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PubMed2001

Complement-mediated lipopolysaccharide release and outer membrane damage in Escherichia coli J5: requirement for C9.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are major antigenic components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and can stimulate activation of the complement system. Such activation leads to formation of the complement membrane attack complex (MAC) on the cell walls, LPS release and, in serum-sensitive strains, to cell death. In this study, Escherichia coli J5 strains, which incorporate exogenous galactose exclusively into LPS, were used to generate target strains with different LPS chemotypes, and the LPS of the strains was labelled with tritium (3H-LPS). The ability of normal human serum (NHS) and human complement-deficient sera to release LPS was subsequently monitored. NHS-induced release of 64-95.7% of 3H-LPS within 30 min; overall, no significant difference was observed between release of LPS from E. coli J5 strains with different LPS chemotypes. In functional assays, maximum LPS release had occurred by 30 min and before maximum bacterial killing. Electron microscopy revealed NHS-induced outer-membrane disruption in the form of blebs at 15 min; at this time-point the inner membrane remained intact. Background LPS release and no bactericidal activity were detected in heat-inactivated serum or human sera deficient in C6, C7 or C8. The C9-deficient (C9D) serum had low bactericidal activity and failed to induce LPS release; however, addition of purified human C9 reconstituted its ability to release LPS. This study demonstrated the need for functional C9 molecules for LPS-releasing activities in serum-sensitive E. coli J5 strains.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗
PubMed1980

Ultrastructural localization of the terminal and lytic ninth complement component (C9) at the motor end-plate in myasthenia gravis.

The terminal and lytic complement component (C9) was localized at the motor end-plate in acquired autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) by the immunoperoxidase method, with adequate preservation of fine structure and negligible background staining. C9 was localized on short segments of the postsynaptic membrane on degenerated fragments of the junctional folds shed into the synaptic space, and on disintegrating junctional folds. An inverse relationship was noted between the structural integrity of the junctional folds and the abundance of C9 at a given end-plate region. Destruction of junctional folds by complement may induce relocation of the nerve terminal and increased spatial separation of end-plate regions on the muscle fiber. Destruction of junctional folds by the complement membrane attack complex is a cause of the acetylcholine receptor deficiency at the MG end-plate, but antibody-dependent modulation of the receptor may also contribute to deficiency of the receptor. In certain disorders other than autoimmune MG, pathological mechanisms other than complement-mediated lysis may affect the structural integrity of the postsynaptic region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Synthesis of C3, C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9 by human fibroblasts.

We investigated the ability of human fibroblasts to produce the components of the final common pathway (C3-C9) of complement in vitro by co-culturing an alternative complement activator (agarose beads) with the cells. The test system involved incubation of beads with anti-complement antibodies followed by radioactive-labelled anti-Ig detection antibodies. Subsequently, the beads were examined in a radioimmunoassay. Our results indicate that human fibroblasts produce C3, C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9. A neoepitope selectively expressed on activated C9 was detected, indicating assembly of the terminal complement complex and thus formation of a functional terminal complement pathway by the fibroblasts.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Serum SC5b-9 (terminal complement complex) level, a sensitive indicator of disease activity in patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

