C4B3 allotype with a novel Ch phenotype

The fourth component of complement (C4) has two classes of protein, C4A and C4B, both of which have many allelic forms. The serological determinants Rodgers (Rg1, Rg2) and Chido (Ch1, Ch2, Ch3) are generally associated with C4A and C4B, respectively. The C4B3 allotype has been detected in a single Canadian family that expresses a novel Ch phenotype, Ch:–1, 2, –3. There was no information for the Rg determinants, as the C4A ^* 2B ^* 3 haplotype would normally express Rg on the C4A protein. Other C4B3 allotypes in informative families have different Ch phenotypes, and the relationships of these within extended major histocompatibility complex haplotypes are discussed in this paper.     

Structural basis of the polymorphism of human complement components C4A and C4B: gene size, reactivity and antigenicity.

The human complement components C4A and C4B are highly homologous proteins, but they show markedly different, class-specific, chemical reactivities. They also differ serologically in that C4A generally expresses the Rodgers (Rg) blood group antigens while C4B generally expresses the Chido (Ch) blood group antigens. C4A 1 and C4B 5 are exceptional variants which possess their class-specific chemical reactivities, but express essentially the reversed antigenicities. The genes encoding the typical Rg-positive C4A 3a and Ch-positive C4B 3 allotypes and the interesting variants C4A 1 and C4B 5 have been cloned. Characterization of the cloned DNA has revealed that the genes encoding the A 3a, A 1 and B 3 allotypes are 22 kb long, but that encoding B 5 is only 16 kb long. Comparison of derived amino acid sequences of the polymorphic C4d fragment has shown that C4A and C4B can be defined by only four isotypic amino acid differences at position 1101-1106. Over this region C4A has the sequence PCPVLD while C4B has the sequence LSPVIH, and this presumably is the cause of their different chemical reactivities. Moreover, the probable locations of the two Rg and the six Ch antigenic determinants have been deduced. Our structural data on the C4A and C4B polymorphism pattern suggests a gene conversion-like mechanism is operating in mixing the generally discrete serological phenotypes between C4A and C4B.     

Definitive RFLPs to distinguish between the human complement C4A/C4B isotypes and the major Rodgers/Chido determinants: Application to the study of C4 null alleles

Definitive restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) representing the exact locations responsible for isotypicity between the human complement components C4A and C4B, and their generally associated major Rodgers (Rg1) and Chido (Ch1) antigenic determinants, have been designed. By means of a C4d-specific genomic probe for Southern blot analysis, a C4A gene can be defined by the presence of the 276 bp and 191 bp N 1 a IV fragments, while a C4B gene can be defined by a single 467 bp N1aIV fragment. In addition, an Rgl-expressing C4 gene can be represented by a 565 bp EcoO 109 fragment, and a Chl-expressing C4 gene by a 458 by EcoO 109 fragment, under the same conditions. All these polymorphic restriction fragments can be unambiguously and conveniently detected. In combination with the Taq I polymorphic patterns specific for the C4 loci and for the neighboring 21-hydroxylase genes, the nature and structure of the tandem C4,21-hydroxylase gene complex can be elucidated. In this study, it is inferred that the null allele of the HLA haplotype B44 DR6 C4A3 C4BQO is not a C4B allele, but probably encodes another C4A 3 allotype at the second C4 locus.Abbreviations used in this paper C4 (long) - C4 gene of 22 kb, with a 6–7 kb intron - C4 (short) - C4 gene of 16 kb, without a 6–7 kb intron; complotype SCO1, factor B S, C2 C, C4A QO; C4B 1 Dedicated to the memory of our teacher, the late Professor Rodney Porter C. H. F. R. S.     

The molecular basis for the difference in immune hemolysis activity of the Chido and Rodgers isotypes of human complement component C4

