IL-6 plays an essential role in neutrophilia under inflammation

In the present study, we explored the involvement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in neutrophilia under inflammatory conditions. The neutrophil count in the peripheral blood was high in arthritic monkeys, and anti-IL-6 receptor antibody reduced neutrophil counts to normal levels. IL-6 injection into normal monkeys significantly increased neutrophil counts in the blood 3h after injection. The expression of cluster of differentiation (CD) 162 on circulating neutrophils was reduced by IL-6 injection. IL-6 treatment in vitro did not affect CD162 expression on neutrophils from human blood. In IL-6-treated monkeys, IL-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) levels in plasma were clearly elevated. IL-8 and GM-CSF treatment in vitro reduced cell-surface CD162 expression on human neutrophils, and moreover, increased soluble CD162 expression in the cell supernatant. The addition of IL-6 into human whole peripheral blood induced IL-8 production and reduced CD162 expression on neutrophils. Furthermore, IL-8 and GM-CSF augmented mRNA expression of a disintegrin and metalloprotease like domain 10 (ADAM10) in neutrophils. Knock-down of ADAM10 by siRNA in neutrophil-like HL-60 cells partially reversed the expression of CD162 reduced by GM-CSF and IL-8 on HL-60 cells. In conclusion, IL-6 induced neutrophilia and reduced CD162 expression on neutrophils in inflammation.     

Analysis by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis of differentiation-dependent alterations in cytosolic protein pattern of HL-60 leukemic cells.

HL-60 leukemic cells were differentiated along the neutrophilic pathway with retinoic acid (RA) or along the monocytic pathway with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). Using a high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis technique and subsequent silver staining, differentiation-dependent changes in cytosolic protein pattern of HL-60 cells were analysed and were compared with the cytosolic protein pattern of human neutrophils. The amount of 64 and 50 out of a total of 632 proteins studied was increased or decreased in RA- and 1,25(OH)2D3-differentiated HL-60 cells, respectively, in comparison to undifferentiated HL-60 cells. Thirty-three of these proteins were similarly altered in RA- and 1,25(OH)2D3-differentiated HL-60 cells. Twenty-two and 25 of the proteins altered in amount in RA- or 1,25(OH)2D3-differentiated HL-60 cells versus undifferentiated HL-60 cells were similarly altered in human neutrophils in comparison to undifferentiated HL-60 cells. Seven and 10 of the proteins altered in amount in RA- or 1,25(OH)2D3-differentiated HL-60 cells had specific equivalents in neutrophil cytosol. Our results show (i) that neutrophilic and monocytic differentiation is associated with decreases and increases in amount of cytosolic proteins; (ii) that both differentiation processes share a common set of alterations; and (iii) are associated with specific alterations in protein amount.     

Role of nuclear lamins in nuclear segmentation of human neutrophils

Nuclear breakdown leading to the formation of apoptotic bodies has been postulated to involve degradation of nuclear structural proteins, such as lamins A/C and B. Although nuclear segmentation occurs during the maturation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils), its mechanism is not known. We found that human neutrophils have lamin B but lack lamins A/C while mononuclear cells possess all three types of lamin as assessed by immunoblotting. Differentiation of human promyelocytic HL-60 cells into neutrophil-like cells was also accompanied by the down-regulation of lamins A/C but not of lamin B. Moreover, when compared with normal cells, neutrophils with the Pelger-Hu?t anomaly of nuclear hyposegmentation exhibited significantly lower activity of caspase-6, a lamin A/C-cleaving enzyme. Differentiated HL-60 cells showed higher activity of caspase-6 than that of untreated cells. These observations allow us to speculate that remodeling of nuclear lamins might underlie the mechanism for nuclear segmentation of neutrophils.     

Differentiated HL-60 cells are a valid model system for the analysis of human neutrophil migration and chemotaxis

We have carried out a detailed comparison of the motile properties of differentiated HL-60 cells and human peripheral blood neutrophils. We compared the effects of chemotactic stimuli and of inhibitors of signalling proteins on morphology, chemokinesis and chemotaxis of neutrophils and differentiated HL-60 cells using videomicroscopy and a filter assay for chemotaxis. We also assessed expression of signalling and cytoskeletal proteins using Western blotting.Chemotactic peptide induced a front-tail polarity in HL-60 cells comparable to that of neutrophils. Chemokinetic and chemotactic responses to chemotactic peptide were also very similar for both cell types, concerning mean speed of migration, the fraction of migrated cells and the concentration of stimulus optimal for activation. The cytokine interleukin-8 was in contrast clearly less effective in activating motile responses of differentiated HL-60 cells as compared to neutrophils.An important functional role of Rho-activated kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in motile responses of HL-60 cells, consistent with their upregulation during differentiation, could be confirmed using inhibitors with specificity for the corresponding enzymes. The only difference observed here between HL-60 cells and neutrophils concerned the differential effects of a protein kinase C inhibitor.In summary, the results presented here show that differentiated HL-60 cells, stimulated with chemotactic peptide, are a valid model system to study molecular mechanisms of neutrophil emigration.     

Identification of surface autoantigens which appear during spermatogenesis

Autoantigens that appear during spermatogenesis in the rabbit were identified using immunoadsorbent chromatography and SDS-PAGE. To identify cell-surface proteins, samples of freshly isolated, staged cells were labeled by the lactoperoxidase or Iodo-Gen iodination procedure and run on SDS-PAGE. Autoradiograms of the stained, dried gels were prepared. By correlating the band patterns in the SDS gels of immunocolumn and surface-labeled samples with the band patterns in the autoradiograms, it was possible to show when the autoantigenic proteins appeared on the cell surface. To further support the identification of membrane autoantigens, surface-labeled, staged cell samples were lysed in Triton X-100 and immunoprecipitated with antitestis cell autoantisera. Three types of autoantigens have been identified: (1) late class antigens that are present only on late spermatids and epididymal spermatozoa, but are intracellular in early stages, (2) early class antigens which occur on the surface of pachytene spermatocytes and are present throughout subsequent stages of development, and (3) early class, transient antigens, which appear on spermatogenic cells but are not present on epididymal spermatozoa.     

