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PubMed1977

Hereditary C5 deficiency in man: genetic linkage studies.

Genetic linkage studies were performed on the only reported kindred with genetic deficiency of the fifth component of complement (C5). Thirty family members in four generations were studied for C5 defiency and 32 genetic marker systems. Of these marker loci, 13 were informative in this pedigree. Most importantly, C5 deficiency was excluded (lod score greater than -2.0) from linkage with the major histocompatibility locus (HLA) from a recombination frequency of greater than 15% (in females). Other marker systems excluded from linkage with C5 deficiency included the ceruloplasmin and Duffy loci at a recombination frequency of less than 15%, and the erythrocyte glyoxalase, MN, and Lewis loci at a recombination frequency of less than 5%. The most positive lod score (1.07, theta=0.05) was for linkage between C5 and haptoglobin, but this score does not reach statistical significance. Thus, among the genes for complement components which can be mapped because of deficiency states or polymorphic gene products, C5 joins C1r, C3 and C6 in not being closely linked to HLA. In contrast, close HLA linkage has been demonstrated for C2, C4, properdin factor B and, in one of two families, C8.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Familial deficiency of two subunits of the first component of complement. C1r and C1s associated with a lupus erythematosus-like disease.

Complete absence of C1r and almost complete absence of C1s were found in 4 of 8 living siblings. Two of the 4 suffer from a syndrome that combines discoid lupus erythematosus and nondeforming rheumatoid-like arthritis; one of the siblings has mild nephritis. The other 2 C1 deficient family members are clinically well. Evidence from this and other families suggests that deficiency of C1 components or C4 is associated with higher risk of developing a lupus-like disease than is deficiency of C2.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Complement levels and activity in the normal and LPS-injured lung.

Complement, a complex protein system, plays an essential role in host defense through bacterial lysis, stimulation of phagocytosis, recruitment of immune cells to infected tissue, and promotion of the inflammatory response. Although complement is most well-characterized in serum, complement activity is also present in the lung. Here we further characterize the complement system in the normal and inflamed lung. By Western blot, C5, C6, and factor I were detected in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) at lower levels than in serum, whereas C2 was detected at similar levels in BAL and serum. C4 binding protein (C4BP) was not detectable in BAL. Exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elevated levels of C1q, factor B, C2, C4, C5, C6, and C3 in human BAL and C3, C5, and factor B in mouse and rat BAL. Message for C1q-B, C1r, C1s, C2, C4, C3, C5, C6, factor B, and factor H, but not C9 or C4BP, was readily detectable by RT-PCR in normal mouse lung. Exposure to LPS enhanced factor B expression, decreased C5 expression, and did not affect C1q-B expression in mouse and rat lung. BAL from rats exposed to LPS had a greater ability to deposit C3b onto bacteria through complement activation than did BAL from control rats. In summary, these data demonstrate that complement levels, expression, and function are altered in acute lung injury and suggest that complement within the lung is regulated to promote opsonization of pathogens and limit potentially harmful inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Classical complement pathway activation by antipneumococcal antibodies leads to covalent binding of C3b to antibody molecules.

We have examined whether or not a physical relationship exists between antipneumococcal antibodies (Ab) and C3b when Ab activate the classical complement pathway on the surface of pneumococci (Pn). After sensitization with 125I-labeled Ab, Pn were sequentially incubated with purified C1, C4, C2, and biotinylated C3. Ab molecules were then eluted from Pn, and C3b-associated molecules were purified on avidin-Sepharose. Both 125I-labeled immunoglobulin G (IgG) and [125I]IgM bound to C3b; the association was stable to incubation in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 37 degrees C. The association was only partially reversed by incubation in 1 M hydroxylamine-0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate (pH 10.5), implying that Ab and C3b were linked by amide as well as ester bonds. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of dithiothreitol and NH2OH eluates from the avidin-Sepharose showed that C3b bound to both heavy and light chains of the Ab. Moreover, the ability to bind to erythrocyte C3b receptors could be transferred to unsensitized Pn by eluates from Pn on which Ab had activated the classical pathway. These covalent complexes of Ab and C3b may be especially important in the opsonization of Pn by Ab and complement.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The complement system and systemic sclerosis.

