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PubMed1992

Similarity between the group B and A streptococcal C5a peptidase genes.

Group B streptococci (GBS) and group A streptococci (GAS) are known to have surface-associated peptidase activity which specifically cleaves C5a (C5a-ase), the primary chemotaxin for polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Amplification products were obtained from GBS genomic DNA template by using the polymerase chain reaction and primers corresponding to the C5a peptidase gene of GAS (scpA12). A restriction map of the GBS full-length amplified gene (scpB) was developed. The scpB restriction map was found to be highly similar to that of the analogous gene in GAS. A 50-bp deletion was located near the 5' end of scpB in a region where repeat sequences are found in scpA12. Hybridization experiments confirmed that other serotypes of GBS also carry an scpB-like gene. These results show that GBS contain a gene, scpB, which is very similar to that harbored by M12 GAS. The probability that scpB encodes the C5a-ase protein is discussed.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1991

Intracoronary C5a induces myocardial ischemia by mechanisms independent of the neutrophil: leukocyte filters desensitize the myocardium to C5a.

Activation of the complement cascade with the generation of anaphylatoxins accompanies the inflammatory response elicited by acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Although complement is activated in the interstitium during acute myocardial ischemia, we have studied mechanisms whereby complement might exacerbate ischemia by using a model employing intracoronary injection of C5a in nonischemic hearts. Intracoronary injection of complement component C5a induces transient myocardial ischemia, mediated through the production of the coronary vasoconstrictors thromboxane A2 and peptidoleukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4), and causes sequestration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the coronary vascular bed. To further investigate the role of the PMN in the C5a-induced vasoconstriction, the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in pigs was perfused at constant pressure and measurements of coronary blood flow, myocardial contractile function (sonomicrometry), arterial/coronary venous blood PMN count, and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) levels were performed. The myocardial response to intracoronary C5a (500 ng) was determined before, during, and after perfusion with blood depleted of PMNs using leukocyte filters (Sepacell R-500, Pall PL-100). In additional animals, the myocardial response to the PMN chemotactic agent, LTB4, and the effects of intracoronary C5a during constant flow perfusion were measured. Control intracoronary injection of C5a decreased flow (41% of baseline) and contractile function (39% of baseline), PMNs were trapped (5.1 x 10(3) cells/microliters), and TxB2 concentration increased in coronary venous blood. The response to C5a during coronary perfusion with arterial blood depleted of PMNs with Sepacell or Pall filters (less than 0.1 x 10(3) cells/microliters) was greatly blunted, with flow and contractile function falling by less than 14 and 8%, respectively, from baseline, and release of TxB2 was greatly attenuated. However, the myocardial ischemia and TxB2 release remained depressed in response to C5a after removal of the filters and perfusion with either arterial blood containing normal levels of PMNs or stored arterial blood never exposed to filters. In contrast, the repeat C5a challenge resulted in equivalent myocardial extraction of PMNs, thus indicating a dissociation of PMN sequestration from the acute ischemic response and release of TxB2. In separate experiments, the intracoronary injection of LTB4 also resulted in a pronounced myocardial extraction of PMNs (8.6 x 10(3) cells/microliters) greater than during C5a, but did not depress coronary flow or function. Perfusion at constant flow greatly diminished the ischemic response to C5a, indicating that vasoconstriction and resultant ischemia is the main cause of the contractile dysfunction. These data indicate that leukocyte filters inhibit the myocardial ischemia and release of TxB2 induced by C5a via mechanisms not related to PMN depletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Retinal complications and plasma C5a levels during interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of retinal complications, such as retinal hemorrhage and cotton-wool spots formation, during interferon (IFN) therapy is unclear. We studied the relationship between the presence of retinal complications and levels of plasma-activated complement 5 (C5a), a known potent intravascular aggregator of granulocytes, during IFN-alpha therapy. METHODS: Forty-five patients with chronic hepatitis C but without diabetes mellitus and hypertension were studied. IFN-alpha was used 10 MU per day for 2 wk and 3 times weekly for an additional 22 wk. In 25 patients with IFN therapy, the optic fundi were examined before therapy