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Nonimmunologic complement activation in normal human serum induced by radiographic contrast media.

Two different radiographic contrast media (RCM), iothalamate and iodipamide, induced the activation of several complement (C) components in normal, genetically C2-deficient and agammaglobulinemic human sera in vitro. This activation was dose dependent and demonstrable by a reduction in whole C as well as C4, C2, C3, and C5 hemolytic activities. C6, C8, and C9 hemolytic activities were unaffected. Concommitant with the loss of C3 hemolytic activity was the appearance of C3 proteolytic cleavage products that were identified by immunoelectrophoresis. Both the loss of C3 hemolytic activity and the production of C3 fragments occurred in the presence of 10 mM EDTA, indicating RCM-induced C3 cleavage occurred without participation of the multicomponent C3/C5 convertases of either the classical or alternative C pathways. Furthermore, loss of C3 hemolytic activity was not due to the direct alteration of the C3 molecule by RCM because purified C3 was unaffected upon incubation with RCM at a concentration that induced 80% reduction in the C3 hemolytic activity in normal human serum. Serum samples obtained from 40 patients, before and 30 min after undergoing i.v. pyelography, revealed no significant change in total hemolytic C activity; 34 patients received sodium and methylglucamine diatrizoate and six received sodium iothalamate. Hemolytic C3 levels were also determined for the six patients before and 30 min after administration of sodium iothalamate and no significant change in activity was detectable.

Agammaglobulinemia↗

On the mechanism of membrane damage by C: exposure of hydrophobic sites on activated C proteins.

In previous papers we have presented evidence that peptides from C proteins C5b, C7, C8, and C9 become inserted in the lipid bilayer membranes and form a transmembrane channel. Presumably, this insertion follows exposure of hydrophobic domains by C activation. In the present experiments liposomes were made with 14C-phosphatidyl choline (PC) and Forssman antigen in the bilayer, and with 86Rb+ in the aqueous compartments. When such liposomes were incubated with anti-Forssman antibody (A) and guinea pig serum (GPS) as a source of C, substantially more 14C-PC and 86Rb+ were released than from liposomes treated with A and C4-deficient GPS, or with A and heated C, or with C alone, or with A alone. The specific release of PC was dependent on the dose of C. Prior treatment of GPS with cobra venom factor abolished its capacity to release PC. The release of PC by A and C7-deficient human serum (C7D-HS) was the same as that of GPS alone, i.e., there was no specific release. A and C8D-HS produced much less specific release than A and GPS; addition of purified guinea pig C7 or C8 to C7D-HS or C8D-HS, respectively, restored the PC release to its full extent. Hence, part of the PC removal is mediated by C5b,6,7; the remainder is attributable to C8 and/or C9.

Animals↗

Synergistic inhibition of human cell-mediated cytotoxicity by complement component antisera indicates that target cell lysis may result from an enzymatic cascade involving granzymes and perforin.

A widely accepted theory of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) proposes that upon effector cell (EC) and target cell (TC) interaction, release of perforin, serine proteases and other lytic moieties contained within cytoplasmic granules results in TC lysis. Complement activation and the activation of the various enzymatic activities associated with cytotoxic granules have strikingly similar modes of action and both lead to pore formation in their respective targets. We report here that by using antisera to early and late complement components we were able to inhibit CTL, NK and ADCC cytotoxicity up to 100%, even though binding of EC to TC was unaffected. Furthermore, we showed that addition of C1q or C1s (two serine proteases) antisera to C9 antisera, at titers too low to inhibit separately, resulted in synergistic inhibition of CMC. Anti-C1s together with anti-C1q (or anti-C8 with anti-C9) did not result in synergy. This finding supports a cascade model of activation for lytic molecules released from EC. In addition, we demonstrated that anti-C1q and anti-C1s bind to proteins in the 30-kD region and anti-C9 binds to proteins in the 70-kD region, coinciding with published molecular weights of granzymes and perforin, respectively. Finally, lytic ability of purified granules was also inhibited by complement antisera, further suggesting that activation occurs outside of TC. Taken as a whole, these data indicate that TC lysis may be the result of a cascade of events involving granzymes and perforin, analogous to that seen with the complement system.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The membrane attack mechanism of complement. Isolation and subunit composition of the C5b-9 complex.

