Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Complement C5b”

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 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

Brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathies: clinical, immune, and myopathologic features.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize patients with inflammatory myopathies who present with weakness in the proximal regions of the arms. METHODS: Clinical, laboratory, and myopathologic features were evaluated in 10 patients, identified consecutively over 12 years, with inflammatory myopathies and weakness that was most severe in the proximal regions of the arms. The features of these brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy (BCIM) syndromes were compared with those of other inflammatory and immune-mediated myopathies evaluated during the same period. RESULTS: Patients with BCIM developed progressive weakness at ages 24-82 years (mean +/- SD age 55 +/- 9 years). Posterior neck weakness occurred in 60% of patients, while motor neuron disease was the referring diagnosis in 30%. All patients had other systemic autoimmune disorders, including myasthenia gravis (40%) and rheumatoid arthritis (20%). Antinuclear antibodies were present in all patients. Serum creatine kinase levels were usually moderately high (mean 910 IU/liter). Active myopathy was identified in muscle biopsy samples from the patients. Focal collections of mononuclear cells, some predominantly B cells, were present in perivascular and perimysial regions. MxA- and CD123-positive dendritic cells were present in the endomysium. C5b-9 components of complement were present diffusely in endomysial connective tissue. Most patients improved in strength after receiving corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: Patients with BCIM syndromes have progressive weakness in the proximal regions of the arms and neck. The predominant myopathologic findings are active myopathy, C5b-9 staining of endomysium, focal perivascular and perimysial inflammation, often with a prominent B cell component, and endomysial dendritic cells. Corticosteroid treatment of BCIM is often followed by improvement in strength.

Adult↗

Association between complement factor H and proteoglycans in early human coronary atherosclerotic lesions: implications for local regulation of complement activation.

OBJECTIVE: Complement activation has been suggested to play a role in atherogenesis. To study the regulation of complement activation in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions, we examined the spatial relationships between the major complement inhibitor, factor H, and the complement activation products C3d and C5b-9. METHODS AND RESULTS: In early lesions (American Heart Association types II and III), factor H was immunohistochemically found in the superficial proteoglycan-rich layer in association with numerous macrophages and C3d, whereas C5b-9 was found deeper in the intima, where factor H was virtually absent. In vitro experiments involving surface plasmon resonance and affinity chromatography analyses demonstrated that isolated human arterial proteoglycans bind factor H, and functional complement assays showed that glycosaminoglycans inhibit the complement activation induced by modified low density lipoprotein or by a foreign surface. CONCLUSIONS: The present observations raise the possibility that proteoglycans, because of their ability to bind the major complement inhibitor factor H, may inhibit complement activation in the superficial layer of the arterial intima. In contrast, deeper in the intima, where factor H and proteoglycans are absent, complement may be activated and proceed to C5b-9. Thus, the superficial and the deep layers of the human coronary artery appear to differ in their ability to regulate complement activation.

Adult↗

Transmembrane channel formation by complement: functional analysis of the number of C5b6, C7, C8, and C9 molecules required for a single channel.

Earlier studies have shown that sequential treatment of resealed erythrocyte ghosts with C5b6, C7, C8, and C9 leads to insertion of hydrophobic peptides from these complement proteins into the membrane and assembly of transmembrane channels. The number of molecules of each of the proteins required for assembly of the membrane-associated channel structure was evaluated by measuring the quantitative relationship between the doses of the individual proteins and the release of two trapped markers, sucrose and inulin, from ghosts after channel formation. The incubation period was sufficient to attain equilibrium of marker distribution between the ghosts and the extracellular fluid. Two markers of different size (sucrose and inulin, 0.9 and 3 nm molecular diameter, respectively) were used in order to develop information on the molecular composition of small and large channels, respectively. We found that participation of C5b6, C7, and C8 in channel formation displayed one-hit characteristics, regardless of marker size. By contrast, the participation of C9 was one-hit with respect to the sucrose marker, whereas with respect to the inulin marker the C9 reaction was multi-hit. Our results are compatible with the view that these markers are released through a channel structure in the membrane that is a monomer of C5b--9 of the composition C5b61 C71C81C9n, in which n = 1 for channels permitting passage of sucrose and n = 2 for channels allowing transit of inulin.