began, every 4 wk thereafter, and whenever patients complained of visual symptoms. C5a levels were measured before, and during the 4th, 8th, 12th, and 24th wk, and at any time that a retinal complication was discovered. Twenty patients served as IFN-untreated controls. They had six optic fundi examinations, each 4 wk apart. C5a levels were measured three times, 4 wk apart, in 10 controls. RESULTS: No retinal hemorrhage or cotton-wool spots were detected before IFN-alpha therapy or in any of the controls. However, retinal hemorrhage occurred in six patients (24%) during IFN-alpha therapy. Five of six episodes occurred within the first 8 wk. Only three patients with retinal hemorrhage had visual symptoms. Cotton-wool spots developed in four patients with retinal hemorrhage. Retinal hemorrhage and cotton-wool spots resolved gradually despite continuous administration of IFN-alpha. Before IFN therapy and in controls, all C5a levels were <7 ng/ml. When retinal hemorrhage occurred, C5a was significantly increased (27.3+/-15.6 ng/ml,p < 0.01) relative to levels from the same patients before and after the hemorrhage (5.7+/-1.1 ng/ml), and also relative to levels in IFN-a-treated patients without retinal hemorrhage (5.7+/-1.1 ng/ml) and compared with levels in IFN-untreated controls (5.4+/-0.7 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Retinal hemorrhage or cotton-wool spots often occur during IFN-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C. This study suggests that a high C5a level may be an important step in the pathogenesis of retinal capillary infarction, hemorrhage, and cotton-wool spots formation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Biological responses differ considerably between endovascular and conventional aortic aneurysm surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the inflammatory responses in endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and their relation to clinical findings. DESIGN: Prospective non-randomised study. SETTING: University Hospital, Department of Surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients treated with an endoluminal procedure (AAA-E) and seven patients undergoing conventional surgery (AAA-C) were included. Inflammatory parameters were assessed by measurements of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha); analyses of complement proteins C1q, C4, C3, C5a and Terminal Complement Complexes (TCC); haematologic parameters and determination of C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: In six of seven patients in the AAA-E group blood pressure decreases were recorded during introduction of the device. IL-6 and CRP levels were found to be significantly higher in AAA-C patients compared to the AAA-E group. On the other hand, high TNF-alpha levels were recorded in the AAA-E group. Less consumption of the complement proteins C1q, C4 and C3 was observed in AAA-E compared to AAA-C patients. Increased C5a levels were recorded in the AAA-C group, whereas only slight fluctuations were noticed in the AAA-E group. TCC levels were unchanged in both groups. CONCLUSION: Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair induced a significant inflammatory response, mainly involving TNF-alpha and differing from the findings during open AAA repair. These inflammatory responses were probably related to blood pressure decreases during the procedures. On the other hand, conventional repair induced responses related to the more extensive surgical trauma and reperfusion injury.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Vascular graft-associated complement activation and leukocyte adhesion in an artificial circulation.

Complement-associated leukocyte adhesion appears to be a consistent in vitro and in vivo finding for many types of polymers; however, very little work has been done on the interaction of leukocytes with vascular graft materials. An in vitro perfusion system was used to study complement and leukocyte activation associated with the following vascular graft materials when tested with human blood: expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), crimped Dacron Bionit (DB) and preclotted Dacron Bionit. A decrease in the total leukocyte concentration with perfusion time was seen for all materials tested, and paralleled leukocyte adhesion to the graft surface as observed by scanning electron microscopy. The most dramatic decrease in leukocyte concentration was observed for the interaction of heparinized whole blood with Dacron. This was due to a selective decrease in neutrophils and monocytes, and was correlated with an increase in both leukocyte adhesiveness and complement activation, as measured by C5a elevation. Inhibiting complement activation by use of the anticoagulant, sodium citrate, curtailed Dacron-induced leukocyte adhesion. Little leukocyte or complement activation was observed for ePTFE or the silicone rubber control regardless of the anticoagulant used.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Inhibition of complement activity by humanized anti-C5 antibody and single-chain Fv.

