrinogen. By contrast, GP IIb-IIIa incorporated into C5b-9 induced microparticles did not express fibrinogen receptor function. Platelets from a patient with an isolated defect in inducible procoagulant activity (Scott syndrome) were found to be markedly impaired in their capacity to generate microparticles in response to all platelet activators, and this was accompanied by a comparable decrease in the number and function of inducible factor Va receptors. Taken together, these data indicate that the exposure of the platelet factor Va receptor is directly coupled to plasma membrane vesiculation and that this event can be dissociated from other activation-dependent platelet responses. Since a catalytic membrane surface is required for optimal thrombin generation, platelet microparticle formation may play a role in the normal hemostatic response to vascular injury.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Clusterin (complement lysis inhibitor) forms a high density lipoprotein complex with apolipoprotein A-I in human plasma.

Clusterin/human complement lysis inhibitor (CLI) is incorporated stoichiometrically into the soluble terminal complement complex and inhibits the cytolytic reaction of purified complement components C5b-9 in vitro. Using an anti-clusterin affinity column, we found that an additional protein component with a molecular mass of 28-kDa co-purifies with clusterin from human plasma. We show by immunoblotting and amino acid sequencing that this component is apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I). By using physiological salt buffers containing 0.5% Triton X-100, apoA-I is completely dissociated from clusterin bound to the antibody column. Free clusterin immobilized on the antibody-Sepharose selectively retains apoA-I from total human plasma. Delipidated apoA-I and to a lesser extent ultracentrifugation-purified high density lipoproteins (HDL) adsorbed to nitrocellulose also have a binding affinity for purified clusterin devoid of apoA-I. The isolated apoA-I-clusterin complex contains approximately 22% (w/w) lipids which are composed of 54% (mole/mol) total cholesterol (molar ratio of unesterified/esterified cholesterol, 0.58), 42% phospholipids, and 4% triglycerides. In agreement with the low lipid content, apoA-I-clusterin complexes are detected only in trace amounts in HDL fractions prepared by density ultracentrifugation. In free flow isotachophoresis, the purified apoA-I-clusterin complex has the same mobility as the native clusterin complex in human plasma and is found in the slow-migrating HDL fraction of fasting plasma. Our data indicate that clusterin circulates in plasma as a HDL complex, which may serve not only as an inhibitor of the lytic terminal complement cascade, but also as a regulator of lipid transport and local lipid redistribution.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗

Interaction of human beta-endorphin with nonopiate binding sites on the terminal SC5b-9 complex of human complement. Significance of COOH-terminal beta H-endorphin fragments.

We have characterized the binding of 125I-labeled human beta-endorphin (125I-beta H-endorphin) to sites present on the terminal fluid-phase complex of human complement, consisting of complement components C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9, and the S-protein (SC5b-9 complex). Specific binding exhibited saturability, reversibility, structural specificity, temperature dependence, and absence of negative cooperative effects. Binding was maximal at 4 degrees C and pH 7.0; it was diminished by monovalent and divalent cations as well as by increasing concentrations of urea and Triton X-100 and apparently required intact disulfide groups. Binding was not inhibited by a number of opioid peptides sharing common sequences with the NH2 terminus of beta H-endorphin. In contrast, binding was inhibited by beta H-endorphin, N-acetyl-beta H-endorphin, and a series of COOH-terminal beta H-endorphin fragments, where of the COOH-terminal dipeptide Gly-Glu represented the minimal effective structure. Stepwise extension towards the NH2 terminus led to an increased binding affinity of the respective fragment. Computer resolution of competition curves yielded one binding component for several shorter COOH-terminal beta H-endorphin fragments and for beta H-endorphin (1-5) + (16-31), whereas two distinct binding components were obtained when beta H-endorphin (27-31), beta H-endorphin (6-31), N-acetyl-beta H-endorphin or beta H-endorphin were used as inhibitors. This study presents detailed data on the binding of COOH-terminal beta H-endorphin fragments to specific nonopiate binding sites present on the terminal SC5b-9 complex of human complement. We suggest that through this interaction, beta H-endorphin may modulate certain functions within the immune system.

Binding Sites↗

Contribution of platelet microparticle formation and granule secretion to the transmembrane migration of phosphatidylserine.

