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Molecular cloning of a human serum protein structurally related to complement factor H.

Two cDNA clones termed H36-1 and H36-2 were isolated from a human liver cDNA library. Clone H36-1 appears to represent the recently isolated human serum proteins h37 and h42, which are two differently glycosylated forms of a protein antigenically related to human complement factor H. The H36-1 deduced protein sequence is 327 amino acid long and possesses a leader sequence. The secreted part of the protein is comprised of five tandem repeating units, termed short consensus repeats (SCRs). SCR 1 and 2 display high homology to the corresponding region of the recently isolated murine factor H-related cDNA clone 13G1. In contrast, the 3'-end of the H36-1 clone shows sequence homology to the 3'-end of human complement factor H. The second clone, H36-2, is nearly identical to H36-1. Within 1148 base pairs, where the two clones overlap, their nucleotide sequences differed at nine positions. One nucleotide exchange in the sequence of H36-2 which was located within SCR 1 creats a stop codon (TAA). Consequently, the corresponding mRNA cannot code for a functional protein, suggesting that this clone is a transcribed pseudogene. These two clones represent new human members of the family of proteins structurally related to complement factor H.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning of the 1.4-kb mRNA species of human complement factor H reveals a novel member of the short consensus repeat family related to the carboxy terminal of the classical 150-kDa molecule.

Three factor H mRNA species of 4.3 kb, 1.8 kb, and 1.4 kb are constitutively expressed in human liver. Having previously characterized full-length cDNA clones derived from the 4.3-kb and 1.8-kb factor mRNA, we report here the isolation and eucaryotic expression of full-length cDNA clones coding for the 1.4-kb mRNA species. The 1266-bp cDNA codes for a polypeptide of 330 amino acids and contains two polyadenylation signals and a short poly(A)+tail. The protein is composed of a leader peptide followed by five short consensus repeat domains. It shows a hybrid structure with the last three domains being almost identical to the carboxy-terminal of the classical 150-kDa factor H molecule and the two first domains representing unique short consensus repeat structures. Eucaryotic expression in COS7 cells revealed two polypeptides derived from one cDNA clone that are also found in human serum. Differences between the cDNA clones within the last three domains indicate two distinct, possibly allelic sequences that, in addition, differ from the authentic 150-kDa factor H sequence. Southern blot results support the notion that the 4.3-kb factor H and the 1.4-kb factor H-related mRNA are transcribed from two separate but highly homologous genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Plasma levels of proteins of the alternative complement pathway in inbred mice that differ in resistance to Trypanosoma congolense infections.

Inbred BALB/c, A/J, and C57B1/6J mice were infected with Trypanosoma congolense (Trans Mara strain), clone TC13, and monitored for parasitemia, survival times, and plasma levels of complement components C3, C5, factor B, and factor H. Parasitemia was highest in BALB/c, intermediate in A/J, and lowest in C57Bl/6J mice. The mean survival times were 11.5 +/- 0.9, 23.8 +/- 2.3, and 119 +/- 26 days for BALB/c, A/J, and C57Bl/6J mice, respectively. Preinfection levels of factor H were significantly correlated with survival times (r = 0.7722, P less than 0.001). Marked differences were observed between the plasma levels of C3, factor B, and factor H in the 3 mouse strains following infection. Complement C5 levels showed the fewest changes. In the initial postinfection period, BALB/c mice had highest increases in the levels of the 4 complement proteins but also had the greatest declines toward the end of the infection. Factor H levels showed a biphasic increase in BALB/c and C57Bl/6J, but not in A/J mice, with peaks at days 3 and 9. Complement C3 levels declined in all mice toward the terminal stage of the disease. In the late stages of infection, factor B levels markedly decreased in BALB/c but significantly increased in C57Bl/6J mice. Factor B levels measured at the terminal stages in BALB/c, A/J, and C57Bl/6J were correlated positively with their respective survival times (r = 0.714, P less than 0.01). The results suggest that genetic differences in the alternative complement pathway might affect the resistance to T. congolense infections.

Animals↗

Metabolism of C3 and factor B in patients with congenital factor I deficiency.

The metabolism of complement factor B and C3 was analyzed in three previously described patients with congenital deficiency of factor I (C3b/C4b inactivator). Samples taken at steady state contained elevated levels of Ba and Bb, whereas native factor B was not detectable. Following plasma infusion in two of the patients Ba was rapidly cleared (within 8-12 hr) from the circulation and native factor B increased transiently, reaching normal levels within 22-24 hr. In parallel with the increase in Ba, factor B decreased during the following days, reaching preinfusion level after seven days. This was in contrast to a continued increase in C3 concentration, which was still within the normal range 15 days after infusion, despite the presence of only trace amounts of native B. In vitro complement activation experiments, employing purified C3Nef IgG as alternative pathway activator and aggregated IgG as classical pathway activator, were performed on selected serum samples (base-line, 12 hr and 15 days postinfusion samples) from the plasma infusion series. It was demonstrated that (a) C3Nef could not induce alternative pathway C3-conversion in factor B depleted samples and (b) C3-degradation by CP-activation could still occur in B-depleted samples, although at a much slower rate compared to normal human serum. These results may partly explain the difference in kinetics of factor B and C3 metabolism seen after plasma infusion in patients with factor I deficiency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Autoantibodies↗

Demonstration of an unusual allelic variation of mouse factor H by the complete cDNA sequence of the H.2 allotype.

