Cloning of a human complement component C4 gene.

Six overlapping cosmid clones having an average insert size of 40 kilobase pairs were identified and isolated from a human genomic library by using a cDNA probe, Alu-7, specific for the amino acid sequence of C4d, a known region of the fourth component of human complement. Analysis of these genomic clones by restriction digestion and Southern blotting shows that all six probably contain the same complete C4 gene. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the genomic clone Cos-A and the cDNA clone Alu-7 shows an identical sequence except for the presence of a 1,500-base-pair intron in the genomic sequence. The amino acid sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence agrees with the known C4d region amino acid sequence with one exception.     

Prohaptoglobin is proteolytically cleaved in the endoplasmic reticulum by the complement C1r-like protein

Many secretory proteins are synthesized as proforms that become biologically active through a proteolytic cleavage in the trans-Golgi complex or at a later stage in the secretory pathway. Haptoglobin (Hp) is unusual in that it is cleaved in the endoplasmic reticulum before it enters the Golgi. Here, we present evidence that the recently discovered complement C1r-like protein (C1r-LP) mediates this cleavage. C1r-LP has not previously been shown to possess proteolytic activity, despite its homology to trypsin-like Ser proteinases. We demonstrate that coexpression of the proform of Hp (proHp) and C1r-LP in COS-1 cells effected cleavage of proHp in the endoplasmic reticulum. This cleavage depended on proteolytic activity of C1r-LP because mutation of the putative active-site Ser residue abolished the reaction. Furthermore, incubation of affinity-purified C1r-LP and proHp led to the cleavage of the latter protein. ProHp appeared to be cleaved at the expected site because substitution of Gly for Arg-161 blocked the reaction. C1r-LP showed specificity for proHp, in that it did not cleave the proform of complement C1s, a protein similar to Hp particularly around the cleavage site. C1r-LP accounts for at least part of the endogenous proHp-cleavage activity because suppression of the C1r-LP expression by RNA interference reduced the cleavage of proHp by up to 45% in the cells of a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2).     

Fibronectin binds to the C1q component of complement.

Fibronectin immobilized to plastic tubes binds soluble C1q with a Kd of 82 +/- 2.6 nM. The binding of fibronectin to C1q is relatively insensitive to pH but is sensitive to ionic conditions. C1q covalently bound to Sepharose selectively binds cellular fibronectin produced by a hamster fibroblast cell line. The globular head regions of C1q have no effect on the binding of C1q to fibronectin but the collagenous tails of C1q interfere competitively with a Ki of 59 nM. We conclude that fibronectin binds C1q via its collagen-like tail region and thus the process resembles the binding of fibronectin to gelatin. This is further emphasized by our observation that gelatin binds to fibronectin immobilized on plastic tubes with a Kd of 131 nM. Because fibronectin stimulates endocytosis in several systems and promotes the clearance of particulate material from the circulation, these results suggest the possibility that fibronectin could function in the clearance of C1q-coated material such as immune complexes or cellular debris.     

Structural basis for activation of the complement system by component C4 cleavage

An essential aspect of innate immunity is recognition of molecular patterns on the surface of pathogens or altered self through the lectin and classical pathways, two of the three well-established activation pathways of the complement system. This recognition causes activation of the MASP-2 or the C1s serine proteases followed by cleavage of the protein C4. Here we present the crystal structures of the 203-kDa human C4 and the 245-kDa C4⋅MASP-2 substrate⋅enzyme complex. When C4 binds to MASP-2, substantial conformational changes in C4 are induced, and its scissile bond region becomes ordered and inserted into the protease catalytic site in a manner canonical to serine proteases. In MASP-2, an exosite located within the CCP domains recognizes the C4 C345C domain 60 Å from the scissile bond. Mutations in C4 and MASP-2 residues at the C345C–CCP interface inhibit the intermolecular interaction and C4 cleavage. The possible assembly of the huge in vivo enzyme–substrate complex consisting of glycan-bound mannan-binding lectin, MASP-2, and C4 is discussed. Our own and prior functional data suggest that C1s in the classical pathway of complement activated by, e.g., antigen–antibody complexes, also recognizes the C4 C345C domain through a CCP exosite. Our results provide a unified structural framework for understanding the early and essential step of C4 cleavage in the elimination of pathogens and altered self through two major pathways of complement activation.     

