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PubMed2002

Transfer of prostasomal CD59 to CD59-deficient red blood cells results in protection against complement-mediated hemolysis.

PROBLEM: Prostasomes isolated from human seminal plasma have complement regulatory properties because of their content of CD59, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein. We investigated a functional role of prostasomes by the possibility of transferring CD59 from prostasomes to rabbit erythrocytes (RE) and human erythrocytes obtained from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), both types of cells lacking CD59. METHOD OF STUDY: We used the assay of hemolytic activity of the alternative pathway of the complement system to compare the liability of the erythrocytes to hemolysis by the complement system with and without pre-incubation with prostasomes. CD59 gained by the RE and PNH erythrocytes was established by flow cytometry. The effect of phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C (PIPLC) on the GPI anchor of prostasomal CD59 and the effect of heat treatment on the prostasomes were also studied. Anti-CD59 antibodies were used to block the protective effect of prostasomes on erythrocytes. RESULTS: Both RE and PNH erythrocytes showed diminished complement-mediated hemolysis after incubation with prostasomes. This was because of the transfer of CD59 from prostasomes to the red blood cells during pre-incubation as evidenced by the hemolytic assay and flow-cytometry. The efficacy of the prostasomes was affected by heat treatment and was totally lost at 100 degrees C. Phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C broke the GPI anchor and released CD59 from prostasomes and the RE surface (after pre-incubation with prostasomes) but not from the human PNH erythrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: A transfer mechanism of CD59 takes place during pre-incubation from prostasomes to erythrocytes lacking CD59 which supports the idea that transfer of prostasomal CD59 can protect cells from lysis elicited by C5b-9. This might be a mechanism by which autologous and allogeneic cells are protected against complement attack in the genital tracts.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Secretion of the terminal complement proteins, C5-C9, by human platelets.

The terminal complement components, C8 and C9, and to a lesser extent C5, C6, and C7, but minimal amounts of C3, were shown to be associated with washed human platelets. In unactivated platelets, the complement components were detected in the platelet pellet by hemolytic assays after centrifugation and disruption of the platelets by freeze-thawing. However, after platelets had been activated by collagen, thrombin, or aggregated IgG to induce aggregation, the complement components were released into the supernatant. The rank order of hemolytic activity of C9, C8, C7, C6, and C5 detected in the supernatants of activated platelets was quite different from that found in serum from the same donors, in the same assays. In particular, the serum C7 hemolytic titer was more than twice the serum C9 hemolytic titer, whereas the activity of C9 detected from platelets was more than twice that of C7. This argues against a purely nonspecific uptake of these proteins by platelets from plasma. The functional role of terminal complement components released from platelets during activation is unknown, but it is tempting to speculate that these proteins may have a role in platelet-dependent immunological tissue injury. Because the C5b-9 membrane attack complex activates platelets, it is possible that release of terminal complement proteins serves to amplify platelet activation and may also play a role in diseases in which complement membrane attack complexes have been implicated.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complement inhibiting properties of dragon's blood from Croton draco.

The latex of Croton draco, its extracts and several latex components have been investigated for their influence on both classical (CP) and alternative (AP) activation pathways of the complement system using a hemolytic assay. The best inhibition was found for the classical pathway. The latex, ethyl acetate and ethyl ether extracts exhibited extremely high inhibition on the CP (94, 90 and 77%, respectively) at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The flavonoid myricitrin, the alkaloid taspine and the cyclopeptides P1 and P2 showed high inhibition on CP (83, 91, 78 and 63%, respectively) at a concentration of 0.9 mM.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2003

[In vitro effects of antiallergic eyedrops on complement activation induced by particulate matter].

