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Results for “Complement C3-C5 Convertases”

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PubMed1979

Further evidence for the antibody nature of C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF).

C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF), found in the sera of some patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, has been shown to be composed of two heavy and two light chains, like IgG; in addition it shares antigenic determinants with IgG. Purified C3NeF binds to the amplification convertase of complement, C3b,Bb, and thereby prevents decay of its C3-cleaving potential. The capability of C3NeF to bind to C3b,Bb was used as a means for purifying C3NeF to homogeneity. The investigation described in this report suggests that binding of C3NeF to C3b,Bb occurs via the Fab portion of the molecule. Pepsin treatment of eight C3NeF preparations resulted in an average loss of 76% of C3NeF functional activity. Papain treatment induced a loss of approximately 90%. The decrease in functional activity could be attributed to the accelerated rate of dissociation of 125I-F(ab')2 and 125I-Fab fragments from stabilized cell-bound C3b,Bb. The dissociation rate of 125I-F(ab')2 from C3b,Bb was comparable with the decay of the functional activity of C3b,Bb stabilized by F(ab')2 or Fab fragments of C3NeF. Although these results suggest that the stabilizing activity of C3NeF is mediated by the Fab portion of the molecule, it was found that the Fc portion also contributes to its functional activity.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1979

[Alternative complement pathway (author's transl)].

The dual role of the alternative complement pathway in recognition of foreign substances by a non-immune host and in the intrinsic regulation of the complement sequence is now well recognized. Activation of this pathway occurs through escape from its regulatory mechanisms induced by the activating principle; its functional expression depends on the respective levels of the component proteins C3, factor B, factor D and properdin, and on the control proteins beta 1H and C3bINA. This article presents recently acquired knowlege on the molecular mechanisms of activation, regulation and behaviour under pathological conditions of the alternative complement pathway.

Complement Activation↗
PubMed1979

Complement fixation in acute serum sickness: assembly of glomerular-bound C3-convertase.

Complement (C) fixing properties of glomerular immune deposits were studied in vitro in two groups of rabbits with acute serum sickness (ASS). Deposits were studied early in decomplemented (cobra venom factor-treated) rabbits (Group I) and during the evolution of the nephritis in non-decomplemented rabbits (Group II). Following perfusion of kidneys of animals from Group I (which contained no autologous C3) with rabbit serum deficient in factor B (classical pathway) or serum pre-treated with Mg++EGTA (alternative pathway), fixation of C3 was observed in both systems. No C3 deposition was found when EDTA-rabbit serum was used. When kidney sections obtained from serial biopsies and autopsy material from Group II (which contained rabbit C3-C3rb) were incubated with purified factors B and D, followed by either purified human C3 (C3hu) or EDTA-guinea-pig serum (C3gp), fixation of C3hu or C3gp to early C3 deposits was observed. When sections were pre-incubated with heat-inactivated rabbit serum (source of C3b-inactivator), C3 fixation was substantially reduced. Little or no C3 fixation was found after incubation of sections with human or guinea-pig serum depleted of factor D (classical pathway). Thus, in ASS, glomerular complement deposition appears to be predominantly dependent on the activation of the alternative pathway (C3b-feedback) which is progressively lost during the evolution of the nephritis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The biological role of the complement system and the clinical importance of complement measurements.

Properties of serum proteins belonging to the complement system, two pathways of the complement activation (classical and alternative pathway) as well as the physiological role of the complement system are discussed. Complement has essential importance in some physiological processes: In the induction of the humoral immune response, in the elimination of immune complexes and in the protection against bacterial and viral infections. After a short discussion of the genetics of the complement system, the principle and possibilities of clinical applications of the complement measurements are described. Finally, different approaches to the therapeutic manipulation of the complement system are discussed.

Angioedema↗
PubMed1979

Multiple effects of a diamidine (propamidine) on complement activation.

Propamidine, one of the diamidines used against infections with babesiae has inhibitory and enhancing effects on complement activation as assessed by immune haemolysis of sensitized sheep red cells. Utilization of C1 is powerfully, that of C3 weakly improved by propamidine while activation and/or fixation of C4, C5 and to a lesser degree of C8 and C9 are inhibited. At low concentrations of propamidine (less than 2 mM) the enhancing effects, at higher concentrations the inhibitory effects predominate. Inhibition is produced, in some cases certainly, in others likely, by interference of propamidine with binding properties of complement components. None of the complement enzymes, C1s, C42 or C3bBb was inhibited in its hydrolytic activity. The possible significance of propamidine actions is discussed.

Amidines↗
PubMed1979

Activation of the classical pathway of complement by the C3NeF-stabilized cell-bound amplification convertase.

C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) has been shown to be composed of two heavy and two light chains, like IgG; in addition it shares antigenic determinants with IgG. C3NeF, purified from the sera of eight patients by incorporation of C3NeF into the stabilized fluid phase amplification C3 convertase, C3bBb(C3NeF), followed by its release after decay of convertase function, was investigated for its ability to bind 125I-C1q and to activate 125I-C1. It was found that although fluid phase C3b,Bb(C3NeF) is fully capable of binding 125I-C1q, it is not able to activate 125I-C1 even at concentrations of 1.3 x 10(12) C3bBb(C3NeF) complexs/ml. On the other hand, cell-bound C3bBb(C3NeF) is capable of both binding 125I-C1q and activating 125I-C1. This discrepancy between fluid phase and cell-bound, C3bBb(C3NeF) was found for C3NeF preparations from eight different patients and therefore seems to apply to all C3NeF preparations.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1979

Activation of human complement by liposomes: a model for membrane activation of the alternative pathway.

Liposomal model membranes were found to activate the alternative pathway of human complement. Activation was measured by C3 conversion and component consumption in serum that had been incubated with liposomes. C3 conversion did not require C1 or C2 of the classical pathway, since it was observed in serum from a C1r-deficient patient, serum from a C2-dificient patient, and normal serum in buffer containing EGTA and MgCl2. The incubation of liposomes with C2-deficient serum resulted in consumption of components C3 through C9 with no consumption of C1 or C4 in a profile typical of alternative pathwya activation. The reaction was further shown to require alternative pathway factor D, and to be independent of antibody. Activation of the alterative pathway was dependent on the membrane composition of the liposomes. A positive charge was required for liposomes to produce C3 conversion. Liposomal cholesterol concentration and phospholipid fatty acyl chain length and unsaturation all influenced activation, suggesting the importance of membrane fluidity. Positively charged liposomes containing dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol required the presence of certain glycolipids for C3 conversion. The activation of the alternative complement pathway by liposomes of defined membrane composition may provide a suitable model for the study of alternative pathway activation by cellular membranes.

Agammaglobulinemia↗
PubMed1977

Is primary biliary cirrhosis an immune complex disease?

Large immune complexes are present in the circulation of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and result in the activation of complement by the classical pathway. Such large complexes are capable of producing tissue damage. The granulomatous lesions surrounding the small bile-ducts within the liver of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and the vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and associated lesions are all compatible with immune complex injury. It is postulated that such large complexes could be formed in the vicinity of the bile-ducts by an antigen absorbed from the bile or biliary epithelium. Complexes reaching the systemic circulation might be responsible for the associated extra-hepatic diseases.

Antibody Formation↗