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PubMed1992

Mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis associated with meningococcal meningitis, C3 nephritic factor and persistently low complement C3 and C5.

We report two unusual cases in which mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis occurred in association with meningococcal infection. C3 nephritic factor, an autoantibody to alternate pathway C3 convertase, was present. Low serum complement C3 and C5 levels were also noted. The depressed complement levels, in conjunction with terminal complement complexes at the upper limit of normal, suggest activation of the early and late complement cascade. We suggest that children presenting with meningococcal infection should have a regular urine examination, as well as full complement measurements performed, in view of the association with hypocomplementaemic mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis. Similarly, prophylactic penicillin should be prescribed for patients with mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis and persistently low C5 levels to prevent meningococcal complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The complement system in pregnancy.

Maternal recognition of fetal antigens is well-documented. Antibodies directed against fetal antigens are the rule rather than the exception. Maternal antibodies seem to bind fetal antigens at the placental level and apparently activate the complement system even in normal pregnancy, yet multiple studies confirm an increase in C1q, C4, C3 and CH50 levels in pregnancy and an absence of complement activation. More sensitive assays and a broadened concept of the timing of crucial immunologic events may lead to a greater understanding of the importance of the complement system in pregnancy.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1979

Multiple effects of a diamidine (propamidine) on complement activation.

Propamidine, one of the diamidines used against infections with babesiae has inhibitory and enhancing effects on complement activation as assessed by immune haemolysis of sensitized sheep red cells. Utilization of C1 is powerfully, that of C3 weakly improved by propamidine while activation and/or fixation of C4, C5 and to a lesser degree of C8 and C9 are inhibited. At low concentrations of propamidine (less than 2 mM) the enhancing effects, at higher concentrations the inhibitory effects predominate. Inhibition is produced, in some cases certainly, in others likely, by interference of propamidine with binding properties of complement components. None of the complement enzymes, C1s, C42 or C3bBb was inhibited in its hydrolytic activity. The possible significance of propamidine actions is discussed.

Amidines↗
PubMed1980

Native and activated properdin: interconvertibility and identity of amino- and carboxy-terminal sequences.

The development of a two-step purification procedure of native properdin with good yield has allowed the physical and chemical comparison of native and activated properdin. The two forms of properdin have identical electrophoretic mobility, subunit size, and amino- as well as carboxyl-terminal amino acid sequences. The two forms of properdin can be interconverted by using mild denaturing agents, indicating that the change in biologic activity is conformational. Circular dichroism analysis of properdin reveals a significant variability in the tertiary structure. However, the differences are a result of the method of purification and do not correspond to the biologic activity of the protein, because the spectra of the interconverted forms of properdin do not change. This indicates that the conformational transition that causes biologic activity changes is small, relative to the conformational variations produced by other conditions that do not alter the biologic activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Effect of decay-accelerating factor on the assembly of the classical and alternative pathway C3 convertases in the presence of C4 or C3 nephritic factor.

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) is a 70,000 MW membrane protein that regulates the complement system on the cell surface. In the present study, we found that DAF had no effect on the classical pathway C3 and C5 convertases that had been stabilized by C4 nephritic factor (C4NeF). In DAF-incorporated cells, however, the assembly of the classical pathway C3 convertase was markedly inhibited even in the presence of C4NeF. C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) in the alternative pathway protected the C3 convertase from the action of DAF to some extent, while the generation of C3 convertase was also inhibited by DAF. These results indicate that under physiological conditions, DAF functions to inhibit the assembly of C3 convertases even in the presence of nephritic factors, although it has no or little effect on the stabilized convertases. Thus, it is likely that DAF plays an important role in protection of host cells from damage by autologous complement in patients with nephritic factors.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1983

Activation of the alternative complement pathway by the immune precipitate formed with F(ab')2 fragment of human IgG antibody.

The complement fixing ability of the F(ab')2 fragment of human IgG was studied using an immune precipitate (Ippt) formed between tetanus toxoid and the F(ab')2 of high-titer IgG antibody against tetanus toxin. A major subclass of the specific IgG antibody against tetanus toxin, which was separated by affinity column chromatography, was identified as IgG1. On incubation of normal human serum (NHS) with the Ippt formed at equivalence, a dose-dependent consumption of CH50, C3 and C5 activities was observed without significant loss of the early acting complement components. A similar consumption of CH50, C3 and C5 activities was found in NHS reacted with Ippt formed at any antigen/antibody ratio. The Ippt formed at antibody excess was more efficient in complement consumption than the Ippt formed at antigen excess. An apparent consumption of C3 and C5 activities was also noted in C4-deficient guinea pig serum treated with Ippt. When Ippt was incubated with Mg2+--EGTA-treated NHS, both C3 and C5 convertases of the alternative pathway were generated on the Ippt. From these results, it was concluded the the F(ab')2 of human IgG antibody, especially IgG1 antibody, when it formed an Ippt with antigen, could activate the alternative complement pathway.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1998

Transgenic mice overexpressing the complement inhibitor crry as a soluble protein are protected from antibody-induced glomerular injury.