BACKGROUND: Recent decades have been marked by an increasing number of patients suffering from ocular allergic-like symptoms without being associated with an increase in IgE levels. These symptoms include heaviness of the lid, foreign body sensation, burning, stinging and photophobia. Both epidemiological studies and controlled human exposure clinical studies have shown cause-effect relationships between allergic-like symptoms and environmental factors such as outdoor air pollutants or poor indoor air quality. An ocular surface subclinical inflammation is thought to be responsible for pseudoallergic, pollution-related conjunctivitis. The complement system is considered as one of the major effector mechanisms involved in initiation of the subclinical inflammation that leads to IgE-independent eye irritation. PURPOSE: To study the capability of nine antiallergic eyedrops commonly used in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis to inhibit complement activation induced in vitro by pollutants. METHODS: Normal human serum obtained from healthy individuals was used as a source of complement. Activation of complement was assessed using the complement hemolytic 50% (CH50) assay, in the absence or the presence of antiallergic eyedrops and in the absence or the presence of various stimuli, including sand, common house dust, eye mascara, and Dactylis glomerata pollen extract. Zymosan was used as a standardized complement activator. The following eyedrops were studied: Naabak (4.9% N-acetyl aspartic acid-glutamic acid, NAAGA, sodium salt), Almide (lodoxamide 0.1%), Levophta (0.05% levocabastine), Emadine (0.05% emedastine), Tilavist (2% nedocromil), Allergodil (0.05% azelastine), Patanol (olopatadine), and Zaditen (0.025% ketotifen). Effects of preservative-free lodoxamide and ketotifen were also assessed and compared to those of the preserved formulations. A solution of 0.01% benzalkonium chloride (BAC), the most widely used preservative in topical eyedrops, was also tested. RESULTS: Zymosan-induced activation of complement (30+/-6%) was significantly lowered by preincubation of serum with unpreserved NAAGA (16.6+/-4%, p=0.0026) or benzalkonium-preserved nedocromil (20+/-2%, p=0.022). Preserved levocabastine, emedastine, olopatadine and ketotifen did not interfere with zymosan-induced complement activation, whereas preserved azelastine, lodoxamide and benzalkonium chloride significantly aggravated complement activation induced by zymosan. Similar results were obtained when complement activation was triggered by sand, common house dust, mascara, or by an allergenic extract of Dactylis glomerata pollen. In the absence of complement activator, none of the antiallergic eyedrops induced a significant change in CH50 titer, indicating that the deleterious pro-inflammatory effect of preserved azelastine and lodoxamide may occur only once complement activation has been initiated, i.e., on an inflamed ocular surface. CONCLUSION: Among the antiallergic eyedrops tested in this study, only Naabak and Tilavist were found to significantly inhibit complement activation triggered by particulate matters or pollen allergenic extract. Such an anticomplement activity confers these two molecules a potential in the therapeutic management of pollution-related pseudoallergic conjunctivitis.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical significance of rheumatoid factor--its complement activating property and isotype].

We investigated the relationship between complement-activating properties of rheumatoid factors (RF) and their isotypes. Active and inactive RA patients without extra-articular symptoms (EAS) and those with EAS were studied. Patients with SLE, liver cirrhosis (LC) and normal volunteers were served as controls. Isotype of RF was measured by ELISA and complement activation (CA) of RF was measured by hemolytic assay. The CA values were significantly higher in RA patients with EAS than those in RA patients without EAS and with other diseases. The IgG and IgM-RF values were significantly higher in active RA without EAS than in inactive RA. Positive correlations between IgM-RF values and CA values were observed in RA with or without EAS, SLE and LC. The Sephadex G-200 gel filtration analysis of sera revealed CA in only 19S IgM fraction. Additionally, we purified 19S IgM-RF from sera of RA, SLE and LC patients by affinity chromatography, and found 19S IgM-RF had CA. These data suggest that serum IgM-RF may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of RA, especially in RA with EAS.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1986

A simple one-step hemolytic assay of the first component of human complement (C1) with polyethylene glycol treated human serum: details of the assay procedures and its application to the C1 activation study.

C1 was removed from human serum by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation and the supernatant (C1 deficient serum, C1D) was used for assay of C1 hemolytic activity (C1D method). Serum concentration of PEG 6,000 ranging from 3.5-4% was determined to be suitable for preparation of C1D, but C1D prepared by PEG 4,000 were proved unsatisfactory for use. Oxidation of C1D by iodine treatment increased C1 activity by two-fold. The C1D method was comparable in sensitivity to the conventional method, and the correlation between the 2 methods was good (r = 0.94). The C1D method was shown to be a useful tool for the study of C1 activation, since the method specifically measured C1, but not C1 activity. A half-life (T1/2) of C1 activity in fluid phase at 37 degrees C was 20 min under physiologic conditions.

Complement Activation↗
PubMed1976

Complement activity in children with protein-calorie malnutrition.

Using the hemolytic complement (CH50) assay, we evaluated the complement system of 28 children with severe protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) during their hospital admission and recovery. The mean CH50 activity in children with kwashiorkor was significantly less on hospital days 1 and 4 than in 17 healthy control subjects. On day 8 it rose to normal, and by day 50 it was significantly higher than the controls. The mean CH50 titer of 16 well-nourished febrile children was, in contrast to that of untreated PCM, significantly greater than the healthy controls. Of the children with PCM, 11 (40%) evidenced anticomplementary (AC) activity in their serum on either day or 1 or 4, but only two (7%) had detectable serum AC activity during later convalescence. Significantly, the CH50 titer in a PCM serum correlated inversely to the amount of AC activity in that serum (P less than 0.01). These results indicate that, in children with PCM, the complement system is compromised functionally, and that its repair coincides with intake of adequate diet. The presence of AC activity provides a possible mechanism for depressed complement activity in some untreated PCM children.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1986

An inherited deficiency of the third component of complement, C3, in guinea pigs.

