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Immunological function in glomerulonephritis.

Aspects of humoral and cellular immunity and of the complement system were examined in 44 patients with glomerulonephritis, and in control subjects. A number of patients with glomerulonephritis were shown to have evidence of altered immunity which may reflect underlying mechanisms of glomerular injury. Mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis was associated with elevation of serum IgA levels (P less than 0 . 001), and focal sclerosing glomerulonephritis with raised serum IgM (P less than 0 . 001). Serum IgG levels were abnormal in 15 patients with glomerulonephritis. The haemagglutinating antibody response to tetanus toxoid was reduced in patients compared with controls. Levels of serum complement components were increased, with some exceptions, and C-reactive protein levels were also significantly raised (P less than 0.001), findings consistent with an ongoing inflammatory process. No impairment in response to recall antigens or sensitisation to dinitrochlorobenzene was found, but phytohaemagglutinin induced lymphocyte transformation was reduced in some forms of the disease.

Adolescent↗

Glucocorticosteroid effects on dog and rat serum complement.

Inhibiting properties of glucocorticosteroids in vivo on the complement system are not fully recognized. Dexamethasone and prednisolone (10(-7)-10(-3)mol/l.) have no direct effects on serum complement of the dog, rat, human and guinea pig. Yet after subcutaneous application of dexamethasone (0.4 mg/kg) on two consecutive days to healthy beagle dogs the total functional complement is reduced to about 60% of the normal level within the next three days. This effect could be shown to be dose-dependent in male beagle dogs. Partial recovery of the depressed complement level (CH50 U/ml) occurs after the 6th day without treatment. In parallel a decrease in serum C3 is observed. The qualitative serum protein pattern documented by cellulose acetate film electrophoresis (CAF) reflects the decrease of C3 by a reduced beta 1-beta 2 level with a concomitant increase of the alpha 2 serum proteins. In contrast, serum complement, C3 and the serum CAF pattern in rats are not much altered by prednisolone (2 X 15 mg/kg s.c.) or dexamethasone (2 X 2 mg/kg s.c.). Thus the rat appears relatively insensitive to humoral changes induced by steroid alone. Altered liver protein synthesis of complement and other acute phase proteins appear responsible for the profound steroid effects observed in the dog.

Animals↗

Digital vasculitis following allergic desensitization treatment.

Systemic necrotizing vasculitis or a polyarteritis nodosa-like clinical presentation, is an unusual complication of immunotherapy (hyposensitization therapy). We describe a patient who developed features of vasculitis several years after beginning hyposensitization treatment for allergic rhinitis. In the 7 months preceding the onset of the vasculitis he experienced 4 episodes of anaphylaxis immediately after receiving desensitization injections. The vasculitis was characterized by the abrupt onset of pain and discoloration of the middle 3 digits of his right hand. Cyanosis and small areas of frank necrosis of these digits were present. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were elevated and total serum complement was decreased. The development of digital vasculitis following hyposensitization is clearly illustrated in this patient.

Adult↗

Anti-complement activity of constituents from the stem-bark of Juglans mandshurica.

Four known flavonoids and two galloyl glucoses isolated from the stem-bark of Juglans mandshurica (Juglandaceae), namely taxifolin (1), afzelin (2), quercitrin (3), myricitrin (4), 1,2,6-trigalloylglucose (5), and 1,2,3,6-tetragalloylglucose (6), were evaluated for their anti-complement activity against complement system. Afzelin (2) and quercitrin (3) showed inhibitory activity against complement system with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) values of 258 and 440 microM. 1,2,6-Trigalloylglucose (5) and 1,2,3,6-tetragalloylglucose (6) exhibited anti-complement activity with IC(50) values of 136 and 34 microM. In terms of the evaluation of the structure-activity relationship of 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone, compounds 2, 3, and 4 were hydrolyzed with naringinase to give kaempferol (2a), quercetin (3a), and myricetin (4a) as their aglycones, and these were also tested for their anti-complement activity. Of the three aglycones, kaempferol (2a) exhibited weak anti-complement activity with an IC(50) value of 730 microM, while quercetin (3a) and myricetin (4a) were inactive in this assay system. Among the compounds tested, 1,2,3,6-tetragalloylglucose (6) showed the most potent anticomplement activity (IC(50), 34 microM).