Complement receptor 1-related gene/protein y (Crry) is a potent murine membrane complement regulator that inhibits classical and alternative pathway C3 convertases. In nephrotoxic serum (NTS) nephritis, injected antibodies (Abs) bind to glomeruli, leading to complement activation and subsequent glomerular injury and albuminuria. To study the phenotypic effects of continuous complement pathway blockade, transgenic mice were created that express recombinant soluble (rs) Crry directed by the broadly active and heavy metal-inducible metallothionein-I promoter. One transgenic line expressing high levels of rsCrry was propagated. Serum rsCrry levels were 18.7 +/- 2.7 microg/ml (n = 5) at basal level and increased to 118.1 +/- 20.6 microg/ml 4 d after addition of zinc to the drinking water. By reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), transgene messenger (m)RNA was present in liver, kidney, brain, lung, and spleen, but not in heart. By in situ RT-PCR analysis of kidneys, transgene mRNA was widely expressed both in renal glomeruli and tubules. Urinary excretion of rsCrry was 113.4 +/- 22.4 microg/ml with a fractional excretion relative to creatinine of 13.2 +/- 2.7%, consistent with local renal production of rsCrry and secretion into urine. The founder and all transgene positive adult animals have remained healthy with no mortality or apparent phenotypic abnormalities, including infection or immune complex disease. To determine whether rsCrry blocked complement-mediated injury, NTS nephritis was induced by injection of NTS immunoglobulin (Ig)G, followed by an 18-h urine collection to quantitate the excretion of albumin as a measure of glomerular injury. In transgene-negative littermates (n = 15), transgene-positive animals (n = 10), and transgene-positive animals fed zinc (n = 10), albuminuria was 4,393 +/- 948, 1,783 +/- 454, and 1,057 +/- 277 microg/mg creatinine, respectively (P < 0.01 by ANOVA). Glomerular C3 was evident by immunofluorescence staining in 12/15 transgene-negative animals, but in none of the transgene-positive animals fed zinc. Thus, we have produced the first transgenic animals that overexpress a soluble C3 convertase inhibitor. rsCrry expression markedly ameliorates an Ab-induced disease model in vivo. These results support the hypothesis that continuous complement inhibition at the C3 convertase step is feasible and effective in complement-mediated injury states.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Steady state relations between control proteins regulating the formation of the alternative pathway C3 convertase.

A steady state algebraic Mass Action analysis of the factors controlling the concentration of the alternative pathway C3 convertase is presented. The positive feedback loop does not make this portion of the complement system insensitive to variation in control protein concentrations; on the contrary, a hyperbolic relationship is revealed between C3 convertase and a complex product of the control protein concentrations which contains some mathematical non-linearities. The consequences of this relationship are explored. It is found that variations in the concentration of any one control protein will have an effect which can only be predicted if its initial concentration and those of the other control proteins are known. The system is capable of responding with a considerable range of amplitudes to a given signal which raises the question as to whether the feedback loop confers biological advantage, not only by augmenting the activation of C3 to C3b, but through its potential for flexibility in responding to an activating stimulus. The analysis may also prove useful in the design and evaluation of experiments to determine the reaction rate constants governing the interactions between the control proteins in the fluid phase in vitro.

Complement Activating Enzymes↗
PubMed1981

The binding of human complement proteins C5, factor B, beta 1H and properdin to complement fragment C3b on zymosan.

The covalent binding of complement fragment C3b to zymosan by the action of the alternative-pathway C3 convertase and the reversible binding of several complement proteins (component C5, factor B, beta 1H and properdin) to C3b on zymosan have been investigated. When C3b is deposited on zymosan after activation by a surface-bound C3 convertase, the C3b molecules are deposited in foci around the C3 convertase site, with an average of 30 C3b molecules per site. The association constants of C5, factor B, beta 1H, and properdin for C3b bound to zymosan have been determined. The association constants ranged from 6.5 x 10(-5) M-1 for factor B to 2.9 x 10(7) M-1 for properdin. An approximate stoichiometry of 1 : 1 for C5, factor B, and properdin binding to C3b has been observed. Curvilinear Scatchard plots were observed for beta 1H binding to C3b, with the maximal extrapolated ratio of beta 1H to C3b of 0.32. Physiological amounts of properdin increase by 7-fold the affinity constant for factor B binding to C3b with no alteration in the stoichiometry. Similarly, physiological amounts of factor B increase the affinity constant of properdin to C3b about 4-fold with only a small measured difference in stoichiometry. Competition binding studies and protein modification suggest that C5, factor B, beta 1H, and properdin each bind to a distinct region on C3b.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1987

Interactions of the platelets in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria with complement. Relationship to defects in the regulation of complement and to platelet survival in vivo.