Immobilized doxorubicin increases the complement susceptibility of human melanoma cells by protecting complement component C3b against inactivation.

Human melanoma cells resistant to killing by monoclonal antibody R24 plus human complement became susceptible after treatment with doxorubicin (adriamycin). Treatment with doxorubicin prevented the rapid degradation of surface-bound complement component C3b that has been identified as a protective mechanism of complement-resistant melanoma cells. Doxorubicin caused the increased complement susceptibility as free drug and after immobilization onto glass beads to prevent cellular uptake. Immobilized doxorubicin was more effective than free drug, causing enhanced complement susceptibility at concentrations where the free drug was no longer active. In contrast to free doxorubicin, which exhibited a direct cytotoxic effect leading to cell death within 4 days, immobilized doxorubicin did not affect cell viability. These findings suggest that combination therapy of the complement-activating monoclonal antibody R24 with the complement-enhancing drug doxorubicin may be a promising approach for the treatment of melanoma.     

Genetic variants of complement component 3 (C3) in DR4 positive and DR4 negative rheumatoid arthritis.

C3 allotypes were defined in 86 Caucasoid patients with rheumatoid arthritis living in the north west of England and in 80 local, healthy controls. C3 allotype and phenotype frequencies were similar in RA (whether DR4 positive or negative) and control groups.     

Modulation of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis by the third complement component (C3)--implications for trafficking of CXCR4+ stem cells

Several organs including hematopoietic ones may regenerate by attracting stem cells that are mobilized from their niches in response to stress related to tissue/organ damage and after mobilization circulate in the peripheral blood. The trafficking of these cells is regulated by alpha-chemokine stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) that is upregulated in damaged organs and binds to seven-transmembrane-span G-protein-coupled CXCR4 receptor that is expressed on circulating stem cells. In parallel, evidence has accumulated that the complement (C) system, which is part of innate immunity, may also orchestrate regeneration. C becomes activated with the release of the third complement component (C3) cleavage fragments (e.g., C3a, desArgC3a, and iC3b) during tissue/organ injury. Our recent work demonstrated that these fragments modulate responsiveness of CXCR4+ stem cells to an SDF-1 gradient. Thus the high concentration of both SDF-1 and C3 cleavage fragments in damaged organs results in the formation of an optimal gradient for chemoattracting circulating CXCR4+ stem cells. In this review we will focus on interactions between the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis and the C3 cleavage fragments in a model of mobilization, trafficking, and homing of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC).     

Levels of complement component 3,complement component 4, high sensitivity C reactive protein,and uric acid in serum of schizophrenia

正Objective To examine serum levels of complement component 3(C3),complement component 4(C4),high sensitivity C reactive protein(hs-CRP),and uric acid(UA)in schizophrenia(SZ)patients and study their clinical significance.Methods One hundred forty-four SZ patients were recruited as SZ group.According to use     

Antigenic crossreactivity of the alpha subunit of complement component C8 with the cysteine-rich domain shared by complement component C9 and low density lipoprotein receptor.

Complement component C9 contains two distinct cysteine-rich domains exhibiting high sequence resemblance to a domain present in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and epidermal growth factor precursor, respectively. Antibodies were raised against a peptide corresponding to the most conserved region of the LDL receptor/C9-homology segment. The antibodies were shown by immunoblotting to bind specifically to C9 but also to crossreact with C8 alpha, the alpha subunit of complement component C8. Moreover, a monoclonal antibody to a neoantigen present in polymerized C9 bound to an epitope exposed on C8 within the C5b-8 complex but buried in monomeric C8, suggesting that C8 and C9 undergo similar conformational changes during membrane-attack-complex assembly. Isolated C8 alpha-gamma exhibited the propensity to polymerize in the presence of Zn2+ and urea, as already demonstrated for C9. These data indicate that C8 alpha is closely related, both structurally and functionally, to C9.     

Structural transitions of complement component C3 and its activation products

Complement sensitizes pathogens for phagocytosis and lysis. We use electron microscopy to examine the structural transitions in the activation of the pivotal protein in the complement pathway, C3. In the cleavage product C3b, the position of the thioester domain moves approximately 100 Angstrom, which becomes covalently coupled to antigenic surfaces. In the iC3b fragment, cleavage in an intervening domain creates a long flexible linker between the thioester domain and the macroglobulin domain ring of C3. Studies on two products of nucleophile addition to C3 reveal a structural intermediate in activation, and a final product, in which the anaphylatoxin domain has undergone a remarkable movement through the macroglobulin ring.     

Specific antibody-dependent binding of complement component C1q to hapten-sensitized lipid vesicles.

The binding of a component of human complement (C1q) to membrane-bound specific anti-nitroxide antibodies was studied as a function of the physical properties (fluid vs. solid) of vesicle lipids. The antibodies were bound to spin-label lipid haptens in the vesicle membrane. The binding of C1q to the sensitized vesicles shows a maximum as a function of specific IgG concentration. The binding of antibodies and of C1q to the vesicle membrane does not depend strongly on the physical state of the membrane lipids. even at low hapten (0.05 mol%) concentrations. These results are of significance for the understanding of the previously reported effect of lipid physical states on complement depletion.     

Nerve growth factor: activation of the classical complement pathway by specific substitution for component C1-.

The interaction of homogeneous preparations of mouse submandibular gland nerve growth factor (NGF) with the classical complement pathway was studied. NGF was found to be capable of carrying out the enzyme activities of the first component (C1-) of the classical complement pathway (i.e., the cleavage of zymogen C4 and C2). NGF would not substitute for any other classical pathway component, C2-C9. The C1(-)-like activity of NGF was inhibited by human C1- inactivator. This interaction of NGF with the complement system may account for the previously described ability of NGF to accelerate the rate of contraction of experimentally induced wounds.     

Human complement component C3: cDNA coding sequence and derived primary structure.

The complete cDNA coding sequence and derived amino acid sequence of human complement component C3 are presented. The encoded precursor molecule contains a signal peptide of 22 amino acid residues, the beta chain (645 residues), and the alpha chain (992 residues). The two chains are joined by four arginine residues not present in the mature protein. Several functionally important sites have been localized, such as the thiolester site, the cleavage site liberating the anaphylatoxin, and two sites of cleavage by the serine protease factor I, as well as a peptide fragment with leukocyte mobilizing activity. At least two carbohydrate attachment sites, one on each chain, have been identified. Human C3 has 79% identity to mouse C3 at the nucleotide level and 77% identity at the amino acid level. The protease alpha 2-macroglobulin and complement component C4 show considerable homology to C3, suggesting that the three proteins have evolved from a common ancestor.     

The complement component C4 in black Americans with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus

Summary The complement component C4 variants C4A4, C4B 4 and C4B QO were found to be significantly increased in 64 black patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes compared with 169 black control subjects, yielding relative risks of 3.3, 2.9 and 3.4, respectively. The increased frequencies of C4B 4 and C4B QO in black Type 1 diabetic patients are similar to those found in Caucasoid Type 1 diabetic patients. The data suggest that Type 1 diabetes in black Americans may be partially due to admixture of genes from whites.     

The role of complement component C3b and its receptors in sperm-oocyte interaction.

Previous studies have shown that human sperm that have undergone the acrosome reaction express a unique tissue-specific variant of the complement component 3 (C3)-binding molecule membrane cofactor protein (MCP, CD46) and that damaged or dead sperm activate the alternative pathway of complement and bind C3 catabolites. In this study we provide evidence that MCP on sperm that have undergone the acrosome reaction specifically binds dimeric C3b and that human sperm acrosomal proteases released during the acrosome reaction directly cleave C3, facilitating its binding to MCP. Furthermore, human and hamster oocytes can activate the alternative pathway of complement and also bind human C3 fragments. Monoclonal antibodies specific for complement receptors type 1 (CD35) and type 3 (CD11b/CD18) bind to the human oocyte plasma membrane, indicating that specific complement-binding molecules may play a role in the attachment of C3 catabolites to oocytes. Subsaturating concentrations of dimeric C3b (0.01-1 microM) promoted penetration of hamster oocytes by human sperm, whereas saturating doses (> 10 microM) inhibited this process. In addition, antibodies to both MCP and C3 significantly inhibited penetration of hamster oocytes by human sperm. These data provide evidence that regulated gamete-induced generation of C3 fragments and the binding of these fragments by selectively expressed receptors on sperm and oocytes may be an initial step in gamete interaction, leading to membrane fusion and fertilization.     

Domain structure and associated functions of subcomponents C1r and C1s of the first component of human complement.

The serine protease subcomponents of the activated form of the first component of human complement (C1), C1r and C1s, were observed by electron microscopy after the native proteins and their limited proteolysis products, obtained from autolytic cleavage (C1r) or from incubation with plasmin (C1s) were rotary shadowed. At the monomeric level, both C1r and C1s comprised two globular domains, a smaller interaction domain (corresponding to the NH2-terminal half of the A chain, alpha, and responsible for calcium binding and C1r-C1s interaction) and a larger catalytic domain (corresponding to the COOH-terminal part of the A chain, gamma, disulfide-linked to the B chain and bearing the serine protease active site). The two globular domains are linked by a connecting strand, beta. The (C1r)2 dimer appeared as a "croissant"-like association, where the two monomers interact through their catalytic domains. On the basis of the domain structure of C1r and C1s, a model of the calcium-dependent C1s dimer is proposed, in which the two monomers interact through their NH2-terminal interaction domains; in the same way, a model of the C1s-(C1r)2-C1s catalytic subunit of C1 is presented, in which (C1r)2 forms a core, its distal interaction domains interacting with the corresponding domains of C1s.     

1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 regulates in vivo production of the third component of complement (C3) in bone.

We previously reported that 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3] specifically stimulates production of the third component of complement (C3) by murine osteoblastic cells and marrow-derived stromal cells (ST2) in vitro. In the present study we examined tissue-specific production of C3 in vivo in vitamin D-deficient mice, some of which received supplemental 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3. Western blot analysis indicated that the C3 protein band in bone was undetectable in vitamin D-deficient mice, but became distinct 48 h after 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 administration. The mRNA expression of C3 in bone was also undetectable in vitamin D-deficient mice and appeared as early as 24 h after 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 administration. mRNA expression apparently preceded the appearance of C3 protein. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the expression of hepatic C3 mRNA among normal mice fed laboratory chow and vitamin D-deficient mice with and without 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 administration. The serum concentration of C3 in vitamin D-deficient mice was almost identical to that in normal mice and was unchanged after 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 administration. 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 receptor (VDR) mRNAs were detected in the kidney and intestine, whereas no appreciable mRNA expression of VDR occurred in the liver. Osteopontin mRNA was expressed in response to 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 in the kidney, but not in the intestine. Immunohistochemical studies showed that in normal mice, the C3 protein was located mainly in the periosteal regions of calvaria and on the surfaces of bone trabeculae in the tibial metaphyses. These results demonstrate that 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 tissue-specifically regulates in vivo production of C3 in bone. The production of bone C3 cannot be attributed to the presence of VDR alone, and we speculate that other tissue-specific factors are required.     

Herpes simplex virus glycoprotein C is a receptor for complement component iC3b.

Herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells bind C3b and iC3b, but not C3d, at the cell surface. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-infected cells bind none of these C3 fragments. A transfection assay was used to demonstrate that binding of iC3b was to gC1. Although iC3b did not bind to HSV-2-infected cells, it did bind to mammalian cells transfected with the gC2 gene. Using linker insertion mutants, three domains on gC2 that are important for binding iC3b were mapped; these regions were similar to previously defined regions involved in binding C3b. These results suggest that some of the functions served by gC may be similar to those of CR3, the mammalian receptor for iC3b.