Three allotypes of murine factor H have been identified serologically in the previous study (denoted H.1, H.2, and H.3). A cDNA clone coding for the entire length of murine factor H was isolated from a library constructed from the livers of STR/N mice which have H.2 allotype and was fully sequenced. The insert of this clone (STR309) contained 4184 nucleotides and consisted of a 47-bp 5' noncoding region, a 54-bp coding for leader peptide, a 3648 bp for the mature factor H protein, and a 435-bp 3' noncoding region. Compared with the previously reported sequence of the cDNA clone (MH8) isolated from B10.WR mice that have H.1 allotype, the size of the protein coding region was exactly the same, but 21 nucleotide substitutions resulting in 15 amino acid replacements were observed. The amino acid replacement/nucleotide substitution ratio (0.71) is far higher than those observed in the allotypic variations of other proteins. Four 15-base oligonucleotide probes specific for either STR309 or MH8 were synthesized and used in Northern blot analysis. The probes specific for STR309 hybridized with mRNA isolated from the livers of STR/N mice but not with mRNA from the livers of BALB/c mice that have H.1 allotype, whereas the reverse pattern was observed with the oligonucleotide probes specific for MH8. These results strongly suggest that the nucleotide sequence of STR309 represents H.2 allotype of factor H protein, providing an example of an unusual allotype with high ratio of amino acid replacements to nucleotide substitutions.

Alleles↗

Differential regulation of complement factor H and C3 production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by IFN-gamma and IL-1.

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) synthesize and secrete C component factors H and C3. Addition of T cell growth factor to HUVEC enhanced factor H production, and caused a profound increase in C3 production. In the present study, investigations were initiated to characterize the effects of purified rIL-1 and rIFN-gamma on the production of factor H and C3 at the protein and mRNA level. IFN-gamma enhanced factor H production in a dose-dependent fashion and a two-fold increase was observed with an optimal dose of 200 U/ml, whereas IFN-gamma had no effect on C3 production. IL-1 inhibited factor H secretion, but the production of C3 was increased 10-fold at an optimal dose of 500 pg/ml of IL-1. Kinetic experiments demonstrated that addition of IL-1 to HUVEC resulted in an induction of C3 production after more than 24 h, whereas IFN-gamma already had a significant effect on factor H production after 8 h of culture. IL-1 in combination with IFN-gamma had a synergistic effect on C3 production. The effects of IL-1 and IFN-gamma on factor H and C3 production by HUVEC could be blocked by using neutralizing amounts of antibodies specific for these cytokines. Northern blot analysis showed that factor H mRNA expression was enhanced in IFN-gamma-treated HUVEC and C3 mRNA was induced in IL-1-treated HUVEC, indicating that the observed increase of factor H and C3 probably is controlled by enhancement of transcription or stability of the transcript.

Blotting, Northern↗

Enhanced synthesis of factor B induced by tumor necrosis factor in human skin fibroblasts is decreased by IL-4.

IL-4 is a T cell-derived lymphokine that has multiple biologic functions, affecting B cells, T cells, mast cells, monocytes, macrophages, and hematopoietic progenitor cells. We report that IL-4 also affects human skin fibroblasts. These effects were primarily in modulating the effects of other mediators of inflammation on these cells, with IL-4 producing little or no effects by itself. Synthesis of C proteins in human skin fibroblasts is modulated by TNF and other mediators of inflammation. TNF increased synthesis of factor B by 18.6-fold; IL-4 reduced the TNF effect on factor B synthesis by 83%. This effect started with concentrations of IL-4 as low as 0.1 ng/ml. The effect of IL-4 on the TNF-induced increase in synthesis of factor B occurred after 2 h incubation, the time when the effects of TNF alone were first observed. IL-4 also abrogated the effects of IL-1 and LPS on factor B synthesis, but did not affect the increase in synthesis of factor B induced by IFN-gamma. In contrast to the pattern for effect of IL-4 on factor B synthesis, the TNF-induced rate of synthesis of C3 was augmented by IL-4. The specificity of the IL-4 effect was also apparent when comparing the effect of IL-4 on the TNF-induced synthesis of factor B to the effects on total protein synthesis (increased 1.5-fold) and the TNF-induced increases in synthesis in C1r, C1s, C1 inhibitor, C2, and factor H (no changes). The IL-4-induced decrease in synthesis of factor B was mediated at a pretranslational level and was dependent on synthesis of a new protein. This interaction between IL-4 and mediators of inflammation can potentially modulate the inflammatory response in the setting of activation of Th cells.