Human C4 displays a structural polymorphism which is consistent with there being two closely linked genetic loci coding for this protein. These give rise to two C4 isotypes, designated C4A and C4B, which can be distinguished by charge and apparent m.w. differences in their respective alpha-chains and by the presence or absence of the Chido/Rodgers blood group antigens. Previous qualitative studies of C4 immune hemolysis activity in whole plasma had suggested that the C4B isotype was functionally more active. By using purified C4A and C4B isolated from individual donors known serologically to possess only one of the C4 isotypes, we examined the molecular basis for the differences in their respective hemolytic activities. It was found that the C4B:C4A hemolytic activity ratio was approximately 4:1. This fourfold difference could not be accounted for by a commensurate difference in the cleavage rate of the two isotypes by C1s by differences in the kinetics of assembly or intrinsic decay of the respective C3 convertase enzymes, or by differences in the rate of isotypic C4b cleavage by factor I in the presence of C4bp . However, the fourfold greater deposition efficiency of nascent C4b of the C4B isotype onto the surface of C1-bearing sheep erythrocytes quantitatively accounted for the observed difference in immune hemolysis function. It was further found that the thioester bond of nascent C4b of the C4A isotype preferentially transacylates onto amino group nucleophiles, whereas in the C4B isotype, acylation of hydroxyl groups is strongly preferred. Thus, the difference in immune hemolysis activity between the two C4 isotypes does not necessarily indicate an impairment of function in C4A; it may merely be a reflection of the relative abundance at the surface of a C1-bearing target of hydroxyl and amino groups capable of being acyl acceptors for nascent C4b. Finally, we also present evidence showing that the apparent m.w. difference between the alpha-chains of the C4A and C4B isotypes is not due to differences in protein glycosylation.     

The study of a French family with two duplicated C4A haplotypes

Summary The finding of two duplicated C4A haplotypes in a normal French family led to a detailed study of their C4 polymorphism. The father had an extremely rare A^*6A^*11, B^* QO haplotype inherited by all of his children and the mother had the more common A^*3A^*2, B^*QO haplotype. Two HLA identical daughters only have four C4A alleles. The father's A11 allotype expresses Ch: 1 (Chido) rather than Rg:1 (Rodgers) and represents a new Ch phenotype Ch: 1,-2,-3,-4,-5,-6. In order to clarify the genetic background in this unusual family, DNA studies of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were undertake. The father's rare haplotype, which expresses two C4A allotypes, results from a long and a short C4 gene normally associated with the A^*6, B^*1 that also exhibits the BglII RFLP. As it travels in an extended MHC haplotype HLA A2, B57 (17), C2^*C, BF^*S, DR7 that is most frequently associated with A^*6, B^*1, we postulate that the short C4B has been converted in the chain region to a C4A gene which produces a C4A protein. This report of a short C4A gene is the first example in the complex polymorphism of C4.     

The molecular basis of complete complement C4A and C4B deficiencies in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient with homozygous C4A and C4B mutant genes

The disease course of a complete C4-deficient patient in the U.S. was followed for 18 years. The patient experienced multiple episodes of infection, and he was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus at age 9 years. The disease progressed to WHO class III mild lupus nephritis and to fatal CNS vasculitis at age 23 years. Immunochemical experiments showed that the patient and his sibling had complete absence of C4A and C4B proteins and were negative for the Rodgers and Chido blood group Ags. Segregation and definitive RFLP analyses demonstrated that the patient and his sibling inherited two identical haplotypes, HLA A2 B12 DR6, each of which carries a defective long C4A gene and a defective short C4B gene. PCR and DNA sequencing revealed that the mutant C4A contained a 2-bp insertion in exon 29 at the sequence for codon 1213. The identical mutation was absent in the mutant C4B. The C4B mutant gene was selectively amplified by long range PCR, and its 41 exons were completely sequenced. The C4B mutant had a novel single C nucleotide deletion at the sequence for codon 522 in exon 13, leading to frame-shift mutation and premature termination. Thus, a multiplex PCR is designed by which known mutations in C4A and C4B can be elucidated conveniently. Among the 28 individuals reported with complete C4 deficiency, 75-96% of the subjects (dependent on the inclusion criteria) were afflicted with autoimmune or immune complex disorders. Hence, complete C4 deficiency is one of the most penetrant genetic risk factors for human systemic lupus erythematosus.     

Deficiency of human complement protein C4 due to identical frameshift mutations in the C4A and C4B genes

The complement protein C4, encoded by two genes (C4A and C4B) on chromosome 6p, is the most polymorphic among the MHC III gene products. We investigated the molecular basis of C4 deficiency in a Finnish woman with systemic lupus erythematosus. C4-specific mRNA was present at low concentrations in C4-deficient (C4D) patient fibroblasts, but no pro-C4 protein was detected. This defect in C4 expression was specific in that synthesis of two other complement proteins was normal. Analysis of genomic DNA showed that the proposita had both deleted and nonexpressed C4 genes. Each of her nonexpressed genes, a C4A null gene inherited from the mother, a C4A null gene, and a C4B null gene inherited from the father, all contained an identical 2-bp insertion (TC) after nucleotide 5880 in exon 29, providing the first confirmatory proof of the C4B pseudogene. This mutation has been previously found only in C4A null genes. Although the exon 29/30 junction is spliced accurately, this frameshift mutation generates a premature stop at codon 3 in exon 30. These truncated C4A and C4B gene products were confirmed through RT-PCR and sequence analysis. Among the possible genetic mechanisms that produce identical mutations is both genes, the most likely is a mutation in C4A followed by a gene conversion to generate the mutated C4B allele.     