The concentration of the terminal complement complex (TCC), SC5b-9, was determined by enzyme immunoassay using 95 serum samples from 30 patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), 27 with other forms of inflammatory skin disease and 20 normal healthy donors. Twenty-five patients with HSP showed significantly increased TCC concentration in the active phase of the disease, during which newly formed urticarial or purpuric macules/papules could be seen. Skin biopsy specimens of skin lesions from patients with elevated TCC levels in nearly all cases contained the membrane attack complex of complement and consisted of C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9 without S protein on the vessel walls. Systemic and local activation of complement may thus possibly occur in HSP. Three patients with various manifestations of the disease were followed over a period of several years during which the active and inactive phases were scanned. TCC elevation in all cases was correlated with exacerbation of the disease. In contrast, C3, C4 and CH50 levels either remained normal or increased and thus were not reliable indicators of disease activity. Measurement of TCC should thus prove quite useful for monitoring the activity of HSP in patients in whom there is complement activation and also serve to facilitate clarification of the functions of complement in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Interaction of complement with serum-sensitive and serum-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The interaction of complement with the following two strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was examined: 144M, a mucoid, serum-sensitive strain bearing short lipopolysaccharide O chains, and 144M-SR, a mucoid, serum-resistant strain bearing long lipopolysaccharide O chains isolated by repeated passage of 144M in increasing concentrations of pooled normal human serum (PNHS). While significant killing of 144M occurred in 5 to 40% PNHS, no killing of 144M-SR was observed. Both strains activated complement, especially 144M-SR which consumed 88.7, 96.4, and 100% of the available complement 3 (C3), C5, and C9, respectively, in 10% PNHS during a 60-min incubation at 37 degrees C. Although it activated more C3 than did 144M (54.9% consumption), 144M-SR bound only half as much C3 as 144M. Similarly, although 144M-SR activated more C9 than did 144M (50.0% consumption in 60 min), there was considerably less C9 attached to 144M-SR (2,990 molecules of C9 per bacterium) than to 144M (13,700 molecules per bacterium) after 60 min of incubation. Furthermore, only 162 molecules of the C9 bound to 144M-SR remained bound after treatment with 0.1% trypsin, while 5,692 molecules of the C9 bound to 144M remained bound under similar conditions. These results show that the serum resistance of 144M-SR does not represent a failure to activate complement efficiently, but instead reflects failure of the assembled terminal complement complex C5b-9 to insert stably into the outer membrane of this strain.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗
PubMed1995

Nucleoplasmin-targeted aequorin provides evidence for a nuclear calcium barrier.

The Ca(2+)-activated photoprotein aequorin has been targeted to the nucleus of live cells by engineering nucleoplasmin, a nuclear structural protein from Xenopus laevis, onto the amino terminus. Successful targeting of the apoprotein was demonstrated by immunolocalization and selective permeabilization of the plasma membrane. Functional protein was reconstituted in live cells by incubation with coelenterazine. The effect of elevating cytosolic Ca2+ on nuclear Ca2+ was investigated in populations of live COS7 cells expressing either cytosolic aequorin or nuclear aequorin. Incubation of cells with ionomycin, in the absence of external Ca2+, released Ca2+ from internal stores causing an increase in chemiluminescent light emission from cytosolic aequorin but not nuclear aequorin. Nonagonist-dependent movement of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane, induced by the membrane attack complex of complement, causes a large increase in cytosolic Ca2+ which triggered 95% of cytosolic aequorin but only 50-60% of nuclear aequorin. These results provide clear evidence for a nucleocytoplasmic barrier to Ca2+.

Aequorin↗
PubMed1987

Generation of complement anaphylatoxins and C5b-9 by crystalline cholesterol oxidation derivatives depends on hydroxyl group number and position.

Cholesterol crystals activate the human alternative complement pathway. Loss of Factor B hemolytic activity in C2-deficient serum was comparable to that in normal human serum after incubation with cholesterol crystals. Consumption of Factor B hemolytic activity in normal serum incubated with cholesterol occurred in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The reduced capacity of crystals-absorbed serum to activate C2, but not Factor B, on fresh crystals, indicated that cholesterol mediates antibody-dependent classical pathway activation in addition to alternative pathway activation in whole serum. Cholestane triol, an oxidation derivative of cholesterol which bears three hydroxyl groups, cleaved 5-fold more C3 than cholesterol in normal human serum. Three cholesterol derivatives, each bearing two hydroxyl groups, were intermediate activators between cholesterol and cholestane triol. The compounds differed, however, in their complement-activating ability, indicating that hydroxyl position as well as number exerts an influence on complement activation. Measurements of C3adesArg and C5adesArg antigens in cholesterol crystal treated serum revealed that approx. 10% of total serum C3 was cleaved and that, on a molar basis, only 3% C5 cleavage occurred relative to C3 cleavage. For 1 mole of C5a generated, 0.1 moles of fluid-phase C5b-9 was detected. Although the extent of C3 cleavage varied with each cholesterol derivative depending on the position and number of hydroxyl groups, the relative coupling efficiency of C3 and C5 cleavage and C5a and C5b-9 generation was similar for all compounds. The ability of cholesterol and its oxidation products to generate anaphylatoxins and C5b-9 complexes may be of importance in mediating inflammatory processes involved in atherogenesis.

