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Effect of complement-protein-C3b density on the binding of complement factor H to surface-bound C3b.

Various amounts of the activation fragment C3b of the complement (C) protein C3 were coupled to Sepharose 4B by catalysis with the C3 convertase of the alternative pathway of C. The binding of radioactively labelled C proteins B and H (= factor H) to the C3b-carrying particles was assayed. It was found that the relative binding of H, but not of B, fell rapidly with decreasing densities of solid-phase C3b, suggesting a sigmoidal relationship between C3b density and binding of H. To study the phenomenon in more detail, preformed C3b was coupled to activated thiopropyl-Sepharose 6B at various densities. By using this model system, it was shown that the binding of H/unit amount of C3b was positively correlated to C3b density up to a C3b concentration of about 0.5 mg/ml of gel, whereas binding of B was independent of C3b density. The results show that accumulation of high densities of C3b on a surface creates high-affinity binding sites for H. Because H has recently been shown to form dimers in solution, the interaction of dimeric H with neighbouring C3b molecules is a likely explanation for the phenomenon. The C3b density effect may be a regulatory mechanism keeping the activation of the alternative pathway of C on activating surface within reasonable limits.

Complement C3-C5 Convertases

A family with complement factor I deficiency.

A family with inherited factor I deficiency is described. The proband was a 19-year-old Caucasian female with one episode of meningococcal meningitis and one episode of suspected septicaemia of unknown cause. Two obligate and two probable heterozygotes with factor I levels below the lower limit of the reference range were identified. None of these exhibited increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. The inheritance was autosomal codominant. In addition, molecular heterogeneity of factor H in plasma from the proband but not from any other family members was demonstrated by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The migration of factor H component of fast electrophoretic mobility was retarded by antibodies to C3c and C3d, suggesting the presence of a fluid-phase complex between factor H and excess C3b generated by the uncontrolled activity of the amplification loop.

Adult

Genetic polymorphism of complement factor H in cattle.

Bovine factor H was found to be polymorphic by the combined techniques of SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis of bovine plasma and immunoblotting. Three phenotypes (S, SF, F) were identified in a sample population of 149 cattle. Variant S and F differed by an apparent molecular weight of 5000 daltons. Family studies demonstrated Mendelian segregation of variants S and F. The data indicate that these genetic variants of bovine factor H are encoded by two codominant alleles at a single autosomal locus.

Alleles

A DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism in the complement region of the human MHC shows an absolute correlation with polymorphism of complement factor B(Bf) defined by isoelectric focusing.

The gene coding for properdin factor Bf is located in the human major histocompatibility complex and is closely linked to the genes coding for the complement components C2 and C4. Recently, by Southern blotting techniques, a restriction fragment length polymorphism was identified using the endonuclease Taq I, which subdivides haplotypes carrying the F allele of factor Bf. The F allotype has also been subdivided at the protein level by isoelectric focusing into two subtypes Fa and Fb. We have investigated the DNA of 41 healthy unrelated individuals with known BfF subtypes using the 2.3 kb factor Bf cDNA probe to determine if there is any correlation between the Taq I polymorphism and F subtype. We have found that in 23 individuals who carried the Fb subtype a 6.6 kb Taq I fragment was present. The remaining 18 individuals carried the Fa subtype and showed only the 4.5 kb Taq I fragment on Southern blotting (P = 10(-12). This striking correlation (r = 1) between the Fb protein and DNA polymorphism is surprising especially as the 4.5 kb and 6.6 kb Taq I fragments overlap the Bf and C2 genes and the polymorphic Taq I site is located within the C2 gene.

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

Tissue-specific initiation of murine complement factor B mRNA transcription.

Factor B (Bf) gene expression is regulated independently in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues. In studying murine factor B expression, we found two mature mRNA species for Bf in kidney and intestine (2.7 and 2.4 kb) but in other tissues, including liver, lung, spleen, heart, brain, and skeletal muscle, only a single Bf transcript (2.4 kb) was observed. These two Bf transcripts in kidney or intestine are identical in structure except for a 300 bp 5' extension found in the 2.7-kb mRNA. The long Bf transcript originates from a tissue-specific alternative site of transcriptional initiation upstream of the initiation site for the 2.4-kb mRNA, as determined by primer extension and nuclease protection assays. The upstream initiation site lacks a typical promoter motif and is only 80 bp downstream from the terminus of the murine C2 gene. After stimulation in vivo with endotoxin, only the 2.4-kb mRNA increases in kidney indicating independent regulation of the two Bf transcripts. The differences in 5' untranslated region generated in these two Bf mRNA species may affect local concentrations of factor B protein in kidney and intestine by mechanisms depending on differential translation rates or stability of mRNA.

Acute-Phase Reaction

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

Truncated forms of human complement factor H.