Animals↗

Inefficient clearance of dying cells and autoreactivity.

Dying cells were basically unnoticed by scientists for a long time and only came back into the spotlight roughly 10 years ago. The process of recognition and uptake of apoptotic and necrotic cells is complex and failures in this process can contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we discuss the recognition and uptake molecules which are involved in an efficient clearance of dying cells in early and late phases of cell death. The exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) is an early surface change of apoptosing cells recognized by several receptors and adaptor molecules. We demonstrated that dying cells have cell membranes with high lateral mobility of PS, which contribute to their efficient clearance. Changes of the glycoprotein composition of apoptotic cells occur later than the exposure of PS. We further observed that complement binding is an early event in necrosis and a rather late event in apoptosis. Complement, C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum DNase I act as back-up molecules in the clearance process. Finally, we discuss how the accumulation of secondary necrotic cells and cellular debris in the germinal centers of secondary lymph organs can lead to autoimmunity. It is reasonable to argue that clearance defects are major players in the development of autoimmune diseases such as SLE.

Animals↗

Distinction between hereditary and acquired angioneurotic oedema according to the complement system.

It is often impossible to make a clinical distinction between acquired and hereditary acute angioneurotic oedema. Investigation of the complement system is indispensable for this diagnosis to be established. The value of total complement and C4 and C2 are lowered in the sera in the hereditary form (44 cases) and normal in the acquired type (68 cases). The use of tests for the activation of C1 esterase "in vitro" is useful to distinguish these two types of oedema as has been demonstrated by the formal measurement of C1 esterase inhibitor.

Angioedema↗

Glial cell responses, complement, and clusterin in the central nervous system following dorsal root transection.

We have examined the glial cell response, the possible expression of compounds associated with the complement cascade, including the putative complement inhibitor clusterin, and their cellular association during Wallerian degeneration in the central nervous system. Examination of the proliferation pattern revealed an overall greater mitotic activity after rhizotomy, an exclusive involvement of microglia in this proliferation after peripheral nerve injury, but, in addition, a small fraction of proliferating astrocytes after rhizotomy. Immunostaining with the phagocytic cell marker ED1 gradually became very prominent after rhizotomy, possibly reflecting a response to the extensive nerve fiber disintegration. Lumbar dorsal rhizotomy did not induce endogenous immunoglobulin G (IgG) deposition or complement expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn, dorsal funiculus, or gracile nucleus. This is in marked contrast to the situation after peripheral nerve injury, which appears to activate the entire complement cascade in the vicinity of the central sensory processes. Clusterin, a multifunctional protein with complement inhibitory effects, was markedly upregulated in the dorsal funiculus in astrocytes. In addition, there was an intense induction of clusterin expression in the degenerating white matter in oligodendrocytes, possibly reflecting a degeneration process in these cells. The findings suggest that 1) complement expression by microglial cells is intimately associated with IgG deposition; 2) axotomized neuronal perikarya, but not degenerating central fibers, undergo changes which induce such deposition; and 3) clusterin is not related to complement expression following neuronal injury but participates in regulating the state of oligodendrocytes during Wallerian degeneration.

Animals↗

Control of the humoral immune system within the rabbit oviduct.

Within the oviduct the maternal humoral immune system can react with the sperm on their way to fertilize the ovum and with preimplantation embryos which express paternal surface antigens. The embryo or sperm is destroyed by antibodies plus complement; thus control of the humoral immune system in the oviduct is advantageous. This paper confirms the absence of whole complement in the oviduct as determined by both in vivo and in vitro hemolytic assays. Further, it is established that there exists within oviductal fluid a concentration-dependent inhibition of complement activity. This inhibitor is heat labile and nondialyzable. Utilizing purification by Sephadex G-200 and ion-exchange chromatography, the complement inhibition was attributed to a family of sulfated glycoproteins secreted by the oviductal epithelium.