Anaphylatoxins↗
PubMed1977

Isolation and properties of complement-resistant strains of Escherichia coli K-12.

Several strains that were resistant to the bactericidal action of antibody and complement were isolated from Escherichia coli K-12 W3110/SM by selecting them through the medium containing antiserum and complement. They can be agglutinated by antiserum against the parent strain and showed similar immune adherence reactivity to the parent when sensitized with this antiserum. Few differences were found in the compositions of phospholipids and proteins between both inner and outer membranes of these strains and those of the parent. However, there were fewer short-chain and more long-chain fatty acids in these strains than in the parent. It was also found that unsaturated fatty acide decreased and saturated and cyclopropanoic acids increased in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol in both inner and outer membranes of one of these strains when compared with those from the parent. Therefore, the resistance of these strains to the complement-mediated bactericidal action was considered to be due to the rigidity of their membrane structures which might repel the insertion of membrane-attack complement complex C5b-9, although they could fix the earlier complement components up to the step of the formation of C4b,2a,3b complex enzyme.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Complement activation during cardiopulmonary bypass: comparison between the use of large volumes of plasma and dextran 70.

Cardiopulmonary bypass surgery may be complicated by a systemic inflammatory reaction, which has been ascribed to the activation of complement. For such activation, the choice of priming solution for the heart-lung machine may be of importance. The peripheral blood of two groups of 10 patients, either exposed to dextran 70 or to plasma as priming solutions, was therefore studied pre-, per-, and postoperatively. The study confirmed that activation of complement is a consistent phenomenon during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and that the activation involves both the early and the late phase of the complement cascade. The increase in the plasma concentration of the C3 activation products C3c and C3dg was significantly higher in the plasma group than in the dextran group, while there was no difference in the increase in the concentration of the terminal complement complex SC5b-9.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗
PubMed2004

Mitochondrial protease Omi/HtrA2 enhances caspase activation through multiple pathways.

Omi/HtrA2 is a mitochondrial serine protease that is released into the cytosol during apoptosis and promotes cytochrome c (Cyt c)dependent caspase activation by neutralizing inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) via its IAP-binding motif. The protease activity of Omi/HtrA2 also contributes to the progression of both apoptosis and caspase-independent cell death. In this study, we found that wild-type Omi/HtrA2 is more effective at caspase activation than a catalytically inactive mutant of Omi/HtrA2 in response to apoptotic stimuli, such as UV irradiation or tumor necrosis factor. Although similar levels of Omi/HtrA2 expression, XIAP-binding activity, and Omi/HtrA2 mitochondrial release were observed among cells transfected with catalytically inactive and wild-type Omi/HtrA2 protein, XIAP protein expression after UV irradiation was significantly reduced in cells transfected with wild-type Omi/HtrA2. Recombinant Omi/HtrA2 was observed to catalytically cleave IAPs and to inactivate XIAP in vitro, suggesting that the protease activity of Omi/HtrA2 might be responsible for its IAP-inhibiting activity. Extramitochondrial expression of Omi/HtrA2 indirectly induced permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane and subsequent Cyt c-dependent caspase activation in HeLa cells. These results indicate that protease activity of Omi/HtrA2 promotes caspase activation through multiple pathways.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1989

Cells carrying C5b-9 complement complexes in human atherosclerotic wall.