Hereditary deficiency of the third component of complement, C3, is found very seldom in the human. C3 deficiency is associated with severe bacterial infections revealing the central role of C3 in complement activation via the classical or alternative pathway. We describe a new hereditary C3 deficiency in strain 2 guinea pigs. Serum from these animals had a markedly reduced lytic activity in a standard assay for complement-dependent, antibody-mediated cytotoxicity. In functional assays of individual components, the hemolytic activity of the components C4, C2, C5 and of factors B, D and H was in the normal range. The functional C3 titer, and similarly C3 antigenic activity in the serum of these C3-deficient animals (C3D) was on average only 5.7% of normal activity. Typing the animals with alloantisera or monoclonal antibodies to guinea pig Ia-antigens revealed that the C3D animals had the major histocompatibility complex-haplotype of inbred strain 2 guinea pigs (B.1, Ia.2,4). The C3 defect is not linked to the major histocompatibility complex and, in addition, is not linked to a C3a receptor deficiency. Macrophages and hepatocytes of the C3D animals have an unimpaired capacity for synthesis and secretion of C3 as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There was no indication for hypercatabolism of normal C3 by the animals as shown by plasma clearance of 125I-radiolabeled C3. Thrombocytes of the C3D animals responded normally to stimulation with purified C3a in an ATP-release assay without an indication for a desensitization in vivo. Possibly the fault resides in an enhanced susceptibility of their own C3 to proteolysis. However, C3 partially purified from the plasma of the C3D animals or secreted by hepatocytes exhibited no obvious structural differences to purified normal C3 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or in immunoblotting. The C3D serum had a reduced bactericidal activity compared to normal or to C4-deficient serum. Nevertheless, the animals are apparently healthy without an indication for increased frequency of bacterial infections. These guinea pigs provide an unique model for analysis of the biological functions of C3 in vivo and in vitro without the need for artificial C3-depletion procedures with all their known and unknown side-effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

An immunofluorescence assay for complement activation by the classical pathway.

The functional integrity of classical complement pathway components was determined by an immunofluorescence (IFL) assay based on the capacity of cytoskeletal intermediate filaments (IMF) to bind C1q and to activate the complement pathway. The assay uses IMF-rich capillary endothelium of human term placentae as complement-activating substrate. IFL staining for bound C1q, C4 and C3 was demonstrated after incubation of the tissue sections with normal human sera in dilutions up to 1 : 80. Known inhibitors of C1q binding and inhibitors fo C3 convertase formation prevented binding of complement components. Eight of 100 sera from patients showed negative or reduced binding of complement whereas all of 100 control sera from healthy individuals were positive in the assay. Four negative patients' sera were studied further: 3 had markedly reduced hemolytic activity and normal levels of C3 and C4. The IFL assay for complement activation provides a simple method of evaluating complement deficiencies and of studying mechanisms and inhibitors of complement activation.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1985

The effect of aflatoxin on complement activity in broiler chickens.

Groups of broiler chickens were fed rations containing .625, 1.25, or 2.5 micrograms total aflatoxin/g of feed from one day to 42 days of age. Treatment groups were segregated according to sex and control groups were maintained. The chickens were bled at 14-day intervals, and serum was collected for assay of total complement (C) activity using a radial hemolytic procedure. No significant differences were found in C titers between males and females of the same age group. For the sexes combined, mean C titers of chickens fed aflatoxin were compared to mean titers of controls. For each age group, significant differences in C titers existed only between the control group and those chickens fed 2.5 micrograms/g aflatoxin. Complement is a major component of the humoral immune response and this study adds to the evidence that aflatoxin can be immunosuppressive to chickens.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed1976

Hereditary deficiency of the fifth component of complement in man. I. Clinical, immunochemical, and family studies.