Isolation of the C5b-9 complex from inulin-activated whole human serum was effected by molecular sieve column chromatography employing Biogel A-15 M, preparative Pevikon block electrophoresis, and removal of low density beta-lipoproteins by flotation in CsCl. The final product was homogeneous upon cellulose acetate strip electrophoresis and analytical ultracentrifugation. Ouchterlony analyses indicated that the complex reacted with antisera to C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9 to form a continuous, circular precipitin line without spurs. The C5b-9 complex was dissociated by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the absence of reducing agents, and analytical SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed seven protein bands after straining with Coomassie Blue. Bands 1, 2, 3, and 6 were identified as C5b, C7, C6, and C9, respectively. Bands 4 and 7 were identified as two noncovalently bound subunits of C8. Molar ratios among C5b, C6, C7, C8, and C9 dissociated from the complex by SDS were estimated to be 1:1:1:1:3. Band 5 protein, which had an estimated mol wt of 88,000 and was found to occur with a molar ratio of 3, has not yet been identified. Its nature and possible biological functions are discussed.

Animals↗

Studies on demyelination in vitro: the requirement of membrane attack components of the complement system.

Anti-spinal cord antibodies (anti-SC) cause demyelination of well myelinated mouse cerebellum cultures in the presence of fresh serum. Heating the serum for 30 min at 56 degrees C abolishes the demyelinating activity. We studied the role of complement (c) in demyelination initiated by anti-SC in well myelinated mouse cerebellum cultures. Demyelination was assessed morphologically. The extent of demyelination was correlated to the dose of whole serum C as well as the dose of antibody. To evaluate the requirement of membrane attack components of C, C5b-C9, sister cultures were treated with antibody + C8 deficient human serum (C8D-HS) with and without purified human C8. Extensive demyelination was observed in C8-reconstituted cultures whereas antibody + C8D-HS did not demyelinate, indicating the essential requirement of C5b-8, and/or C5b-9. Extensively demyelinated cultures remyelinated when fresh medium was supplied, suggesting that the process of antibody and C-mediated demyelination is selective for myelin membrane in this system.

Animals↗

Complement profiles in human skin lymph during the course of irritant contact dermatitis.

Using microsurgery a superficial peripheral lymph vessel draining the skin of the upper and medial part of the foot was cannulated on the lower leg of two healthy human volunteers. An irritant contact dermatitis was induced 2 days later by the application of 10% sodium lauryl sulphate to the drained skin area. After a further 3 days the spontaneously regressing skin reaction was treated with clobetasol propionate. Lymph was continuously collected in two aliquots per day for 7 days. The levels of total protein, of albumin and globulins, and of complement components of the classical, the alternative and the lytic pathway as well as the C4A and C4B gene products and the regulatory proteins FB, C1INH, C4BP, FH and FI were determined by ELISA and radial immunodiffusion techniques. Postoperatively, the levels of complement proteins and globulins in the lymph were 5-10 times lower than those in normal human serum, but increased during the course of the skin reaction, while the irritant contact dermatitis did not induce a change in their plasma concentration. In comparison to the baseline, the mean values for C1q, C1r, C2, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, FB, C1INH, C4BP, FH and FI exhibited a 3-5-fold increase, C3, total C4, albumin and the alpha 1-globulin fraction a 6-9-fold increase, and C1s, C4A, C4B, FB and alpha 2-, beta- and gamma-globulins a 10-20-fold increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Albumins↗

Molecular reorganization of lipid bilayers by complement: a possible mechanism for membranolysis.

The interaction between the membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement and flat lipid bilayers was investigated. Using spin-labeled derivatives of phospholipids and cholesterol and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, we measured the penetration of the MAC into bilayers and its influence on the order of bilayers. The MAC precursor components C5b--6, C7, C8, and C9 did not exert any measurable influence on lipid membranes. Functional C5b--7 was shown to interact strongly with the bilayer surface without deep penetration into the bilayer. Formation of C5b--8 and especially C5b--9 caused a marked change in the anisotropy of spectra from probes located within the hydrocarbon phase. The spectral changes are not caused by changes in probe rotation and, in the case of the cholesterol probes, are not due to direct probe--protein interactions. For these reasons we interpret the spectral changes to be the result of reorientation of ordered bilayer lipids effected by strong binding of phospholipids to MAC proteins.

Cholesterol↗

Further characterization of complement resistance conferred on Escherichia coli by the plasmid genes traT of R100 and iss of ColV,I-K94.

We have shown that the traT gene product was responsible for the complement resistance of the R100 plasmid. We compared this resistance with that specified by the iss gene of the ColV,I-K94 plasmid. The levels of resistance specified by the two genes were similar, and there was no additive effect on resistance when both genes were present together. Under conditions in which traT and iss conferred at least a 50- and 10-fold increase in survival, respectively, the consumption of C6, C7, C8, and C9 was the same for bacteria with and without the plasmid genes. This result indicated that it was the action of the terminal complex, not its formation, which was blocked by traT and iss.