Activation of human platelets by complement proteins, C5b-9, thrombin plus collagen, or a Ca2+ ionophore results in surface exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS), accompanied by the expression of membrane catalytic activity for the tenase (VIIaIXa) and prothrombinase (VaXa) coagulation enzyme complexes. The mechanism underlying this surface exposure of PS upon platelet activation remains unresolved. Using fluorescent derivatives of PS (NBD-PS), we have investigated how the transmembrane migration of PS is related to microvesiculation of the platelet plasma membrane and to fusion of storage granules with the plasma membrane. Gel-filtered platelets were incubated with NBD-PS, allowing 90 +/- 10% of the incorporated NBD-PS to accumulate into the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. Migration of NBD-PS from the inner leaflet to the plasma membrane surface was monitored by time-based flow cytometry, and correlated with the appearance of platelet microparticles and alpha-granule secretion. Platelet activation by C5b-9 or the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, increased surface exposure of NBD-PS, due to acceleration of the apparent rate of migration from inner to outer plasma membrane leaflets. The onset of this accelerated migration of NBD-PS to the surface coincided with the onset of plasma membrane vesiculation, and the NBD-PS that partitioned into the membrane of the shed microparticle was also rapidly exposed to the surface (t1/2 < 2 min). In addition to a temporal correlation, microparticle formation and the surface exposure of inner leaflet NBD-PS showed a similar requirement for Ca2+. These results demonstrate that agonist-induced microvesiculation of the platelet plasma membrane is accompanied by accelerated migration of a PS analogue from the inner leaflet to the surface of the shed microparticle membrane, suggesting the mechanism by which induction of platelet microparticle formation exposes catalytic surface for tenase and prothrombinase assembly.

Alkaloids↗

Proinflammatory cytokine release during pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass: influence of centrifugal and roller pumps.

OBJECTIVE: It has been proposed that nonocclusive centrifugal pumps may elicit less blood cell trauma and hence a reduced inflammatory response than standard roller pumps. However, there have been no reports describing the impact of such pumps on proinflammatory cytokine release in pediatric cohorts. DESIGN: A prospective randomized study was undertaken. SETTING: A regional cardiothoracic center of a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-four pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for the correction of complex congenital heart defects were recruited. INTERVENTIONS: Either standard twin roller (n = 17), or centrifugal vortex (Biopump, Medtronic Biomedicus Inc, MN) (n = 17) blood pumping. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Venous blood was drawn (1) on induction of anesthesia, (2) 5 minutes on bypass, (3) end of CPB, (4) 30 minutes post-protamine, (5) 2 hours and (6) 24 hours postoperation. Neutrophil count, level of plasma leukocyte elastase, terminal complement complex (C5b-9); interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were increased during and after CPB compared with the postinduction baseline. C5b-9 levels in both groups peaked at the end of CPB before returning to baseline at 24 hours: (median [range]), 564 (16 to 1,136) ng/mL in centrifugal group versus 508 (0 to 1,128) ng/mL in the roller group. IL-6 in both groups reached its peak level at 2 hours postprotamine (208 [98 to 411] pg/mL in centrifugal versus 205 [60-327] pg/mL in the roller group), before coming back to baseline at 24 hours. Plasma leukocyte elastase and IL-8 reached their maximum level 15 minutes after protamine administration: 215 (64 to 375) pg/mL in centrifugal versus 235 (87 to 410) pg/mL in roller group; and 700 (90 to 5,925) ng/mL versus 362 (120 to 3,400) ng/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The current study confirms the proinflammatory nature of pediatric CPB surgery, but failed to show a significant advantage of centrifugal pumping over roller perfusion in terms of the inflammatory response.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗

Interaction between the C8 alpha-gamma and C8 beta subunits of human complement C8: role of the C8 beta N-terminal thrombospondin type 1 module and membrane attack complex/perforin domain.

Human C8 is one of five complement components (C5b, C6, C7, C8, and C9) that interact to form the cytolytic membrane attack complex (MAC). It is an oligomeric protein composed of a disulfide-linked C8alpha-gamma heterodimer and a noncovalently associated C8beta chain. C8alpha and C8beta are homologous; both contain an N-terminal thrombospondin type 1 (TSP1) module, a low-density lipoprotein receptor class A (LDLRA) module, an extended central segment referred to as the membrane attack/perforin (MACPF) domain, an epidermal growth factor (EGF) module, and a second TSP1 module at the C-terminus. In this study, the segment of C8beta that confers binding specificity toward C8alpha-gamma was identified using recombinant C8beta constructs in which the N- and/or C-terminal modules were deleted or exchanged with those from C8alpha. Constructs were tested for their ability to bind C8alpha-gamma in solution and express C8 hemolytic activity. Binding to C8alpha-gamma was found to be dependent on the TSP1 + LDLRA + MACPF segment of C8beta. Within this segment, the TSP1 module and MACPF domain are principally involved and act cooperatively to mediate binding. Results from activity assays suggest that residues within this segment also mediate binding and incorporation of C8 into the MAC.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Genomic organization of human complement protein C8 alpha and further examination of its linkage to C8 beta.

