Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Complement C8”

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

Measurement of the ratio of the eighth and ninth components of human complement on complement-lysed membranes.

The mole ratio of the eighth (C8) and ninth (C9) components of human complement on membranes carrying the cytolytic C5b-9 complex was measured by direct binding assays. Erythrocytes from two different species were used as the membrane system. Antibody-treated sheep erythrocytes carrying a relatively small number of precursive membrane-bound C5b-7 complexes were prepared by exposure to human C8-depleted serum. These complexes were subsequently converted to C5b-8 by addition of saturating amounts of C8. Parallel binding assays using 125I-C8 were used to determine the exact amount bound and thus the number of C5b-8 complexes per cell. These cells were subsequently incubated with excess 125I-C9 and the amount bound relative to C8 on the membrane was measured. Results indicated the C8:C9 ratio remained constant at approximately 1:4 as the number of complexes varied from 40 to 310 per cell. Similar results were obtained regardless of whether C8 and C9 were added sequentially or simultaneously to cells bearing C5b-7. For comparison, experiments were also performed using membranes that contained a high number of complexes. Here, rabbit erythrocytes which carried approximately 25 000 C5b-7 per cell were incubated with limited amounts of C8 to form C5b-8 complexes on the membrane surface, the exact number of which was measured by 125I-C8 binding assays. When erythrocytes prepared in this manner were incubated with excess 125I-C9, the ratio of C8:C9 on the membrane was found to be essentially constant at approximately 1:3 as the number of these complexes varied from 50 to 4000 per cell.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Complement pores in erythrocyte membranes. Analysis of C8/C9 binding required for functional membrane damage.

The number of membrane-bound terminal complement proteins (C5b-9) required to generate a functional pore in the human erythrocyte membrane ghost has been determined. Resealed erythrocyte ghost membranes (ghosts) were treated with human complement proteins C5b6, C7, 131I-C8, and 125I-C9 under non-lytic conditions. Following C5b-9 assembly, sucrose-permeant ghosts were separated from C5b-9 ghosts that remained impermeant to sucrose by centrifugation over density barriers formed of 43% (w/v) sucrose. Analysis of 131I-C8 and 125I-C9 bound to sucrose-permeant and sucrose-impermeant subpopulations of C5b-9 ghosts revealed: 1. Sucrose-permeant C5b-9 ghosts show increased uptake of both 131I-C8 and 125I-C9 as compared to ghosts that remain impermeant to sucrose. Ghosts with less than 300 molecules 131I-C8 bound remain impermeant to sucrose, irrespective of the total C9 input, or, the multiplicity of C9 uptake by membrane C5b-8. 2. In the presence of excess 125I-C9, the ratio of 125I-C9/131I-C8 bound to membrane C5b67 is 3.2 +/- 0.8 (mean +/- 2 S.D.), suggesting an average stoichiometry of 3 C9 per C5b-8. Under these conditions, the ratio of 125I-C9/131I-C8 bound to sucrose-permeant ghosts (3.3 +/- 0.7) does not significantly differ from the ratio bound to sucrose-impermeant ghosts (2.9 +/- 0.6). 3. With limiting C9 input, the threshold of total C5b-8 uptake required for sucrose permeability increases significantly above 300 per cell when the ratio of bound 125I-C9/131I-C8 is decreased below unity. In the complete absence of C9, 11 700 C5b-8 complexes are bound to sucrose-permeant ghosts. It is concluded that more than 300 C5b-9 complexes must bind to the human erythrocyte to form a sucrose-permeant lesion. Although the binding of one C9 per C5b-8 is critical to the pore-forming activity of these proteins, the binding of additional molecules of C9 to each complex (C9/C8 greater than 1) does not significantly alter the threshold of total C5b-9 uptake required for lesion formation.

Complement C8

Deafness, complement deficiencies and immunoglobulin status in patients with meningococcal diseases due to uncommon serogroups.

The prevalence of deafness and complement deficiencies in association with meningococcal disease caused by uncommon serogroups of meningococci was studied in 30 patients (Group A) and 30 controls with Serogroup B disease (Group B). In Group A 8 patients (26.6%) had hearing impairment in contrast to only 1 patient (3.3%) in Group B (P < 0.01). Complement deficiency was detected in 8 patients (26.6%) of Group A whereas none of the Group B patients showed a defect in the complement system (P < 0.01). Association between complement deficiencies and meningococcal disease was detected for Serogroups Y (n = 5; 16.6%) and W135 (n = 3; 10.0%). Localization of the defects revealed only complement deficiencies of the classical pathway (C8-beta or C7 defects). The levels of Ig and IgG subclasses were found to be within the normal range for all patients. Our results suggest that meningococcal diseases caused by uncommon serogroups are more often associated with deafness and late complement component defects.