Bacteriocin Plasmids↗

Membrane attack complex of complement. Evidence for its dimeric structure based on hybrid formation.

Molecular hybridization experiments provided new evidence for the dimeric nature of the membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement. Monomeric C5b-6, which constitutes the first intermediate complex in MAC formation, was prepared in two differentially labeled forms: biotin-125I-C5b-6 and 131I-C5b-6. Using a mixture of the differentially labeled C5b-6, the MAC was assembled on phospholipid vesicles upon addition of C7, C8, and C9. The assembled MAC containing biotin-125I and 131I was extracted from the vesicles with deoxycholate, purified, and exposed to avidin-Sepharose. Biotin-mediated binding of the MAC to avidin-Sepharose not only effected binding of 125I, but also of 131I, indicating that both radiolabels resided in the same molecular entity. When equimolar amounts of differentially labeled C5b-6 were available for MAC formation, 50% of MAC formed contained one molecule of each form. Theoretical analysis of the experimental data clearly favored the dimer structure over the structure of a higher oligomer. In contrast, fluid phase SC5b-9 was clearly monomeric on the basis of the same analysis. The electron microscopic appearance of the biotinated MAC hybrid closely resembled that of the characteristic membrane lesions of complement lysed cells. An avidin-ferritin conjugate attached itself to the ring-shaped portion of the biotinated MAC and not to its perpendicular structures, suggesting that C5b-6 is an integral part of the ring structure of the MAC.

Biotin↗

Neoantigen of the complement membrane attack complex of cytotoxic human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Neoantigenic determinants (neoAg) specific for the assembling membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement were detected by immunofluorescence microscopy on the surface of cytotoxic lymphocytes during the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) reaction. This study employed antibody-sensitized chicken erythrocytes as target cells, human peripheral blood lymphocytes as effector cells, and RITC-conjugated rabbit F(ab')2-anti-neoAg. NeoAg was present on 60% of ADCC plaque-forming lymphocytes (PFL). Eight out of 182 neoAg-positive PFL were observed in direct contact with their target cells. In these cases MAC-specific neoAg was visualized at the zone of contact between the cells. Anti-neoAg Ig was found to inhibit ADCC plaque assays up to 62%; and 51Cr-release assays up to 79%. Stimulation of lymphocytes by PHA or mixed lymphocyte culture increased the expression of neoAg. In the case of PHA, increased neoAg expression was correlated with an increased incorporation of 14C-leucine into C5, C6, C7, and C8 antigens, which was detected by immunodiffusion and autoradiography.

Animals↗

Effects of zinc chloride on guinea pig complement component activity in vitro: concentration-dependent inhibition and enhancement.

We have studied the in vitro effects of zinc chloride on the hemolytic activity of each component of the guinea pig classical complement pathway over a wide range (25 to 500 muM) of zinc concentrations. At high concentrations (>200 muM) the activity of all components was strongly inhibited by this metal. Concentrations of 500 muM inhibited C1 and C5 by 80 and 65%, respectively, whereas all other components were inhibited by more than 94%. Zinc chloride at 25 muM produced more varied effects, with C2, C3, and C6 inhibited by 36, 35, and 55%. C7 and C8 were inhibited by approximately 25%, whereas C1, C4, and C9 were not appreciably affected. The activity of the fifth component, on the other hand, was strongly enhanced by the presence of zinc. Concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 muM zinc chloride produced increases of 92, 44, and 18%, respectively, in C5 titers when present during the activation-binding step of this component. Further studies indicated that the activities of cell-bound complement components were unaffected by zinc treatment after activation and/or binding to the sheep erythrocyte surface had occurred. In addition, zinc did not appear to inhibit by causing irreversible denaturation of either total complement proteins or its various components. Rather, it appears that zinc must be present as a reactant during the activation and/or binding step of each component for inhibition or enhancement to occur.

Animals↗

Inhibition of C9 polymerization within the SC5b-9 complex of complement by S-protein.

