[Serum levels of C3, C4, and C3A in renal transplants (chronic and acute rejection, and recurrent glomerulonephritis].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
SEARCH · Search PubMed
Results for “Complement C3a”
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Neutrophil degranulation and complement activation during fetal cardiac bypass.
BACKGROUND: Fetal cardiac bypass results in dysfunction of the fetoplacental unit (FPU) characterized by increased placental vascular resistance and respiratory acidosis. However the mechanisms of this dysfunction are not completely understood. To test the hypothesis that complement activation and neutrophil degranulation may contribute to the placental dysfunction associated with fetal bypass, we compared placental hemodynamics, complement activation, and neutrophil degranulation among fetuses exposed to cardiac bypass with a miniaturized bypass circuit including an in-line axial flow pump (Hemopump), fetuses undergoing bypass with a conventional roller pump circuit, and control fetuses that were similarly exposed but did not undergo bypass. METHODS: Twenty-six Western Cross sheep fetuses (median 122 days gestation) were randomly assigned to undergo cardiac bypass for 30 minutes with the Hemopump circuit (n = 8), to undergo bypass for 30 minutes with the conventional (roller pump) circuit (n = 10), or to undergo identical exposure and cannulation but not bypass (n = 8, controls). Blood samples were collected to measure white cell count and differential, and C3a and lactoferrin levels prior to bypass, at the end of bypass, and 1 and 2 hours after bypass. Hemodynamics and blood gases were also monitored. RESULTS: There was a fall in white cell count over time that continued after bypass in all groups; neutrophils and lymphocytes were affected similarly. C3a levels rose significantly from prebypass to postbypass in the roller pump group (p<0.0001) but not in either of the other groups. Lactoferrin levels rose significantly from start of bypass in both bypass groups (Hemopump p = 0.01; roller pump p<0.0001) but not in controls. The elevation in lactoferrin level coincided with worsening placental gas exchange and deteriorating cardiac function. CONCLUSIONS: Complement and neutrophil activation occurred with fetal cardiac bypass but only neutrophil activation mirrored the FPU and cardiac dysfunction, suggesting that products of neutrophil activation may be important contributing factors. Improved FPU function with a bypass circuit that has less extracorporeal surface and does not require a large priming volume may be due in part to a reduction in the magnitude of this inflammatory response.
Animals↗
Third component of complement (C3): structural properties in relation to functions.
The third component of complement (C3) fulfills a pivotal role in the functions of the complement system. We have investigated the topological relationships among its polypeptide chains, physiologic fragments, enzyme attack regions, and functional sites. C3 consists of two chains (alpha and beta) which are linked by disulfide bonds and noncovalent forces and which have molecular weights of, respectively, 120,000 and 75,000. C3 is activated by action of C3 convertase on the alpha-chain. With hydrolysis of one polypeptide bonds, C3a, the 9000 dalton activation peptide is dislocated from the NH2-terminal portion of the alpha-chain. A previously concealed binding region is thereby transiently revealed in the C3b-fragment (181,000 dalton) which displays affinity for apparently nonspecific acceptors present on biological membranes. Binding of nascent C3b membranes occurs through the C3d portion of the fragment because subsequent action of the C3b-inactivator or trypsin on bound C3b causes release of C3c, but not of C3d. Bound C3b and C3d possess stable sites that are capable of binding to specific receptors present on a limited variety of cells. We propose that all known physiologically occurring fragments of C3 arise by enzymatic cleavage of the alpha-chain: C3a, C3b, C3c, and C3d. Whereas C3a (alpha1) and C3e (alpha2) consist of a single chain and C3b consists of two chains (alpha' and beta), C3c is composed of the entire beta-chain and multiple fragments of the alpha-chain, each of which is linked by disulfide bonds to the beta-chain.