Blotting, Western

Sublytic complement attack protects tumor cells from lytic doses of antibody and complement.

Sublytic doses of the membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement are known to exert multiple stimulatory effects on metabolically active cells. Results presented herewith demonstrate that pretreatment of the human leukemic cells K562 and HL-60 with sublytic doses of antibody and normal human serum protects them from lytic complement concentrations, a phenomenon proposed to be called "complement-induced protection". C7- and C8-deficient human sera are ineffective in inducing resistance unless they are reconstituted with purified human C7 and C8, respectively. The complement-induced protection is inhibitable by actinomycin D and cycloheximide indicating that the increased complement resistance depends on RNA and protein synthesis triggered by the sublytic complement doses. Free extracellular Ca2+ is also required to achieve maximal protection, indicating a role for Ca2+ ions in the cell stimulatory events which culminate in increased complement resistance. Quantitative analysis of bound complement components indicated that similar amounts of C3 and C9 molecules are deposited on "protected" and control cells during complement activation. The "protected" K562 and HL-60 cells regain sensitivity to lytic MAC doses after about 8 or 3 h, respectively, of culture in growth medium, in the absence or presence of actinomycin D and cycloheximide. The "induced protection" is not species restricted and protection from human complement can be induced in K562 cells by treatment with sublytic doses of antibody and rabbit or guinea pig sera.

Animals

Transmembrane channel-formation by five complement proteins.

Five serum proteins act in concert to form the membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement. The precursor proteins, C5, C6, C7, C8 and C9, are hydrophilic glycoproteins with molecular weights ranging from 70,000 to 180,000. When C5 is cleaved by the serine protease C5 convertase, nascent C5b is produced which forms together with C6 a soluble and stable bimolecular complex (C5b,6). Upon binding of C5b,6 to C7 a trimolecular complex (C5b-7) is formed, which expresses a metastable membrane binding site. Membrane-bound C5b-7 constitutes the receptor for C8 and the tetramolecular C5b-8 complex binds and polymerizes C9. During the assembly process the proteins undergo hydrophilic-amphiphilic transition and the end product consists of C5b-8 (Mr approx. 550,000) and of tubular poly C9 (Mr approx. 1,100,000). The functional channel size varies but its maximal diameter is approximately 10 nm. C9 polymerization appears to involve initial reversible associations of several C9 molecules, which leads to temperature dependent, constrained unfolding. Unfolded C9 monomers then associate laterally with each other and polymerization terminates with closure of the circular structure, which consists of 12-18 C9 monomers. Amino acid composition and sequence indicate that the N-terminal half of the single chain C9 molecule is hydrophilic and the C-terminal half rather hydrophobic. Phospholipid binding and insertion into membranes are functions of the C-terminal portion of the molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence

Release of C8 binding protein (C8bp) from the cell membrane by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.

Erythrocytes from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) are abnormally sensitive to complement. Two membrane proteins, the C8 binding protein (C8bp) and the decay accelerating factor (DAF), which are expressed on normal cells, function to restrict lysis by homologous complement, and both of these proteins are absent from PNH erythrocytes. DAF is anchored to the plasma membrane on normal cells by a phosphatidylinositol linkage. The investigators found that a purified phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C cleaved C8bp from the surface of normal lymphocytes and monocytes. This finding indicates that the abnormal complement sensitivity of PNH erythrocytes arises from a common defect, the inability to attach the phosphatidylinositol-containing anchor that is necessary for the membrane expression of both membrane complement regulatory proteins, the C8bp, and DAF.

Bacterial Proteins

Prevalence of congenital or acquired complement deficiency in patients with sporadic meningococcal disease.

We evaluated the complement system in 20 patients presenting with a first episode of meningococcal meningitis, meningococcemia, or meningococcal pericarditis. Assays of total serum complement activity were performed prospectively in 12 patients and retrospectively in 8. Six of the twenty patients had a complement deficiency (CH50 greater than 2 S.D. below the normal mean). Three of these six had a deficiency of a terminal-pathway protein (C6 in two and C8 in one), and the other three had deficiencies of multiple complement proteins associated with underlying systemic lupus erythematosus or multiple myeloma. Patients with decreased amounts of complement were similar to normal patients in terms of sex, age, type of infection, and meningococcal serogroup, but 3 of the 6 patients with a complement deficiency were black, as compared with none of the 14 patients with normal function (P = 0.018). Complement deficiency is common in patients with a first episode of meningococcal disease and may be due to either a deficiency in a single terminal protein or a complement-depleting underlying illness.