Animals↗

IgM colocalises with complement and C reactive protein in infarcted human myocardium.

AIMS: Reperfusion of ischaemic myocardium after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can induce ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, as a result of local activation of the complement system. C reactive protein (CRP) is involved in this activation. This study analysed the potential role of IgM in complement activation in the infarcted human myocardium. METHODS: Immunochemical analysis was carried out on heart specimens from 59 patients who died from AMI. Serial slides of frozen tissue from the infarction site were stained for IgM, complement factors C3d and C5b-9 (membrane attack complex), and CRP. RESULTS: IgM deposits were found on the plasma membrane, cross striations, and in the cytoplasm of jeopardised cardiomyocytes in infarcts of one to five days duration. IgM depositions were remarkably similar to those of CRP and both complement factors. The relative staining intensities of IgM and CRP varied greatly among patients. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to CRP, IgM targets complement locally to jeopardised cardiomyocytes in the human heart after AMI. Localisation patterns and relative staining intensities suggest that IgM and CRP recognise similar epitopes in the ischaemic heart, but that the relative contribution of each protein to complement activation in the ischaemic myocardium differs among patients.

Adult↗

C5b-9 generation and cytokine production in hemodialyzed patients.

The role of the complement system in the induction of cytokine release is controversial. Plasma terminal C complex C5b-9 along with Bb and C4d fragments were evaluated in 22 patients during routine acetate or bicarbonate hemodialysis using cuprophane membranes and hemodiafiltration (HDF) or acetate-free-biofiltration (AFB) using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes. In a subgroup of six uremic patients we also evaluated the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) from monocytes before and after six subsequent sessions with bicarbonate-cuprophane, HDF and AFB-PAN. At beginning of the dialysis increased plasma C5b-9 levels were found in patients treated by acetate or bicarbonate-cuprophane. Moreover, a rapid significant (P < 0.001) increase of C5b-9 levels occurred in both groups 15 minutes after the onset of the hemodialysis procedure with a plateau at 180 minutes. In contrast, only a slight increase in the plasma C5b-9 levels was observed in patients dialysed with HDF or AFB using PAN membranes. This increase was more pronounced with HDF at 0 minutes compared with controls. A positive linear correlation was found in all patients between C5b-9 generation and plasma Bb levels at different times in the dialysis session. The production of C4d fragment remained unchanged in all groups, indicating that C5b-9 complex generation is due to the prevalent alternative complement pathway activation. The pattern of cytokine production strictly resembled the complement system activation and C5b-9 generation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Immunopathologic studies of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

The studies, as outlined above, strongly suggest that there may be several pathophysiologic mechanisms resulting in the development of cutaneous lupus lesions. It appears that all lupus lesions are associated predominantly with a T-cell infiltrate. Based upon the studies of the neonatal lupus infants, it has been hypothesized that the U1RNP and Ro(SS-A) autoantibodies of maternal origin play a direct pathologic role in the genesis of the annular polycyclic SCLE lesions and this may be mediated by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mechanisms in which the antibody binds to the respective antigen present on the keratinocyte plasma membrane and the effector cells are T cells derived from the infants. Other studies, using direct immunofluorescence techniques, have demonstrated an association of cutaneous lupus lesions occurring in the presence of immunoglobulin and complement at the dermal/epidermal junction (positive lupus band test) in which the neoantigen of the complement membrane attack complex (C5b-C9) is detected. These data have been interpreted as indicating that immunoglobulin and complement, perhaps in the form of immune complexes, may play a role in the pathogenesis of some cutaneous lupus lesions. Additional studies have determined that there is a substantial number of lupus patients with cutaneous disease, without antinuclear antibodies, who fail to demonstrate the deposition of immunoglobulin and complement at the dermal/epidermal junction. Furthermore, other studies have indicated that ultraviolet light is capable of inducing lesions in lupus patients that histologically are identical to those of cutaneous lupus erythematosus but that failed to demonstrate the deposition of the immunoglobulin and complement components. Since discoid lupus lesions demonstrate a preponderance of T cells, it has been proposed that some of these lesions are the direct result of a T-cell cytotoxic event. However, the nature of the autoantigens responsible for this putative T cell-mediated cytotoxic response is unknown at the present time. The role of ultraviolet light in the genesis of the cutaneous lupus lesions appears to involve, within the epidermis, the generation of autoantigen macromolecules which then react with autoantibodies or specific T cells of the lupus host.