Fibrous plaques and intimal thickenings of 5 femoral and 5 iliac human arteries obtained at surgery were processed for indirect and double-labeling immunoelectron microscopy using an affinity purified rabbit IgG anti-C5b-9 neoantigen and the EBM 11 monoclonal antibody anti-human macrophages. The C5b-9 complexes were localized in intact cells, disintegrated cells and cell debris enmeshed in the connective tissue matrix. Some of the cell debris bearing C5b-9 deposits was found to be of macrophage origin. Endocyted or exocyted pieces of membrane with pore-forming C5b-9 complexes were also identified. Damage of cells by complement in atherosclerotic lesions may contribute to atherogenesis.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

Activation of the human terminal complement pathway in atherosclerosis.

The presence of the terminal C5b-9 complement complex in tissues indicates that complement activation has occurred in situ with subsequent membrane damage, tissue injury, and inflammatory response mediation. The terminal C5b-9 neoantigens of the complement system, S protein C3c, C3d, and apolipoprotein B deposits were localized in 20 aortic fibrous plaques, 12 aortic intimal thickenings, 8 aortic fatty streak intimae, 14 coronary fibrous plaques, 5 coronary intimal thickenings, and 8 femoral fibrous plaques, using an indirect and double-staining immunoperoxidase technique. The specific granular deposits were present from the early to the advanced stages of atherosclerosis in relation to the degree of fibrosis and necrosis. The different double-staining localization of C5b-9 and S protein may suggest local assembly of the complex as a consequence of complement activation and may sustain its role in the chronic progression of atherosclerosis.

Aorta↗
PubMed1988

Co-localization of terminal C5b-9 complement complexes and macrophages in human atherosclerotic arterial walls.

The co-localization of terminal C5b-9 complement complexes and macrophages was investigated in human arteries with atherosclerosis using a double-labeling immunohistochemical technique. Macrophages were found in all the atherosclerotic arteries, with the accumulation correlating positively with the degree of atherosclerosis. This accumulation was associated with an increase of C5b-9 deposits, as well as with an increase in the number of deposits containing both complement components and macrophages ('co-localization'). This co-localization was found to pertain both to intact macrophages and to macrophage remnants. These data suggest that C5b-9 complement complex might be formed on macrophages with subsequent promotion of inflammatory events and progression of the atherosclerotic lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Ectopic expression of Hsp70 confers resistance and silencing its expression sensitizes human colon cancer cells to curcumin-induced apoptosis.

We have shown earlier that heat shock renders human colon cancer cells resistant to curcumin-induced apoptosis, but the contribution of individual heat shock proteins (hsps) to this resistance has not been tested. High expression of hsp27 and hsp70 in breast, endometrial and gastric cancers has been associated with metastasis, poor prognosis and resistance to chemo- or radiotherapy. In this study, SW480 cells were transfected with hsp70 cDNA in either the sense or antisense orientation and stable clones were selected and tested for their sensitivity to curcumin. The cells were protected from curcumin-induced cell death by hsp70 while cells harboring antisense hsp70 (Ashsp70) were highly sensitive to curcumin. Curcumin-induced nuclear condensation was less in hsp70 but more in Ashsp70 cells when compared with control vector-transfected cells. Loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential induced by curcumin was further accelerated by antisense hsp70 expression and hsp70 restored it partly. Ashsp70 cells released more cytochrome c, AIF and Smac from mitochondria upon curcumin treatment than control cells. hsp70 partly prevented the release of AIF but not the other proteins. Activation of caspases 3 and 9 induced by curcumin was also inhibited by hsp70, whereas more activation could be seen in Ashsp70 cells, although caspase 8 activation was unaffected by changes in hsp70 expression. Curcumin-induced cleavage of PARP and DFF45 was inhibited by hsp70 but enhanced in Ashsp70 cells. The present study demonstrates the potential of hsp70 in protecting SW480 cells from curcumin-induced apoptosis and highlights that silencing the expression of hsp70 is an effective approach to augment curcumin-based therapy in cancers that are resistant due to hsp70 expression.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1989

Complement attack of altered outer membrane areas synthesized after inhibition of the 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate pathway leads to cell death.