Analysis of active and inactive complement C4 complotypes associated with subtypes of HLA-B17 in different racial groups.

HLA-A, B, and C antigens and the HLA-linked markers BF, C2, and C4 were determined in 1,799 unrelated Caucasians, 140 North American blacks, 140 Chinese, and 66 Japanese. One allele of the C4A locus (Rodgers), C4A*6, was found to code for a functionally inactive product in HLA-B17 (Bw57)-positive individuals, but for a functionally active product in HLA-B37- or HLA-B27-positive individuals. Further studies revealed that the functionally inactive C4A*6 gene product was found only in one subtype of HLA-B17, namely, 17.1 (Bw57, long). In addition, it was found that the frequency of the other subtype of HLA-B17, namely, 17.2(Bw58, short) varies greatly in different populations and that HLA-Bw58 is associated with either C4A*3,B*1 or C4A*3,B*Q0.     

Isotyping of human C4 complement using differences in the functional activity of C4A and C4B isotypes

The difference in the functional activity of the isotypes A and B of component C4 of human complement was used to determine their ratio and to detect the inherited deficiency of the isotypes. ELISA methods were developed for the quantitative assay of component C4 (conventional sandwich method) and its functional activity. When determining the functional activity, the classic pathway of the complement and therefore of component C4 was activated by activators sorbed on ELISA microplates (immunoglobulin IgG3 or liposaccharide of the Shigella sonnei cell walls, which activates the complement by binding component C1). The nascent fragment C4b is covalently bound to the target activator; C4Ab binds better to the target protein (immunoglobulin), and C4Bb to the target carbohydrate (liposaccharide). Therefore, when immunoglobulin is a target activator, isotype C4A is bound and determined; and when the complement is activated by liposaccharide, isotype C4B is determined. The ratio of the activities determined by the two methods indicates a deficiency in the individual isotypes of component C4 or its absence. The rabbit polyclonal monospecific antibodies against the human component C4 and the conjugates of these antibodies with horseradish peroxidase were used in the methods described.     

Differential regulation of short- and long-tract gene conversion between sister chromatids by Rad51C

The Rad51 paralog Rad51C has been implicated in the control of homologous recombination. To study the role of Rad51C in vivo in mammalian cells, we analyzed short-tract and long-tract gene conversion between sister chromatids in hamster Rad51C(-/-) CL-V4B cells in response to a site-specific chromosomal double-strand break. Gene conversion was inefficient in these cells and was specifically restored by expression of wild-type Rad51C. Surprisingly, gene conversions in CL-V4B cells were biased in favor of long-tract gene conversion, in comparison to controls expressing wild-type Rad51C. These long-tract events were not associated with crossing over between sister chromatids. Analysis of gene conversion tract lengths in CL-V4B cells lacking Rad51C revealed a bimodal frequency distribution, with almost all gene conversions being either less than 1 kb or greater than 3.2 kb in length. These results indicate that Rad51C plays a pivotal role in determining the "choice" between short- and long-tract gene conversion and in suppressing gene amplifications associated with sister chromatid recombination.     

Analysis of the duplicated human C4/P450c21/X gene cluster

Gene duplications, deletions and rearrangements occur with an unusually high frequency in the region of the P450c21 genes encoding 21-hydroxylase. In the human genome, the locus contains at least 6 genes, oriented 5′ C4A, P450c21A, XA, C4B, P450c21B, XB 3′. Sequence analysis of the XA gene, of the 5′ flanking DNA of the C4A gene, and of part of the XB gene revealed that this gene cluster was duplicated by nonhomologous recombination at a CAAG tetranucleotide. The location of this duplication suggests that it may have occurred after mammalian speciation. The XA gene is abundantly expressed in the human adrenal as a stable 2.6 kb RNA, but it is not known if that RNA serves a biological function. Knowledge of the anatomy of the XA gene facilitates genetic analysis of disease-causing lesions in the P450c21B gene. Southern blotting data show that about 76% of disordered P450c21B alleles bear gene microconversions that resemble point mutations; the remaining alleles are equally distributed between gene deletions and large gene conversions.     

