The separation of functionally distinct forms of the third component of human complement (C3).

Complement component C3 prepared by the method of Tack & Prahl [(1976) Biochemistry 15, 4513-4521] was found to contain the following trace contaminants: C3b, haemolytically inactive C3 with intact alpha- and beta-chains (C3u) and degraded C3 (apparent mol.wt. 140000) with an intact beta-chain but with a fragmented alpha-chain. The proportion of C3u in the C3 is increased on standing and by freezing and thawing. These contaminants could be separated from each other and from native C3 by chromatography on sulphated Sepharose. They have been characterized by their susceptibility to C3b inactivator in the presence of beta 1H, their ability to be cleaved by C3 convertase and their ability to form alternative-pathway C3 convertase in solution. Incubation of C3b or C3u with beta 1H and C3b inactivator resulted in cleavage of the C3 species; the alpha'-chain of C3b was cleaved to fragments of apparent mol.wts. 67000 and 43000, the alpha-chain of C3u was cleaved to fragments of apparent mol.wt. 75000 and 43000. Native C3 and degraded C3 were unaffected by incubation with beta 1H and C3b inactivator. C3u, unlike C3, was not cleaved to C3b by the classical- or alternative-pathway C3 convertase in solution. When C3b or C3 was incubated with factors B and D, forming C3 convertase, the initial rate of factor-B cleavage was several order of magnitude lower in the presence of C3 than in the presence of C3b. The slow rate observed for C3 could be decreased by preincubation with beta 1H and C3b inactivator or by rechromatography of the C3. The degraded C3 did not support factor-B cleavage by factor D.     

Suppression of T lymphocyte functions by human C3 fragments. I. Inhibition of human T cell proliferative responses by a kallikrein cleavage fragment of human iC3b

Cleavage of human iC3b by kallikrein isolated from human plasma generates a fragment, C3d-K, which is capable of inhibiting mitogen-, antigen-, and alloantigen-induced T lymphocyte proliferation. Native C3, C3a, C3b, and C3c-K had no effect on lymphocyte proliferative responses. In addition to being a potent suppressor of mitogen- and antigen-induced proliferation, C3d-K is capable of inducing leukocytosis in both mice and rabbits. Intravenous injection of C3d-K, but not C3, C3a, C3b, or C3c-K, results in a twofold to threefold increase in the number of circulating leukocytes. Thus, C3d-K exhibits two apparently independent functions, namely suppression of T cell proliferation and leukocytosis. Cleavage of iC3b by kallikrein results in the production of only two fragments. The larger fragment, C3c-K, is 144,000 m.w. and has a chemical structure analogous to that of C3c obtained from the cleavage of C3 by trypsin or elastase. The smaller fragment, C3d-K, is 41,000 m.w. and contains the metastable binding site of C3. It is through this site located in the C3d region of the molecule that C3 attaches covalently to target cells. Analysis of the amino terminal region of C3d-K provided a sequence that fails to overlap with any sequence yet reported for other characterized C3 fragments, including C3d originally obtained from elastase digestion. A revised model of the C3 molecule is proposed, with locations of the C3e and C3d fragments assigned on the basis of chemical analyses.     

Identification and characterization of a variant of the third component of complement (C3) in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) serum

A rainbow trout serum protein that is cross-reactive with the third complement component of rainbow trout (C3-1) was purified to homogeneity and its structural and functional properties compared with those of C3-1. This protein (termed C3-related protein: C3-2) bears a close structural resemblance to C3-1, although C3-2 apparently shows no hemolytic activity. Like C3-1, C3-2 consists of two disulfide-linked polypeptide chains (128,000 alpha and 72,000 beta) and retains the unique thiol ester site in the alpha-chain. C3-2 shares some antigenicity with C3-1, but it also displays distinctive antigenic determinants of its own. Comparison of tryptic peptide maps revealed that about 20% of the peptides was specific to either C3-1 or C3-2, and about 80% of the peptides were common to both proteins. Amino acid compositions of the alpha- and beta-chains of C3-2 were similar to those of C3-1. Furthermore, amino acid sequence analysis of the NH2 termini of the alpha- and beta-chains of C3-2 revealed a high degree of homology with those of C3-1, 24 of 26 residues in the alpha-chain and all 20 in the beta-chain of C3-2 were identical with those found in C3-1. Both C3-1 and C3-2 were detected in all the adult rainbow trout tested and in first generation offspring randomly bred from them.     