Human C8 is one of five complement components (C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9) that interact to form the cytolytic C5b-9 complex on target membranes. It is composed of three nonidentical subunits (C8 alpha, C8 beta, C8 gamma) encoded by separate genes. C8 alpha and C8 beta are linked on chromosome 1p32, whereas C8 gamma is located on 9q22.3-q32. In this study, overlapping genomic clones were isolated and used to decipher the organization of the human C8 alpha gene. The gene contains at least 11 exons spanning approximately 70 kb of DNA. When compared to C6, C8 beta and C9, there is a remarkable similarity in genomic organization, consistent with amino acid sequence comparisons that suggest these proteins are ancestrally related. Regions of each protein that are structurally similar are encoded in exons of correspondingly similar lengths with highly conserved boundaries and phases. Availability of genomic sequence also facilitated a more detailed analysis of C8 alpha and C8 beta linkage. Based on analysis of genomic digests with cDNA probes, the loci were previously reported to be physically linked (< 2.5 kb) and in a 5' alpha-beta 3' orientation. In the present study, results obtained using exon-specific probes indicate the loci are not as closely linked as initially believed. Furthermore, they suggest that cDNA probes used earlier yielded misleading information because they encode exons that are distributed across large segments of genomic DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An indel within the C8 alpha subunit of human complement C8 mediates intracellular binding of C8 gamma and formation of C8 alpha-gamma.

Human C8 is one of five complement components (C5b, C6, C7, C8, and C9) that interact to form the cytolytic membrane attack complex, or MAC. It is an oligomeric protein composed of three subunits (C8alpha, C8beta, C8gamma) that are products of different genes. In C8 from serum, these are arranged as a disulfide-linked C8alpha-gamma dimer that is noncovalently associated with C8beta. In this study, the site on C8alpha that mediates intracellular binding of C8gamma to form C8alpha-gamma was identified. From a comparative analysis of indels (insertions/deletions) in C8alpha and its structural homologues C8beta, C6, C7, and C9, it was determined that C8alpha contains a unique insertion (residues 159-175), which includes Cys(164) that forms the disulfide bond to C8gamma. Incorporation of this sequence into C8beta and coexpression of the resulting construct (iC8beta) with C8gamma produced iC8beta-gamma, an atypical disulfide-linked dimer. In related experiments, C8gamma was shown to bind noncovalently to mutant forms of C8alpha and iC8beta in which Cys(164)-->Gly(164) substitutions were made. In addition, C8gamma bound specifically to an immobilized synthetic peptide containing the mutant indel sequence. Together, these results indicate (a) intracellular binding of C8gamma to C8alpha is mediated principally by residues contained within the C8alpha indel, (b) binding is not strictly dependent on Cys(164), and (c) C8gamma must contain a complementary binding site for the C8alpha indel.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Accelerated graft arteriosclerosis in cardiac transplants: complement activation promotes progression of lesions from medium to large arteries.

BACKGROUND: A critical role for the terminal components of complement (C5b-C9) has been demonstrated previously in acute allograft rejection with the use of C6-deficient PVG congenic rat strains. The C6 deficiency prevents the formation of membrane attack complex (MAC) by C5b-C9. Hearts transplanted from PVG.1A (RT1a) rats are rejected acutely (7-9 days) by fully MHC-incompatible C6-sufficient PVG.1L (RT11) recipients, but they survive significantly longer in untreated C6-deficient PVG.1L recipients (19 to >60 days). METHODS: To investigate the contribution of MAC to chronic rejection and accelerated graft arteriosclerosis (AGA) in long-term cardiac allografts, hearts were transplanted heterotopically from PVG.1A donors to C6-sufficient and C6-deficient PVG.1L hosts that were treated with cyclosporine 15 mg/kg/day for 14 days after cardiac grafting. Alloantibody responses in hosts were measured by flow cytometry at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after transplantation. Vigorously contracting grafts were removed at 60 days (n=5) and at 90-128 days (n=12) after surgery for morphological evaluation. Computerized planimetry measurements were made in complete cross-sections of grafts on all assessable arteries larger than 16 microns in diameter. RESULTS: The survival of most (six of seven) cardiac allografts in C6-deficient recipients was prolonged by cyclosporine treatment to greater than 90 days. In contrast, 14 of 25 hearts that were transplanted to C6-sufficient recipients were rejected between 21 and 84 days with severe vascular injury. AGA, defined as smooth muscle cells forming a neointima inside the internal elastic lamina and luminal compromise, affected a greater percentage of arteries in C6-sufficient than in C6-deficient recipients. AGA developed earlier and more frequently in arteries of medium (<100 micron) diameter than those of large diameter in both C6-sufficient and C6-deficient recipients. Serial sections demonstrated the lesions in medium arteries to be located adjacent to the smooth muscle sphincters at the junction of arteriolar branches. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that MAC promotes the pathogenesis of AGA in long-term cardiac allografts.

Animals↗

Hepatitis C virus infection and myositis: a polymerase chain reaction study.

