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PubMed1994

The expression of CD59 in normal human nervous tissue.

The expression of CD59, a complement regulator of the formation and function of the terminal cytolytic membrane attack complex, was studied in human normal nervous tissue by immunohistochemical markers using two monoclonal antibodies 1F5 and MEM43. CD59 was present on Schwann cells, neurons and endothelial cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and on Schwann cells in culture. In the central nervous system (CNS) CD59 was found predominantly on endothelial cells. There was also a diffuse staining of white and grey matter of the spinal cord and brain, presumably of microglia, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and neurons, as these cells were CD59 positive in culture. Furthermore, CD59 was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of healthy individuals. CD59 in the PNS and CNS was glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol linked and had a molecular weight of 19,000-25,000. The presence of CD59 on various cells of the nervous system and in the CSF suggests that regulation of complement activation by this protein is important in neural host defence mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Decay-accelerating factor in human skin is associated with elastic fibers.

Recently a complement inhibitor, decay-accelerating factor (DAF), has been found in association with uncharacterized fibers in the extracellular matrix of human dermis. Here we show by immunohistochemistry and immunoelectronmicroscopy that DAF is on the periphery of elastic fibers, and that it appears to be associated with some microfibrillar elements that cover the fibers. That DAF is a component of these microfibrils is also suggested by studies of lesional skin from anetoderma, a disease characterized by destruction of elastic fibers. In two patients we found a network of residual fine fibers in the dermis that stain with antibodies against DAF and fibrillin (one of the proteins known to be present in the microfibrils of elastin), but do not stain with antibodies to elastin. Western blot analysis of dermal extracts with monoclonal antibodies to DAF identified a 67 kDa molecule, slightly smaller than membrane DAF, and similar in size to soluble DAF found in secretions. It is possible that together with vitronectin, an inhibitor of the membrane attack complex recently identified in association with elastin, DAF prevents damage of elastic fibers by complement.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed2006

Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 glycoprotein C prevents complement-mediated neutralization induced by natural immunoglobulin M antibody.

Glycoprotein C (gC) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) binds complement component C3b and protects virus from complement-mediated neutralization. Differences in complement interacting domains exist between gC of HSV-1 (gC1) and HSV-2 (gC2), since the amino terminus of gC1 blocks complement C5 from binding to C3b, while gC2 fails to interfere with this activity. We previously reported that neutralization of HSV-1 gC-null virus by HSV antibody-negative human serum requires activation of C5 but not of downstream components of the classical complement pathway. In this report, we evaluated whether activation of C5 is sufficient to neutralize HSV-2 gC-null virus, or whether formation of the membrane attack complex by C6 to C9 is required for neutralization. We found that activation of the classical complement pathway up to C5 was sufficient to neutralize HSV-2 gC-null virus by HSV antibody-negative human serum. We evaluated the mechanisms by which complement activation occurred in seronegative human serum. Interestingly, natural immunoglobulin M antibodies bound to virus, which triggered activation of C1q and the classical complement pathway. HSV antibody-negative sera obtained from four individuals differed over an approximately 10-fold range in their potency for complement-mediated virus neutralization. These findings indicate that humans differ in the ability of their innate immune systems to neutralize HSV-1 or HSV-2 gC-null virus and that a critical function of gC1 and gC2 is to prevent C5 activation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The role of C5a in the development of thrombotic glomerulonephritis in rats.

Thrombus formation is the important pathologic finding observed in glomerulonephritis induced by antiglomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies. Although strong deposition of C3 and membrane attack complex (MAC) is observed in this disease, the role of complement has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of complement, especially an anaphylatoxin C5a, in a rat model of thrombotic glomerulonephritis. Rats were first pretreated with subclinical dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thrombotic glomerulonephritis was then induced by intravenous injection with rabbit antirat GBM (RbAGBM) (Group I). For the evaluation of the role of complement, the soluble complement receptor type 1 (sCR1) (Group II) or the C5a receptor antagonist peptide (C5aR-AP) (Group III) was intravenously administered 30 min before RbAGBM injection. For exploring the role of neutrophils, rats were pretreated with cyclophosphamide before induction of disease (Group IV). All rats were sacrificed at 6 h, and histological examination was performed. Rats in Group I developed severe glomerular thrombosis. Leucocyte accumulation and strong binding of C3 and MAC were observed in the glomeruli. In rats treated with sCR1 (Group II) and C5aR-AP (Group III), both leucocyte accumulation and thrombus formation in the glomeruli were significantly inhibited. C3 and MAC were negative in the glomeruli in Group II rats, while they were strongly observed in Group III. In neutrophil depleted rats (Group IV), there was also deposition of C3 and MAC in the glomeruli but thrombus formation was not observed. These findings indicated that glomerular thrombosis is dependent on the leucocytes, and mediated in part by the anaphylatoxin C5a but not MAC in the present model.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Eosinophil granule cationic proteins regulate the classical pathway of complement.