Formation of high-affinity C5 convertases of the alternative pathway of complement

Cleavage of C5 by C5 convertase is the last enzymatic step in the complement activation cascade leading to the formation of the cytolytic proteolytically activated form of C5 (C5b)-9 complex. In the present study, we examined the effect of the density of C3b (the proteolytically activated form of C3) on the function of the noncatalytic subunit of natural surface-bound forms of the enzyme. A comparison of the kinetic parameters of C5 convertases assembled on three surfaces (zymosan, rabbit erythrocytes, and sheep erythrocytes) were similar and revealed that the average K:(m) decreased approximately 28-fold (5.2-0.18 microM) when the density of C3b was increased from approximately 18,000 to 400,000 C3b/cell. Very-high-affinity C5 convertases were generated when preformed C3 convertases were allowed to self amplify by giving them excess C3. These convertases exhibited K(m) from 0.016 to 0.074 microM, well below the normal plasma concentration of C5 in blood (0.37 microM). The results suggest that in serum convertases formed with monomeric C3b will be relatively inefficient in capturing C5 but will continue to cleave C3 opsonizing the cell surface for phagocytosis, whereas convertases formed with C3b-C3b complexes in areas of high C3b density will primarily cleave C5. The catalytic rate of these convertases approaches maximum velocity, thereby switching the enzyme from cleavage of C3 to cleavage of C5, and production of the cytolytic C5b-9 complex.     

Formation of high affinity C5 convertase of the classical pathway of complement

C3/C5 convertase is a serine protease that cleaves C3 and C5. In the present study we examined the C5 cleaving properties of classical pathway C3/C5 convertase either bound to the surface of sheep erythrocytes or in its free soluble form. Kinetic parameters revealed that the soluble form of the enzyme (C4b,C2a) cleaved C5 at a catalytic rate similar to that of the surface-bound form (EAC1,C4b,C2a). However, both forms of the enzyme exhibited a poor affinity for the substrate, C5, as indicated by a high Km (6-9 microM). Increasing the density of C4b on the cell surface from 8,000 to 172,000 C4b/cell did not influence the Km. Very high affinity C5 convertases were generated only when the low affinity C3/C5 convertases (EAC1,C4b,C2a) were allowed to deposit C3b by cleaving native C3. These C3b-containing C3/C5 convertases exhibited Km (0.0051 microM) well below the normal concentration of C5 in blood (0.37 microM). The data suggest that C3/C5 convertase assembled with either monomeric C4b or C4b-C4b complexes are inefficient in capturing C5 but cleave C3 opsonizing the cell surface with C3b for phagocytosis. Deposition of C3b converts the enzymes to high affinity C5 convertases, which cleave C5 in blood at catalytic rates approaching Vmax, thereby switching from C3 to C5 cleavage. Comparison of the kinetic parameters with those of the alternative pathway convertase indicates that the 6-9-fold greater catalytic rate of the classical pathway C5 convertase may compensate for the fewer numbers of C5 convertase sites generated upon activation of this pathway.     

Molecular modelling of human complement component C3 and its fragments by solution scattering

Solution scattering experiments using both X-rays and neutrons are reported for human complement component C3 and up to six other glycoprotein fragments that are derived from C3. The X-ray and neutron molecular masses and neutron matchpoints are in agreement with the known primary sequence of C3. The X-ray radius of gyration RG of C3 is 5.2 nm and is similar for the related forms C3u, C3(a + b) and C3b. The X-ray cross-sectional radius of gyration RXS of C3b is however less than that of C3, C3u and C3(a + b). The major fragments of C3b, namely C3c and C3dg, were studied. The RG of C3c is 4.7 nm and for C3dg is 2.9 nm. C3c and C3dg do not interact when they coexist in solution in equimolar amounts. When C3u is cleaved into iC3u, the RG of iC3u increases to 5.9 nm and its RXS decreases, showing that C3c and C3dg behave as independent entities within the parent glycoprotein. Analyses of the neutron RG and RXS values by contrast variation techniques confirm the X-ray analyses, and show no evidence for significant hydrophobic or hydrophilic domains within C3 or any of its fragments. Shape analyses show that C3, C3c and C3dg are elongated particles. Debye models were developed using the scattering curve out to Q = 1.6 nm-1. These show that C3 and C3c resemble oblate ellipsoids while C3dg resembles a prolate ellipsoid. C3dg lies on the long edge of C3c within C3. The dimensions of the models are 18 nm X 2 nm X 10 nm for C3, 18 nm X 2 nm X 7 nm for C3c and 10 nm X 2 nm X 3 nm for C3dg. These models are compatible with analyses of the scattering curve RG and RXS values, data from sedimentation coefficients, and images of C3 and C3c seen by electron microscopy.     