Binding Sites↗
The effect of leucocyte depletion on the quality of fresh-frozen plasma.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of leucodepleted (LD) fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) produced using one of five whole blood filters (Baxter RS2000 & RZ2000, NPBI T2926, Macopharma LST1 and Terumo WBSP) or two plasma filters (Pall LPS1 and Baxter FGR7014). Whole blood or plasma was filtered within 8 h of collection at an ambient temperature. Samples were taken pre- and post filtration for analysis of coagulation factors and complement activation (n = 7--12 for each type of filter). All filtered units (209--286 ml) contained < 5 x 10(6) residual leucocytes and < 30 x 10(9)/l platelets. Statistically significant losses of factors V, VIII, IX, XI and XII and increases in markers of coagulation activation were observed (0--21%), which were dependent on filter type. None of the filters had a significant effect on von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimeric distribution or the activity of VWF and factors II, VII or X. The effect on levels of C3a appeared to be related to the filter surface charge: positively charged filters resulted in C3a generation, whereas negatively charged resulted in C3a removal. None of the observed changes are likely to be clinically significant unless subsequent processing of plasma (such as pathogen inactivation) results in further losses of coagulation factors.
Blood Coagulation Factors↗
C4a: the third anaphylatoxin of the human complement system.
The activation peptide C4a was isolated from C1s-cleaved C4, the fourth component of complement. The peptide appeared to be homogeneous by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. C4a has a molecular weight of 8650 and an electrophoretic mobility at pH 8.6 of +2.1 x 10(-5) cm2V-1 sec-1. Carboxypeptidase B released approximately 1 mol of arginine per mol of C4a. The partial COOH-terminal sequence was determined to be Leu-Gln-Arg-COOH. The isolated C4a was spasmogenic for guinea pig ileum at a concentration of 1 microM and it desensitized the muscle (i.e., produced tachyphylaxis) with respect to human C3a anaphylatoxin (at 0.33 microM) but not with respect to human C5a anaphylatoxin. Increased vascular permeability was observed in human skin after intradermal injection of 1 nmol of C4a, as evidenced by immediate erythema and edema formation. The spasmogenic, tachyphylactic, and vascular activities of C4a were abrogated by removal of the COOH-terminal arginine, a property that is characteristic also of the C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins. Contamination of C4a with either C3a or C5a has been ruled out by using radioimmunoassays for these peptides. Although C4a is considerably less active than are C3a and C5a, the present observations suggest that C4a constitutes a heretofore unrecognized anaphylatoxin that is related biologically and chemically to the activation peptides of C3 and C5.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Primary structure of bovine complement activation fragment C4a, the third anaphylatoxin. Purification and complete amino acid sequence.
Purification of C4a from heat-activated bovine plasma by elution from CM-Sephadex C-50 at pH 7.4 and gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 gives a 20% yield of pure C4a. The complete amino acid sequence of bovine C4a has been determined by automatic sequencer degradation of CNBr and enzymic fragments, and by carboxypeptidase digestion. The 77-residue bovine sequence shows 12 differences from the human sequence with five of these differences occurring in the C-terminal 11 residues. The sequence of C4a confirms earlier suggestions of homology with C3a and C5a: the three sequences show an almost equal number of identities with each other. The six cysteine residues of the 'disulphide knot' are conserved as well as seven other residues including the C-terminal arginine.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Role of complement inhibition in topical therapy of muco-cutaneous herpes simplex virus infections.
A complement-inhibiting formulation with anti-inflammatory activity due to suppression of both the classical and alternative pathways of complement activation is presented for local treatment of muco-cutaneous lesions produced by Herpes simplex virus, types 1 and 2. The drug contains glutaraldehyde, a strong inhibitor of the complement system, dimethylsulphoxyde, used as a vector modifying the barrier properties of the skin and 1,2-propylene glycol, a delipidating agent which increases the adhesiveness of the watery solutions to the skin surface. It proved to be devoid of adverse effects for normal skin of animal and humans, and produced rapid disappearance of herpetic neuralgia and accelerates the remission of local symptoms. The mechanism of action seems to be associated with the inhibition of local anaphylatoxin release (C3a and C5a) which are responsible for the acute evolution of the lesions produced by viruses of the Zoster-Varicella group and with a quick lethal effect on the parasitized cells which are selectively eliminated without affecting the adjoining normal cells of the host.