Major basic protein, the primary constituent of eosinophil granules, regulates the alternative and classical pathways of complement. Major basic protein and other eosinophil granule cationic proteins, which are important in mediating tissue damage in allergic disease, regulate the alternative pathway by interfering with C3b interaction with factor B to assemble an alternative pathway C3 convertase. In the present study, eosinophil peroxidase, eosinophil cationic protein and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, as well as major basic protein, were examined for capacity to regulate the classical pathway. Eosinophil peroxidase, eosinophil cationic protein and major basic protein inhibited formation of cell-bound classical pathway C3 convertase (EAC1,4b,2a), causing 50% inhibition of complement-mediated lysis at about 0.19, 0.75 and 0.5 micrograms/10(7) cellular intermediates, respectively. Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin had no activity on this pathway of complement. The eosinophil granule proteins were examined for activity on the formation of the membrane attack complex. Major basic protein and eosinophil cationic protein had no activity on terminal lysis. In contrast, eosinophil peroxidase inhibited lysis of EAC1,4b,2a,3b,5b, but had only minimal activity on later events in complement lysis. These polycations were then examined to determine the site(s) at which they regulated the early classical pathway. Eosinophil granule polycationic proteins: (1) reduced the Zmax at all time points but had only minimal effect on the Tmax during the formation of the classical pathway C3 convertase (EAC1,4b,2a); (2) inhibited formation of EAC1,4b,2a proportional to C4 but independent of C2 concentration; (3) inhibited fluid phase formation of C1,4b,2a, as reflected by a decrease in C1-induced consumption of C2 over time; and (4) inhibited C1 activity over time without a direct effect on either C4 or C2. These observations suggest that polycations regulate the early classical pathway by interfering with C1 and may exert this activity in vivo.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1984

C3-independent immune haemolysis: haemolysis of EAC14oxy2 cells by C5-C9 without participation of C3.

C3-independent immune haemolysis was studied using EAC14oxy2 cells and purified C5, C6, C7, C8 and C9. We have found that EAC14oxy2 cells were lysed by C5-C9 and that haemolysis occurs, even after pretreatment of the cells and the C5-C9 preparation with anti-C3. This indicates that EAC14oxy2 can be lysed by C5-C9 without any participation of C3. In contrast, EAC1 and EAC14 cells are not lysed by C5-C9, suggesting that our C5-C9 preparation lacks activated complement components, such as C3bBb, C5b6 or C(56)a. Based on our study of the haemolysis of EAC14oxy2, we have determined that: (i) EAC14oxy2 cells are lysed by a preparation of C5, C6, C7, C8 and C9, but no lysis occurs when any one of these complement is absent, (ii) for significant haemolysis of EAC14oxy2, a higher concentration of C5 is necessary as compared to the C5 requirement when haemolysis occurs in the presence of C3, (iii) the degree of haemolysis is linearly related to the concentration of C5 and does not reach a plateau, despite the addition of as much as 3,200 U of C5, and (iv) the degree of haemolysis is linearly related to the concentration of cell bound C42. These observations suggest that, in the absence of C3, the C3 convertase C42 can activate C5 directly, resulting in the formation of the membrane attack complex, C5b-9.

Complement C2↗
PubMed1992

C1-inhibitor prevents PEG fractionation-induced, EDTA-resistant activation of mouse complement.

Fractionation of mouse serum by precipitation with a critical amount of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG; 11% w/v) results in a classical and alternative pathway-independent activation of the terminal complement route. The activation can take place after the separation of an activating principle together with the terminal route components from a natural regulator. The isolation and identification of the regulatory component preventing this activation in serum, is subject of this paper. The regulator was purified by fractionated PEG-precipitation (15-25%), followed by heparin-Sepharose affinity, Mono Q anion-exchange, and Superose 12 gel filtration chromatography. The regulator appeared to be a single-chain protein with a Mr of 96 k. A protein with similar activity purified from human serum had a Mr of 104 k and was functionally and antigenically indistinguishable from C1-INH. The mouse 96 k protein inhibited C1-esterase activity indicating that this protein is indeed C1-INH. Mouse C1-INH regulates the PEG fractionation-induced bypass activation of complement, but does not interfere with the assembly or the lytic activity of membrane attack complexes. alpha 2-Macroglobulin appeared also to be capable of inhibiting the PEG-precipitation-induced activation process, but with lower efficiency.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Complement and its implications in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion: strategies to inhibit complement.