Serum concentrations of the various complement components including the classical and the alternative pathways were determined in 58 control healthy subjects and 80 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSC). The mean concentrations of C1q, C2, C5, C6, C7, C9, and factor B were significantly increased in the SSC patients in comparison to controls, while the increases were not significant for C3 and C8. C4 was an exception in that the mean levels were found to be decreased, with 18 patients having levels < 65% of the mean normal value. Properdin was also found to be decreased, but not significantly. We found a similarity between the pattern of serum complement component concentrations in SSC patients and patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, two disorders frequently associated in the same patients. The significance of complement component patterns in these diseases is discussed.

Complement Activation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Functional abnormalities of complement in familial and sporadic ankylosing spondylitis].

Levels of complement fractions of 12 patients with sporadic ankylosing Spondylitis and 6 patients with familial Ankylosing Spondylitis (N. Y. Criteria) were studied by an hemolytic and functional method (microhemolysis in plate. Cordis Lab. Miami, Fla. USA). Abnormal levels were found in 94% of them high levels of C1 and C2 (p 0.002), and C3 (p 0.05) C8 and C9 (p 0.001) deficiencies, mixed or isolated, correlated with the severity of the diseases. C9 deficiency belongs to familial Ankylosing Spondylitis. These functional deficiencies of serum complement can favor the colonization and persistence of germs, which could mediate in the genesis of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Activation of the alternative pathway of complement by human peripheral nerve myelin.

Destruction of peripheral nerve myelin (PNM) occurs as a consequence of a variety of pathologic conditions affecting the peripheral nervous system. In certain primary demyelinating neuropathies, several lines of evidence implicate complement in the pathogenesis of demyelination. In this study we demonstrate that human PNM consumes complement in vitro in the absence of specific antibody or C1 activation. Furthermore, activation of complement by PNM via the alternative pathway was shown by cleavage of C3 in normal human serum (NHS) and of B in C2-deficient serum (C2d-HS). Increasing consumption of hemolytic activity of C3 in Mg-EGTA-treated NHS was also noted with increasing amounts of PNM. Pronase treatment of PNM abolished C3 consumption, suggesting that a protein component exposed on the surface of myelin participated in the alternative pathway activation. When P0, the major amphiphilic glycoprotein of PNM, was incorporated into artificial lipid bilayers, the Po-liposomes consumed C3 activity in NHS containing Mg-EGTA. Pronase treatment of Po-liposomes abolished C3 consumption to the level of control liposomes, indicating that P0 was responsible for at least part of the activation seen with peripheral myelin.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Hereditary angioneurotic oedema: characterization of plasma kinin and vascular permeability-enhancing activities.

The mediator(s) responsible for localized enhanced vascular permeability that characterizes an exacerbation of hereditary angioneurotic oedema (HAE) is thought to be a product of either contact or complement system activation. In contrast to normal individuals, plasma from these patients generates both kinin and vascular permeability-enhancing activity following incubation at 37 degrees C. Depletion of C1 inhibitor in both normal and C2-deficient plasma, but not in contact factor-deficient plasmas, resulted in generation of these activities. The kinin activity from incubated HAE plasma was susceptible to kininase inactivation and was blocked by a Bk2 receptor antagonist. Furthermore, this activity was isolated from HAE plasma; amino acid sequence analysis proved it to be bradykinin. Similarly, the vasopermeability-enhancing activity from ethanol-fractionated or boiled HAE plasma, collected during either attack or remission, co-eluted with bradykinin on reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These studies conclusively demonstrate that bradykinin is the major kinin and mediator of enhanced vascular permeability generated during incubation of HAE plasma. The role of other bioactive products, such as the C2 kinin, at local sites of oedema formation remains to be further defined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1978

Herpes gestationis: studies on the binding characteristics, activity and pathogenetic significance of the complement-fixing factor.