A novel cleavage product of human complement component C3 with structural and functional properties of cobra venom factor

The generation of two cleavage products of human C3, termed C3o and C3p, by incubation with a C3-cleaving protease isolated from cobra venom (Naja naja siamensis) is described. The venom protease removes the C3p fragment (Mr approximately 33,000) from the C3dg region of the C3 alpha-chain. The major cleavage fragment C3o (Mr approximately 140,000) contains the unaltered beta-chain of C3 and two alpha-chain-derived polypeptides of Mr approximately 29,000 and Mr approximately 38,000, respectively. Amino-terminal amino acids sequence analysis of C3p and the three chains of C3o allowed the identification of the exact location of the two alpha-chain-derived fragments of C3o and the three cleavage sites of the venom protease. The chain structure of C3o resembles those of C3c and cobra venom factor. In contrast to C3c but like cobra venom factor (and C3b), C3o was found to support the activation of the serine protease Factor B by cleavage in the presence of Factor D and Mg2+ into Bb and Ba, generating an enzymatically active complex that is able to cleave a fluorogenic peptide substrate for C3 convertases. Since the only stretch of amino acid residues of C3o not present in C3c is the carboxyl terminus of the Mr approximately 29,000 chain of C3o, it is suggested that this region is important for the interaction with Factor B and convertase formation.     

Role of the second extracellular loop of human C3a receptor in agonist binding and receptor function

The C3a anaphylatoxin receptor (C3aR) is a G protein-coupled receptor with an unusually large second extracellular loop (e2 loop, approximately 172 amino acids). To determine the function of this unique structure, chimeric and deletion mutants were prepared and analyzed in transfected RBL-2H3 cells. Whereas replacement of the C3aR N-terminal segment with that from the human C5a receptor had minimal effect on C3a binding, substitution of the e2 loop with a smaller e2 loop from the C5a receptor (C5aR) abolished binding of 125I-C3a and C3a-stimulated calcium mobilization. However, as much as 65% of the e2 loop sequence (amino acids 198-308) may be removed without affecting C3a binding or calcium responses. The e2 loop sequences adjacent to the transmembrane domains contain multiple aspartate residues and are found to play an important role in C3a binding based on deletion mutagenesis. Replacement of five aspartate residues in the e2 loop with lysyl residues significantly compromised both the binding and functional capabilities of the C3a receptor mediated by intact C3a or by two C3a analog peptides. These data suggest a two-site C3a-C3aR interaction model similar to that established for C5a/C5aR. The anionic residues near the N and C termini of the C3aR e2 loop constitute a non-effector secondary interaction site with cationic residues in the C-terminal helical region of C3a, whereas the C3a C-terminal sequence LGLAR engages the primary effector site in C3aR.     

Limited proteolysis of a chemically modified third component of human complement, C3, by cathepsin G of human leukocytes

We have investigated the limited proteolysis of the third component of complement, C3, by a human leukocyte protease, cathepsin G, by using a chemically modified C3, which was prepared by treatment of C3 with methylamine and a fluorescent thiol reagent, N-(dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarinyl)-maleimide (DACM) and was thus named DACM-C3me. Although native C3 was hardly cleaved by cathepsin G, DACM-C3me was cleaved by cathepsin G into three major fragments, which were termed C3c-G (150,000 daltons, 150 kd), C3d-G (25 kd), and C3a-G (10 kd). C3c-G was composed of four disulfide-linked polypeptide chains of 75 kd, 35 kd, and two 25 kd. C3d-G and C3a-G were single-chain fragments derived from the alpha chain. The N-terminal sequence of C3d-G was determined as Thr-Glu-Asp-Ala-Val-, suggesting that cathepsin G released C3d-G by cleaving a Met-Thr peptide bond which is located at 19 residues toward the N-terminal from the cysteinyl residue forming an internal thiolester linkage in native C3. C3d-G, like C3d-K (a C3d fragment produced by the action of plasma kallikrein), was found to have bioactivities such as leukocytosis-inducing and immunosuppressive activities.     

The low C5 convertase activity of the C4A6 allotype of human complement component C4.

We have compared the C5-convertase-forming ability of different C4 allotypes, including the C4A6 allotype, which has low haemolytic activity and which has previously been shown to be defective in C5-convertase formation. Recent studies suggest that C4 plays two roles in the formation of the C5 convertase from the C3 convertase. Firstly, C4b acts as the binding site for C3 which, upon cleavage by C2, forms a covalent linkage with the C4b. Secondly, C4b with covalently attached C3b serves to form a high-affinity binding site for C5. Purified allotypes C4A3, C4B1 and C4A6 were used to compare these two activities of C4. Covalently linked C4b-C3b complexes were formed on sheep erythrocytes with similar efficiency by using C4A3 and C4B1, indicating that the two isotypes behave similarly as acceptors for covalent attachment of C3b. C4A6 showed normal efficiency in this function. However, cells bearing C4b-C3b complexes made from C4A6 contained only a small number of high-affinity binding sites for C5. Therefore a lack of binding of C5 to the C4b C3b complexes is the reason for the inefficient formation of C5 convertase by C4A6. The small number of high-affinity binding sites created, when C4A6 was used, were tested for inhibition by anti-C3 and anti-C4. Anti-C4 did not inhibit C5 binding, whereas anti-C3 did. This suggests that the sites created when C4A6 is used to make C3 convertase may be C3b-C3b dimers, and hence the low haemolytic activity of C4A6 results from the creation of low numbers of alternative-pathway C5-convertase sites.     

Co-culture of C2C12 and 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells alters the gene expression of calpains, caspases and heat shock proteins

The present study was carried out to understand the co-culture effect of C2C12 and 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells on calpain, caspase, and heat shock protein (Hsp) systems. Calpains, caspases, and heat shock proteins play critical roles in the growth and development of mammalian cells. Cells were co-cultured using transwell inserts with a 0.4-??m porous membrane to separate C2C12 and 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. Each cell type was grown independently on the transwell plates. Following cell differentiation, inserts containing 3T3-L1 cells were transferred to C2C12 plates and inserts containing C2C12 transferred to 3T3-L1 plates. Following co-culture for 24 and 48?h, the cells in the lower well were harvested for analysis. Calpains include ??-calpain, m-calpain, and their specific inhibitor calpastatin. The expression pattern of ??-calpain did not change in the co-cultured C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells, whereas m-capain mRNA expression significantly reduced in the 48-h co-cultured 3T3-L1 cells. Calpastatin mRNA expression significantly increased in the 48-h co-cultured C2C12 cells. Caspase-7 mRNA expression did not change in the 24- and 48-h co-cultured C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells. Caspase-3 mRNA expression significantly reduced in the 24- and 48-h co-cultured 3T3-L1 cells; caspase-9 mRNA had a significant reduction only at 48?h, whereas caspase-9 mRNA expression significantly increased in the 48-h co-cultured C2C12 cells. Hsp27 and Hsp90 mRNA expressions are significantly reduced in the 24- and 48-h co-cultured C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells, whereas Hsp70 mRNA expression significantly increased in the 48-h co-cultured 3T3-L1 cells. The co-culture reflects three-dimensional views of C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cell types as in vivo, which is quite distinct from the one-dimensional monocultured C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells.     

The role of properdin in the assembly of the alternative pathway C3 convertases of complement

Complement is a powerful host defense system that contributes to both innate and acquired immunity. There are three pathways of complement activation, the classical pathway, lectin pathway, and alternative pathway. Each generates a C3 convertase, a serine protease that cleaves the central complement protein, C3. Nearly all the biological consequences of complement are dependent on the resulting cleavage products. Properdin is a positive regulator of complement activation that stabilizes the alternative pathway convertases (C3bBb). Properdin is composed of multiple identical protein subunits, with each subunit carrying a separate ligand-binding site. Previous reports suggest that properdin function depends on multiple interactions between its subunits with its ligands. In this study I used surface plasmon resonance assays to examine properdin interactions with C3b and factor B. I demonstrated that properdin promotes the association of C3b with factor B and provides a focal point for the assembly of C3bBb on a surface. I also found that properdin binds to preformed alternative pathway C3 convertases. These findings support a model in which properdin, bound to a target surface via C3b, iC3b, or other ligands, can use its unoccupied C3b-binding sites as receptors for nascent C3b, bystander C3b, or pre-formed C3bB and C3bBb complexes. New C3bP and C3bBP intermediates can lead to in situ assembly of C3bBbP. The full stabilizing effect of properdin on C3bBb would be attained as properdin binds more than one ligand at a time, forming a lattice of properdin: ligand interactions bound to a surface scaffold.     

Disruption of the internal thioester bond in the third component of complement (C3) results in the exposure of neodeterminants also present on activation products of C3. An analysis with monoclonal antibodies

Hydrolysis of the internal thioester bond in native C3 is thought to be a key event in initiating the alternative pathway of C activation, because the resulting C3(H2O) acquires "C3b-like" properties. Therefore, disruption of the internal thioester bond is probably accompanied by conformational changes in the C3 molecule. In this study, we demonstrate that such conformational changes indeed occur; 7 of the 19 mAb raised against C3 or C3 activation products recognized epitopes exposed on C3(H2O) but not on native C3. One of these epitopes is located on the C3a part, three on the C3c part, and another three on the C3d,g part. Because the 7 mAb bound equally well to C3 incubated either with MgCl2 or with methylamine (which primarily disrupts the thioester), the conformational changes detected by the mAb apparently occur after disruption of the thioester. Furthermore, the epitopes were also present on the corresponding C3 activation products. Immunoblotting experiments revealed that the epitopes for the three anti-C3d,g mAb were located on the C3d part, C-terminal to the thioester. The epitopes for 2 of the 3 anti-C3c mAb were located on the C-terminal alpha-chain fragment of C3c. Thus, this study provides immunochemical evidence for the biologic resemblance between C3(H2O) and C3 activation products. Implications of these findings for the activation process of C3 are discussed.     

Identification of the C3b receptor-binding domain in third component of complement

We report here that complement receptor type one (CR1) binds to a region of C3b that is contained within the NH2 terminus of the alpha' chain. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, CR1 bound to C3b, iC3b, and C3c but not to C3d, and this binding was inhibited by soluble C3b and C3c. Further attempts to generate a small C3 fragment capable of binding CR1 were unsuccessful. However, elastase degradation of C3 generated four species of C3c (C3c I-IV), two of which bound CR1. NH2-terminal sequence analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis of the C3cs indicated that the beta chains and the 40,000-dalton COOH-terminal alpha' chain fragments were identical; the NH2-terminal alpha' chain fragments of C3c I-IV varied from 21,000 to 27,000 daltons and accounted for the differential binding to CR1. C3c-I and II, which do not bind CR1, were missing 8 and 9 residues from the NH2 terminus of the alpha' chain when compared with the intact alpha' chain of C3b. C3c-III and IV, which bind CR1, had NH2 termini identical to the intact NH2-terminal alpha' chain of C3b. Using iodinated concanavalin A and endoglycosidase H, we showed that the NH2-terminal alpha' chains of C3c-I and III were glycosylated, while C3c-II and IV were not. Therefore, these data indicated that the amino terminus of the NH2-terminal alpha' chain fragment of C3c was responsible for binding CR1 while the COOH terminus of this fragment was not involved since the presence or absence of this region in C3c did not affect CR1 binding to C3c. Subsequently, two peptides were synthesized from the NH2-terminal alpha' chain fragment of C3c: X42, 42 residues in length from the NH2 terminus and C30, 30 residues in length from the COOH terminus. X42 inhibited binding of CR1 to C3b, and this effect was also observed with antipeptide antibodies against the X42 peptide. The C30 and other C3-derived peptides and antipeptide antibodies had no effect on the binding of CR1 to C3b.     

Demonstration in human plasma of a form of C3 that has the conformation of "C3b-like C3".

Disruption of the thioester in native C3 yields a C3 molecule that functionally resembles C3b. It has been proposed that this C3 molecule (iC3) plays a key role in initiation of the alternative pathway of the C system. However, its presence in plasma has never been demonstrated. We investigated the presence of iC3 in plasma, using mAb that recognize iC3 as well as C3 activation products but not native C3. One of these mAb, anti-C3-5, which binds iC3 via its C3a moiety, was used together with polyclonal 125I-anti-C3c to develop a RIA for iC3. Plasma incubated with methylamine yielded a strong response in this RIA, whereas neither fresh plasma nor serum in which the C system had been activated by incubation with aggregated IgG, did show this strong response. The specificity of this RIA was further demonstrated by additional experiments including experiments with purified preparations of the various forms of C3. Mean level of iC3 in freshly obtained plasma samples from 10 normal donors was 27 nmol/liter, which is 0.49% of total C3. Analysis by SDS-PAGE of C3 species that had been immunoprecipitated by mAb antiC3-5, revealed that some iC3 consisted of C3 molecules with an intact alpha-chain whereas another part consisted of iC3 molecules with an alpha-chain that had been cleaved by factor I. Thus, this study shows that fresh human plasma contains a C3 species with the conformation of "C3b-like C3" (iC3).     

C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF): stabilization of fluid phase and cell-bound alternative pathway convertase.

C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) defined by the capacity of nephritic serum and its fractions to initiate loss of the B antigen of C3 in normal serum was purified from the serum of three different donors and shown to function by stabilization of membrane-bound and fluid phase alternative pathway C3 convertase. C3NeF converts cell-bound C3B sites in a dose-related manner to CEB(NeF) sites, which exhibit an approximate 10-fold increase in half-life. The linear relationship between the C3NeF input and the residual hemolytic sites on EAC43B present after incubation for 20 min at 30 degrees C, during which labile C3B sites have decayed, indicates that the number of residual C3B sites is directly related to the dose of C3NeF. The capacity of C3NeF to stabilize the C3B convertase in a temperature- and dose-dependent manner, which is independent of binding or consumption of C3NeF, in a fluid phase reaction mixture of 125I-B, 131I-C3 and D permits isolation of a 10S complex containing radiolabeled C3 and B and exhibiting C3, convertase activity on an exogenous C3 source. Thus, the stabilizing effect of C3NeF is not limited to membrane-bound C3B but is also sufficient to permit recovery of a fluid phase C3 convertase formed during the interaction of C3, B, and D.     

Functional properties of membrane cofactor protein of complement.

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP or gp45-70) of the complement system is a cofactor for factor I-mediated cleavage of fluid-phase C3b and C3b-like C3, which opens the thioester bond. In the present study the activity of MCP was further characterized. Unexpectedly, in the absence of factor I, MCP stabilized the alternative- and, to a lesser extent, the classical-pathway cell-bound C3 convertases and thereby enhanced C3b deposition. Soluble MCP, if added exogenously, hardly functioned as cofactor for the cleavage of erythrocyte-bound C3b to iC3b; i.e. its activity, compared with the cofactor activity of factor H, was inefficient, since less than 10% of the bound C3b was MCP-sensitive. Further, exogenously added soluble MCP was also a weak cofactor for the cleavage of C3b bound to zymosan. Likewise, factor I, in the presence of cells bearing MCP, cleaved fluid-phase C3b inefficiently. These results imply that MCP has very little extrinsic cofactor activity for factor I. In contrast, exogenously added MCP and factor I mediated efficient cleavage of erythrocyte-bound C3b if the concentration of Nonidet P40 was sufficient to solubilize the cells. Interestingly, soluble MCP and factor I degraded C3b attached to certain solubilized acceptor membrane molecules more readily than others. The cleavage reaction of fluid-phase and cell-bound C3b by soluble MCP and factor I produced iC3b, but no C3c and C3dg. These and prior data indicate that soluble MCP has potent cofactor activity for fluid-phase C3b or C3b bound to solubilized molecules, but acts inefficiently towards C3b on other cells. This functional profile is unique for a C3b/C4b binding protein and, taken together with its wide tissue distribution, suggests an important role for MCP in the regulation of the complement system.     

Amidation of C3 at the thiolester site: stimulation of chemiluminescence and phagocytosis by a new inflammatory mediator

We studied the ability of particle-bound and fluid-phase C3b monomers and monomeric amidated C3 (prepared by treatment of purified human C3 with ammonium chloride or methylamine) to stimulate chemiluminescence of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and monocytes and to promote phagocytosis in the absence of antibody. Particle-bound C3b evoked chemiluminescence from both PMN and monocytes, and fluid-phase C3b (0.5 mg/ml) elicited significant chemiluminescence from PMN but not from monocytes. Amidated forms of C3, both particle bound and fluid phase, were potent stimulators of chemiluminescence from phagocytic cells and caused a significantly greater response than did C3b. The phagocytosis of 1-micron microspheres by PMN and monocytes was enhanced by coating them with purified C3b in an antibody-free system. Microspheres coated with amidated C3 were avidly phagocytized, and to a greater degree than were C3b-coated microspheres. In a direct binding assay with tritiated monomeric C3b and amidated C3, the affinity of the PMN complement receptor type 1 for C3b (Ka = 4.9 X 10(7) L/M) was similar to that for amidated C3 (Ka = 5.7 X 10(7) L/M). However, there was a fourfold increase in the number of apparent binding sites for amidated C3. This increase did not reflect binding of amidated C3 to the complement receptor type 3, because blocking of CR3 with the monoclonal antibody OKM 10 failed to decrease binding of amidated C3. In sites of increased ammoniagenesis, such as the kidney in chronic renal failure, amidated C3 may play a role as an inflammatory mediator by stimulating oxidative metabolism in phagocytic cells.     

Cyanate as an inactivator of complement proteins.

Sodium cyanate added to normal human serum or serum from patients with sickle-cell disease resulted in the functional inactivation of C3, C5, C6, C7, and the C3b inactivator, but not C8 and C9. Final concentrations as low as 0.5 mM in serum caused inactivation of 12 to 64% of the C3 after 8 hr at 37 degrees C. The activity of the inactivated C3, C5, and C3b inactivator was not restored by dialysis. Most of the functional activity of C3 in cyanate-treated sera was destroyed by very small quantities of 14C-labeled cyanate that was bound to the protein. C3 inactivation by cyanate occurred in heated sera (50 degrees C, 30 min) and sera treated with EDTA, probably indicating that one mechanism for inactivation was by a direct carbamylation reaction. Both C3 and C5 showed two anodal-migrating forms in two dimensional antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis in some sera treated with low concentrations of cyanate. Measurements of circular dichroism of highly purified carbamylated C3 showed no detectable changes in structure even though most of the functional activity was destroyed. Purified, inactive C3 that was carbamylated with 14C-labeled cyanate was capable of binding to EAC142, but the resulting EAC1423 was weakly positive for immune adherence and negative for agglutination with anti-C3 antiserum. Unlabeled, cell-bound C3b on EAC142 was not susceptible to cyanate action as shown by no loss in immune adherence and positive agglutination with anti-C3 antiserum. The C3b inactivator was more susceptible to cyanate than C3 in a short time period, whereas both were inactivated after 8 hr. Since cyanate is currently being evaluated as a treatment for sickle-cell disease, the inactivation of C3 by the drug is an important consideration for such patients who are already deficient in C3 dependent heat-labile opsonins that aid in host defense.     

C3d fragment of complement interacts with laminin and binds to basement membranes of glomerulus and trophoblast

Two mouse monoclonal antibodies generated against human placental homogenate were found to react specifically with human complement component C3. In immunofluorescence of human tissues, these antibodies gave a bright linear staining outlining the glomerular basement membrane of the adult kidney and the trophoblast basement membrane of placenta. An identical staining pattern was observed with a rabbit C3d antiserum which also prevented binding of the monoclonal antibodies to tissue sections. Only negligible basement membrane staining was observed in the same tissues with antisera to human C3c, C5, IgG, IgA, or IgM. When interactions of C3 with basement membrane proteins were tested in enzyme immunoassays and column chromatography, C3(H2O) was found to bind efficiently to solid-phase laminin. Native C3 from fresh plasma did not bind to laminin but C3 from plasma treated with methylamine bound efficiently. When C3 was cleaved with trypsin, C3b and C3d but not C3c bound to laminin-Sepharose. The interaction of C3 and laminin was inhibited by soluble laminin and by high ionic strength. The results indicate that C3d, a biologically active breakdown product of C3, can be found in glomerular and placental basement membranes in the absence of signs for ongoing local complement activation or immune complex deposition. It is possible that binding affinities between C3 and basement membrane molecules, especially laminin, are involved in the retention of C3d at these sites. Such interactions between C3 and components of the glomerular basement membrane could play important roles in complement-related pathological processes of the glomerulus.