Although reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium is an absolute necessity to salvage tissue from eventual death, it is also associated with pathologic changes that represent either an acceleration of processes initiated during ischemia or new pathophysiological changes that were initiated after reperfusion. This so-called "reperfusion injury" is accompanied by a marked inflammatory reaction, which contributes to tissue injury. In addition to the well known role of oxygen free radicals and white blood cells, activation of the complement system probably represents one of the major contributors of the inflammatory reaction upon reperfusion. The complement may be activated through three different pathways: the classical, the alternative, and the lectin pathway. During reperfusion, complement may be activated by exposure to intracellular components such as mitochondrial membranes or intermediate filaments. Two elements of the activated complement contribute directly or indirectly to damages: anaphylatoxins (C3a and C5a) and the membrane attack complex (MAC). C5a, the most potent chemotactic anaphylatoxin, may attract neutrophils to the site of inflammation, leading to superoxide production, while MAC is deposited over endothelial cells and smooth vessel cells, leading to cell injury. Experimental evidence suggests that tissue salvage may be achieved by inhibition of the complement pathway. As the complement is composed of a cascade of proteins, it provides numerous sites for pharmacological interventions during acute myocardial infarction. Although various strategies aimed at modulating the complement system have been tested, the ideal approach probably consists of maintaining the activity of C3 (a central protein of the complement cascade) and inhibiting the later events implicated in ischemia/reperfusion and also in targeting inhibition in a tissue-specific manner.

Complement Activation↗
PubMed1980

Mechanism of lethal effect of human serum upon Leishmania donovani.

In order to gain greater understanding of potential host defense mechanisms against Leishmania donovani, we examined the effect of nonimmune, human serum upon promastigotes and amastigotes. Fresh sera were found to be lethal for promastigotes, but had no detectable effect on amastigotes. Serum exposed promastigotes became immotile, did not take up neutral red dye, appeared to be disrupted, and failed to recover after further incubation in fresh media. Heat labile components were required for promastigote killing since heat-inactivated serum (56 degrees C, 30 min) agglutinated but did not kill them. Sera that lacked either the 5th or 6th complement (C) component had no effect when used alone, but when used together, were lethal, indicating that activation of the membrane attack complex (C5b-C9) ws necessary for the lethal effect. The mode of C activation was determined by using serum with complete, selective, deficiency of C2, and normal serum chelated with Mg-EGTA. The C2-deficient serum killed promastigotes only after the addition of purified C2, and Mg-EGTA chelated serum had no detectable lethal effect. Thus, promastigotes appeared to activate C through the classical pathway. Human IgG and IgM, detected with 125I-anti-human antibody, bound to promastigotes. Removal of antibody from serum by absorption with promastigotes eliminated the lethal effect. The effect was restored by addition of heat-inactivated serum to absorbed serum. We conclude that promastigotes bind antibody and are killed by activation of the membrane attack complex of C through the classical pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Serum resistance is correlated with encapsulation of avian strains of Pasteurella multocida.

Encapsulated avian strains of Pasteurella multocida possessing an A-type capsule were shown to be resistant to the bactericidal action of turkey serum, whereas unencapsulated variants as well as other unencapsulated strains were not. Removal of the capsule from serum-resistant strain P1059-1 resulted in this strain becoming susceptible to the bactericidal effects of turkey serum. Since complement was consumed when encapsulated or unencapsulated strain P1059-1 was incubated in turkey serum, we conclude that the capsule acts to shield the outer membrane rather than prohibiting the generation of an effective membrane attack complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Identification of the complement regulatory protein CD59 in human colostrum and milk.