Activation of the complement system contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of numerous acute and chronic diseases. Recently, a monoclonal antibody (5G1.1) that recognizes the human complement protein C5, has been shown to effectively block C5 cleavage, thereby preventing the generation of the pro-inflammatory complement components C5a and C5b-9. Humanized 5G1.1 antibody, Fab and scFv molecules have been produced by grafting the complementarity determining regions of 5G1.1 on to human framework regions. Competitive ELISA analysis indicated that no framework changes were required in the humanized variable regions for retention of high affinity binding to C5, even at framework positions predicted by computer modeling to influence CDR canonical structure. The humanized Fab and scFv molecules blocked complement-mediated lysis of chicken erythrocytes and porcine aortic endothelial cells in a dose-dependent fashion, with complete complement inhibition occurring at a three-fold molar excess, relative to the human C5 concentration. In contrast to a previously characterized anti-C5 scFv molecule, the humanized h5G1.1 scFv also effectively blocked C5a generation. Finally, an intact humanized h5G1.1 antibody blocked human complement lytic activity at concentrations identical to the original murine monoclonal antibody. These results demonstrate that humanized h5G1.1 and its recombinant derivatives retain both the affinity and blocking functions of the murine 5G1.1 antibody, and suggest that these molecules may serve as potent inhibitors of complement-mediated pathology in human inflammatory diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Detection of complement activation in human serum using C5a-induced chemiluminescence of human granulocytes.

The complement system can be activated by many factors, including immune complexes, leading to the generation of biologically active split products like C5a anaphylatoxin. This study presents a technique which may be used for measuring C5a activity in human serum. The tetanus-anti-tetanus immune complex and aggregated human IgG were used as model activators of the complement cascade. The C5a activity was measured by C5a-induced chemiluminescence of granulocytes; furthermore, a radioimmunoassay was used to detect the C5a peptide. There was a strongly positive correlation between the two assay systems. The described method should be useful as an alternative means of detecting complement activation in the serum of patients with inflammatory diseases.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed2002

C5a delays apoptosis of human neutrophils by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that survival factors including cytokines and growth factors delay apoptosis of human neutrophils via induction of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI 3-K)/Akt pathway. In the present study, we explored whether complement fragment C5a has a modulatory effect on neutrophil apoptosis through this signaling pathway. METHODS: Human neutrophils were isolated and treated with C5a for up to 24 hours, with or without wortmannin, a PI 3-K inhibitor, and staurosporine, a caspase-9 activator. Apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometry, using propidium iodide nuclear staining, and confirmed by the detection of DNA fragmentation on gel electrophoresis. PI 3-K downstream signaling events were evaluated by measuring the expression of cytosolic total and phosphorylated Akt and Bad proteins by Western blot analyses, and caspase-9 activity. RESULTS: C5a inhibited neutrophil apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The anti-apoptotic effects of C5a were markedly abrogated in the presence of wortmannin. Brief stimulation of neutrophils with C5a induced phosphorylation of Akt and Bad proteins through a PI 3-K-dependent pathway. Caspase-9 activity was minimal in C5a-treated cells, but markedly increased following PI 3-K inhibition by wortmannin. Finally, C5a reduced caspase-9 activity in staurosporine-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that C5a inhibits neutrophil apoptosis via a PI 3-K signaling pathway. This effect may be an important mechanism that improves cell survival and function in the inflammatory milieu.

Androstadienes↗
PubMed1987

C5a receptor.

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Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1984

Monitoring of cytosolic free Ca2+ in C5a-stimulated neutrophils: loss of receptor-modulated Ca2+ stores and Ca2+ uptake in granule-free cytoplasts.