Humans↗

The relationship between channel size and the number of C9 molecules in the C5b-9 complex.

We have recently shown by dose-response analyses with resealed erythrocyte ghosts that the channel formed by complement is a monomer of C5b-9 of the composition C5b61C71C81C9n, in which n = 1 for channels permitting passage of sucrose (0.9 nm molecular diameter) and n = 2 for channels allowing transit of inulin (3 nm molecular diameter) (1). We have now continued these experiments and expanded them by including ribonuclease A (molecular diameter, 3.8 nm) as a marker to assess whether additional C9 molecules enlarge the functional C5b-9 channel. Our results show that formation of C5b-9 channels displays one-hit characteristics with respect to C5b6 when tested by transmembrane passage of inulin or ribonuclease A. By contrast, analysis of dose-response curves of C9 indicate that n = 2-3 for channels allowing transit of inulin and n = 4 for channels allowing transit of ribonuclease A. We have also performed sieving experiments with ghosts carrying C5b-7 and containing two small markers, inositol and sucrose. Dose-response curves for C8 were performed in the presence of excess C9 to ensure conversion of all C5b-8 to C5b-9 channels. The results indicate that small channels (approximately 0.8 nm effective diameter) are not formed at high C9 multiplicity, thus confirming the results obtained with the larger markers, i.e., increase of C9 input leads to formation of larger channels.

Animals↗

[Nephrology].

Advances in biomedical technology have contributed effectively to the resolution of basic and clinical problems in Nephrology. Most of our insights on glomerular diseases come from animal models. Antibodies against components of the extracellular matrix have been shown to induce glomerular changes in vivo and the non-collagenous NC1 domain of type IV collagen has been demonstrated to contain the Goodpasture antigen. New pathogenetic mechanisms of glomerular injury are suggested by studies on the interaction of antibodies with glomerular cell surface antigens. Gp330, a glycoprotein expressed at the surface of glomerular visceral epithelial cells, has been recognized to be the most relevant antigen of Heymann nephritis. Antibodies able to crosslink gp330 bind to the antigen at the base of foot processes and the resulting immune complexes are shed into the subepithelial space where they form electron dense deposits. The complement membrane attack complex (C5b-9) is likely to be directly responsible for epithelial cell injury and proteinuria in this model. Other cell surface antigens of the glomerular capillary wall, such as dipeptidyl dipeptidase IV, podocalyxin, podoendin, have been characterized. A novel model of glomerular injury comes from the demonstration that a non-complement fixing monoclonal antibody to a surface sialo-glycoprotein (SGP-115/107) binds to glomerular visceral epithelial cells and causes morphological changes which appear epitope-specific and complement and leukocyte-independent. The mechanisms responsible for the progression of renal disease to glomerular sclerosis have been extensively explored in the last years. Among the hemodynamic factors intraglomerular hypertension has been established to play an important part, at least in some models.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Activation of multiple signaling pathways by terminal complement complexes involved in myocellular sodium homeostasis.

Soluble C5b-9 complexes (SC5b-9), hemolytically inactive end-products of complement activation have long been considered to be irrelevant. Recent investigations, however, have demonstrated that SC5b-9 induces numerous biological effects via a series of intracellular signal transduction events. We have previously demonstrated that SC5b-9 enriched sera increased intracellular Na+ in rat skeletal muscles. This study was purposed to determine if the protein kinase C (PKC) or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway mediates the effects of SC5b-9. Fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles isolated from infant rats were incubated at 30 degrees C for 60 minutes with 10% zymosan-activated rat sera (ZARS) as a source of complement. Heat-inactivated rat sera (HIRS) were used as a control. The muscles were also incubated with ZARS or HIRS in the presence of specific inhibitors against PKC (GF109203X) or MAPK (PD98059 and SB202190). Intracellular Na+ and K+ contents were then measured. ZARS significantly increased intracellular Na+ and the Na+/K+ ratio in EDL muscles as compared to HIRS. GF109203X, PD98059 and SB202190 markedly attenuated increase in myocellular Na+ induced by ZARS, respectively. We concluded that SC5b-9 enriched sera alter myocellular Na+ homeostasis, at least in part, via the mechanisms linked to PKC and MAPK signal transduction pathways.