Administration, Topical↗
Interactions of the third component of complement (C3) with cross-linked dextran. III. Isolation and characterization of interacting components after enzymatic digestion of complement coated cross-linked dextran.
In previous investigations we could show that incubation of cross-linked dextran (Sephadex) with normal human and normal guinea pig serum results in the binding of C3 to Sephadex. This binding was found to be due to activation of C3 via an alternate pathway. In this paper data are presented which show that components bound to Sephadex can be recovered after enzymatic digestion of serum-reacted Sephadex beads. The digests were characterized with immuno-electrophoresis and double immunodiffusion techniques. It could be shown that the main component present in the digest was converted C3. Apart from C3 under our test conditions only minute amounts of C3A but no other serum proteins were detectable. The observation that almost exclusively C3 is bound to Sephadex is further supported by the finding that immunization of rabbits with serum-reacted Sephadex beads results in the exclusive formation of anti C3 antibodies. Implications from these findings and possible applications are discussed.
Antibody Formation↗
A single dose of endotoxin activates neutrophils without activating complement.
Both complement (C) and neutrophils (PMN) are activated in critically ill patients. To evaluate the role of endotoxin in this response, we studied C activation products and PMN cell surface receptors in seven normal subjects before and after endotoxin (USRef 20 U/kg) or saline solution administered on separate occasions. By 4 hours, with endotoxin only, all subjects had myalgia, headache, an increase in body temperature and heart rate, and leukocytosis that returned to normal by 24 hours. At the same time, PMN cell surface receptors for the complement opsonin C3b increased, as measured by indirect immunofluorescence, rising to 251 +/- 44% of baseline by 4 hours (p less than 0.01) and remaining elevated at 24 hours (237 +/- 16%, p less than 0.01). PMN receptors for iC3b increased to 308 +/- 49% of baseline by 4 hours (p less than 0.02) and returned to normal by 24 hours. There was no change in plasma of C3a desArg, C4a desArg, and C5a desArg (4 hours: mean C3a: 153.4 +/- 11.5 ng/ml versus 176.2 +/- 16.2 ng/ml for saline solution, p = ns; C4a: 159.6 +/- 32 ng/ml versus 151.4 +/- 21 ng/ml, p = ns; C5a: undetectable). To confirm the lack of C activation, we examined PMN chemotaxis (CTX) to C5a for any impairment caused by prior in vivo exposure to C5a. CTX to C5a was unaffected (4 hours: 109% +/- 22% of normal versus 114% +/- 10% for saline solution, p = ns). PMN CTX to formyl-methionyl-leucine-phenylalanine and PMN phagocytosis and killing of S. aureus were also unaffected by endotoxin. Thus, a single dose of endotoxin produced a subjective febrile illness and precipitated sustained PMN activation as indicated by increased PMN cell surface complement receptor number in the absence of C activation.
Adult↗
Differential effects of the complement peptides, C5a and C5a des Arg on human basophil and lung mast cell histamine release.
The ability of purified anaphylatoxins to induce human lung mast cell mediator release was investigated. In eight anti-IgE responsive (histamine release = 22 +/- 5%, mean +/- SEM) mast cell preparations of 1-96% purity, C5a and C5a des Arg (0.55 pg/ml to 55 micrograms/ml), failed to elicit or potentiate histamine release; lung fragments were similarly unresponsive. The related peptide C3a was also inactive. All anaphylatoxins failed to induce mast cell leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) release. LTC4 release was also negligible from basophils where C5a was a potent histamine release stimulus. Supernatants from C5a-challenged mast cells remained fully active on basophils, excluding carboxypeptidase inactivation of C5a as an explanation for the lung mast cell results. In contrast to lung, skin mast cells were C5a-responsive (histamine release = 8 +/- 1%, at 55 micrograms/ml, n = 2). We conclude that C5a, though devoid of activity on the human lung mast cell, is a human basophil and skin mast cell secretagogue. These findings demonstrate significant organ-specific heterogeneity in mast cell responsiveness.