Adolescent

Protein Malnutrition and complement activity in guinea pigs, germ-free and conventional rats.

Malnutrition produces a pronounced effect on the complement system of man and animals. There is little information, however, to indicate whether individual complement components are affected at different stages of age. In the following studies, we have demonstrated that in guinea pigs and in both conventional and germ-free rats, protein malnutrition adversely affects the complement system. The levels of complement components C2 and C3 are suppressed by protein malnutrition at an early stage while C4 and C8 are less affected by malnutrition. Experiments in germ-free animals demonstrated that decreased complement component levels can be directly associated with decreased synthesis and/or secretion of components. In conventional animals, further reductions in complement levels could occur as a result of infection associated with malnutrition.

Animals

Studies of the association of the eighth and ninth components of human complement within the membrane-bound cytolytic complex.

The association of the eighth (C8) and ninth (C9) components of human complement within membrane-bound C5b-9 was investigated using the photosensitive cross-linking reagent N-succinimidyl-6-(4'-azido-2'-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate. Reaction of this reagent with either the purified alpha-gamma or beta subunit of C8 resulted in the introduction of 6-8 mol/mol of photosensitive 6-(4'-azido-2'-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate (ANH) as an intrinsic ligand on each protein. The resulting ANH-(alpha-gamma) or ANH-(beta) was capable of recombining with equimolar amounts of beta or alpha-gamma, respectively, to yield ANH-C8. Parallel modifications of purified C9 resulted in incorporation of 3-4 mol/mol of ANH-ligand. Both ANH-C8 and ANH-C9 retained their ability to incorporate into C5b-9. Two approaches were used to determine the proximity of C8 subunits to C9 within C5b-9. In one, the complex was assembled on erythrocytes by incubating EAC1-7 cells separately with each form of ANH-C8 and subsequently saturating with 125I-C9. After lysis, membranes were irradiated, solubilized, and analyzed by gel electrophoresis. Cross-linking was assessed by a shift in electrophoretic mobility of 125I-C9 to a higher molecular weight. Results using either form of ANH-C8 in C5b-9 showed that, although at least 30% was involved in cross-linking, none was cross-linked to C9. Similar results were obtained using a second approach in which cross-linker and radiolabel were transposed between C8 and C9. Here, EAC1-7 cells were incubated first with 125I-C8 containing either 125I-(alpha-gamma) or 125I-(beta) and subsequently with ANH-C9. Although at least 48% of ANH-C9 in C5b-9 was involved in cross-linking in these experiments, no cross-linking to either subunit of C8 was detected. These results suggest that C8 is not in close physical association with C9 within membrane-bound C5b-9.

Azides

Molecular cloning and characterization of the novel, human complement-associated protein, SP-40,40: a link between the complement and reproductive systems.

The cDNA sequence encoding the human complement-associated protein, SP-40,40, is reported. The two chains of SP-40,40 are coded in a single open reading frame on the same mRNA molecule, indicating the existence of a biosynthetic precursor protein which matures post-synthetically by the proteolysis of at least one peptide bond. The precursor is preceded by a signal sequence for vectorial export and contains six N-linked glycosylation sites distributed equally between the two chains of the structure. The sequence of the SP-40,40 precursor bears a 77% identity to a rat sulphated glycoprotein-2 (SGP-2) which is the major secreted product of Sertoli cells. The presence of SP-40,40 within human seminal plasma at levels comparable to those in serum was demonstrated, indicating that SP-40,40 and SGP-2 are serum and seminal forms of the same protein. A sequence of 23 amino acids within the beta-chain of SP-40,40 exhibited significant homology to corresponding segments located within complement components C7, C8 and C9. The short cysteine-containing motif represented the only evidence of a possible vestigial relationship between SP-40,40 and other complement components. The precise role of SP-40,40 is not known in either blood or semen but the present findings document an intriguing link between the immune and the reproductive systems.

Amino Acid Sequence

Hereditary complement deficiency in survivors of meningococcal disease: high prevalence of C7/C8 deficiency in Sephardic (Moroccan) Jews.