The sera of seven out of eight patients with Herpes gestationis contained a factor which fixed C3 but not detectable amounts of immunoglobulin (Ig) on the basement membrane zone (BMZ) of normal human skin. Using C2-deficient human serum and C4-deficient guinea-pig serum, fixation was shown to be dependent upon activation of the classical pathway, and chromatography and immunoabsorption studies indicated the H. gestationis factor to be an IgG immunoglobulin. In all seven sera the H. gestationis factor bound to, and could be eluted from, the eluate of staphylococcal protein A. Although the H. gestationis factor failed to block staining of human sera by a FITC-conjugated antibody prepared from bullous pemphigoid (BP) serum, complement fixation by five out of seven sera of patients with H. gestationis was blocked using F(ab')2 of IgG prepared from pooled BP serum. In a single patient rapid resolution of lesions followed plasma exchange on two separate occasions, indicating the pathogenetic importance of humoral factors in this disease.

Basement Membrane↗
PubMed1979

Activation of complement by Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula: killing of parasites by the alternative pathway and requirement of IgG for classical pathway activation.

Living Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula incubated with normal chicken, guinea pig, human, and monkey sera were killed after 4 hr contact at 37 degrees C. The following data indicate that this action is dependent on the activation of the alternative complement pathway (AP): a) the inactivity of RB, RD, and zymosan-treated serum against schistosomula; b) the partial activity of RD restored in FD; c) the full effect of the C4-deficient guinea pig, C2-deficient human, and the agammaglobulinemic human sera; d) the consumption of both the AP and FB after the incubation of NHS with schistosomula; e) the detection of C3d breakdown product during the contact of the C2-deficient human serum with these young parasites. Killing by serum was decreased as the immature schistosomes developed and was completely absent against 4-day-old lung schistosomula (LS). In other experiments, it was demonstrated that schistosomula, in the presence of IgG, were able to initiate complement activation also through the classical pathway (CP). However, the CP does not appear to play a role in the schistosomulicidal activity of complement. The in vivo relevance of these observations is considered.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Opsonization of encapsulated Staphylococcus aureus: the role of specific antibody and complement.

Previous studies of encapsulated Staphylococcus aureus have shown that the opsonins of normal, nonimmune human serum (complement factor C3 and IgG) bind beneath the capsule, i.e., on the cell wall, and when bound at this site these opsonins are not effective in promoting phagocytosis of the bacteria by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). In this investigation immune antibody was added to human serum to effect opsonization of encapsulated S. aureus. Opsonization was assessed by quantitating the uptake of 3H-labeled staphylococci by human PMN, and the amount of C3 fixation to bacteria was measured in a quantitative fluorescent immunoassay. Low levels of immune antibody (IgG) effectively opsonized encapsulated S. aureus when added to fresh but not to heated serum; phagocytosis of the staphylococci was mediated via pronase-sensitive membrane receptors (presumably C3b receptors) of PMN. Experiments with C2-, C3-, or C5-deficient human sera revealed that C3 was required for opsonization and that activation of C3 was mediated via the alternative complement pathway. Encapsulated S. aureus bound significantly less C3 than unencapsulated strains in diluted normal serum; addition of immune antibody, however, increased C3 fixation 4.7-fold (p less than 0.005). Immunoelectron microscopy localized C3 throughout the capsule as well as on the staphylococcal cell wall when bacteria had been opsonized in human serum with immune antibody. Without immune antibody, C3 binding was restricted to the cell wall. At approximately 10-fold higher levels of immune antibody, opsonization and phagocytosis of encapsulated S. aureus was independent of complement and pronase-sensitive receptors on PMN. These studies show that, in addition to immune antibody, the alternative pathway of complement plays an important role in the opsonization of encapsulated S. aureus strains and suggest that complement may be crucial to the in vivo clearance of these organisms.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

The complement component C1s catalysed hydrolysis of peptide 4-nitroanilide substrates.

The kinetic parameter kcat/Km has been determined for the hydrolysis of peptide 4-nitroanilides, catalysed by complement component C1s. Substrates based on the C-terminal sequence of human C4a (Leu-Gln-Arg) were synthesised. Replacement of the glutamine residue by glycine or serine increased kcat/Km. Substitution of valine for the leucine residue increased kcat/Km, while substitution of glycine or lysine for the leucine residue decreased kcat/Km slightly. D-Val-Ser-Arg 4-nitroanilide is the most reactive 4-nitroanilide substrate towards C1s, so far. These results are discussed in relation to the amino acid sequences near the bonds cleaved by C1s in C4, C2 and C1 inhibitor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Excitation energy transfer in ion pairs of polymethine cyanine dyes: efficiency and dynamics.