The cytosolic concentration of free Ca2+ in bovine neutrophils was monitored by using the intracellular Ca2+ indicator quin2, 2-[[2-bis(acetylamino)-5-methylphenoxy]methyl-6-methoxy-8- bis(acetylamino)]quinoline. Neutrophils at rest have a cytosolic Ca2+ concentration of 85 +/- 5 nM, which in 2-4 min increases to 300-400 nM upon interaction with the complement fragment C5a in a concentration range of 35 pM to 1.2 microM. In the same concentration range, C5a also sequentially activates neutrophil directional migration (ED50 less than 0.5 nM), O-2 production (ED50 = 9 nM), and secretion of the contents of specific granules (ED50 = 39 nM). The selective Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin also increases cytosolic Ca2+ concentration above 1 microM under conditions where it stimulates neutrophil functions. Conversely, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate markedly activates secretion and O-2 production without modifying the average cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. In the presence of EGTA (Ca2+out approximately equal to 20 nM), with both C5a and ionomycin, cytosolic Ca2+ increases to less than 200 nM, and functional responses are greatly decreased. Nucleus- and granule-free neutrophil cytoplasts accumulate Ca2+ and produce O-2 when exposed to ionomycin but not to C5a. These results and other considerations suggest that (i) activation of neutrophil functions may occur after cytosolic Ca2+ has exceeded the apparent threshold level of 200 nM; (ii) C5a receptor-mediated activation of Ca2+ influx may require cooperation between the neutrophil surface and some cytoplasmic organelle and/or redistribution of the C5a-receptor complexes on the cell surface; and (iii) the phorbol diester stimulates Ca2+-dependent pathways presumably by directly activating other mechanisms such as protein phosphorylation.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Severe pulmonary hypersensitivity associated with passive transfusion of a neutrophil-specific antibody.

A life-threatening pulmonary hypersensitivity reaction accompanied by profound leucopenia and transient hypocomplementaemia developed in a 73-year-old man after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. A neutrophil-specific antibody, anti-NA2) was demonstrated by granulocyte immunofluorescence and microagglutination in one of the transfused donor units. In addition, activated complement component C5a was generated in vitro by incubation of the patient's serum with the aortic graft material. This severe clinical reaction may have resulted from the interaction of the transfused anti-NA2 antibody with complement activation induced by the aortic graft material.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Pulmonary leukostasis and the inhibition of airway neutrophil recruitment are early events in the endotoxemic rat.

Neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte [PMN]) migration into pulmonary airspaces is a prerequisite for clearance of bacteria commonly found in nosocomial pneumonia. Patients at risk for nosocomial pneumonia often experience endotoxemia, and neutrophil dysfunction is associated with endotoxemia in both humans and animals. Using a rodent model of endotoxemia-associated pneumonia, we characterized the altered kinetics of pulmonary PMN trafficking and addressed the roles of platelets, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and products of complement activation as potential mediators in the modulation of PMN migratory function. In male Sprague-Dawley rats made endotoxemic with intravenously (i.v.) administered endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), recruitment of PMNs into the lung airspaces in response to intratracheally (i.t.) instilled LPS was inhibited. In animals given IT LPS alone (0.5 mg/rat), numbers of airway PMNs were significantly elevated by 2 h, and immunohistochemical evaluation revealed PMNs in alveolar airspaces, alveolar walls, and in interstitium surrounding large airways. LPS (2 mg/kg i.v.) caused neutropenia and pulmonary PMN sequestration within 15 min of administration. Inhibition of airway PMN accumulation occurred by 30 min and lasted for at least 6 h after i.v. LPS. Factors present or activated after 30 min of endotoxemia were hypothesized to mediate the inhibitory effect of i.v. LPS. We found that pretreatment of rats with cobra venom factor to deplete complement (and C5a production) or immunodepletion of platelets or TNF did not affect the ability of i.v. LPS to inhibit pulmonary PMN recruitment or to cause pulmonary leukostasis. In summary, our results show that the inhibitory effects of i.v. LPS on PMN trafficking are rapid and persist for several hours and suggest that neither TNF, C5a, nor platelets are sufficient to mediate the inhibitory response.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

TNF-alpha potentiates C5a-stimulated eosinophil adhesion to human bronchial epithelial cells: a role for alpha 5 beta 1 integrin.