The blood cells of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) have abnormal interactions with complement. The activity of the alternative pathway C3 convertase on the platelets of 9 out of 19 patients with PNH was elevated. 10 patients had C3 convertase activity within the normal range even though 80-95% of their platelets lacked the complement regulatory protein decay accelerating factor (DAF) that is absent from the affected blood cells in PNH. PNH and normal platelets released factor H when C3 was bound to their surfaces. This may account for the apparent regulation of C3 convertase activity on platelets that lack DAF. The abnormal uptake of the membrane attack complex of complement by PNH III erythrocytes was not seen in PNH platelets. 111Indium-labeled platelet survival times were normal in five of eight patients, which suggests that the lack of the membrane attack complex defect results in normal platelet survival in PNH.

Blood Coagulation Factors↗
PubMed1975

Properdin: initiation of alternative complement pathway.

Activation of the classical complement (C) system involves conversion of C1 to its active state with subsequent cleavage of C4 and -d C2 so as to form the classical C3 convertase, C42 (a bar indicates the activated form of a protein), which sequentially cleaves C3 and C5 to initiate the cytolytic event associated with the complete reaction. An alternative, pr properdin-dependent, pathway to complement activation generates a C3 convertase, C3B, that is formed by cleavage of B with D in the presence of a C3b, the major cleavage fragment of C3. C3b is capable of binding activated properidin (P) with resultant stabilization of C3B, which otherwise rapidly decays by loss of B activity. Initial cleavage of C3, a prerequisite for formation of C3B, is demonstrated to occur through the interaction of native C3 and B in the presence of either D or P alone, or together. The effect of P on the interaction of D, B, and C3 is attributed to stabilization of C3B as has been shown for C3B. Larger amounts of P and B with C3 in the absence of D form a C3 convertase that is designated (P)C3B to indicate that demonstrable cleavage of B does not occur although the active site is available. The generation of this initial convertase, as assessed by C3 inactivation, is dose-related to P and B inputs. The presence of both P and D greatly augments initial cleavage of C3 with D fully uncovering the active site of B and P stabilizing that site.

Complement C3↗
PubMed1987

Persistently circulating C3 nephritic factor (C3 NeF)-stabilized alternative pathway C3 convertase (C3 CoF) in serum of an 11-year-old girl with meningococcal septicemia--simultaneous occurrence with free C3 NeF.

Hemolytic complement was found to be absent in the serum of an 11-yr-old girl (R.N.) with meningococcal septicemia. C1, C4, and C2 were slightly decreased, C3 was absent, C5-C9 within the normal range. B levels immunochemically and electrophoretic mobility of B were normal. C3d was greater than 1000% of a pooled EDTA-plasma standard indicating hypercatabolism of C3. On incubation of the patient's serum with normal human serum activation of C3 occurred even in the presence of 0.04 M EDTA. The amount of C3b generated was, however, greater without any chelating agent or in Mg-EGTA. On gel filtration of the serum two protein containing peaks were found to be responsible for activation of C3: the IgG containing peak was able to activate C3 in normal human serum without chelating agents and in Mg-EGTA but not in the presence of EDTA. The IgM-containing peak activated the third component of complement even in the presence of EDTA. The factor responsible for this phenomenon was termed C3 converting factor (C3 CoF). The IgG fraction of the patients serum caused activation of C3 in Mg-EGTA. However, in the presence of EDTA no activation of C3 could be induced even if physiological concentrations of the patients IgG were added to normal human EDTA-plasma. Thus the activity of the patient's IgG did not differ from typical C3 nephritic factor. The decay of C2 in EAC42 intermediates in the presence of the patient's IgG was uninfluenced indicating that it did not carry autoantibody activity against the classical pathway convertase C4b,2a, an activity recently termed NFc.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child↗
PubMed1983

Initiation of the alternative complement pathway due to spontaneous hydrolysis of the thioester of C3.

Initiation of the alternative pathway of complement involves the random attachment of C3b on all biological particles in contact with plasma. This process requires continuous proteolytic generation of metastable C3b. The responsible protease arises as a result of conformational changes in C3 that occur upon thioester hydrolysis. The product, C3(H2O), is functionally C3b-like and forms a C3 convertase with Factors B and D. The resulting biomolecular enzyme, C3(H2O),Bb, is a serine protease that cleaves C3 generating metastable C3b. The rate of spontaneous generation of C3(H2O) under physiological conditions is between 0.2 and 0.4%/hr. C3(H2O),Bb produces only three to five metastable C3b molecules per enzyme before being inactivated by regulatory proteins. The thioester bond in metastable C3b has been estimated to be 10(10) times more reactive than that in native C3 and mediates attachment of C3b to biological particles. Once bound, C3b is subject to two competing processes: (1) inactivation and (2) a chain reaction-like amplification process that can deposit large numbers of C3b molecules on the particles within a very short period of time after the initial C3b binds. On activators of the alternative pathway, inactivation of C3b is restricted and amplification of C3b results in activation of the cytolytic pathway of complement.

Complement Activation↗