Isotyping of component C4 of human complement using differences in the functional activity of isotypes C4A and C4B

The difference in the functional activity of the isotypes A and B of component C4 of human complement was used to determine their ratio and to detect the inherited deficiency of the isotypes. ELISA methods were developed for the quantitative assay of component C4 (conventional sandwich method) and its functional activity. When determining the functional activity, the classic pathway of the complement and therefore of component C4 was activated on activators sorbed on ELISA microplates: immunoglobulin IgG3 or liposaccharide of theShigella sonnei cell walls, which activates the complement by binding component C1. The nascent fragment C4b is covalently bound to the target activator; C4Ab binds better to the target protein (immunoglobulin), and C4Bb to the target carbohydrate (liposaccharide). Therefore, when immunoglobulin is a target activator, isotype C4A is bound and determined; and when the complement is activated with liposaccharide, isotype C4B is determined. The radio of the activities determined by the two methods indicates the deficiency in the individual isotypes of component C4 or its absence. The rabbit polyclonal monospecific antibodies against the human component C4 and the conjugates of these antibodies with horseradish peroxidase were used in the methods described.     

X-ray crystal structure of the C4d fragment of human complement component C4

C4 fulfills a vital role in the propagation of the classical and lectin pathways of the complement system. Although there are no reports to date of a C4 functional activity that is mediated solely by the C4d region, evidence clearly points to it having a vital role in a number of the properties of native C4 and its major activation fragment, C4b. Contained within the C4d region are the thioester-forming residues, the four isotype-specific residues controlling the C4A/C4B transacylation preferences, a binding site for nascent C3b important in assembling the classical pathway C5 convertase and determinants for the Chido/Rodgers (Ch/Rg) blood group antigens. In view of its functional importance, we undertook to determine the three-dimensional structure of C4d by X-ray crystallography. Here we report the 2.3A resolution structure of C4Ad, the C4d fragment derived from the human C4A isotype. Although the approximately 30% sequence identity between C4Ad and the corresponding fragment of C3 might be expected to establish a general fold similarity between the two molecules, C4Ad in fact displays a fold that is essentially superimposable on the structure of C3d. By contrast, the electrostatic characteristics of the various faces of the C4Ad molecule show marked differences from the corresponding faces of C3d, likely reflecting the differences in function between C3 and C4. Residues previously predicted to form the major Ch/Rg epitopes were proximately located and accessible on the concave surface of C4Ad. In addition to providing further insights on the current models for the covalent binding reaction, the C4Ad structure allows one to rationalize why C4d is not a ligand for complement receptor 2. Finally the structure allows for the visualization of the face of the molecule containing the binding site for C3b utilized in the assembly of classical pathway C5 convertase.     

Contrasting Roles of Interallelic Recombination at the Hla-a and Hla-B Loci

A statistical study of DNA sequences of alleles at the highly polymorphic class I MHC loci of humans, HLA-A and HLA-B, showed evidence of both large-scale recombination events (involving recombination of exons 1-2 of one allele with exons 3-8 of another) and small-scale recombination events (involving apparent exchange of short DNA segments). The latter events occurred disproportionately in the region of the gene encoding the antigen recognition site (ARS) of the class I molecule. Furthermore, they involved the ARS codons which are under the strongest selection favoring allelic diversity at the amino acid level. Thus, the frequency of recombinant alleles appears to have been increased by some form of balancing selection (such as overdominant selection) favoring heterozygosity in the ARS. These analyses also revealed a striking difference between the A and B loci. Recombination events appear to have occurred about twice as frequently at the B locus, and recombinants at the B locus were significantly more likely to affect polymorphic sites in the ARS. At the A locus, there are well-defined allelic lineages that have persisted since prior to the human-chimpanzee divergence; but at the B locus, there is no evidence for such long-lasting allelic lineages. Thus, relatively frequent interallelic recombination has apparently been a feature of the long-term evolution of the B locus but not of the A locus.     

The structural basis of the multiple forms of human complement component C4

cDNA clones of human complement components C4A and C4B alleles were prepared from mRNA obtained from the liver of a donor heterozygous at both loci. cDNA from one C4A allele was sequenced to give the derived complete amino acid sequence of 1722 amino acid residues of the C4 single chain precursor molecule and the estimated sequences of the three peptide chains of secreted C4. Comparison with partial sequences of a second C4A allele and a C4B allele has led to the tentative identification of some class differences in nucleotide sequences between C4A and C4B and of allelic differences between C4A alleles in this highly polymorphic system.     

Covalent binding properties of the C4A and C4B isotypes of the fourth component of human complement on several C1-bearing cell surfaces

In a previous study we demonstrated that the thioester-mediated transacylation of the human C4B isotype onto sheep erythrocytes (ES) was approximately fourfold more efficient than that of C4A. Moreover, although C4B formed predominantly ester linkages, C4A displayed a preference for amide bond formation. We therefore suggested that the relative functional activity observed for the two isotypes would be a combined reflection of their nucleophilic preference and the surface composition of the C1-bearing target. The present study tests this hypothesis. Chemical modification of amino groups on Es with ethylacetimidate produced a twofold decrease in the C1-dependent binding of C4A isotype, while having a negligible effect on C4B binding. Furthermore, with human erythrocytes and two human leukocyte cell lines, K562 and U937, the C4B to C4A deposition ratio decreased from greater than 4 with ES to between 1.5 and 2. Irrespective of the target, C4A and C4B maintained their preference for forming amide and ester bonds, respectively. Interestingly, SDS-PAGE profiles of radiolabeled C4A and C4B, which had been covalently deposited on the various cells, suggested a further degree of transacylation specificity, as the two isotypic alpha-chains sometimes bound to different membrane components. These differences were not easily accounted for by simple differences in the abundance of the preferred nucleophile for each isotype on a given surface constituent, nor were they due to the preferential binding of one isotype to the sensitizing antibody. We speculate that nascent C4B may contain a substrate binding site that facilitates productive attack on the thioester carbonyl by molecules containing the class of nucleophile preferred by each isotype.     

Structure and organization of the C4 genes

This 200 000 Mr serum protein is coded for by at least two separate loci, C4A and C4B, which map in the HLA Class III region on chromosome 6 in man. Both loci are highly polymorphic with more than 30 alleles, including null alleles assigned to the two loci. The complete nucleotide sequence of a full length C4A cDNA clone and a substantial part of a C4b cDNA clone has shown class differences which can be used to synthesize nucleotide probes specific for C4A and C4B. Three C4 loci of approximately 16 kilobases each spaced by 10 kilobases have been identified in DNA from one individual and aligned 30 kilobases from the factor B gene by overlapping cloned genomic fragments from a cosmid library. Characterization of these genes by restriction mapping, nucleotide sequence analysis and hybridization with C4A and C4B specific synthetic oligonucleotides show that these genes are very similar.     

Nonuniform linkage disequilibrium within a 1,500-kb region of the human immunoglobulin heavy-chain complex.

We have characterized 10 VH polymorphic loci of the VH2, VH3, VH4, and VH5 families. Eight of 10 VH polymorphisms were found to be insertion/deletion polymorphisms, probably the result of nonhomologous recombination over the course of evolution of the current human VH repertoire. The 10 VH polymorphic loci were analyzed in 10 three-generation and 10 two-generation Canadian caucasoid families. Linkage disequilibrium (allelic association) was measured between pairs of VH polymorphic loci, and 12 significant associations were found. The degree of linkage disequilibrium measured between IGH polymorphic loci was then compared with the physical distance separating the loci. The physical distance between IGH polymorphic loci does not entirely determine the degree of linkage disequilibrium between polymorphic loci. Two regions, one in the VH region (between VH3f-2 and VH5-2 and one in the CH region (between C delta and C gamma 3), were found to have linkage disequilibrium values approximately 1/3,000 of that observed in other portions of the IGH region. The previous identification of recombinants in the C delta-to C gamma 3 region indicates that these areas of low linkage disequilibrium are consistent with the presence of recombination hot spots. The observed high amount of recombination in the subtelomeric portion of chromosome 14 therefore appears to be the result of specific hot spots for recombination, rather than a general increase in recombination in this region.     

Inhibition of the covalent binding reaction of complement component C4 by penicillamine, an anti-rheumatic agent.

D(-)-Penicillamine [D(-)-beta beta-dimethylcysteine] is an anti-arthritic drug, but its use is limited by adverse side effects, which include problems in immune-complex clearance. Complement is important as a source of inflammatory mediators in rheumatoid arthritis and is also involved in immune-complex clearance. Thus inhibition of the complement cascade would be likely to contribute to both the therapeutic and the toxic effects of penicillamine. It is shown that penicillamine and cysteine are potent inhibitors of the covalent binding of activated complement component C4 to immune complexes. [35S]Cysteine itself becomes covalently bound to C4b through the thioester site. Penicillamine and cysteine are more reactive with the C4A isotype than with the C4B isotype of the HLA class III protein C4. The limited amino acid sequence differences between C4A and C4B include a cysteine/serine interchange, and it is suggested that the cysteine residue in C4A contributes to the increased rate of reaction of C4A with the alpha-amino-beta-thiol compounds.