Cooperative action of inflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules orchestrates eosinophil recruitment during allergic inflammation in the airways. This study investigated the mechanisms involved in increasing eosinophil adhesion to human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) following priming and activation of eosinophils with TNF-alpha and complement protein C5a, respectively. Under primed conditions, eosinophil adhesion increased 3-fold from basal (16%), and the effect was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than the increase following stimulation with C5a alone (2-fold). Eosinophil contact with HBEC was essential for priming. In contrast to C5a, adhesion of eotaxin-stimulated eosinophils to HBEC was not primed with TNF-alpha nor IL-5, a known eosinophil-priming agent. Priming caused activation of alpha(M)beta(2) integrin; mAb against either the common beta(2) integrin subunit or its ICAM-1 ligand reduced the primed component of adhesion. Using mAbs against beta(1) or alpha(5), but not alpha(4) integrin subunit, together with anti-beta(2) integrin mAb, reduced stimulated adhesion to basal levels. Cross-linking alpha(5)beta(1) integrin increased alpha(M)beta(2) integrin-dependent adhesion of eosinophils. There are no known adhesion molecule ligands of alpha(5)beta(1) integrin expressed on HBEC; however, fibronectin, the major matrix protein ligand for alpha(5)beta(1) integrin, was detected in association with HBEC monolayers. A mAb against fibronectin, in combination with anti-beta(2) integrin mAb, reduced adhesion to basal levels. In conclusion, alpha(5)beta(1) integrin may provide a contact-dependent costimulus for eosinophil priming that, together with TNF-alpha, potentiated C5a activation of alpha(M)beta(2) integrin and increased eosinophil adhesion to ICAM-1. Fibronectin, associated with HBEC, may act as a ligand for alpha(5)beta(1) integrin. Dual regulation of eosinophil priming may prevent inappropriate activation of eosinophils in the circulation.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1990

Antiinflammatory peptides (antiflammins) inhibit synthesis of platelet-activating factor, neutrophil aggregation and chemotaxis, and intradermal inflammatory reactions.

Synthetic peptides corresponding to the region of highest similarity between human lipocortin I and rabbit uteroglobin inhibit phospholipase A2 and show potent antiinflammatory activity on the carrageenan-induced rat footpad edema. The peptide HDMNKVLDL (antiflammin-2) inhibits the synthesis of platelet-activating factor (PAF) induced by TNF or phagocytosis in rat macrophages and human neutrophils, and by thrombin in vascular endothelial cells. The peptide MQMKKVLDS (antiflammin-1) is less inhibitory than antiflammin-2 for macrophages and not inhibitory for neutrophils after a 5-min preincubation. This finding suggests that antiflammin-1 is inactivated by neutrophils secretory products, possibly oxidizing agents. Synthesis of PAF is inhibited by antiflammin-2 without an appreciable lag, but this inhibition is reversed when neutrophils or macrophages are washed and incubated in fresh medium. Therefore, antiflammins must be continuously present to inhibit PAF synthesis. Antiflammins block activation of the acetyltransferase required for PAF synthesis, suggesting that this enzyme is another target for the inhibitory activity of antiflammins. These peptides inhibit neutrophil aggregation and chemotaxis induced by complement component C5a. Antiflammin-2 suppresses the increase in vascular permeability and the leukocyte infiltration induced in rats by an Arthus reaction or by intradermal injection of rTNF and C5a.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1998

Role of complement in in vitro and in vivo lung inflammatory reactions.

Complement is one of the integral buttresses of the inflammatory response. In addition to host defense activities, proinflammatory properties of several complement components are described. This overview elucidates the role of complement in inflammatory reactions in vitro and in vivo, focusing on the complement activation products, C5a, and the membrane attack complex, C5b-9. Using several approaches, the impact of these complement components in mechanisms relevant to neutrophil recruitment is emphasized. In addition, the participation of complement in endothelial superoxide generation and its essential requirement for full expression of lung injury is demonstrated, as are the involved intracellular signal transduction pathways. Understanding the mechanisms of complement-induced proinflammatory effects may provide a basis for future therapeutic blockade of complement and/or its activation products.