Cells, Cultured↗

Prevalence of the 1.8 kb complement factor H mRNA in human lung.

Human complement factor H, described as a 155,000 molecular weight (MW) component, is a key factor in the control of the alternative pathway of complement activation. Using two human factor H cDNA clones, designated R2a (a clone derived from the 3' end of the factor H coding sequence) and B38-1 (a clone derived from the 5' end of the factor H coding sequence), as probes, three factor H-specific transcripts of 4.3 kb, 1.8 kb and 1.5 kb are usually detected in human liver, in equal abundance. Using these two factor H cDNAs to probe human lung RNA, there was evidence of a singular distribution of the factor H mRNA species in human lung compared to liver, in equal prevalence of the 1.8 kb factor H mRNA over the 4.3 kb factor H mRNA (a three- to fourfold difference). No significant expression of the 1.5 kb mRNA was detected. The prevalence of the 1.8 kb complement factor H mRNA leads to the speculation that the predominant factor H form biosynthesized in lung tissue is a truncated form of the factor H molecule.

Blotting, Northern↗

IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor. Similarities and differences in stimulation of expression of alternative pathway of complement and IFN-beta 2/IL-6 genes in human fibroblasts.

IL-1 and TNF induced concentration-related increases in the synthesis of factor B, C3, and IFN-beta 2/IL-6 in human skin fibroblasts. Effects of both stimuli were apparent with concentrations as low as 0.1 ng/ml and maximal responses were observed between 1 and 10 ng/ml; only for IL-1 induction of IFN-beta 2/IL-6 was there a further increase in response up to 100 ng/ml. For factor B and C3, maximal increases induced by IL-1 and TNF were similar: 119- and 109-fold for factor B and 15-fold and 11-fold for C3, respectively. Although both IL-1 and TNF increase synthesis of factor B and C3 in hepatocytes, the increases observed in fibroblasts were approximately 50- and 8-fold more for factor B and C3, respectively. Neither protein synthesis nor mRNA for IFN-beta 2/IL-6 was present in HepG2 cells either before or after stimulation with IL-1 or TNF. In contrast to the similarities between the effects of IL-1 and TNF on synthesis of factor B, C3, and IFN-beta 2/IL-6, only TNF increased synthesis of factor H. Because TNF induces membrane IL-1 in fibroblasts, it is possible to speculate that the effects of TNF on fibroblasts are due to induction of IL-1. An autocrine action of TNF through IL-1 is possible for TNF-induced synthesis of IFN-beta 2/IL-6, but the effects of TNF on synthesis of factor B, C3, and factor H indicated that TNF has effects on fibroblasts separate from IL-1. The effects of IL-1 and TNF on the synthesis of factor B and C3 in fibroblasts may be a part of an acute phase response occurring at a local level. However, the large responses in synthesis of factor B and C3 to IL-1 and TNF may suggest that factor B and C3 have a role, as yet undescribed, in tissues in addition to the role these proteins are known to play in inflammation.

Adult↗

Chromosomal location of the genes encoding complement components C5 and factor H in the mouse.

Complementary DNA probes corresponding to the factor H and C5 polypeptides have been used to determine the chromosomal localizations of these two complement components. Both probes revealed complex and polymorphic arrays of DNA fragments in Southern blot analysis of mouse genomic DNA. Following the distribution of these bands in panels of somatic cell hybrids carrying various combinations of mouse chromosomes on a constant rat or Chinese hamster background allowed the localization of the C5-associated fragments to proximal chromosome 2 and the localization of the factor H-associated fragments to chromosome 1 or chromosome 3. Following the inheritance of DNA restriction fragment-length polymorphisms revealed by the probes in recombinant inbred mouse strains allowed the factor H-associated fragments to be mapped to Sas-1 on chromosome 1, and the C5-associated fragments to be mapped to Hc. Analysis of three-point crosses, in turn, placed the latter locus 19 cM distal to Sd on chromosome 2. We have designated the two loci Cfh and C5, respectively. This genetic analysis raises the possibility that C5 and factor H are both encoded by complex loci composed of distinct structural and regulatory genes.

Animals↗

Alternative complement pathway activation by C4b deposited during classical pathway activation.