PROBLEM: Complement lytic activity has been demonstrated, and a potential for its activation is present in human colostrum and milk. This necessitates the presence of regulatory mechanisms protecting epithelial cells in the oropharynx and the gastrointestinal tract of the infant, the milk cellular elements, and bacteria colonizing the oropharynx and the gastrointestinal tract. Lactoferrin and C1 inhibitor have been attributed such a role. However, it is likely that additional protection against the cytolytic activity of the membrane attack complex is required. This has lead us to investigate the presence of the complement regulatory protein CD59 in human colostrum and milk, and to further characterize the source of secretion. METHOD: Samples of human colostrum and milk were obtained from volunteers at different stages of lactation, and separated into fat, skim milk, and milk cellular elements by centrifugation. Normal human mammary gland tissues were obtained from patients undergoing biopsy for benign conditions. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, and an immuno dot-blot assay were used to identify CD59 in human milk. Immunohistochemistry was performed on all tissue samples and cytospins of the milk cellular elements, using monoclonal antibodies to CD59. RESULTS: CD59 was present in cell-free colostrum and milk as a 19-25 kDa glycoprotein. No variation in CD59 levels was detected between colostrum and milk. CD59 was present in great amounts in the cytoplasm and was highly expressed on the surface membrane on mammary gland acinar and ductal epithelial cells, while the milk cellular elements contained CD59 mainly in their cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: The complement regulatory protein CD59 present in cell-free human colostrum and milk may exert its effects both in the mammary gland and in the oropharynx and gastrointestinal tract of the infant. The lobuloalveolar epithelial cells in the mammary gland are the likely source of secretion.

Breast↗
PubMed1999

The expression of CD59 in experimental allergic neuritis.

Complement is implicated as an effector in inflammatory demyelination occurring in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and in experimental allergic neuritis (EAN). CD59, a potent complement regulatory protein that inhibits the formation of the terminal cytolytic membrane attack complex (MAC), is expressed on human and rat Schwann cells. In EAN the expression of CD59 was increased on Schwann cells during demyelination and axonal degeneration, evaluated by immunostaining of nerve sections and teased fibres. Mac-1 (CD11b) positive leukocytes were localized close to the Schwann cells showing enhanced CD59 staining. The increased CD59 expression in EAN could therefore be due to the release of cytokines or other immunoregulatory molecules from the inflammatory cells. However, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) or tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-alpha) did not upregulate the expression of CD59 on rat Schwann cells in culture. The increased expression of CD59 in EAN is likely to be important in the protection of Schwann cells from MAC.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Infectious diseases associated with complement deficiencies.

The complement system consists of both plasma and membrane proteins. The former influence the inflammatory response, immune modulation, and host defense. The latter are complement receptors, which mediate the cellular effects of complement activation, and regulatory proteins, which protect host cells from complement-mediated injury. Complement activation occurs via either the classical or the alternative pathway, which converge at the level of C3 and share a sequence of terminal components. Four aspects of the complement cascade are critical to its function and regulation: (i) activation of the classical pathway, (ii) activation of the alternative pathway, (iii) C3 convertase formation and C3 deposition, and (iv) membrane attack complex assembly and insertion. In general, mechanisms evolved by pathogenic microbes to resist the effects of complement are targeted to these four steps. Because individual complement proteins subserve unique functional activities and are activated in a sequential manner, complement deficiency states are associated with predictable defects in complement-dependent functions. These deficiency states can be grouped by which of the above four mechanisms they disrupt. They are distinguished by unique epidemiologic, clinical, and microbiologic features and are most prevalent in patients with certain rheumatologic and infectious diseases. Ethnic background and the incidence of infection are important cofactors determining this prevalence. Although complement undoubtedly plays a role in host defense against many microbial pathogens, it appears most important in protection against encapsulated bacteria, especially Neisseria meningitidis but also Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and, to a lesser extent, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The availability of effective polysaccharide vaccines and antibiotics provides an immunologic and chemotherapeutic rationale for preventing and treating infection in patients with these deficiencies.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi escape destruction by the terminal complement components.

We studied the effect of complement on two life cycle stages of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi: epimastigotes, found in the insect vector, and amastigotes, found in the mammalian host. We found that while both stages activate vigorously the alternative pathway, only epimastigotes are destroyed. The amounts of C3 and C5b-7 deposited on the amastigotes were similar to those bound to the much larger epimastigotes. Binding of C9 to amastigotes was four to six times less than binding to epimastigotes, resulting in a lower C9/C5b-7 ratio. Although a fairly large amount of C9 bound stably to amastigotes, no functional channels were formed as measured by release of incorporated 86Rb. The bound C9 had the characteristic properties of poly-C9, that is, it expressed a neo-antigen unique to poly-C9, and migrated in SDS-PAGE with an apparent Mr greater than 10(5). The poly-C9 was removed from the surface of amastigotes by treatment with trypsin, indicating that it was not inserted in the lipid bilayer. Modification of amastigote surface by pronase treatment rendered the parasites susceptible to complement attack. These results suggest that amastigotes have a surface protein that binds to the C5b-9 complex and inhibits membrane insertion, thus protecting the parasites from complement-mediated lysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Therapeutic intervention with complement and beta-glucan in cancer.

