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Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus-infected alveolar macrophages contain no detectable levels of viral proteins in their plasma membrane and are protected against antibody-dependent, complement-mediated cell lysis.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) can evade the host immune system, which results in prolonged virus replication for several weeks to several months. To date, the mechanisms of PRRSV immune evasion have not been investigated in detail. One possible immune-evasion strategy is to avoid incorporation of viral proteins into the plasma membrane of infected cells, as this prevents recognition by virus-specific antibodies and consequent cell lysis either by the classical complement pathway or by antibody-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In this study, viral proteins were not observed in the plasma membrane of in vitro-infected macrophages by using confocal microscopy or flow cytometry. Subsequently, the sensitivity of PRRSV-infected macrophages towards antibody-dependent, complement-mediated cell lysis (ADCML) was determined by using an ADCML assay. A non-significant percentage of PRRSV-infected cells were killed in the assay, showing that in vitro PRRSV-infected macrophages are protected against ADCML. PRRSV proteins were not detected in the plasma membrane of in vivo-infected alveolar macrophages and ADCML was also not observed. Together, these data indicate that viral proteins are not incorporated into the plasma membrane of PRRSV-infected macrophages, which makes infected cells invisible to PRRSV-specific antibodies. This absence of viral proteins on the cell surface could explain the protection against ADCML observed for in vitro and in vivo PRRSV-infected macrophages, and may play a role in virus persistence.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗

Complement effector mechanisms in health and disease.

Complement is an effector system able to mediate a number of biological activities in vitro and in vivo. Most familiar is the ability of the system to mediate the lytic destruction of numerous kinds of cells and pathogenic organisms including bacteria, viruses, and virus-infected cells. In addition, the complement system also activates neutrophils, monocytes, basophils, mast cells, and lymphocytes to perform specialized functions. While generally considered to be confined to the effector side of immune reactions, recent evidence indicates that the complement system also directly recognizes and is triggered by a number of bacteria and viruses as well as virus-infected cells in the absence of antibody. In such reactions, complement fulfills the recognition role normally associated with the antibody molecule or immune lymphocyte. The complement system may thus also function as a natural surveillance system operative prior to the induction of specific immunity. Involvement of the complement system in biological reactions has been ascertained by several techniques over the years. These include quantitation of individual complement components in human sera and demonstration of complement deposition in diseased tissues in human diseases and in experimental diseases in animals. Such techniques, however, have limitations in specificity and sensitivity. Assays which detect specific features of the complement activation process have become available in recent years. These tests detect the physical, chemical, or antigenic changes characteristic of the complement activation process. These assays are extremely specific and quantitative; furthermore, most are usable with samples from patients. Three general approaches have been utilized to develop such specific quantitative assays for complement activation. The first includes assays which quantitate activation-specific limited proteolysis of the complement components. The second type of assay includes tests which detect and quantitate new antigens or other activation-specific antigenic changes. The third category is represented by assays which detect and quantitate the protein-protein complexes characteristic of the activation process. Examples of tests presenting each of these approaches are given.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

The complement system in bullous pemphigoid: VII. Fixation of the regulatory protein beta 1H globulin by pemphigoid antibody.

Using in vitro complement immunofluorescent staining methods, serum samples from 5 active cases of bullous pemphigoid, with pemphigoid antibody titers of 320 or greater, were tested for their ability to fix the regulatory protein beta 1H globulin in addition to C4 and C3. All 5 samples yielded positive C3, C4 and beta 1H staining reactions in a linear fashion along the basement membrane zone. Heat inactivation or treatment of the complement source (fresh normal human serum) with EDTA, Mg2-EGTA abolished all 3 staining reactions. Substitution of C2-deficient serum as the source of complement inhibited both C3 and beta 1H staining but had no effect on C4 staining. Use of serum devoid of beta 1H (R beta 1H) minimally enhanced C3 staining while no beta 1H staining was observed. The addition of beta 1H to R beta 1H restored positive beta 1H staining. Skin biopsies of perilesional skin from 6 patients with bullous pemphigoid demonstrated heavy in vivo deposition of beta 1H in addition to C3. These studies suggest that pemphigoid antibodies will fix the regulatory protein beta 1H in addition to other complement components, a phenomenon which requires activation of the classical complement pathway and generation of the C3b amplification convertase.

Antibodies↗

Complement activation by trichophyton rubrum.

The role of complement in infections by dermatophytes is unknown. Therefore we evaluated the ability of the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum to activate complement in vitro. Aliquots of human plasma that had been incubated with T. rubrum were examined for evidence of complement activation. Following incubation, the total hemolytic complement activity of plasma fell 76%. Further, each T. rubrum incubation led to obvious C3 conversion and generation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) aggregating activity. Plasma that had complement activity depleted by heat (56 degrees C x 30 min) or 10 mM EDTA failed to develop C3 conversion or PMN aggregating activity. Complement activation was not affected when the classical complement pathway was selectively blocked by MgEGTA. These studies indicate that T. rubrum can activate the complement system by the alternative pathway. The consequent generation of anaphylatoxins, chemotaxins, and opsonins might be important both in host defense against dermatophytic infections and in the inflammatory reactions mediated by them.