Animals↗

Anti-CD45 monoclonal antibody perfusion of human renal allografts prior to transplantation. A safety and immunohistological study. CD45 Study Group.

The perfusion of kidneys with anti-CD45 monoclonal antibodies prior to transplantation offers a means of targeting passenger antigen-presenting cells with the aim of reducing the subsequent incidence of rejection episodes. A safety study was performed in humans of such pretreatment in 40 unsensitized recipients of first cadaveric renal grafts, who were followed for 3 months after transplantation. A 50-ml solution containing 2 mg of each of the rat anti-CD45 mAbs YTH 24.5 and YTH 54.12 was injected into the allograft renal artery ex vivo and just before transplantation while the renal vein was kept clamped. No patients died, but 4 grafts were lost. Two were lost due to primary nonfunction, 1 was lost because of late renal artery thrombosis, and 1 was lost to rejection. There were no cases of renal vein thrombosis and 1 trivial renal artery stenosis, and only 2 patients produced human anti-rat antibodies. Between 63.5% and 100% (median 96.4%) of CD45+ cells in the postperfusion biopsies were coated with anti-CD45 as determined by double-immunolabeling. The number of patients experiencing rejection episodes was inversely associated with this "antibody uptake": 75% of the low uptake group (< 95%) had at least 1 rejection episode, compared with 22% of the high uptake group (> or = 95%) (P = 0.001). The complement components C3 and C5b-9 colocalized with perfused anti-CD45 in 32/33 (97.0%) and 11/33 (33.3%) of the biopsy specimens, respectively. We conclude that: (1) this technique appears free of adverse effects, (2) high antibody uptake within the kidney is associated with a lower incidence of rejection, and (3) the antibodies used fix and activate complement in vivo.

Adult↗

The killer molecule of complement.

Cell injury by complement occurs as a consequence of activation of either the classical or the alternative pathway on the surface of a cell. It is accomplished by the membrane attack complex (MAC). Its precursor proteins, C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9, are hydrophilic glycoproteins with Mr ranging from 70,000-180,000. When C5 is cleaved by the serine protease C5 convertase which covalently attaches to target cells, nascent C5b is produced and 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 approximately 550,000) and of tubular poly C9 (Mr approximately 1,100,000). The functional channel size varies but its maximal diameter is approximately 100 A. C9 polymerization appears to involve initial reversible association of several C9 molecules which is followed by 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. Control of the MAC is exerted by the S-protein (Mr 80,000) which binds to the forming complex and prevents its attachment to the cell membrane. Control is also exerted by certain species-specific membrane proteins which interfere with C5 convertase and C9 function.

Binding Sites↗

Local production of complement proteins in rheumatoid arthritis synovium.

OBJECTIVE: Complement has been repeatedly implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on studies showing reduced levels of native complement components and increased levels of complement metabolites in plasma, synovial fluid (SF), and synovial tissue (ST) of RA patients. However, there is limited information on local production and activation of key factors of the complement cascade in RA synovium and their potential modulation by novel anticytokine therapies. This study was undertaken to characterize the expression of complement proteins and receptors in RA SF and ST. METHODS: Using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot techniques, we assessed the presence of complement proteins C3, factor B (FB), and C5b-9, as well as the expression of complement receptors C3aR and C5aR in rheumatoid synovium. C3 and FB levels in SF were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Functional assessment was performed by examining the effects of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR) p55 gene transfer in the SCID mouse model of RA. RESULTS: Complement proteins and receptors could be localized in all RA synovial specimens, whereas in osteoarthritis (OA) synovium, only a few, single cells expressed complement proteins and receptors. No differences were noted in the concentration of C3 between RA and OA in SF; however, FB levels were markedly reduced in RA versus OA SF. In RA synovium, in contrast to OA synovium, local expression of complement factor and complement receptor messenger RNA was found throughout the various ST compartments, suggesting that activation of the complement cascade occurs in all parts of the rheumatoid synovium. Moreover, C5aR expression was up-regulated following overexpression of sTNFR p55 by adenovirus-based gene transfer. CONCLUSION: In summary, local complement production and activation may play an important role in RA, and specific modulation and inhibition of local complement production could be an attractive therapeutic target for RA.