By the use of Western-blot analyses with polyclonal anti-(Factor H) antibodies, two low-Mr protein species of Mr 41,000 and 37,000 under non-reducing conditions and 43,000 and 40,000 under reducing conditions are consistently detected together with the well-known 155,000-Mr Factor H in human plasma and serum. These two additional species are also found in plasma, urine and synovial fluids. The 41,000-Mr species but not the 37,00-Mr species is detected by a monoclonal anti-(Factor H) antibody directed at the N-terminal part of Factor H. The 37,000-Mr species but not the 41,000-Mr species is detected by a monoclonal anti-(Factor H) antibody directed at the C-terminal part of Factor H. The 41,000-Mr and 37,000-Mr species are different from the well-characterized 36,000-Mr N-terminal tryptic fragment of Factor H. They are likely to represent translational products of the short Factor H mRNA species of 1.8 kb and 1.2-1.5 kb occurring in human liver that we have recently described.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Molecular characterization of human complement factor B subtypes.

While several laboratories have agreed that there are two subtypes of the BF*F alleles, no information has been available until now at the molecular level. The region of the BF gene corresponding to the Ba fragment [1.7 kilobases (kb)] of the BF*S, BF*FA, and BF*FB alleles has been sequenced after specific amplification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A point mutation at codon 7 has been revealed converting a cytosine in the BF*S allele to a thymidine in BF*FB. At the translational level an arginine residue in BF*S is substituted for a tryptophan residue in BF*FB. The amino-terminal sequencing of factor B immunoprecipitated from serum has been carried out from microquantities of protein blotted onto polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes. We have shown that the difference between the BF*FA and the BF*FB subtypes in characterized by a glutamine at position 7 in BF*FA and a tryptophan in BF*FB.

Base Sequence

Heterogeneous nature of human complement factor B: an electrophoretic approach for the analysis of its oligosaccharide chain structure and its physiological breakdown products.

Factor B is a glycoprotein which plays an essential role in the alternative pathway of complement activation. It carries the proteolytic activity of the convertases, and its physiological breakdown products Ba and Bb have some effects on the cells of the immune system. Human factor B exhibits a microheterogeneity and five isoforms are present in serum. The nature and origin of the microheterogeneity was investigated by using electrophoretic techniques. Treatments of factor B with neuraminidase and glycopeptidase F show that this microheterogeneity is mainly due to differences in its sialic acid content, varying from seven to eleven residues per molecule, and resulting in different oligosaccharide structures. However, deglycosylated factor B reveals a residual, nonallotypic variation in the Bb region of the polypeptide backbone. We confirm the presence of four asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains of the complex type in native factor B, two of which are located in the Ba fragment, and the two others in the Bb fragment. The prevalent isoform of the native protein carries two sialic acid residues per oligosaccharide chain. Biosynthesis experiments show that the microheterogeneity of secreted factor B from HepG2 cells is acquired during the processing of its glycans. However, in vitro-secreted factor B is more heterogeneous than the serum protein. We propose a structural model for the microheterogeneity of the native protein and its physiological fragments. We discuss as well the feasibility of electrophoretic techniques to deal with microheterogeneity analysis.

Amidohydrolases

The Ba fragment of complement factor B inhibits human B lymphocyte proliferation.

Normal human B lymphocyte function is finely regulated by both positive and negative signals at each stage of activation, proliferation, and differentiation. Activation signals include antigen and surface Ig cross-linking agents such as anti-mu or anti-delta. Signals inducing proliferation include IL-2, high m.w.-B cell growth factor (BCGF), and low m.w.-BCGF. IL-2 as well as IL-6 and other partially characterized B cell differentiation factors can induce terminal differentiation of proliferating B cells into Ig-secreting plasma cells. Various C components have been described to regulate B cell function including Bb that enhances proliferation, C5a that enhances Ig production, and C3a that inhibits Ig production. In our study, we examined the ability of the factor B cleavage fragment Ba to influence human B cell function. Ba did not affect the activation of resting B cells but inhibited the proliferation of activated B cells stimulated with either high m.w.-BCGF or low m.w.-BCGF. The inhibition occurred with doses of Ba as low as 1 microgram/ml (29 nM). Ba was found to bind to activated human B lymphocytes in a saturable manner with an apparent K of approximately 25 nM and an apparent Bmax of 56,000 sites/cell. A peptide made of the carboxy terminal 10 amino acids of Ba (GHGPGEQQKR), was also found to inhibit growth factor induced proliferation of activated B cells but at an ID50 of approximately 5 microM. Finally, Ba was found to inhibit the terminal differentiation of Staphylococcus aweus Cowan-activated B cells stimulated with B cell differentiation factors but not Ig secretion by the partially differentiated EBV-transformed cell line SKW.6. Thus, concentrations of Ba achievable in vivo at sites of active inflammation were found to act on human B lymphocytes by inhibiting their proliferation. This may act to limit the immune response to a specific antigenic challenge.