Basophils↗
Comparative study of in vitro inhibition of activation of the classical and alternative pathways of human complement by the magnesium and sodium salts of the anti-inflammatory peptide N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamic acid (NAAGA).
The inhibitory activity of the sodium salt of the anti-inflammatory peptide N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamic acid (NAAGA) on activation of the classical and alternative pathways of human complement was compared with that of the clinically used magnesium salt of NAAGA (NAAGA-Mg). Sodium salt of NAAGA (NAAGA-Na) inhibited both pathways of activation in a dose-dependent manner at concentration ranging from 1 to 10 mM by acting on formation and/or function of the C3 convertases as shown by the inhibitory capacity of the peptide on the release of the C3 cleavage fragment C3b and C3a. NAAGA-Na was as effective as NAAGA-Mg in inhibiting classical pathway activation at concentration above 10 mM. NAAGA-Na was more effective than NAAGA-Mg in inhibiting the alternative pathway since the sodium salt did not interfere with Mg-dependent formation of the alternative pathway C3 convertase.
Animals↗
The third component of complement inhibits human lymphocyte blastogenesis.
Purified human C3 was studied for its ability to regulate human peripheral blood lymphocyte activation in a serum-free tissue culture system. C3 and its fragments formed by trypsin digestion were not mitogenic. However, C3 inhibited both mitogen- and antigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in a dose-related manner. The observed inhibition by C3 increased with an increase in the dose of mitogen, with 50% inhibition seen at a C3 dose of 2.5 to 25 microgram/ml. Inhibition was induced even when C3 was added at 69 hr in a 99-hr culture, suggesting an effect on late events in activation. The inhibition was not mediated through generalized cytotoxicity, was not an artifact of kinetic alteration and still occurred in macrophage-depleted cultures. A small m.w. fragment of C3 which contained the inhibitory capacity in our C3 preparation was similar to C3a in size, anaphylatoxin activity, heat and acid stability and inhibition by serum. Our results indicate that cleavage products by C3 may play a negative role in lymphocyte activation.
Blood↗
Cytolysis of fibroblasts by C3a.
C3a was found to be more cytolytic to transformed than to primary fibroblast cultures from mouse and man. Fibroblasts made quiescent with caffeine were lysed by the same concentrations of C3a as untreated cells. These findings may have implications in tumour immunity.
Animals↗
Complete primary structure of human C4a anaphylatoxin.
C4a anaphylatoxin is derived from the fourth component (C4) of the blood complement system. The C4 alpha-chain is selectively cleaved between positions 77 and 78 by the protease C1s, a subcomponent of C1, generating the fragments C4a and C4b. Human C4a was isolated directly from fresh serum after C1 of the classical pathway of complement was activated by heat-aggregated gamma-globulin. The C4a anaphylatoxin is a cationic polypeptide of Mr = 9000 composed of 77 residues and devoid of histidine, tryptophan, and carbohydrate. The primary structure of human C4a was deduced from sequence analysis of two cyanogen bromide fragments and of peptides obtained after chymotryptic digestion of the COOH-terminal cyanogen bromide fragment. The proposed sequence is: (formula, see text) Manual alignment of the linear structures of human C3a, C4a, and C5a, based primarily on the location of two Cys-Cys sequences in each indicate a 30% homology between C3a and C4a and a 36% homology between C5a and C4a. It was concluded from the sequence comparison that C3a, C4a, and C5a are a family of bioactive factors derived from precursor molecules that share a common genetic origin. Although the human anaphylatoxins share a partial structural identity and express similar biological activities, these factors ae immunologically distinct molecules having no antigenic determinants in common as judged by radioimmunoassay.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Effect of histamine on monocyte complement production. II. Modulation of protein secretion, degradation and synthesis.