Aged↗

Pathophysiology of chronic tubulo-interstitial disease in rats. Interactions of dietary acid load, ammonia, and complement component C3.

The human end-stage kidney and its experimental analogue, the remnant kidney in the rat, exhibit widespread tubulo-interstitial disease. We investigated whether the pathogenesis of such tubulo-interstitial injury is dependent upon adaptive changes in tubular function and, in particular, in ammonia production when renal mass is reduced. Dietary acid load was reduced in 1 3/4-nephrectomized rats by dietary supplementation with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), while control rats, paired for serum creatinine after 1 3/4 nephrectomy, were supplemented with equimolar sodium chloride. After 4-6 wk, NaHCO3-supplemented rats demonstrated less impairment of tubular function as measured by urinary excretory rates for total protein and low molecular weight protein and higher transport maximum for para-aminohippurate per unit glomerular filtration rate, less histologic evidence of tubulo-interstitial damage, less deposition of complement components C3 and C5b-9, and a lower renal vein total ammonia concentration. Such differences in tubular function could not be accounted for simply on the basis of systemic alkalinization, and differences in tubular injury could not be ascribed to differences in glomerular function. Because nitrogen nucleophiles such as ammonia react with C3 to form a convertase for the alternative complement pathway, and because increased tissue levels of ammonia are associated with increased tubulo-interstitial injury, we propose that augmented intrarenal levels of ammonia are injurious because of activation of the alternative complement pathway. Chemotactic and cytolytic complement components are thereby generated, leading to tubulo-interstitial inflammation. Thus, alkali supplementation reduces chronic tubulo-interstitial disease in the remnant kidney of the rat, and we propose that this results, at least in part, from reduction in cortical ammonia and its interaction with the alternative complement pathway.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Membrane attack complex of complement in Henoch-Schönlein purpura skin and nephritis.

The present study using direct immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies to C5b-9 complex-related antigens was undertaken to determine whether complement activation in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) causes assembly of the membrane attack complex of complement (MAC) in skin and nephritis lesions. The deposition of C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, and C5b-9 neoantigens was noted in the vascular walls of papillary dermis and/or subpapillary dermal plexus of the vessels in 11 out of 15 patients with HSP. Their presence in vessel walls indicates complement activation which leads to terminal complement activation. There were small deposits of S protein at the same sites in three of the 11 skin specimens. Thus, the majority of C5b-9 demonstrated in HSP skin was the cytolytically active C5b-9 complex, MAC. Granular deposits of C5b-9 related antigens without S protein were also found in the capillary walls and mesangium of the glomeruli of two out of four specimens from patients with HSP nephritis; in the other two S protein was colocalized with the deposition of C5b-9. The results of the present study indicate that complement activation leading to generation of MAC may possibly be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular injury in a significantly large number of skin lesions and of HSP nephritis.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The activation of human complement component C5 by a fluid phase C5 convertase.

Complement component C5 is converted to C5a and C5b by the cobra venom factor-dependent C3/C5 convertase CVF,Bb (EC 3.4.21.47). The C5 convertase produces selective proteolytic cleavage of an arginyl-leucine peptide bond at positions 74-75 in the alpha chain of C5. Circular dichroism studies in both the far and near UV regions provide evidence that a conformational change accompanies the C5 activation process. When C5 is activated by CVF,Bb in the presence of complement component C6, the C5b,6 complex is formed. However, when C6 is added after C5 has been converted to C5b, the C5b,6 complex fails to form. Therefore, the activation of C5 results in a transient binding site for C6. Hydrophobic sites are probably exposed upon C5 activation because C5b undergoes aggregation when C5 is converted to C5b in the absence of C6. Transmission electron micrographs of the C5 molecule indicate a multilobal, irregular ultrastructure with estimated dimensions of 104 X 140 X 168 A. Aggregated C5b has the appearance of globular particles with a diameter range of 350-700 A. Although C5 shares a number of features with the third component of complement, including a similar ultrastructure and partial sequence homology, C5 is devoid of the unusual thiol ester linkage found in C3. It is the labile thiol ester that permits covalent attachment between C3 and nucleophilic acceptors. In contrast, interactions between C5 and C6 or C5 and membranes remain noncovalent.