Animals↗

In vitro complement binding in human skin cells with altered differentiation.

Exposure of cytoskeletal intermediate-sized filaments (ISF) of various cell populations in normal human skin to normal human serum (NHS) results in the deposition of C3 upon these structures; this phenomenon most likely occurs antibody-independently, is initiated by Clq binding to ISF, and is followed by the activation of the classical complement pathway. In the present study we investigated the cytoplasmic C3-binding properties of skin cells undergoing altered differentiation. Incubation of cryostat skin sections of dermal melanocytic nevi with NHS and, subsequently, with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated rabbit antihuman C3 resulted in a bright cytoplasmic staining of the vast majority of nevus cells. Immunoelectron microscopic studies demonstrated that ISF within nevus cells represented the only cytoplasmic C3-binding structures. In contrast, ISF within melanoma cells, basal cell carcinoma cells, and keratinocytes constituting psoriatic lesions lacked C3-binding properties. We propose that changes in structure and subunit protein composition of ISF in certain cells undergoing altered differentiation results in a decrease or loss of their C3-binding capacity.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗

Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta immunohistopathologic study.

Immunoglobulin M and complement (Clq, C3 and C9) were found to be deposited together in the walls of affected blood vessels and also in the basement membrane zone of skin lesions from two patients with pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLVA). The fluorescence appeared to be most intensely distributed in blood vessels which were affected by inflammatory infiltrates and frequently showed hyaline or fibrinoid changes of their walls. Deposits of C3 activator, fibrin and albumin were not observed. These findings suggest that the disease process in PLVA is the result of a vasculitis mediated by an immune complex and possibly by activation of the classical complement pathway. In addition, serum IgM was slightly increased in both patients.

Adolescent↗

Mannose-binding protein recognizes glioma cells: in vitro analysis of complement activation on glioma cells via the lectin pathway.

The lectin pathway is a novel pathway for activation of the complement cascade, which is initiated by the binding of mannose-binding protein (MBP) to its carbohydrate ligands. We investigated whether the complement system was activated in vitro by glioma cells through this pathway to the C3 level. MBP was found to bind to all six glioma cell lines tested by using flow cytometric analysis. Binding of a complex of MBP-associated serine protease and MBP was observed in two of the cell lines examined, thereby resulting in C4 consumption. Activation of C3 was hemolytically evaluated in these two lines. C3 consumption was also observed in one. Based on these results, it is likely that recognition by MBP followed by complement activation occurs in certain glioma cell lines.

Carrier Proteins↗

Immune reaction to propanidid.

An adverse reaction to the intravenous anaesthetic agent propanidid is described in which the main features were hypotension, facial erythema, and abdominal pain. Changes in serum complement levels and differential white cell counts indicate that this was an immune reaction mediated by the classical complement pathway. The immune reaction apparently involved antibodies other than those of the IgE (reagin) class, and circumstantial evidence suggests that it was specific to propanidid rather than to the entire formulation or to Cremophor EL.

Abdomen↗

Vitronectin-mediated inhibition of complement: evidence for different binding sites for C5b-7 and C9.

In the activated complement system, vitronectin (complement S-protein) occupies the metastable membrane binding site of the nascent precursor complex C5b-7, so that the newly formed SC5b-7 is unable to insert into cell membranes. Some evidence also indicates that vitronectin limits on-going membrane-associated pore formation by inhibiting C9 polymerization. It has been assumed that these two stages of terminal complement complex (TCC) inhibition take place through charge interactions between the heparin-binding region of vitronectin and homologous cysteine-rich sequences of the late complement proteins C6, C7, C8 and C9. We examined SC5b-7 formation and inhibition of C9 binding in the TCC using separate haemolytic assays. The mode of action of vitronectin in these assays was compared with two 15mer peptides which span residues 348-379 of the heparin-binding region, and a heparin-affinity polypeptide, protamine sulphate. The results showed that vitronectin acts predominantly through SC5b-7 production with a lesser effect on the inhibition of C9 lytic pore formation. In contrast, protamine sulphate did not prevent C5b-7 membrane attachment, but was a potent inhibitor of C9-mediated lysis. The peptides did not inhibit C5b-7 membrane insertion and only one affected C9 binding. These data suggest that the two stages of TCC inhibition involve separate binding sites on the vitronectin molecule. The site for association with nascent C5b-7 is unknown, whereas inhibition of C9 binding and pore formation takes place through the heparin-binding region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Studies on the mechanism of complement-mediated inhibition of antibody binding to HIV gp41.