The present work deals with singlet excitation energy transfer (EET) occurring in contact ion pairs (CIPs) of several anionic oxonol analogues (acting as EE donors) and cationic cyanines (acting as acceptors) characterized by off resonance individual transitions. Combining conductometric and spectroscopic measurements with decreasing solvent polarity, we were able to observe a progressive ion pairing leading first to solvent-separated ion pairs (SSIPs) and then to CIPs. Analysis of the absorption spectra of three selected salts (A2,C1, A2,C2, and A1,C4) in chloroform-toluene mixtures showed that the transformation of SSIP into CIP involves the appearance of a certain exciton coupling, the extent of which decreases regularly with increasing gap between the local excitation energies. Fluorescence excitation spectra showed that EET occurs in CIP, and EET efficiencies were evaluated with a procedure expressly devised for weakly emitting donors. These were between 0.2 and 0.65 for the examined ion pairs involving anions A1 and A2. The spectroscopic study was complemented by a theoretical investigation aimed at establishing the dynamic regime of the observed EET. From classical MD simulations and local full geometry optimizations, A2,C1 and A2,C2 were found to form rather stable sandwich-type CIP structures with interchromophore distances (R) of about 0.45-0.50 nm. The donor-acceptor electronic coupling was calculated in terms of Coulombic interactions between atomic transition charges. For CIP, the electronic coupling was decidedly beyond the limit of the weak coupling required for an incoherent Förster-type mechanism. Thus, we tried to arrange the EET dynamics within the theory developed by Kimura, Kakitani, and Yamato (J. Phys. Chem. B 2000, 104, 9276) for the intermediate coupling case, which provides analytical expressions of time-dependent occupation probability, EET rate, and coherency in terms of two basic quantities: the electronic coupling and a correlation time related to the Franck-Condon factor. The latter was shown to be primarily modulated by Förster's spectral overlap integral (related in turn to the excitation energy gap). Calculations were carried out for the three sample systems using three values of the electronic coupling roughly corresponding to CIP, 1.0, and 2.0 nm interchromophore distances. At the CIP distance, EET in both A2,C1 and A2,C2 was predicted to occur with a partial exciton mechanism, very short transfer times (about 10 fs), and high degree of coherence. In A1,C4 (having the largest energy gap), EET was found to occur with a hot-transfer mechanism. More or less hot-transfer dynamics appeared to be retained by all three systems at R = 1.0 nm. Fully incoherent EET appeared to become operative only at distances larger than 2.0 nm.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Activation of the alternative pathway of human complement by sulfhydryl compounds of analytic and therapeutic use.

Thiol-containing drugs (dimercaprol, dimercaptopropanesulfonate, captopril, penicillamine, N-acetylcysteine) and the standard reducing agent beta-mercaptoethanol, activate the alternative pathway of complement as shown by in vitro experiments. Depending on the substance tested, at concentrations of 0.5-5 mM, cleavage products of C3 and factor B were demonstrable in serum by immunoelectrophoresis. The regulatory protein factor I proved to be very sensitive to thiols; this observation offers an explanation for the alternative pathway activating effect of these substances. At concentrations of thiols that initiate the alternative pathway, the classical pathway was not or only to a minor extent activated; however, the activity of C2, C5 and one or several of the components C6-9 was directly affected. Alkylation of the thiol group of the compounds tested, abrogated their effects on the complement system.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1984

Killing of Leishmania tropica amastigotes by factors in normal human serum.