The prevalence of complement deficiency was studied among 111 survivors of sporadic meningococcal disease located through the medical records of 10 Israeli hospitals. There were 11 patients with CH50 = 0: one with systemic lupus erythematosus and 10 with hereditary terminal complement deficiency (four with homozygous C7 and six with C8 deficiency). There was no hereditary complement deficiency among 39 Ashkenazi subjects as against 18 per cent among 38 Sephardi subjects and 40 per cent among 15 of Moroccan ancestry (p less than 0.05). The age at first presentation of meningococcal disease in complement deficient patients was 14.7 +/- 7.6, years compared with 8.1 +/- 10.9 in the non-deficient patients (p less than 0.025). None of the complement deficient patients had meningitis below the age of 5 years vs. 49 per cent of non-deficient subjects. Recurrent meningitis was observed in 40 vs. 4 per cent (p less than 0.01) and meningitis in siblings in 40 vs. 2 per cent respectively (p less than 0.001). In addition to the 10 propositi, 11 non-propositus siblings were identified with severe complement deficiency (six with homozygous C7 and five with C8 deficiency). Seven of the non-propositi had no history at all of meningitis or any other serious systemic disease, underlining the relatively favourable prognosis of terminal complement deficiency. With increasing familiarity with the clinical features of this hereditary disease, it is possible now to identify on clinical grounds patients with meningococcal disease with a high likelihood of terminal complement deficiency.

Adolescent

Genetic diversity of mitomycin C-hypersensitive Chinese hamster cell mutants: a new complementation group with chromosomal instability.

A Chinese hamster cell mutant (V-C8) isolated previously, which is approximately 100 fold more sensitive to mitomycin C (MMC) than its parental wild-type V79 cells (judged by D10 values), was further characterized. V-C8 cells exhibit an increased sensitivity towards other cross-linking agents, such as cis-DDP (approximately 40-fold), DEB (approximately 30-fold), and also to adriamycin (approximately 5-fold), and the monofunctional alkylating agents: MMS (approximately 5-fold) and EMS (approximately 6-fold). V-C8 cells show a higher level induction of chromosomal aberrations by cross-linking agents (MMC, cis-DDP, and DEB) and an increased level of spontaneous chromosomal aberrations in comparison to the wild-type V79 cells. To determine whether the V-C8 mutant represents a new complementation group among Chinese hamster cell mutants that also display the extreme sensitivity to MMC, V-C8 cells were fused with irs1, irs1SF, UV20, UV41, and V-H4 cells. In all cases, the derived hybrids regained the MMC sensitivity similar to wild-type cells, indicating that the V-C8 mutant belongs to a new sixth complementation group.

Animals

Complement pore genesis observed in erythrocyte membranes by fluorescence microscopic single-channel recording.

The formation and opening of single complement pores could be directly observed in erythrocyte ghosts by confocal laser-scanning microscopy employing the recently introduced method of fluorescence microscopic single-channel recording. Resealed sheep erythrocyte ghosts were incubated with human complement. By limiting the concentration of C8, the eighth component of complement, the fraction of cells rendered permeable for the small polar fluorescent probe Lucifer Yellow was varied between 0.50 and 0.90. Under each condition the flux rate, k, of Lucifer Yellow was determined for a substantial number of ghosts. By analysing the sample population distribution of k the flux rate k1 of ghosts with a single pore was found to be (4.8 +/- 1.1) x 10(-3) s-1 consistent with a pore radius of about 3.5 nm (35 A). The genesis of single complement pores was studied by continuous influx measurements while triggering pore formation by a temperature shift. Pore genesis was found to be a very slow process, proceeding on a time scale of several minutes. During pore genesis the influx curves had a sigmoid shape, which excluded the possibility that the pore was preformed on the membrane surface and subsequently inserted. However, the influx curves could be well simulated by a model which assumed that pores grow stepwise by sequential incorporation of C9 monomers. The model predicts conditions under which the incorporation of single monomers can be directly revealed.

Animals

Complement deficiency and antibody profile in survivors of meningococcal meningitis due to common serogroups in Italy.