Animals↗

The possibilities and pitfalls for anti-complement therapies in inflammatory diseases.

The complement system is a key component of innate immunity, acting to protect the host from micro-organisms such as bacteria and other "foreign" threats, including tumor cells. However, excessive activation of complement can injure the host and can even be life threatening. These toxic effects are caused primarily by the excessive production of the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a during complement activation and excessive formation of membrane attack complex on the host cell membrane. Many inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and glomerulonephritis, are thought to involve excessive activation of complement, both for their development and perpetuation. Uncontrolled complement activation is also implicated in post-ischemic inflammation and tissue damage and in sepsis. Therefore, it is important to regulate the complement system to treat disease. There are still no broadly applicable agents for the therapeutic regulation of excessive complement activation. However, there are now some agents in the development that might provide useful anti-complement therapies in the near future. Current strategies include the use of neutralizing antibodies, small synthetic antagonists, soluble recombinant forms of the natural complement regulators, and gene therapies to control excessive complement activation. Here we describe these new agents, their strengths and weaknesses and progress in testing the agents in relevant animal models.

Animals↗

Strong interaction of lipopolysaccharides possessing the mannose homopolysaccharides with complement and its relation to adjuvant action.

LPS from Klebsiella pneumoniae O3 (KO3 LPS) exhibited an extremely high anticomplementary activity by the hemolysis assay using human sera. The free lipid A isolated from KO3 LPS by acid hydrolysis and R form LPS from a mutant lacking the O-specific polysaccharide portion possessed lower anticomplementary activity, and the O-specific polysaccharide fraction isolated from KO3 LPS alone did not activate the C system. It was suggested that the O-specific polysaccharide moiety enhanced the C activation by the lipid A portion. This was also supported by the finding that modification of the O-specific polysaccharide moiety with Con A or tyramine decreased anticomplementary activity of KO3 LPS, and that the other LPS preparations possessing the mannose homopolysaccharides as the O-specific polysaccharide portions such as KO3 LPS, such as LPS from Klebsiella O5, Escherichia coli O8 and O9, exhibited a high anticomplementary activity. KO3 LPS could activate the C system in either the classical or the alternative pathway, whereas the lipid A or R form LPS activated the classical pathway alone. The intensity of anticomplementary activity of LPS was parallel to that of their adjuvant action on antibody response to deaggregated BSA. The role of the anticomplementary activity in the expression of the adjuvant action of LPS is discussed.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Antibiotic proteins of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) plays an essential role in the innate defense of the mammalian host against bacterial invaders. Responding chemotactically, the PMN delivers a complex antibiotic arsenal to sites of infection. Among these cytotoxic systems is an array of antimicrobial proteins and peptides that the PMN directs at microorganisms both before (i.e. extracellularly) and after sequestration into a phagocytic vacuole. In addition to their microbicidal capacity, several of these proteins bind to and neutralize the endotoxic activity of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). In this review the principle features of these antibiotic proteins are briefly summarized with emphasis on their possible actions in biological settings. In many instances, additional functions independent of cytotoxicity have been described raising the possibility that some of these proteins subserve multiple roles in inflammation.

Animals↗

[Complement and nephritic activity in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis].

A study of complement profiles and of "nephritic activity" (NeF activity) has been carried out in 33 children presenting with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), in order to determine the pathway of complement activation. By morphological studies two varieties of MPGN have been distinguished. In MPGN with subendothelial deposits, immunofluorescent studies and complement profiles show an activation by the classical pathway. The demonstration of NeF activity in 7 of 20 patients suggests that there is recruitment of the amplification pathway. In MPGN with dense deposits, immunopathological studies indicate an activation of the complement system through the alternate pathway, NeF activity being present in 10 of 13 patients. With the functional tests used, it is not possible to ascertain that the factors responsible for the NeF activity in MPGN with subendothelial deposits are identical to the C3NeF identified in MPGN with dense deposits and/or partial lipodystrophy.

Capillaries↗

Complement and biocompatibility.