The effect of S-protein on the polymerization of C9 during assembly of the C5b-9 complex was examined. Utilizing SDS polyacrylamide gradient slab gel electrophoresis, tubular poly C9 was quantitated as SDS resistant protein of 1.1 to 1.3 X 10(6) molecular weight. Poly C9 formation occurred upon incubation of purified C5b-6, C7, C8 and C9 at molar ratios 1:1:1:12. Addition of purified S-protein to the protein mixture or to preassembled C5b-7 or C5b-8 blocked formation of poly C9 in a dose dependent fashion and gave rise to SC5b-9. SC5b-9 assembled from purified proteins or in zymosan-activated serum was visualized in the electron microscope as a wedge-shaped structure of 350 to 400 A length and 30 to 250 A width which lacked tubular poly C9 seen in images of the membrane attack complex (MAC). Using biotinyl-S-protein and colloidal gold particles coated with avidin, S-protein was located at the wide end of the wedge-like SC5b-9 complex. It is concluded that S-protein has a dual function in SC5b-9 assembly. It blocks the membrane site of C5b-7 and it inhibits C9 polymerization by SC5b-8. Accordingly, the main structural difference between SC5b-9 and the MAC is the lack of tubular poly C9.

Binding Sites↗

Activation of the fifth and sixth components of the human complement system: C6-dependent cleavage of C5 in acid and the formation of a bimolecular lytic complex, C5b,6a.

Acidification of C5 and C6 or serum to pH 6.4 at 0 degrees C, followed by neutralization, generates a factor-designated C(56)a that causes lysis of nonsensitized erythrocytes in the presence of C7, C8, and C9. C(56)a is functionally similar to alternative pathway-generated C5b,6 in respect to the formation of C5b,6,7 sites on cells, the potentiation of lytic activity by membrane-bound C3b or the membrane-active agent A2C, and the required species compatibilities between target membranes and terminal components for optimal activity. The formation of C(56)a complex from purified components C5 and C6 proceeds independently of the classical or alternative pathway C5 convertases and requires the simultaneous H+ ion treatment of the components. The generation of C(56)a from C5 and C6 and the physicochemical properties of the complex were studied in detail and compared with those of C5b,6. Acid generation of C(56)a is dose-dependent on C5 and C6 and its efficiency is similar to that of the conventional convertase in the production of lytic activity. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation of C(56)a containing activated 125I-C5 demonstrated a shift in sedimentation from that of native C5 to 11S, which is consistent with C5,6 complex formation. C(56)a sedimentation was identical to C5b,6, and both migrated coincident with lytic complex activity. These complexes, however, are not identical because unlike C5b,6, C(56)a is unstable at 37 degrees C, demonstrating a nonlinear decay curve. In the presence of C7, both complexes exhibit similar first order decay with a T1/2 of 3 min at 37 degrees C. SDS-PAGE autoradiographic analysis of the C5-subunit structure of 125I-C5 in C(56)a and the Zx-activated C5b,6 complex prepared from purified components showed similar alpha-chain cleavage to several fragments of 109,000, 100,000, and 58,000 daltons. Conversion to lower m.w. peptides by acid treatment was more extensive. Comparison of the 125I-C5 polypeptide chains in the membrane attack complex extracted from guinea pig erythrocyte membranes, prepared by acid activation or classical pathway lysis with whole serum, demonstrated similar C5 alpha-chain cleavage to a predominant subunit of 102,000 daltons. Acid activation also produced a 109,000 dalton C5 alpha'-fragment barely detectable with classical pathway activation. Low pH treatment of C5 alone did not inactivate C5 function, form a lytic complex on the subsequent addition of C6, or cleave the C5 alpha-chain. Thus, it is postulated that local high H+ ion concentration during simultaneous acidification of C5 and C6 allows complex formation with the concomitant C6-dependent cleavage of the C5 alpha-chain and the generation of lytic capacity.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗

Ultrastructure of the membrane attack complex of complement. Heterogeneity of the complex caused by different degree of C9 polymerization.

The membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement and its precursors, i.e. C5b-7 and C5b-8, were examined by electron microscopy. C5b-7 bound to lipid vesicles exhibits an extended structure of 25 nm connected to the lipid membrane via a 10-nm long, 3-nm wide stalk. Binding of C8 to vesicle-bound C5b-7 results in the disappearance of this stalk, whereas the overall length remains unchanged. Addition of 12 C9 molecules per C5b-8 induces C9 polymerization which is accompanied by the formation of C9 tubules and membrane lesions. By using biotinyl precursors and streptavidin -coated colloidal gold particles, C5b-6, C7, and C8 was found to be in the club-like part of the MAC; C9 was identified in the tubular moiety. Only one C5b-8 moiety was detected in an individual MAC complex thus excluding the proposed "dimeric" structure of the MAC. A membrane channel of 10 nm was formed by the MAC at a C9 to C5b-8 ratio equal or larger than 12 to 1, as suggested by the penetration of negative stain into the vesicle. In contrast, binding of an average of three C9 per C5b-8 caused formation of incomplete C9 tubules with apparent membrane channels of less than 10 nm diameter. The MAC isolated from red blood cells was ultrastructurally heterogenous . Although an excess of serum was used for the formation of the complexes, mostly incomplete poly C9 tubules were formed. It is proposed that the MAC is an ultrastructurally heterogenous complex that induces the formation of membrane channels of different sizes.