The first recognized human kindred with hereditary deficiency of the fifth component of complement (C5) is described. The proband, a 20-year-old black female with systemic lupus erythematosus since age 11, lacked serum hemolytic complement activity, even during remission. C5 was undetectable in her serum by both immunodiffusion and hemolytic assays. Other complement components were normal during remission of lupus, but C1, C4, C2, and C3 levels fell during exacerbations. A younger half-sister, who had no underlying disease, was also found to lack immunochemically detectable C5. By hemolytic assay, she exhibited 1-2% of the normal serum C5 level and normal concentrations of other complement components. C5 levels of other family members were either normal or approximately half-normal, consistent with autosomal codominant inheritance of the gene determining C5 deficiency. Normal hemolytic titers were restored to both homozygous C5-deficient (C5D) sera by addition of highly purified human C5. In specific C5 titrations, however, it was noted that when limited amounts of C5 were assayed in the presence of low dilutions of either C5D serum, curving rather than linear dose-response plots were consistently obtained, suggesting some inhibitory effect. Further studies suggested that low dilutions of C5D serum contain a factor (or factors) interfering at some step in the hemolytic assay of C5, rather than a true C5 inhibitor or inactivator. Of clinical interest are (a) the documentation of membranous glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, and arthritis in an individual lacking C5 (and its biologic functions), and (b) a remarkable propensity to bacterial infections in the proband, even during periods of low-dose or alternate-day corticosteroid therapy. Other observations indicate that the C5D state is compatible with normal coagulation function and the capacity to mount a neutrophilic leukocytosis during pyogenic infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Preparation of an R3 reagent (serum depleted of the third component of human complement (C3)) by immunoadsorption. Application to the hemolytic assay of human C3.

We have devised a simple one-step preparation of C3 depleted serum (R3). Fresh normal human serum, with complement activation inhibitors, was depleted of C3 by affinity chromatography on a Sepharose anti-C3c. To prevent non-specific interactions, a high ionic strength buffer containing saccharose was used. Immunochemical analysis and complement activity assays demonstrate that this C3 depleted serum is a suitable R3 reagent. This R3 reagent has been used successfully for titration of hemolytic activity of C3 in normal and abnormal sera. Two simple, specific and sensitive assays are described.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

Hereditary deficiency of the sixth component of complement in man. I. Immunochemical, biologic, and family studies.

An 18-yr-old black woman in good general health was found to lack serum hemolytic complement activity. The sixth component of complement (C6) was undetectable by functional assay of serum or plasma and by immunoprecipitin analysis of serum. Functional titers of all other complement components were normal. The absence of C6 in the patient's serum could not be accounted for by a circulating C6 inhibitor, and addition of functionally pure C6 to the patient's serum restored hemolytic activity to normal. Both parents of the proband and five of six available siblings had approximately half the normal levels of functional C6. The other sibling had a normal C6 level. These data suggest that both parents and five siblings are heterozygous for C6 deficiency, while the proband is homozygous and one sibling is normal. Thus, C6 deficiency appears to follow classic mendelian inheritance, with all three possible genotypes recognizable within the family. Functional properties of the proband's C6-deficient serum included total absence of bactericidal activity against Salmonella typhi 0 901 and Hemophilus influenzae, type b, and inability to mediate lysis of red blood cells from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in either the acidified serum or "sugar water" tests. The proband's serum did, however, exhibit a normal capacity (a) to generate chemotactic activity during incubation with bacterial endotoxin or aggregated IgG, (b) to mediate the immune adherence phenomenon, and (c) to coat human red blood cells, sensitized by cold agglutinins, with C4 and C3.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Extracorporeal circulation: in vivo and in vitro analysis of complement activation by heparin-bonded surfaces.

Complement activation was analyzed during extracorporeal CO2 removal to compare heparin-coated with standard surfaces where systemic heparinization was required. In vivo studies were performed in adult sheep for up to 5 days under standardized conditions using a capillary membrane oxygenator. Applying assays for hemolytic complement function (CH50, APH50) and C3-derived split products, we found that complement activation was markedly reduced in sheep connected to an extracorporeal circuit where heparin was covalently bound by end-point attachment. In addition, incubation of human serum in a miniaturized circulation system revealed less complement activation by heparin-bonded surfaces, as evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for C3a and the activation-specific protein-protein complexes, C1rsC1 inhibitor (classical pathway) and C3b(Bb)P (alternative pathway). Our results provide further evidence that biocompatibility can be improved by end-point attachment of heparin to the surfaces of the extracorporeal circuit.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The use of monoclonal antibodies as probes of the three-dimensional structure of human complement factor D.

The monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were studied for their binding specificities and their effects on the hemolytic and proteolytic activities of human D. One Mab, FD10-1, was obtained from mice immunized with native D; the other, JA4-2, was similarly obtained from mice immunized with BSA coupled to a synthetic nonapeptide (Arg-Ile-Leu-Gly-Gly-Arg-Glu-Ala-Tyr) containing the seven NH2-terminal amino acids of D. By using a PEG-precipitation assay system, lactoperoxidase-iodinated D was precipitated by FD10-1 cell culture supernatant as well as by the purified MAb. Conversely, with the use of the same assay system, neither the JA4-2 cell culture supernatant nor the purified MAb precipitated any significant amount of 125I-D. In contrast, by using a solid-phase binding assay, radiolabeled JA4-2 as well as FD10-1 bound to D-coated wells. In addition, the binding of purified JA4-2 to D-coated wells could be completely inhibited by the nonapeptide, whereas the binding of purified FD10-1 at equivalent concentrations was unaffected. These binding studies correlated with the results of functional assays. FD10-1 was found to inhibit the hemolytic activity of the alternative complement pathway in human serum as well as the cleavage of radiolabeled B by D in the presence of cobra venom factor, whereas JA4-2 had no significant inhibitory effect in either of these assays. These data suggest that the NH2-terminus of native D, like that of other active serine proteases, is buried inside the molecule where it is inaccessible to the bulky JA4-2 MAb.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Decreased heat-labile opsonic activity and complement levels associated with evidence of C3 breakdown products in infected pleural effusions.

Heat-labile opsonic activity was measured simultaneously in serum and pleural fluid of patients with transudates, infectious exudates (with positive or negative bacterial culture) and neoplastic exudates, using two different complement-dependent phagocytic tests: the killing of Staphylococcus aureus Wood 46 variant strain (K50 opsonic titers) and the assessment of ingestion rate of endotoxin-coated paraffin particles (Oil Red 0 uptake test). K50 opsonic titers were lower in culture-positive pleural effusions as compared to culture-negative (P < 0.002) or neoplastic effusions (P < 0.002). These results were corroborated by the Oil Red 0 uptake test. The data obtained with the two assays showed a significant correlation (P < 0.001). The hemolytic activity of complement (CH50) as well as the levels of C3 breakdown product, C3d, were measured in the same sera and pleural fluid samples and in an additional group of patients with pleural effusions of the same etiology. Effusions with positive cultures showed lower CH50 values (P < 0.01) and higher C3d values (P < 0.05) when compared to culture-negative pleural fluids. Finally, evidence for immune complexes in pleural effusions and sera was looked for by determination of Clq binding activity. Levels were higher in culture-positive effusions when compared to culture-negative fluids (P = 0.005).K50 opsonic titers showed a positive correlation with CH50 values (P < 0.001) for all fluids tested. Similarly Clq binding activity correlated with C3d levels in effusions of infectious origin (P = 0.05). Recovery experiments using the various bacterial species isolated from culture-positive pleural effusions showed evidence of complement inactivation upon incubation with pooled sera at concentrations of 10(7)-10(8) microorganisms/ml. These results indicate that one important reason for bacterial persistence in empyema may be decreased opsonization secondary to local consumption of complement.

Adult↗
PubMed1968

Complement-inactivating proteinase(s) from Clostridium histolyticum.

A proteinase fraction inhibiting the hemolytic activity of guinea pig complement was obtained from supernatant fluids of Clostridium histolyticum cultures and purified 150- to 350-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. An assay was developed based on the inactivation of hemolytic complement. Partially purified anticomplementary preparations were active against casein and were capable of "solubilizing" Escherichia coli endotoxin. Two components were found by differential heat inactivation, with complement and casein as substrates, but only one of these components was active against endotoxin. The more heat-stable activity, showing 50% inactivation at about 47 C, was characterized as to pH and ionic strength optima and sensitivity to reagents such as cysteine, beta-mercaptoethanol, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and heavy metals.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Activation of the alternative complement pathway by Sporothrix schenckii.

We studied the activation of complement by Sporothrix schenckii yeast cells. Total complement activity, and the effect of various activators on this activity, were assayed on aliquots of fresh nonimmune human serum with and without prior treatment with chelators. Both total hemolytic complement and C3 were consumed (activated) in serum chelated with magnesium ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, which blocks the classical pathway but leaves the alternative pathway intact. Further, C3 was consumed, but C4 (exclusively a component of the classical pathway) was preserved, in nonchelated serum after challenge by S. schenckii yeast cells. Absorption of serum with S. schenckii yeast cells to deplete antibodies did not alter these results. Furthermore, immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that C3, but not immunoglobulin G, was deposited on yeast cells during incubation with nonimmune serum. These data indicate that S. schenckii yeast cells activate the alternative complement pathway in vitro independently of antibody. These data do not define a role for the alternative pathway in in vivo host defenses against infection with this organism but provide a foundation for studies to evaluate such a role.

Chelating Agents↗