Sheep erythrocytes (E) sensitized with anti-E antibody (A) were reacted with guinea pig C1 (C1gp) and human C4 (C4hu) or guinea pig C4 (C4gp) to prepare EAC1, 4b. Treatment of the EAC1, 4b with a buffer containing EDTA removes C1rgp and C1sgp, resulting in the formation of EAC4b. EAC4b prepared in this way were found to be lysed by human or guinea pig serum in a gelatin Veronal-buffered saline containing 2 mM MgCl2 and 8 mM EGTA (Mg-EGTA-GVB). In the hemolytic sensitivity of EAC4bhu, essentially no difference was noted whether IgG or IgM antibodies were used for preparation of EAC4bhu. The extent of the hemolysis of EAC4bhu was dependent on the dose of C4bhu. Because EAC4bhu were lysed even by C2-deficient human serum, C3 convertase of the classical complement pathway would not be involved in the hemolysis of EAC4bhu. Furthermore, the reactivity of EAC4bhu with serum in Mg-EGTA-GVB remained even after treatment of the intermediate cells with 1 mM PMSF, indicating that any remaining C1gp was not responsible for the hemolysis. Therefore, the hemolysis of EAC4b by sera in Mg-EGTA-GVB was considered to be mediated via activation of the alternative complement pathway (ACP). Pretreatment of EAC4bhu with anti-C4hu antibody or C4-binding protein suppressed the hemolysis of EAC4bhu via the ACP activation. Furthermore, EAC4bhu were more sensitive to hemolysis by the reaction with a mixture of C3, B, D, and H followed by rat serum in EDTA-GVB than EAC1qgp were. These results indicate that C4b molecules on the cell membrane participate in the activation of ACP.

Animals↗

Structural analysis of human complement protein H: homology with C4b binding protein, beta 2-glycoprotein I, and the Ba fragment of B2.

We report here a partial primary structure for human complement protein H. Tryptic peptides comprising 27% of the H molecule were isolated by conventional techniques and were sequenced (333 amino acid residues). Several mixed-sequence oligonucleotide probes were constructed, based on the peptide sequence data, and were used to screen a human liver cDNA library. The largest recombinant plasmid (pH1050), which hybridized with two probes, was further characterized. The cDNA insert of this plasmid contained coding sequence (672 bp) for 224 amino acids of H. The 3' end of this clone had a polyadenylated tail preceded by a polyadenylation recognition site (ATTAAA) and a 3'-untranslated region (229 bp). Four regions of internal homology, each about 60 amino acids in length, were observed in the derived protein sequence from this cDNA clone, and a further seven from the tryptic peptide sequences. The consensus sequence for each of the repetitive units of H was four cysteines, two prolines, three glycines, one tryptophan, and two tyrosines/phenylalanines. Based on the mole percent values for each of these amino acids, it is likely that H is composed of about 20 repetitive units of this nature. Furthermore, the repetitive unit of H shows pronounced homology with the Ba fragment of B, the C4b binding protein, and beta 2-glycoprotein I. Therefore, it seems that at least portions of these proteins have evolved from a common ancestral DNA element.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The biology and pathophysiology of complement receptors.

Activation of the complement cascade leads to the generation of multiple breakdown products which bind on to specific cellular receptors and regulate their function. In this review, we describe the biochemical and physiological features of the 7 known complement receptors. Four of them (complement receptors 1, 2, and 3 and receptors for C3a) bind cleavage fragments of the third component of the complement and three have specificity for C1q, factor H and C5a. In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, a unique human autoimmune disorder, the numbers of CR1 on the surface of the red blood cells are decreased; in this review we discuss the implications in the pathogenesis of SLE. A number of patients have now been reported whose cells lack CR3 from their surface; this deficiency is associated with a number of immune cell dysfunctions which are discussed in detail. Finally, we discuss aberrations in the expression of complement receptors in certain human leukemic cells.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Immunohistochemical analysis of C3 cleavage fragments, factor H, and the C5b-9 terminal complex of complement in de novo membranous glomerulonephritis occurring in patients with renal transplant.

Fifteen renal biopsies from 13 transplanted patients with de novo membranous nephropathy (DNMN) were investigated by immunofluorescence for the presence of C5b-9 neoantigens of the terminal sequence of complement and for antigens expressed by C3 cleavage fragments. DNMN lesions were classified as stage I, II or III upon light and electron microscopy examination. Seven biopsies were classified as stage I DNMN and 8 stage II-III. All patients were proteinuric. In six biopsies with stage I DNMN, staining for C5b-9 neoantigens was restricted to a fine granular labeling in mesangial areas which was analogous to that seen in normal kidneys in contrast with extensive parietal labeling for IgG, C3d and factor H antigens. In eight biopsies with stage II-III DNMN, the pattern of staining with anti-C5b-9 neoantigens antibodies was similar to that obtained with anti-IgG, anti-C3d and anti-factor H antibodies. These results suggest that in situ activation of the whole complement sequence throughout C5b-9 only occurs on large immune deposits (stage II-III DNMN).

Adolescent↗