A collaborative survey was carried out in Italy on a group of 59 subjects with a past history of meningococcal meningitis. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of complement deficiencies, the serogroup of meningococci responsible for the disease and other possible immune abnormalities associated with the infection. Complement analysis allowed the detection of 10 cases (17%) with deficiencies of the terminal components, and in particular six cases of C8 beta, three of C7 and one of C6 defect. Half of the subjects with complement deficiencies had recurrences of meningitis and developed the infection at an older age in comparison with the control group with normal complement activity. The meningococcal C strain was the most diffuse (68%) and infected all the complement-deficient subjects. Evaluation of the antibody response to meningococcal capsular polysaccharides (PS) showed that only 42.5% of the individuals with group C had antibodies as opposed to 83% and 100% of the patients with meningitis due to group A and B, respectively. In all 59 subjects serum Ig as well as IgG subclasses were present, at normal levels for the age. Vaccination of seven out of the 24 subjects without detectable anti-meningococcal PS antibodies with the sole PS A+C induced a normal response in six of them, including a subject with complement defect. In the subject who did not respond to the antigen, the antibodies against the ubiquitous pneumococcal PS type 14 were also lacking, whereas anti-tetanus toxoid (TT) antibodies were normally present. From these data we may conclude the following: (1) the high prevalence (17%) of late complement components defect among survivors of meningococcal meningitis is also confirmed in the Italian population; (2) the serogroup C, responsible for the infections in all the cases with late complement components defect, is highly recirculating in Italy and apparently less immunogenic; (3) specific vaccination with meningococcal PS is a valid prophylaxis in subjects with lack of specific antibodies as well as in subjects with complement defect.

Adolescent

Role of complement in renal tubular damage.

Deposition of immunoglobulins, complement proteins C1q, C3c, C3d, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, and terminal complement complex neoantigens in the renal tubulointerstitium was studied in serial sections by immunofluorescence microscopy. Renal tissue from 45 cases with various glomerular diseases, including 8 controls, was studied. The patients were divided into groups; one with tubulointerstitial lesions (24 cases) and the other without (13 cases). The immunoproteins were deposited mainly in the tubular basement membrane and blood vessels. Compared with controls there was a significantly increased staining score for C5 to C9 in the tubular basement membrane in both disease groups. However, the increase in terminal complement complex neoantigens score was significant only in the disease group with tubulo interstitial lesions. The changes in C3d score were not significant. Serial sections showed consistent and heavy ribbon-like deposits of complement proteins C3d, C5 to C9, and terminal complement complex neoantigens in corresponding locations of the segments of tubular basement membrane, mainly in the disease group with tubulointerstitial lesions and especially in the damaged tubules. These findings suggest that in situ activation of the complement cascade leads to the deposition of terminal complement complex neoantigens. Complement activation in the basal area of the tubules may, therefore, be an important pathogenetic mechanism in tubulointerstitial damage.

Basement Membrane

Prevalence of hereditary properdin, C7 and C8 deficiencies in patients with meningococcal infections.

High incidence of hereditary complement (C) deficiencies was found among 101 patients who had a meningococcal disease. This study revealed 11 non-related patients with complete C deficiency: five deficient in C7, three in C8, two in properdin and one in C2. Additional C-deficient individuals, most of them with no history of severe bacterial infections, were detected in family studies. The C8-deficient patients were found to have a selective deficiency of the C8-beta subunit and a reduced expression of the alpha/gamma subunit. Only a few families with properdin deficiency have been described so far. However, it is likely that frequent analysis of the activity of the alternative C pathway in survivors of severe bacterial infections will disclose numerous properdin-deficient patients. All our C7-, C8- and properdin-deficient patients are Sephardic Jews whose families originated from Morocco, Yemen (C7 and C8 deficient) or Tunisia (properdin deficient). This and other findings indicate that the type of complement abnormality found in association with meningococcal infections varies with the ethnic origin of the patient.

Adolescent

Serum complement profile in human leprosy and its comparison with immune complex diseases.

In the present study we have estimated the serum levels of early, middle, and distal complement components, e.g., Clq, C3, C4, C5, C8, and C9 along with C1-inactivator and CH50 in patients with tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy and have compared these results with the levels in healthy subjects as well as with levels in patients with other immune complex diseases. We have also analyzed the cryoglobulins present in the sera of these patients; they consisted of either a single or mixed IgG, IgA, IgM or fibrinogen in most instances. The component C3 was found in only one sample. It appears that unlike lupus nephritis, in which complement is activated by direct path in which complement is activated by direct path in about 30% to 50% of leprosy patients, significant C3 complement consumption takes place primarily via the alternate pathway and is probably initiated by the aggregated immunoglobulins represented in cryoprecipitates. This is further supported by the study of serum factor B and its breakdown product (Ba) in these patients. The question of the role of the middle and distal complement components, such as C5, C8 and C9, during total hemolytic complement and C3 consumption in leprosy remains unanswered.

Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins