Regulation of the membrane attack complex of complement. Evidence that C8 gamma is not the target of homologous restriction factors

Inability of the membrane attack complex of C (C5b-9) to efficiently lyse E from the same species has been attributed to one or more membrane-associated proteins that are collectively called homologous restriction factors. These include a 65,000 Mr protein referred to as the C8 binding protein or homologous restriction factor and a 20,000 Mr protein referred to as P-18, HRF20, CD59 Ag, or MIRL. Both are found on nucleated cells as well as E and both protect against complement-mediated lysis by interfering with C8 and/or C9 function within C5b-9. The exact mechanism by which these factors restrict activity is unknown but studies with purified C8 binding protein suggest they may interact specifically with the gamma subunit of C8. To determine directly if gamma is the target of restriction factors, a derivative of human C8 lacking this subunit was evaluated for its potential to lyse homologous cells. This derivative (C8') was previously shown to be functionally equivalent to normal C8 in a heterologous sheep E system. Here, it is compared to normal C8 by using human E as target cells. Results indicate no difference between the ability of C8 and C8' to incorporate into HuEAC1-7, to mediate subsequent C9 binding and to promote hemolysis. Thus, the presence or absence of gamma has no effect on homologous restriction of C5b-9, therefore gamma cannot be the primary target of homologous restriction factors.     

Differential susceptibility of type III erythrocytes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria to lysis mediated by complement and perforin

Previous reports have suggested that a 65 kDa membrane protein, termed homologous restriction factor (HRF), in addition to protecting erythrocytes (E) against lysis by homologous complement (C), may also be involved in protecting cytolytic lymphocytes against lysis mediated by a pore-forming protein (PFP/perforin), one of their own lytic mediators. Here, we used HRF-deficient type III E of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) to study their susceptibility to lysis mediated by homologous C and perforin, and compared it with lysis of HRF-bearing control or PNH type I E. We show that type III E of PNH patients are indeed more susceptible to lysis mediated by homologous C than control or type I E, but they are as susceptible to perforin-mediated lysis as type I E. In addition, all human E (type I or III) tested here are equally susceptible to lysis mediated by either human (homologous) or murine (heterologous) perforin. By immunoblot analysis, we confirm that type III E, in contrast to type I E, were deficient in the 65 kDa HRF. These results support the notion that homologous species restriction is seen in the C- but not in the lymphocyte perforin-system and argue against an active participation of HRF in protecting cells from perforin-mediated lysis.     

The homologous restriction factor is immunologically related to complement components C8 and C9 and to lymphocyte pore-forming protein perforin through cysteine-rich domains

The 65 kDa C8-binding protein or homologous restriction factor (C8bp/HRF) protects cells from complement (C)-mediated lysis by binding to C8 and abrogating lytic channel formation. Human C8bp/HRF is shown here to be immunologically related to human C8 and C9 and to murine lymphocyte poreforming protein (PFP, perforin). Polyclonal antibodies raised against purified C8, C9 and perforin react with C8bp/HRF. The antigenic epitopes shared by these four proteins are limited to cysteine-rich or disultide bridge-masked domains. Only complement proteins or perforin that have been disulfide-reduced elicit the production of cross-reactive antibodies when used as immunogens. Analogously, only C8bp/HRF that has been disulfide-reduced reacts with these antibodies. These results suggest that C8bp/HRF may belong to the complement/perforin supergene family. The function of homologous domains shared by these four proteins remains to be elucidated.     

Protection of xenogeneic cells from human complement-mediated lysis by the expression of human DAF, CD59 and MCP

CD59 and membrane cofactor protein (MCP, CD46) are widely expressed cell surface glycoproteins that protect host cells from the effect of homologous complement attack. cDNAs encoding human CD59 and MCP cloned from Chinese human embryo were separately transfected into NIH/3T3 cells resulting in the expression of human CD59 and MCP protein on the cell surface. The functional properties of expressed proteins were studied. When the transfected cells were exposed to human serum as a source of complement and naturally occurring anti-mouse antibody, they were resistant to human complement-mediated cell killing. However, the cells remained sensitive to rabbit and guinea pig complement. Human CD59 and MCP can only protect NIH/3T3 cells from human complement-mediated lysis. These results demonstrated that complement inhibitory activity of these proteins is species-selective. The cDNAs of CD59 and MCP were also separately transfected into the endothelial cells (ECs) of the pigs transgenic for the human DAF gene to investigate a putative synergistic action. The ECs expressing both DAF and MCP proteins or both DAF and CD59 proteins exhibited more protection against cytolysis by human serum compared to the cells with only DAF expressed alone.     

Enhanced expression of the complement-regulatory factor C8 binding protein (C8bp) on U937 cells after stimulation with IL-1 beta, endotoxin, IFN-gamma, or phorbol ester.

C8 binding protein (C8bp) is a 65-kDa membrane glycoprotein that inhibits complement-mediated lysis by homologous C5b-9. C8bp was first identified on human erythrocytes, but could also be detected on peripheral blood cells, platelets, glomerular cells and synovial fibroblasts. Lack of C8bp as seen in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria type III results in enhanced susceptibility of the cells toward C5b-9. We studied C8bp expression on the promonocytic cell line U937. In addition to the membrane-bound C8bp, a cytoplasmic form of C8bp could also be identified by immunofluorescence, blotting, and precipitation. Stimulation of the cells with IL-1 beta, endotoxin, IFN-gamma, or phorbol ester increased C8bp surface expression. Because cycloheximide did not inhibit enhanced surface expression, it was most probably mobilized from cytoplasmic reservoirs. Thus, resistance of nuclear cells to complement attack seems to be based on two events: 1) the removal of the C5b-9 complex from the membrane; and 2) expression of regulatory surface proteins such as C8bp, which inhibit C5b-9-mediated lysis. We propose that the C8bp mobilization by cytokines might provide an additional protection against complement attack by its known interference with the C5b-9 assembly.     

Membrane factors responsible for homologous species restriction of complement-mediated lysis: evidence for a factor other than DAF operating at the stage of C8 and C9

Species-restricted lysis of complement refers to the relative inefficiency of complement to lyse cells from the homologous species. Restriction occurs at least at the steps involving C3/C5 convertase formation and the C9 insertion phase of the complement cascade, and is presumed to be mediated by inhibitory factors in the target cell membrane. In this study, we have examined whether decay accelerating factor (DAF), a membrane protein known to modulate C3/C5 convertase activities on cell surfaces, acts as a regulatory protein in species-restricted lysis of human erythrocyte (E). The role of DAF was assessed in homologous lysis by the classic pathway, in reactive lysis, and in lytic steps requiring C8 and C9. The results indicated that DAF participated in regulating C3/C5 deposition on the surface of homologous E, but had no effect on homologous restriction in reactive lysis and in the reaction of C8 and C9 with antibody-sensitized E C1-7. Treatment of E with pronase or with dithiothreitol (DTT) abolished the restricting effect of homologous C8/C9, indicating that species-restricted lysis by C5b-9 involves membrane factor(s) sensitive to pronase and DTT.     

Inability of interferon to protect virus-infected cells against lysis by natural killer (NK) cells correlates with NK cell-mediated antiviral effects in vivo

Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is a natural killer (NK) cell-sensitive virus, whereas lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is an NK cell-resistant virus. Selective depletion of NK cell activity by injection of mice with anti-asialo GM1 antibody enhanced synthesis of MCMV but not that of LCMV when mice were simultaneously infected with the two viruses. This suggests that the NK cell-mediated antiviral effects may depend on target cell susceptibility to NK cell-mediated lysis rather than the ability of a virus to induce a specialized antiviral NK cell. In support of this concept, activated NK cells isolated from either MCMV- or LCMV-infected mice had similar patterns of killing against all targets tested. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) infected with MCMV were less sensitive to lysis by activated NK cells than either uninfected or LCMV-infected MEF. However, when MEF were pretreated with IFN, activated NK cell-mediated lysis against MCMV-infected MEF was undiminished and was much higher (up to fourfold) than that against uninfected MEF, whose sensitivity to lysis was almost totally abolished by IFN pretreatment. LCMV-infected MEF were also protected by IFN against activated NK cell-mediated lysis. During infection, the virus-induced IFN may protect uninfected and LCMV-infected cells from IFN-activated, NK cell-mediated lysis, but MCMV-infected cells may remain sensitive to lysis. This could explain how NK cells play a role in resistance to MCMV but not LCMV.     

Degranulation enhances presynaptic membrane packing,which protects NK cells from perforin-mediated autolysis

Natural killer (NK) cells kill a target cell by secreting perforin into the lytic immunological synapse, a specialized interface formed between the NK cell and its target. Perforin creates pores in target cell membranes allowing delivery of proapoptotic enzymes. Despite the fact that secreted perforin is in close range to both the NK and target cell membranes, the NK cell typically survives while the target cell does not. How NK cells preferentially avoid death during the secretion of perforin via the degranulation of their perforin-containing organelles (lytic granules) is perplexing. Here, we demonstrate that NK cells are protected from perforin-mediated autolysis by densely packed and highly ordered presynaptic lipid membranes, which increase packing upon synapse formation. When treated with 7-ketocholesterol, lipid packing is reduced in NK cells making them susceptible to perforin-mediated lysis after degranulation. Using high-resolution imaging and lipidomics, we identified lytic granules themselves as having endogenously densely packed lipid membranes. During degranulation, lytic granule–cell membrane fusion thereby further augments presynaptic membrane packing, enhancing membrane protection at the specific sites where NK cells would face maximum concentrations of secreted perforin. Additionally, we found that an aggressive breast cancer cell line is perforin resistant and evades NK cell–mediated killing owing to a densely packed postsynaptic membrane. By disrupting membrane packing, these cells were switched to an NK-susceptible state, which could suggest strategies for improving cytotoxic cell-based cancer therapies. Thus, lipid membranes serve an unexpected role in NK cell functionality protecting them from autolysis, while degranulation allows for the inherent lytic granule membrane properties to create local ordered lipid “shields” against self-destruction.

Natural killer cells mediate largely unidirectional potent cytotoxicity against diseased cells while sparing themselves. The authors show that the NK cell membrane contains and focuses lipids of high density which shield against self-destruction, and a similar densely packed postsynaptic membrane is responsible for the perforin resistance and NK cell-mediated killing evasion of an aggressive breast cancer cell line.     

Homologous species restriction in lysis of human erythrocytes: a membrane-derived protein with C8-binding capacity functions as an inhibitor

An intrinsic membrane protein with a m.w. of 65,000 that can bind human C8 has been identified after separation of human erythrocyte membrane proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrotransfer to nitrocellulose sheets. The protein, tentatively designated as the C8-binding protein (C8bp) could be isolated from papain-treated erythrocyte (E) membranes by phenol-water extraction and isoelectric focusing. In a functional assay, with chicken (ch) E as target cells, C8bp inhibited the lysis of ch E C5b67 intermediates by human C8 and C9, whereas the lysis by rabbit C8 and C9 was not affected. Because the decay accelerating factor (DAF) from human erythrocyte membranes also inhibits the activity of C3/C5 convertases in an homologous system, we tested whether or not a DAF activity was present in C8bp. C8bp, however, did not accelerate the decay of the classic C3 convertases. Thus, it appears that C8bp and DAF are two different factors of E membranes with a similar molecular size inhibiting different sites of the activation cascade of complement while they can function synergistically to minimize the self-inflicted damage by complement.     

Cloning and characterization of the trout perforin

The pore-forming protein, perforin is one of the effectors of cell-mediated killing. A perforin cDNA clone was isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after screening of a spleen cDNA library. The full-length cDNA is 2070 bp in size, encoding for a polypeptide of 589 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence of the trout perforin is 64, 58 and 40% identical to those of Japanese flounder, zebrafish and human perforins, respectively. Although its membrane attack complex/perforin (MACPF) domain is conserved, trout perforin shows low homology to human and trout terminal complement components (C6, C7, C8 and C9), ranging from 19 to 26% identity. Expression analysis reveals that the trout perforin gene is expressed in the blood, brain, heart, kidney, intestine and spleen. Phylogenetic analysis of proteins which belong to the MACPF superfamily clusters the trout perforin in the same group with other known perforins.     

Effect of growth temperature on complement-mediated killing of mesophilic Aeromonas spp. serotype O:34

Abstract Mesophilic Aeromonas spp. strains (serotype O:34) showed sensitivity to complement-mediated killing when they were cultivated at 37°C (serum-sensitive) but not when they were cultivated at 20°C (serum-resistant). These strains produced smooth lipopolysaccharide when they were grown at 20°C and rough lipolysaccharide when cultivated at 37°C. The reason for the resistance to complement-mediated killing could be that C3b is rapidly degraded (possibly because it is bound far from the cell membrane), consequently the lytic complex (C5b-9) is not formed.     

Perforin lytic activity is controlled by calreticulin

The components within cytotoxic lymphocyte granules are responsible for a significant fraction of T and NK cell-mediated death. Perforin is stored in these granules together with calreticulin. Calreticulin has long been recognized as a chaperone protein of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is the only resident ER protein to be found in the cytotoxic granules. Here we implicate a role for calreticulin in killing and report that it controls osmotic lysis mediated by purified perforin. Calreticulin, at a concentration of 2.2 x 10-7 M, completely blocked perforin-mediated lysis. Inhibition was stable and held over 5 h. Recombinant calreticulin, at a concentration of 8. 8 x 10-7 M, also blocked lysis, indicating the inhibition was due to calreticulin and not a copurifying protein in the native calreticulin preparations. Using calreticulin domain fragments (expressed as GST fusion proteins), we found inhibitory activity in the high-capacity calcium-binding C-domain, which does not bind perforin. The N- or P-domains, which can bind perforin, were unable to block lysis. The inhibition of lysis was independent of granzyme inactivation or the ability of calreticulin to sequester calcium. Our data indicate that calreticulin regulation of perforin-mediated lysis probably occurs without direct interaction with perforin. We propose a novel model in which calreticulin stabilizes membranes to prevent polyperforin pore formation.     

Calcium-dependent plasma membrane binding and cell lysis by perforin are mediated through its C2 domain: A critical role for aspartate residues 429, 435, 483, and 485 but not 491

The lymphocyte pore-forming protein perforin is essential for maintaining immune homeostasis and for effective defense against intracellular pathogens. To date, there have been no reported structure-function studies to substantiate the function of any putative domains of perforin, which have been postulated totally on primary sequence similarities with domains in other proteins. In this report, we have used recently developed modalities for expressing full-length perforin and robust functional assays to investigate one of the hallmarks of perforin function: its absolute dependence on calcium for lipid binding and cell lysis. We provide, for the first time, experimental evidence that the predicted C-terminal C2 motif constitutes a functional domain that is responsible for membrane binding of perforin. Whereas conserved aspartate residues at positions 429, 435, 483, and 485 were essential for calcium-dependent plasma membrane binding and cell lysis, the contribution of Asp-491 was limited. Finally, after experimentally verifying an optimized three-dimensional model, we have made predictions on the impact of two inherited perforin mutations of the C2 domain on calcium-dependent lipid binding and cell lysis.     

Resistance of cytolytic lymphocytes to perforin-mediated killing. Murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes and human natural killer cells do not contain functional soluble homologous restriction factor or other specific soluble protective factors

CTL and NK cells produce a cytolytic pore-forming protein (perforin, cytolysin) localized in their cytoplasmic granules. These cytotoxic cells are resistant to killing mediated by other lymphocytes and by purified perforin. A membrane factor, known as homologous restriction factor (HRF), has been suggested to confer protection to different cell types against both C- and perforin-mediated lysis. The granules of human large granular lymphocytes have been reported to contain, in addition to perforin, a soluble HRF activity that can be eluted from anion-exchange columns at 115 mM NaCl. Here, we report that a soluble HRF activity is absent in the granules or the cytosol of murine CTL and human NK cells. Our data indicate that the inhibition attributed to HRF could be explained by exogenous EDTA added during granule fractionation. EDTA was shown to bind to Mono Q and to elute at 90 to 120 mM NaCl. A second perforin-inhibitory activity was also eluted from such a column. However, it was present in preparations obtained not only from CTL and NK cells, but also from some perforin-susceptible tumor cell lines, indicating that it has nonrestricted distribution and suggesting that it is probably irrelevant to the perforin-protection mechanism. Our results argue against a role for soluble granule HRF or other soluble factors in mediating resistance of cytotoxic lymphocytes against perforin-mediated lysis.     

Killing of gram-negative bacteria by complement. Fractionation of cell membranes after complement C5b-9 deposition on to the surface of Salmonella minnesota Re595.

The effect of C5b-9 deposition on the envelope of target Gram-negative bacteria was studied. In order to understand the changes occurring after complement deposition on the bacterial surface, the preparation of Gram-negative bacterial membranes by different methods involving the osmotic lysis of spheroplasts was investigated. Subsequent fractionation of the outer membrane (OM) and cytoplasmic membrane (CM) by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation showed differences in the membrane profiles obtained. The results indicate that optimum separation of OM and CM components requires effective digestion of DNA in the total membrane preparation before density-gradient fractionation. Salmonella minnesota Re595 carrying the intermediate complement complex C5b-7 (BC1-7) or C5b-8 (BC1-8) were efficiently killed upon incubation with purified C8 + C9 or C9 respectively. Human-alpha-thrombin-cleaved C9 (C9n), which is unable to form tubular poly(C9), was shown to be more effective at killing than native C9. By using an optimized system for the separation of OM and CM, it was found that, subsequent to lethal complement attack, the CM could not be recovered when C9 was used as the terminal complement component, but was recovered with reduced yield when C9n replaced C9. The results show that inability to recover the CM on sucrose density gradients after complement attack may not be a consequence of an essential membrane damage event required for complement-mediated killing of Gram-negative bacteria.     

Human perforin (PRF1) maps to 10q22, a region that is syntenic with mouse chromosome 10.

Perforin (PRF1) is a cytolytic, channel-forming protein of cytolytic T cells, natural killer cells, and granulated metrial gland cells and plays a crucial role in the killer cell-mediated elimination of virally infected host cells, tumor cells, and allotransplants. Two-thirds of the perforin sequence is homologous to the lytic, channel-forming complement proteins C6, C7, C8 alpha, C8 beta, and C9. Using cosmid DNA containing the PRF1 gene as a probe for fluorescence in situ hybridization, we have reevaluated its chromosomal location. Previously assigned to chromosome 17q11-q21, it has now been mapped to 10q22. The human PRF1 locus lies within a conserved synteny segment present on mouse chromosome 10, consistent with the previous chromosomal assignment of mouse perforin. The perforin locus is not linked to any of the genes of the terminal complement system.     

The complement-inhibitory activity of CD59 resides in its capacity to block incorporation of C9 into membrane C5b-9.

A human E membrane protein that inhibits lysis by the purified human C5b-9 proteins was isolated and characterized. After final purification, the protein migrated as an 18- to 20-kDa band by SDS-PAGE. Elution from gel slices and functional assay after SDS-PAGE (nonreduced) confirmed that all C5b-9 inhibitory activity of the purified protein resided in the 18- to 20-kDa band. Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C digestion of the purified protein abolished 50% of its C5b-9 inhibitory activity, and removed approximately 15% of the protein from human E. Western blots of normal and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria E revealed an absence of the 18- to 20-kDa protein in the paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria E cells. The identity of this E protein with leukocyte Ag CD59 (P18, HRF20) was confirmed immunochemically and by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. A blocking antibody raised against the purified protein reacted with a single 18- to 20-kDa band on Western blots of human erythrocyte membranes. Prior incubation of human E with the F(ab) of this antibody increased subsequent lysis by the purified human C5b-9 proteins. Potentiation of C5b-9-mediated lysis was observed when erythrocytes were preincubated with this blocking antibody before C5b-9 assembly was initiated, or, when this antibody was added after 30 min, 0 degrees C incubation of C5b-8-treated E with C9. Chicken E incubated with purified CD59 were used to further characterize the mechanism of its C-inhibitory activity. Preincorporation of CD59 into these cells inhibited lysis by C5b-9, regardless of whether CD59 was added before or after assembly of the C5b-8 complex. When incorporated into the membrane, CD59 inhibited binding of 125I-C9 to membrane C5b-8 and reduced the extent of formation of SDS-resistant C9 polymer. The inhibitory effect of CD59 on 125I-C9 incorporation was most pronounced at near-saturating input of C9 (to C5b-8). By contrast, CD59 did not inhibit either C5b67 deposition onto the cell surface, or, binding of 125I-C8 to preassembled membrane C5b67. Taken together, these data suggest that CD59 exerts its C-inhibitory activity by limiting incorporation of multiple C9 into the membrane C5b-9 complex.     

Complement activation induces the expression of decay-accelerating factor on human mesangial cells.

In the present study we evaluated the effect of complement activation by immune complexes (IC) on the expression of decay-accelerating factor (DAF) on human mesangial cells (MC). MC in culture were incubated with an Ag (DNP-Gelatin) that binds to fibronectin present in the MC matrix. Subsequently, MC were incubated with anti-DNP antibodies in the presence of human serum. By immunoperoxidase staining we showed that these incubations resulted in IC formation and deposition of human C3 and terminal complement components (C5b-9) on the mesangial matrix and on the surface of MC. By immunoperoxidase staining and by RIA we showed that IC formation and complement activation significantly increased DAF expression on the MC plasma membrane. The induction of DAF expression was a consequence of deposition of terminal complement components on the MC because, zymosan-activated serum and IC formation in the presence of C5- or C8-deficient serum failed to increase MC DAF expression. Furthermore, the observed increased DAF expression was the consequence of increased DAF synthesis by MC. Thus, both cycloheximide and actinomycin D blocked the increase on MC DAF observed after incubation with IC and serum. MC DAF had biophysical and functional characteristics similar to DAF in other cells. Thus, 1) MC DAF was resistant to trypsin but was removed from the MC membrane by pronase; 2) phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C removed 48 +/- 4% of MC DAF indicating that MC DAF is anchored in the cell membrane by phosphatidylinositol groups; 3) DAF isolated from MC-inhibited complement-mediated hemolysis and demonstrated a molecular mass of 83 kDa. In conclusion, deposition of terminal complement components on human MC trigger new synthesis and membrane expression of DAF. Because DAF protects cells against complement-mediated lysis, we postulate that DAF may protect glomerular cells during IC and complement-mediated glomerulonephritis.     

Resistance of cytolytic lymphocytes to perforin-mediated killing. Inhibition of perforin binding activity by surface membrane proteins

The mechanism whereby cytolytic lymphocytes protect themselves from killing mediated by their own cytotoxic protein, perforin, was studied. By using a competition assay, we demonstrated that the resistance of cells to perforin-mediated cytolysis is inversely correlated with their ability to absorb perforin, with tumor cells and noncytotoxic lymphocytes that are susceptible to perforin-mediated lysis being able to absorb perforin from the supernatant much better than CTL. The evidence implies that there is molecule on cytolytic lymphocytes that interferes with perforin-binding activity, resulting in the inability of perforin to lyse these cells. The molecule is most likely a surface protein or complex of proteins because its activity decreases after CTL treatment with the proteolytic enzymes trypsin and papain, and the activity can be recovered by incubation of the treated CTL cells at 37 degrees C for 6 h. The recovery can be blocked by emetine, cycloheximide, and actinomycin D, inhibitors of protein and RNA/DNA synthesis. The protein contains carbohydrate groups that play an important role in the function of the protein, as indicated by the fact that inhibition of glycosylation by tunicamycin and cleavage of sialic acid from the protein with neuraminidase result in a significant increase of perforin binding to CTL. Cross-linkage of CTL membrane proteins with glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde and blockage of the functional domains of the protein with an antiserum against CTL also inhibit the activity of this protein. Temperature-dependence studies that allow for a dissociation of the binding and pore-forming stages of perforin-mediated hemolysis suggest that the protective protein interferes at the perforin-binding stage.