Animals↗

Phenotypic genetics of complement components.

Both charge and size-dependent electrophoretic techniques have been used to investigate genetic polymorphisms of complement proteins. Of the seventeen complement proteins, ten have been shown to have genetic variants and only one (C9) has been extensively investigated without revealing variants. These investigations give information on the numbers of cistrons and their linkage relations. They demonstrate or confirm the linkage of C2, Factor B and C4 to the MHC. In the cases of both human and mouse C4, it has been shown that the loci are (usually) duplicated. C4 in humans is extremely polymorphic and exhibits a number of strong allelically associated haplotypes. Some of these have only one expressed C4 gene and are associated with disease susceptibility. C8 has at least two cistrons coding for associating subunits. C6 and C7 are linked in several species and sometimes C7 is duplicated. This gene pair is discussed in relation to natural selection and gene conversion.

Animals↗

Deficiency of the homologous restriction factor in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

The affected E of two patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) were enriched by lysing the unaffected, normal E with anti-human decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and guinea pig serum. The membranes of the unlysed, DAF-deficient cells (PNH-E) were dissolved and examined by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting using an antiserum to homologous restriction factor (HRF). Whereas the 65 kD complement regulatory protein was readily detectable in the normal controls, it was completely lacking in both samples of PNH-E membranes. Functional studies likewise indicated the absence of HRF activity from PNH-E. When radiolabeled, isolated HRF protein was offered to PNH-E, it became firmly attached to the cell. Approximately 1,000 molecules of HRF per cell reduced the characteristic susceptibility of these cells to reactive lysis by C5b-9 to nearly normal levels. The results suggest that HRF, which is known to control the action of C8 and C9 on normal human E membranes, is deficient in PNH, as well as acetylcholinesterase and DAF.

Blood Proteins↗

Evaluation of a hemolytic assay of the alternative complement pathway in human serum.

Alternative pathway activity of human serum was titrated by use of unsensitized rabbit erythrocytes (RE). Under the conditions of the assay, the von Krogh equation could be used to relate the proportion of RE lysed to the level of alternative pathway activity. The use of a 50% hemolytic endpoint provided maximum sensitivity in the assay. The 50% hemolytic endpoint could be calculated from a single measurement in the region of 20% to 80% lysis or RE. Factor B was required for lysis of RE in the test, but neither C2 nor C8 was limiting under the conditions of the assay. Alternative pathway activities of three sera with abnormal IgG levels were in the normal range, but normal serum absorbed with RE at 0 C before testing had diminished lytic activity with the test. Lysis of RE in acute-phase sera of 16 patients who had bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia was significantly below normal (P < 0.01). Results with Re lysis in these patients correlated well with levels of Factor B that were measured immunochemically and with consumption of whole complement by zymosan.

Animals↗

Mutational analysis of the active site and antibody epitopes of the complement-inhibitory glycoprotein, CD59.

The Ly-6 superfamily of cell surface molecules includes CD59, a potent regulator of the complement system that protects host cells from the cytolytic action of the membrane attack complex (MAC). Although its mechanism of action is not well understood, CD59 is thought to prevent assembly of the MAC by binding to the C8 and/or C9 proteins of the nascent complex. Here a systematic, structure-based mutational approach has been used to determine the region(s) of CD59 required for its protective activity. Analysis of 16 CD59 mutants with single, highly nonconservative substitutions suggests that CD59 has a single active site that includes Trp-40, Arg-53, and Glu-56 of the glycosylated, membrane-distal face of the disk-like extra-cellular domain and, possibly, Asp-24 positioned at the edge of the domain. The putative active site includes residues conserved across species, consistent with the lack of strict homologous restriction previously observed in studies of CD59 function. Competition and mutational analyses of the epitopes of eight CD59-blocking and non-blocking monoclonal antibodies confirmed the location of the active site. Additional experiments showed that the expression and function of CD59 are both glycosylation independent.

Amino Acid Sequence↗