Complement Activation↗
PubMed1992

Bacterial evasion of the antibody response: human IgG antibodies neutralize soluble but not bacteria-associated group B streptococcal C5a-ase.

Most strains of group B streptococci (GBS) possess an enzyme that inactivates the human anaphylatoxin C5a by cleaving a heptapeptide from the carboxyl terminus of C5a. This enzyme, called GBS C5a-ase, has been purified to homogeneity and cleaves and inactivates C5a in physiologic buffer. The enzymatic activity of soluble C5a-ase is completely inhibited, however, in the presence of plasma or serum from normal human adults. The neutralization of soluble C5a-ase by plasma and serum results largely from naturally occurring IgG antibodies directed against C5a-ase. IgG does not neutralize C5a-ase present on intact encapsulated type III GBS but does neutralize the C5a-ase activity associated with a transposon-induced mutant strain of type III GBS that lacks capsule. The location of GBS C5a-ase on the surface of encapsulated type III GBS permits the C5a-ase to inactivate C5a while evading neutralization by IgG antibodies.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1972

The relationship of the chemotactic behavior of the complement-derived factors, C3a, C5a, and C567, and a bacterial chemotactic factor to their ability to activate the proesterase 1 of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The inhibition profiles obtained when a series of p-nitrophenyl ethyl alkylphosphonates and of p-nitrophenyl ethyl chloroalkylphosphonates were used to interfere with the chemotactic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated by C3a, C5a, and bacterial factor were the same as found previously when C567 was the chemotactic agent. This indicates that as in the chemotactic activity induced by C567, an obligatory step in the chemotaxis caused by C3a, C5a, and bacterial factor is the activation of proesterase 1 of the rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocyte. C5a and C3a activate proesterase 1 of peripheral blood polymophonuclear leukocytes as measured by the increase of acetyl DL-phenylalanine beta-naphthyl esterase activity. Attempts to detect in a like manner the proesterase 1 of the same leukocytes using bacterial factor under varying circumstances have consistently failed. It is concluded that bacterial factor, for unknown reasons, is unable to activate proesterase 1 to the same extent as the complement-derived chemotactic factors. The hypothesis of there being a quantitative difference in the ability of bacterial factor to activate proesterase 1 compared with the complement-derived factors explains the previous observations that bacterial factor can not deactivate to itself or to the complement-derived factors, although these latter factors can deactivate to themselves, to each other, and to the bacterial factor. The quantitative difference in the ability of bacterial factor to activate proesterase 1 compared to the complement-derived factors is also associated with and explains the finding that the maximal chemotactic activity attainable when bacterial factor is the chemotactic agent is distinctly less than that obtained using either C3a, C5a, or C567. These results indicate that the activation of proesterase 1 is a general requirement for the chemotactic activity of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes with known macromolecular chemotactic agents and suggest that under several different circumstances the level of chemotactic activity attained is related to the degree of such activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Regulation of neutrophil migratory function in burn injury by complement activation products.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils were isolated from patients with burn injury and random mobility, chemotaxis in response to C5adesArg (as agarose-activated control serum) and to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (F-Met-Leu-Phe) were assessed. For a group of eight patients identified as not experiencing systemic infection, all three neutrophil migratory functions were observed to fall below control levels, beginning 4 to 6 days following burn injury, and to return to control levels after 21 to 30 days of hospitalization. Over this time the chemotactic differential (distance chemotactic migration-distance random migration) for F-Met-Leu-Phe remained positive, while the chemotactic differential for activated serum became nil after postburn day 4. This temporal, specific loss of a chemotactic response to activated serum was associated with rises in immunoreactive plasma C3a and C5a. This pattern of loss of chemotactic function was associated with a selective loss of C5a but not F-Met-Leu-Phe binding activity. These results demonstrate that burn injury can alter neutrophil migratory functions generally, and specifically depress chemotactic responsiveness to activated serum. The mechanism of the latter phenomenon appears to be related to desensitization of circulating neutrophils to C5a due to complement activation.

Adolescent↗