Amastigotes of Leishmania tropica and L. donovani were incubated with fresh or heat-inactivated normal human serum. Viability was estimated by amastigote conversion to promastigote forms and by the ability of serum-treated amastigotes to infect human monocytes. L. tropica, a parasite that causes local skin infection, was killed by fresh but not by heat-inactivated serum. The serum cytotoxic effect on L. tropica was inhibited by EDTA but not by Mg-EGTA. C2-deficient serum killed normally; C6-deficient serum was ineffective. These data indicate that L. tropica is killed by the complement membrane attack complex, in a sequence of reactions initiated by components of the alternate pathway. In contrast, L. donovani, a parasite that causes systemic visceral leishmaniasis, was 10-fold less susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of normal serum. Thus, a profound difference exists in the susceptibility of amastigotes of two species of Leishmania to a defense mechanism present in human serum. Serum complement factors may play an important role in limiting L. tropica to the skin. The resistance of L. donovani to such factors may be the primary reason for its ability to escape from the site of inoculation and cause catastrophic, disseminated disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Selective coupling of alpha 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes to cyclic AMP-dependent reporter gene expression in transiently transfected JEG-3 cells.

A cAMP-dependent reporter gene has been used in transiently transfected human choriocarcinoma (JEG-3) cells to examine the second messenger coupling of the human alpha 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes. The reporter gene consists of a cAMP response element linked to the gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). Plasmids encoding the alpha 2-C10 (alpha 2A), alpha 2-C2 (alpha 2B), or alpha 2-C4 (alpha 2C) receptor subtypes were co-transfected with a plasmid containing the reporter gene, and the ability of alpha 2 receptor agonists to influence forskolin-stimulated CAT expression was examined. For alpha 2-C10, agonists had a biphasic effect on forskolin-stimulated CAT expression. Thus, low (nanomolar) concentrations of agonist inhibited CAT expression by approximately 60%, whereas high (micromolar) concentrations reversed this inhibition and could even potentiate CAT expression by as much as 140%. A significantly different pattern of coupling was observed for the other alpha 2 receptor subtypes. For alpha 2-C4, agonists only inhibited forskolin-stimulated CAT expression, whereas for alpha 2-C2 only potentiation of expression was seen. Each of these responses was specifically blocked by alpha 2- but not alpha 1- or beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists. For alpha 2-C4, the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated CAT expression was prevented by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin. This was also true for the inhibition obtained with alpha 2-C10. The potentiation of CAT expression, however, was not prevented by pertussis toxin pretreatment in cells transfected with either alpha 2-C2 or alpha 2-C10. In this transient expression system, each alpha 2-adrenergic receptor subtype had access to the same complement of G proteins, adenylyl cyclase, and other second messengers. It would appear, therefore, that the potential for the activation of unique intracellular responses exists even among closely related receptor subtypes.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗
PubMed1996

Rheumatic diseases and inherited complement deficiencies.

Deficiencies of individual complement proteins may be accompanied by SLE or related syndromes. Deficiencies of the classic activation pathway are often involved. In cases of C4 and C2 deficiency, there is evidence that this association occurs more frequently than would be expected by chance. The clinical picture differs from classic SLE. There is an increased frequency of skin involvement, a decreased frequency of renal disease, low or absent levels of antibody to native DNA, and increased levels of anti-Ro (SS-A). The mechanism for the association probably involves the effects of C3 and C4 on the precipitation of immune complex solubility, or on their processing through cell surface c4b/c3b receptors on phagocytes. Disseminated or recurrent Neisseria infections are common in patients lacking the constituents of the terminal MAC that are important in killing these organisms.

Complement System Proteins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum complement level in dengue hemorrhagic fever.

To elucidate the immunpathological changes occuring in the clinical course of hemorrhagic fever, the activity of complement and of all nine of its components activities were measured with 64 samples. These serum samples were collected from 10 cases of hemorrhagic fever with shock and 4 cases of hemorrhagic fever without shock on different days of illness. Depression of complement activity in acute phase as compared with that in the reconvalescent phase was observed in the following cases. Eight cases out of 10 of hemorrhagic shock patients showed depression of hemolytic activity of the whole complement while 3 out of 4 patients without shock showed depression. The C3 activities showed a characteristic pattern. Nine out of 10 patients with shock and 2 out 4 patients without shock showed depression on the acute phase. As for the whole complement activity in immune adherence and C4 component activities in the serum, depression in the acute phase was observed to some extent and they showed good correlation. Essentially no significant changes were observed with C1, C2, C5, C6, C7, C8 and C9 activities. Significance of the change of C3 level in clinical manifestation of immunopathological process was discussed in relation to the function and molecular structure of C3.

Acute Disease↗