Using immunofluorescence and pulse-label studies with 3H-labelled amino acids, histamine was shown to inhibit the secretion of newly synthesized C2, C4, C3, factor B and beta 1H globulin by monocytes in culture. The findings suggested that protein synthesis was decreased, and that the degradation of newly synthesized intracellular protein was increased in histamine-treated monocytes. The observations that all monocytes in cultures containing histamine stained for C2, C4, and C3, factor B and beta 1H, when secretion was impaired, shows that all monocytes synthesize these proteins. These results demonstrate a negative feedback loop on C3 and C5 cleavage. The anaphylotoxins, C3a and C5a, formed as a result of C3 and C5 cleavage, release histamine from mast cells and basophils. Histamine, by inhibiting the production of C4, C2, and C3 and factor B by mononuclear phagocytes, inhibits further C3 and C5 cleavage by restricting the formation of C42, C423b and C3bBbP.
Amino Acids↗
[Mediators of inflammation and of antimicrobial activity secreted by macrophages (author's transl)].
Macrophages are highly differentiated mononuclear phagocytes which originate from stem cells of the bone marrow. The secretory potential of these cells has been recognized in recent years. Major secretory products comprise lysosomal enzymes, complement proteins, prostaglandins and interferon. Secretion of lysosomal hydrolases and proteinases is most prominent in macrophages stimulated in vivo or in vitro (Fig. 4). Lysosomal enzyme secretion may be an important factor in the induction and maintenance of inflammatory reactions. Complement (C) proteins secreted by macrophages belong to the classical activation unit (C1, C4 and C2), alternative activation unit (C3, B, D, P) and to the group of delayed-acting C proteins (Fig. 7). Therefore macrophages produce at local sites the C component C3 from which biologically active C3 fragments (C3a, C3b, C3e) can be generated. These C3 fragments mediate inflammatory and cytotoxic reactions and also promote phagocytic processes (Fig. 6). Cleavage of secreted C3 into the active fragments may occur by enzymes derived from both C activation units or by secreted lysosomal proteinases (Fig. 8). Stimulated macrophages also synthesize and release prostaglandins. These compounds which have inflammatory as well as antiinflammatory effects (Fig. 12) may play an important regulatory role in inflammatory processes. Interferon has been also recognized as a secretory product of macrophages. This substance supports antimicrobial resistance by its phagocytosis-increasing effect and its antiviral activity. The secretory function of macrophages as well as the biological effects of secreted mediators are highly susceptible to modulation. Thus, C3 fragments stimulate the secretion of lysosomal enzymes (Fig. 6) whereas prostaglandins inhibit their release (Fig. 12). The inflammatory reactions induced by lysosomal enzymes may be further increased by the generation of C3b which stimulates additional lysosomal enzyme release (Fig. 4). These and other examples suggest that endogenous control mechanisms may have a strong influence on the secretory function of macrophages as well as on the biological activity of secreted mediators.
Animals↗
Measurement of C3 conversion by ELISA estimation of neo-determinants on the C3d moiety.
An ELISA assay estimating neo-determinants on the C3d moiety is described. The C3d neo-determinants were detected by incubating the sample on F(ab')2 anti-C3d-coated plates followed by development with biotin-labelled anti-C3d and enzyme-labelled avidin. The assay was compared with rocket immunoelectrophoresis (IE) and crossed IE. Serum from a factor I deficient patient showed no detectable C3d when analysed by rocket IE, but activation was evident when analysing by crossed IE or ELISA. The results suggest that the neo-determinants detected by ELISA become exposed when C3 is split into C3a and C3b and this interpretation was supported by kinetic analysis of C3 activation by the three methods.
Complement Activation↗
Demonstration of high-affinity binding sites for C3a anaphylatoxin on guinea-pig platelets.
3H-serotonin release from guinea-pig platelets was demonstrated to be the consequence of C3a binding to these cells. A Scatchard analysis of dose-response data of the 125I-C3a binding pattern to guinea-pig platelets pointed to the existence of binding sites with high and low affinity for the C3a molecule (HA and LA receptors). HA receptors are specific for C3a with intact C-terminal arginine. whereas C3adesarg only interacts with LA receptors. The release of serotonin may be induced by a combined reaction of C3a with HA receptors and LA receptors on the platelet membrane.
Anaphylatoxins↗