Amino Acids↗

Expression of a soluble complement inhibitor protects transgenic mice from antibody-induced acute renal failure.

Crry is a potent complement regulator in rodents that inhibits C3 convertases. In rats, intrarenal arterial injection of anti-glomerular endothelial cell (GEN) antibodies leads to complement-dependent microvascular injury and acute renal failure. In this study, a mouse variant of this model and the effects of complement inhibition were examined. Transgenic mice that overexpressed soluble Crry systemically and in their kidneys were studied. Anti-GEN IgG was injected intravenously into eight Crry transgenic mice and seven transgene-negative littermates (which were used as control animals). Thirty h after injection, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were 30.3 +/- 4.4 and 114.8 +/- 23.5 mg/dl for transgene-positive and -negative animals, respectively (P = 0.012). Four of five transgene-negative animals with BUN levels of > 100 mg/dl were anuric; the remaining animal exhibited minimal albuminuria and no detectable urinary C3. In animals with renal failure, glomerular capillary collapse and tubular necrosis were observed. There was significant tubular staining for C3 in transgene-negative animals, with cellular and basal distributions, both of which were statistically greater than those in transgene-positive animals. Tubular cell C3 staining was strongly correlated with BUN values (r = 0.83, P < 0.001), as was C9 staining (r = 0.56, P = 0.037), suggesting that complement activation to the C5b-9 membrane attack complex had a casual role in renal failure. Thus, systemic injection of anti-GEN antibodies into mice leads to acute renal failure, with glomerular and tubular injury. Animals that overexpress soluble Crry in renal tubules and elsewhere are protected from the acute renal failure that occurs in this model, which ultimately seems to develop because of complement activation focused on tubules.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Systemic complement activation in psoriasis vulgaris.

Nineteen patients with psoriasis vulgaris and no other cause for systemic complement activation were studied for evidence of such activation. There was a marked elevation in serum C5b-9 complexes with no other significant complement abnormalities, and no correlation between C5b-9 levels and disease activity. This is the most detailed study of complement in psoriasis yet attempted and confirms that complement activation is a feature of psoriasis vulgaris.

Adolescent↗

C6 depletion reduces proteinuria in experimental nephropathy induced by a nonglomerular antigen.

The role of the complement membrane attack complex, C5b-9, in mediating glomerular injury has been well defined in models of membranous nephropathy induced by antibody to endogenous glomerular epithelial cell membrane antigens. The effect of selective C6 depletion (to prevent C5b-9 formation) on morphologic characteristics and proteinuria in a model of in situ subepithelial immune complex nephritis induced by an exogenous cationized antigen (human immunoglobulin G (IgG)) followed by rabbit antibody to human IgG was studied. Selective C6 depletion was achieved by repeated administration of a goat antibody to rat C6. Other groups were treated with cobra venom factor to induce generalized complement depletion and with sublethal irradiation to deplete circulating leukocytes. In C6-depleted rats, C6 levels were reduced to less than 3% of baseline throughout the 2 days of the study compared with over 100% in controls. At 4 h after disease induction, glomerular deposition of antigen and antibody were similar in C6D and control groups by immunofluorescence and by direct measurement of glomerular deposition of radiolabeled antigen and antibody (cationized 131I human IgG, 9.1 +/- 0.1 micrograms/38,000 glomeruli in C6D versus 9.8 +/- 0.9 in controls; P = was not significant; rabbit 125I-labeled anti-human IgG, 104 +/- 10 ng in C6D versus 80 +/- 9 ng in controls; P = was not significant). Circulating C3 levels and glomerular C3 deposition were also similar in C6D and control groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