We have previously demonstrated that HIV envelope gp41 binding to specific antibodies decreases after preincubation of fluid-phase gp41 in normal human serum. This inhibition is proven to be mediated by the classical complement pathway. In this study recombinant gp41 (rgp41) and/or synthetic peptides were preadsorbed to solid phase, and then complement (normal human serum/heated human serum/purified Clq/heated Clq) and anti-gp41 antibodies were added either after each other or simultaneously, and the amounts of bound antibody, and deposited C3b, C4b and Clq were measured. Complement-dependent inhibition of antibody binding to solid-phase rgp41 was found, and Clq seems to be at least partially responsible for this phenomenon. Heating of Clq did not affect this process. Higher amounts of anti-gp41 antibodies significantly and dose-dependently enhanced C4b and C3b fixation to solid-phase rgp41. In the case of synthetic peptides corresponding to the immunodominant region of gp41, significant antibody binding to the solid-phase peptides was also detected, and pretreatment of peptides preadsorbed to solid phase with normal human serum almost totally abolished the antibody binding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complement activation and antibody binding by pneumolysin via a region of the toxin homologous to a human acute-phase protein.

Pneumolysin, a membrane-damaging toxin, is known to activate the classical complement pathway. We have shown that 1 microgram ml-1 of pneumolysin can activate complement, which is a much lower level than observed previously. We have identified two distinct regions of pneumolysin which show homology with a contiguous sequence within acute-phase proteins, including human C-reactive protein (CRP). Site-directed mutagenesis of the pneumolysin gene was used to change residues common to pneumolysin and CRP. Some of the modified toxins had a reduced ability both to activate complement and bind antibody. We suggest that the ability of pneumolysin to activate complement is related to its ability to bind the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

BibA: a novel immunogenic bacterial adhesin contributing to group B Streptococcus survival in human blood.

By the analysis of the recently sequenced genomes of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) we have identified a novel immunogenic adhesin with anti-phagocytic activity, named BibA. The bibA gene is present in 100% of the 24 GBS strains analysed. BibA-specific IgG were found in human sera from normal healthy donors. The putative protein product is a polypeptide of 630 amino acids containing a helix-rich N-terminal domain, a proline-rich region and a canonical LPXTG cell wall-anchoring domain. BibA is expressed on the surface of several GBS strains, but is also recovered in GBS culture supernatants. BibA specifically binds to human C4-binding protein, a regulator of the classic complement pathway. Deletion of the bibA gene severely reduced the capacity of GBS to survive in human blood and to resist opsonophagocytic killing by human neutrophils. In addition, BibA expression increased the virulence of GBS in a mouse infection model. The role of BibA in GBS adhesion was demonstrated by the impaired ability of a bibA knockout mutant strain to adhere to both human cervical and lung epithelial cells. Furthermore, we calculated that recombinant BibA bound to human epithelial cells of distinct origin with an affinity constant of approximately 10(-8) M for cervical epithelial cells. Hence BibA is a novel multifunctional protein involved in both resistance to phagocytic killing and adhesion to host cells. The identification of this potential new virulence factor represents an important step in the development of strategies to combat GBS-associated infections.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Chemotaxis of human granulocytes toward microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus.

Migration of human peripheral blood granulocytes in response to microfilariae of O. volvulus was demonstrated using modified Boyden chambers. Granulocyte migration was significantly enhanced when microfilariae were preincubated with heat-inactivated immune serum (delta IS), then added to a fresh serum source (P less than 0.025). This effect was not seen when microfilariae were incubated in medium alone, in delta IS alone, in delta IS plus C4-deficient guinea-pig serum, or in fresh serum alone. There was no significant difference between the response of cells from O. volvulus-infected donors and that of cells from normal volunteers. Likewise, there was no significant difference between the migratory response seen toward nodule- versus skin-derived microfilariae. These results suggest that the host inflammatory response to O. volvulus microfilariae is mediated in part by chemotactic factors generated by antibody and complement interaction with the organism and, furthermore, that these factors are product(s) of classical complement pathway activation.

Animals↗

Binding and activation of the first complement component by soluble immune complexes: effect of complex size and composition.

The interaction between soluble immune complexes and the first component of complement (C1) was studied. Complexes were prepared from purified bovine thyroglobulin (BTg) or tetanus toxoid (TT) and immunospecific IgG antibodies. Purified human precursor C1 was incubated with dilutions of the preparations, and the inhibition of C1 haemolytic activity was determined as a measure of C1-binding. The activation of C1 was assessed by measuring the amount of C4 consumed by generated C1. The molar antibody/antigen (Ab/Ag) ratio of BTg--anti-BTg mixtures strongly influenced their C1-binding and C1-activating capacities: mixtures with high Ab/Ag ratios were by far the most efficient. On the other hand, the Ab/Ag ratio had only a limited influence on the activity of TT--anti-TT complexes. The effect of complex size was investigated by ultracentrifugation of antibody-antigen mixtures on calibrated sucrose density gradients followed by C1-binding and -activation experiments with the fractions obtained. For both types of immune complex, the C1-binding and -activating capacities increased markedly with increasing complex size. Thus, both the size and the Ab/Ag ratio of soluble immune complexes influence their capacity to activate the classical complement pathway. The effect of the Ab/Ag ratio, however, may also be dependent on the antigen molecule(s) present in the complexes.

Animals↗