Muscle biopsy tissue from a patient with chronic hepatitis, who was hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive and showed slight weakness of the right arm and leg associated with increased serum creatine kinase levels, was studied using immunocytochemical and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Muscle biopsy showed changes compatible with an inflammatory myopathy. Immunohistochemical studies included the use of monoclonal antibodies against human T lymphocytes, macrophages, immunoglobulins, major histocompatibility complex class I molecules (MHC-I), and the neoantigens of the terminal C5b-9 complement membrane attack complex (MAC). In addition to confirming the potential importance of cytotoxic T cells and MHC-I antigen expression in inducing muscle pathology, we demonstrated MAC deposition and the presence of HCV-RNA in the muscle of our patient, suggesting that direct involvement of the virus leading to complement activation might be important in inducing muscle damage.

Adult↗

Relationship between serum complement and different lipid disorders.

Inflammatory and lipid factors share an important role in atherosclerosis. Recent studies showed the concomitant presence and increase of complement components and lipids both in the atherosclerotic plaque and the circulating blood. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the complement system and lipid disorders. We evaluated the circulating complement terminal complex C5b-9, a clear sign of complement activation, in three groups of 30 patients the first with hypercholesterolemia, the second with hypertriglyceridemia (associated with low values of HDL-cholesterol), the third with low levels of HDL-cholesterol compared with an equivalent group of matched normolipemic subjects. We found a significant increase of sC5b-9 in each group of patients compared with controls. The mean sC5b-9 level in the hypercholesterolemic population was 366.2 +/- 141.2 ng/ml (P<0.01), 395.4 +/- 118.2 ng/ml in the hypertrygliceridemic group (P<0.01), 414.8 +/- 126.4 ng/ml in the low HDL-chol subjects (P<0.01), and 182.0 +/- 40.8. ng/ml in the control group. Regression analysis showed a significant direct correlation between sC5b-9 and triglycerides (r=0.64), and a significant inverse correlation between sC5b-9, HDL-chol (r=-0.74), and apo-A1 (r=-0.68); no significant relationship was found between sC5b-9 and cholesterol. We suggest that complement activation is associated with the various lipid disorders and is more important in those dyslipidemic conditions in which other factors may be involved. In particular, hypertriglyceridemia may be associated with endothelial and fibrinolytic disturbances, and the decrease of HDL may induce the failure of the regulatory proteins transported by the same HDL.

Adult↗

Electroimmunoassay-immunoblotting (EIA-IB) for the utilization of monoclonal antibodies in quantitative immunoelectrophoresis: the method and its applications.

Immunoprecipitates formed in conventional electroimmunoassays were solubilized by brief immersion of the agarose gels in sodium dodecylsulfate. The proteins were then transferred to nitrocellulose sheets by electroblotting. The blotted proteins were readily amenable to analyses by non-precipitating monoclonal antibodies and the immunoblots were developed with second antibody/biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase staining. The electroimmunoassay-immunoblot (EIA-IB) method is of value in (1) specificity assays of monoclonal antibodies in crossed immunoelectrophoresis; (2) analysis of specific molecular interactions between proteins; (3) rapid screening and simple identification of monoclonal antibodies by line immunoelectrophoresis-immunoblotting.

Animals↗

The B chain, but not the A chain, of Ricinus communis activates human complement.

Complement activation properties of ricin holotoxin, its A or B chain were assessed in two enzyme immunoassays (EIA). One was specific for C3 activation products and the other detected the terminal SC5b-9 complement complex (TCC) and thus determined activation of the initial and terminal part of the complement pathways, respectively. Ricin and its A and B chains were incubated with normal human serum or EDTA-serum. It was found that ricin B chain activated both the initial and terminal complement pathways in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion, whereas the A chain and the holotoxin did not.

Complement Activation↗

Phosphorylcholine acts as a Ca2+-dependent receptor molecule for lymphocyte perforin.

Large granular lymphocytes and cytolytic T-lymphocytes (CTL) contain numerous cytoplasmic granules thought to be responsible, at least in part, for the cytolytic activity of these effector cells. Isolated granules are lytic for a variety of target cells and the granule proteins are specifically released upon target-cell interaction. Major proteins in mouse CTL granules are a family of seven serine proteases designated granzymes A to G, and a pore-forming protein called perforin (cytolysin). Purified perforin is cytolytic in the presence of Ca2+ and shows ultrastructural, immunological and amino-acid sequence similarities to complement component C9. Despite these similarities, perforin and C9 are clearly distinct in their mode of target-cell recognition. Whereas C9 insertion is absolutely dependent on a receptor moiety assembled from the complement proteins C5b, C6, C7, and C8 on the target-cell membrane, no requirement for a receptor molecule has been reported for perforin. Here, we demonstrate that phosphorylcholine acts as a specific, Ca2+-dependent receptor molecule for perforin.

Animals↗