Blood contact with foreign surfaces induces a certain degree of activation of the defence systems including complement. Recent data using complement specific inhibitors have shown that complement is not only associated with, but in fact contributes to the whole body inflammatory reaction seen as a complication of cardiopulmonary bypass (artificial surfaces) and is responsible for the hyperacute rejection of xenografts (foreign endothelium). Complement activation products, particularly the terminal SC5b-9 complex (TCC), is a sensitive indicator of bioincompatibility. Modifications of the artificial surfaces by coating with heparin improves both coagulation and complement compatibility. The use of specific complement inhibitors in general improves biocompatibility both of artificial materials and foreign endothelium.

Animals↗

Intramolecular general acid catalysis in the binding reactions of alpha 2-macroglobulin and complement components C3 and C4.

The complement system proteins C3 and C4 and the plasma protease inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin, when activated by limited proteolysis, can bind covalently to other macromolecules. The three proteins also exhibit an unusual internal peptide-bond cleavage reaction when denatured. The covalent binding reaction is likely to occur by a transacylation mechanism involving an internal thiolester in the three proteins. However, the activated species of these proteins are much more reactive than simple thiolesters. Studies of molecular models of the thiolester region in C3 show that an intramolecular acid catalysis mechanism can both account for the exceptional reactivity of the activated form of these proteins and provide an explanation for the denaturation-induced peptide bond cleavage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immune-mediated disease in the old English sheepdog.

Immunological data are reported from 19 cases of immune-mediated disease recorded in the old English sheepdog breed in Western Australia between 1978 and 1989. The conditions included autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (seven), idiopathic thrombocytopenia (one), Evans' syndrome (five), multiple myeloma (two), systemic lupus erythematosus (one), discoid lupus erythematosus (one) and hypothyroidism (two). The most consistent serological findings were raised serum IgG (60 per cent), depressed serum IgM (60 per cent) and the presence of multiple autoantibodies (anti-red blood cell 78 per cent, antinuclear antibody 44 per cent, rheumatoid factor 19 per cent). An underlying, breed-related disorder of immune regulation may account for these observations.

Animals↗

The immunopharmacologic and anti-inflammatory properties of RMI 9563 with special reference to its effect on the complement system.

The immunopharmacology of RMI 9563 - bis[3-(diethylamino)propyl]fluoranthene-3,9-dicarboxylate dihydrochloride--has been described. The compound, when given parenterally, inhibited several cell-mediated immune responses (EAE, tuberculin skin reaction, adjuvant arthritis) in rats, enhanced IgM and IgG antibody-producing cells in mice, and displayed anti-inflammatory activity in several models (carrageenan paw edema, adjuvant arthritis, direct passive Arthus reaction--a model of inflammation that is immunologically induced and complement-dependent). RMI 9563 suppressed the activation of complement in vitro by the selective inhibition of C1 esterase.

Animals↗

[Significance of the complement system in acute pancreatitis in rats].

The influence of complement system in acute pancreatitis in the rat was examined. Two different experimental procedures were used to induce pancreatitis: distal choledochal ligature and the Pfeffer model as modified by NEVALAINEN. In both procedures an acute pancreatitis developed and complement depression was noted. These results showed that consumption of complement will occur even in pancreatitis induced by other than immunologic models. In a second series the same experimental procedures were used in rats that had been decomplemented by application of cobra venom factor. It was possible to produce an acute pancreatitis of moderate severity.

Acute Disease↗

Fatal anaphylaxis-like reaction induced by yeast mannans in nonsensitized mice.

Some yeast mannans increased vascular permeability and caused anaphylaxis-like reactions, fatal in some cases, in nonsensitized CFW mice. In SWR mice deficient in the complement system component C5, anaphylactic shock did not develop after the injection of mannans but was readily induced by goat serum after the mice had been sensitized with Bordetella pertussis and goat serum. The observed biological activity of the yeast mannans appears to depend upon the alpha(1 --> 2) and alpha(1 --> 6) linkages in their main chain. Their relative inactivity in C5-deficient mice and the consumption of whole hemolytic complement after their addition to normal mouse serum suggest that yeast mannans may activate late-acting complement components to produce anaphylatoxin from complement components C5 and C3.

Anaphylaxis↗