Complement (C) has two major effector systems available for host defense. The membrane attack complex (MAC) generated from components C5-C9 can form membrane-penetrating lesions that lead to cell death by causing a rapid loss of cytoplasmic components. The MAC is only effective against pathogens with outer phospholipid membranes, and cannot kill gram-positive bacteria or yeast whose membranes are protected by cell walls. The most important effector mechanism of C is the opsonization of microbial pathogens with the serum protein C3 that leads to their high avidity attachment to the C3-receptors of phagocytic cells. Pathogens that activate complement are first coated with the C3b fragment of C3, which is rapidly proteolyzed into the iC3b fragment by serum factor I. These iC3b fragments serve to promote the high avidity attachment of the 'iC3b-opsonized' pathogens to the iC3b-receptors (CR3, CD11b/CD18) of phagocytic cells and natural killer (NK) cells, stimulating phagocytosis and/or cytotoxic degranulation. Host cells, including neoplastic tumor cells, have been endowed with natural mechanisms for self-protection against both the MAC and the cytotoxic activation of CR3. This review discusses a novel type of immunotherapy for cancer that uses soluble yeast beta-glucan to override the normal resistance of iC3b-opsonized tumor cells to the cytotoxic activation of phagocyte and NK cell CR3, allowing this important effector mechanism of the C system to function against tumor cells in the same way that it normally functions against bacteria and yeast. Moreover, the cytotoxic activation of beta-glucan-primed NK cell CR3 by iC3b-opsonized tumors is shown to be accompanied by a tumor-localized secretion of the cytokines TNFalpha, IFNalpha, IFNgamma, and IL-6.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[The specificity of interaction between the complement and the lipopolysaccharide with a low activity of the complement (hypothesis)].

Interactions between the complement with a low activity and the lipopolysacharide (LPS) with an extensive concentration range were experimentally investigated in vitro. A model was suggested that provides an explanation to the concentration-related dependence. The complement and LPS were shown, under certain conditions, to form the membrane-attacking complexes, which are not bound with the bacterium membrane and which can lyse any cells. Damages made by the above complexes to endothelial cells of the vessels could result in the onset of the syndrome of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The results can be used to develop a method applicable to evaluating a concentration of endotoxin and to creating anti-tumor drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Increased ion permeability of planar lipid bilayer membranes after treatment with the C5b-9 cytolytic attack mechanism of complement.

The ion permeability of planar lipid bilayers, as measured electrically, was found to increase modestly upon treatment with purified complement complex C5b,6 and complement components C7 and C8. The subsequent addition C9 greatly amplified this change. No permeability changes occurred when components were added individually to the membrane, or when they were used in paired combinations, or when C5b, C7, C8, and C9 were admixed prior to addition. Thus, there is a significant parallel between the permeability changes induced in the model membrane and damage produced in biological membranes by the C5b-9 complement attack sequence. The efficiency of membrane action by C5b-9 was critically dependent on the order in whcih components were added to the membrane. There were also differences in the electrical properties of membranes treated with C5b-8 and C5b-9, though in both cases the enhanced bilayer permeability is best attributed to the formation of trans-membrane channels. Collectively, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that the mechanism of membrane action by complement involves the production of a stable channel across the lipid bilayer, resulting in cell death by colloid-osmotic lysis.

Cell Membrane Permeability↗
PubMed1998

Glial cell reactions in neurodegenerative diseases: pathophysiology and therapeutic interventions.

A variety of proteins known to be involved in inflammatory processes are associated with lesions in chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This is particularly true of AD, in which inflammatory reactions are believed to be important contributors to the neuronal loss. Inflammatory proteins associated with AD include complement proteins, complement inhibitors, acute-phase reactants, inflammatory cytokines, proteases, and protease inhibitors. Studies of cultured human astrocytes and microglia obtained from postmortem brain have established that almost all of these proteins are produced by one or the other of these two cell types. Human neurons also produce many inflammatory proteins and their inhibitors, creating complex interactions. Accumulations of amyloid, extracellular tangles, or Lewy bodies apparently act as irritants, causing the activation of complement, the initiation of reactive changes in microglia, and the release of potentially neurotoxic products such as the membrane attack complex, oxygen free radicals, and excess glutamate. A number of epidemiologic studies indicate that populations taking anti-inflammatory drugs have a sharply reduced prevalence of AD. One small clinical trial with indomethacin showed arrest of the disease over a 6-month period. Therapeutic intervention in key inflammatory processes holds great promise for the amelioration of AD and possibly other neurodegenerative disorders.

Alzheimer Disease↗