Salmonella typhimurium containing specific genes coding for either temperature-sensitive (TS) 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate (KDO) 8-phosphate synthetase or TS cytidine monophosphate-KDO synthetase grow normally when incubated at 30 degrees C and are resistant to C-mediated killing. However, bacteria become avirulent and sensitive to C-mediated killing upon thermal inhibition of TS KDO-8-phosphate synthetase (incubation at 38 degrees C) or TS cytidine monophosphate-KDO synthetase (incubation at 42 degrees C). Such thermal inhibition concurrently causes synthesis of an altered outer membrane which we now show is the site that renders cells susceptible to C-mediated killing. After incubation of cells in serum, the altered outer membrane area contains C9 in a trypsin-resistant state and membrane attack complex (MAC) lesions observable by electron microscopy. Trypsin-resistant C9 and MAC lesions were also observed in the inner membrane fraction from such serum-treated cells. In contrast, little C9 and few MAC lesions were associated with unaltered outer membrane areas present on these same serum treated cells. Control cells, grown at 30 degrees C and treated with serum (1) bound one-fifth as much C9 as was bound to cells incubated at 42 degrees C, (2) contained only a rare MAC lesion in the outer membrane, and (3) no observable MAC lesions in the inner membrane. We conclude that the altered outer membrane area is the site that renders cells susceptible to insertion of the MAC into both the outer and inner membrane resulting in cell death.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Temporal induction of clusterin in the peri-infarct zone after experimental myocardial infarction in the rat.

Clusterin, a glycoprotein with potent cellular cohesive properties, is induced in many organs at times of tissue injury or remodeling. After renal infarction, for example, clusterin is localized to tubular epithelial cells in the peri-infarct zone. The purpose of this study was to examine the spatial and temporal expression of cardiac clusterin after myocardial infarction. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent permanent coronary ligation or sham operation. Hearts were harvested at 6 hours and at 2, 14, and 28 days after infarction. Cardiac clusterin expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Left ventricular clusterin staining was evident at 6 hours and 2 days after myocardial infarction, although not at later time periods. Clusterin was localized to peri-infarct zone myocytes and endothelial cells of this region, and local synthesis of clusterin by myocytes was confirmed by in situ hybridization. Clusterin was not present in inflammatory cells or in left ventricular tissue distant from the infarct. The distribution of clusterin was different from the membrane attack complex of complement (C5b-9), with the latter being present diffusely throughout the infarct zone. Although the role of cardiac clusterin is not known, we speculate that clusterin's cohesive properties serve to promote myocyte interactions that are perturbed in the peri-infarct zone after myocardial infarction.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Local complement activation, thromboxane-mediated vasoconstriction, and vascular leakage in isolated lungs. Role of the terminal complement sequence.

In situ complement activation was induced in isolated, ventilated, and blood-free perfused rabbit lungs. Six to 11% human serum (vol/vol) was repeatedly admixed to the recirculating Krebs Henseleit buffer during 10-min periods, interrupted by rinsing phases with serum-free medium. This caused dose-dependent, reversible, and reproducible pulmonary artery pressor responses with pressure peaks or plateaus of 8 to 22 mm Hg. Pressor responses were paralleled by a marked release of thromboxane (TxA2) and prostaglandin I2 into the medium. Heat-inactivated serum, purified fluid-phase SC5b-9, and serum that had been activated with inulin in the absence or presence of a carboxypeptidase inhibitor all failed to elicit pressor responses. Both pressor response and prostanoid release were strictly dependent on complement factor C8, and evidence for C8 binding was obtained with the use of 125I-C8. Inhibitor studies collectively indicated that TxA2 was the predominant vasoconstrictive agent. Although repetitive short-term application of human serum induced no major lung weight gain, prolonged exposure to serum (40 to 80 min) without intermittent rinsing phases caused a delayed increase in the capillary filtration coefficient to maximally 3- to 4-fold values, with marked lung edema formation. We conclude that in situ activation of complement in the rabbit lung vasculature causes immediate intrapulmonary prostanoid generation and thromboxane-mediated vasoconstriction, independent of circulating leukocytes, but dependent on the formation of terminal membrane-complement complexes. Continuous complement activation results in a delayed increase in lung vascular permeability.

Animals↗