Amino Acid Sequence

Structural polymorphism of murine complement factor H controlled by a locus located between the Hc and the beta 2M locus on the second chromosome of the mouse.

Structural polymorphism of murine factor H protein was demonstrated by using three different methods. 1) By prolonged agarose electrophoresis and immunofixation, factor H protein was visualized in the beta region as a single, distinct protein band in freshly bled EDTA-plasmas from many laboratory and wild mice. Two variants were detected among a large number of tested strains; one, referred to as H.1, moved faster to the anodal region (type strain, BALB/c), and the other, referred to as H.2, moved more slowly to the anodal region (type strain, STR). The F1 hybrid between BALB/c and STR exhibited a combining type of factor H protein, which was observed in each parent. 2) Two-dimensional peptide mapping analysis was carried out with tryptic peptides of these two factor H allotypes. Almost all of the spots in the maps of tryptic peptides were common to both allotypes. However, three distinct spots among the 57 spots detected in the map of tryptic peptides of the H.1 allotypes were not detected in that of H.2 allotype, whereas two spots among the 56 spots in the map of H.2 allotype were unique for this allotype. The F1 hybrid between BALB/c and STR showed a combining type of the map of parent. 3) Alloantisera against each of H allotypes were successfully produced in BALB/c or BALB/c-H.2 (a congenic strain with H.2 allotype) by repeated injection of each purified factor H protein either from the BALB/c or the STR strain. These findings indicated that the observed variants of factor H represent antigenically and structurally distinguishable allotypes. The allotypes of murine factor H protein are controlled by a single codominant locus located between the Hc locus and the beta 2M locus on the second chromosome of the mouse. This was shown by phenotyping the Hc locus and H locus with backcross progenies between A/J (one of strain with H.1) and MoA (one of strain with H.2). The recombination frequency between these two loci was 0.17 +/- 0.046.

Animals

Regulation of proteolytic activity of complement factor I by pH: C3b/C4b receptor (CR1) and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) have different pH optima for factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b.

C3b/C4b receptor (CR1) and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) are integral membrane glycoproteins with factor I-dependent cofactor activity. They bind to C3b, allowing factor I to cleave C3b at two sites (first and second cleavage), which results in the generation of C3bi, a hemolytically inactive form which is a ligand for complement receptor type three (CR3). C3bi is further degraded by factor I and CR1 (third cleavage) to C3dg (a ligand for complement receptor type two, CR2) and C3c. Using two different substrates, fluid-phase C3b and cell-bound C3b, the cleavage of C3b by MCP and factor I was compared to that by CR1 and factor I under various conditions. The optimal pH for the first and second cleavage of either substrate was 6.0 for MCP and 7.5 for CR1. The third cleavage was mediated only by CR1 and factor I, the optimal pH being 8.0. Low ionic conditions enhanced the C3b binding and cofactor activity of both CR1 and MCP. The efficiency of binding C3b to CR1 or MCP was maximal at pH 6.2. The isoelectric point (pI) of MCP was acidic (approximately 4.0), while that of CR1 was 6.8. Therefore, compared to CR1, MCP possesses distinct functional profiles relative to C3b-binding and factor I-cofactor activity.

Antigens, CD

Ascorbic acid transport by 3T6 fibroblasts. Regulation by and purification of human serum complement factor.

It was earlier reported (Padh, H., and Aleo, J. J. (1987) Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 185, 153-157) that the activation of serum complement by endotoxin or immunocomplexes inhibited ascorbate transport in 3T6 fibroblasts. We show here that the inhibitor of 3T6 fibroblasts. We show here that the inhibitor of ascorbate transport increased the Km for ascorbate without affecting the Vmax, indicating that the inhibitor reduces the affinity of the ascorbate transporter for ascorbate without affecting the process of translocation. Inhibition by serum and endotoxin was reversible, and the generated inhibitor was no longer heat-labile (at 56 degrees C for 30 min) suggesting that the inhibitor of ascorbate transport is likely to be a small protein molecule. Utilization of complement components suggested that C3 was consumed during formation of the inhibitor of ascorbate transport while C5 and factor B were not consumed. These data along with other results indicate that the inhibitor is generated at C3 step of complement activation. The inhibitor was purified from inulin activated human serum and it had an apparent molecular mass of around 9000 daltons. The inhibitory effect of the purified factor was abolished by antiserum to C3a suggesting that the 9000-dalton factor could be related to this fragment of complement protein. These data raise the possibility that tissue supply of ascorbate may be compromised during infection or autoimmune processes when serum complement is activated.

Animals