1-0-Hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol stimulates differentiation of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells to macrophage-like cells

The human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 can be differentiated to cells resembling either neutrophils or mononuclear phagocytes by a diverse group of stimuli. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We report that 1-0-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol inhibits the growth of HL-60 cells and induces differentiation to cells resembling mononuclear phagocytes. HL-60 cultures incubated for 6 days with 1-0-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (5 micrograms/ml) demonstrated a ten-fold increase in nonspecific esterase activity, and produced cells with morphological features similar to those of monocytes and macrophages. Higher concentrations of 1-0-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol significantly inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells and resulted in the virtual absence of cells resembling the original HL-60 line. 1-0-Oleoyl-2-acetyl-rac-glycerol added under the same conditions did not induce cell differentiation or inhibit cell growth.     

Selective cell attachment to a biomimetic polymer surface through the recognition of cell-surface tags

Reactive phosphorylcholine polymers, which can recognize biosynthetic cell-surface tags, were synthesized to control cell attachment. Human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) with unnatural carbohydrates as cell-surface tags were harvested by treatment with N-levulinoylmannosamine (ManLev). The attachment of ManLev-treated HL-60 cells to 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymers with hydrazide groups was studied. HL-60 cells, which are nonadhesive, did not attach to any polymer surface without ManLev treatment. In contrast, ManLev-treated HL-60 cells attached to a poly[MPC-co-n-butyl methacrylate (BMA)-co-methacryloyl hydrazide (MH)] (PMBH) surface following 15 min of incubation. The cells that attached to the PMBH surface retained their native morphology and viability for 24 h of incubation. On the other hand, approximately half of the HL-60 cells that attached to the poly(BMA-co-MH) (PBH) surface died. These results suggest that MH units in the polymer act as anchors for cell attachment and MPC units help to preserve cell viability on a polymer surface. The coculture of ManLev-treated HL-60 and fluorescence-stained human uterine cervical cancer cells (HeLa) was carried out on polymer surfaces. ManLev-treated HL-60 cells specifically attached to the PMBH surface. In contrast, both HL-60 and HeLa cells were observed on the PBH surface. The control of cellular interactions with synthetic polymers may be useful for the future development of cell-integrated biosensors and biomedical devices.     

Maturation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells induced by nicotinamide: Evidence of a regulatory role for ADP-ribosylation of chromosomal proteins

We have studied the role of ADP-ribosylation of chromosomal proteins in the regulation of myeloid cell maturation using the HL-60 cell line as a model. Nuclei isolated from this human promyelocytic leukemia cell line contained (ADP-ribose)_n synthetase activity, whereas little or no enzymatic activity was detectable in normal human blood neutrophils. Furthermore, the activity of (ADP-ribose)_n synthetase was decreased in HL-60 cells when they were induced to mature with retinoic acid (RA). To determine whether reduced (ADP-ribose)_n synthetase activity is simply a result of induced maturation or whether it is a necessary precedent event for the maturation process, we evaluated the effects of nicotinamide (NAm) and its methyl derivative, N′-methylnicotinamide (N′-Met-NAm), agents which decrease ADP-ribosylation. Treatment of HL-60 cells with these drugs caused the cells to undergo maturation and to acquire certain of the morphologic, functional, and biochemical characteristics of normal neutrophils. N′-Met-NAm was more potent than NAm in inducting maturation; at a concentration of 0.8 mM, it caused greater than 80% of the cells to mature, whereas a tenfold greater concentration of NAm was required to induce a similar degree of maturation. NAm and N′-Met-NAm also potentiated the maturation of HL-60 cells induced by RA. Exposure of cells to noninducing concentrations of these compounds caused a leftward shift in the dose-response curve for RA; maturation was observed at 10^?11 M RA in the presence of either 2 mM NAm or 0.2 mM N′-Met-NAm while 10^?9 M RA was required to induce maturation in their absence. A leftward shift in the dose response curve for maturation in the presence of low doses of NAm or N′-Met-NAm did not occur with another inducer, dimethyl formamide (DMF). Two enzymes, NAD glycohydrolase and tissue transglutaminase, that are abundant in macrophages, were induced by RA but not by NAm. N′-Met-NAm decreased by about 75% the amount of endogenous (ADP-ribose)_n in a selected fraction of chromosomal proteins which included histone H₁ and the nonhistone high mobility group proteins. The results of this study support the concept that ADP-ribosylation of chromosomal proteins influences the regulation of human myeloid cell maturation.     

Dimeric galectin-1 induces surface exposure of phosphatidylserine and phagocytic recognition of leukocytes without inducing apoptosis

We report that human galectin-1 (dGal-1), a small dimeric beta-galactoside-binding protein, induces phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, measured by Annexin V staining, on human promyelocytic HL-60 cells, T leukemic MOLT-4 cells, and fMet-Leu-Phe-activated, but not resting, human neutrophils. This effect of dGal-1 on HL-60 and MOLT-4 cells is enhanced by pretreatment of the cells with neuraminidase, but treatment of resting neutrophils with neuraminidase does not enhance their sensitivity to dGal-1. Although the induction of staining with Annexin V is often associated with apoptosis, the dGal-1-treated HL-60 cells, MOLT-4 cells, and activated neutrophils do not undergo apoptosis, and there is no detectable DNA fragmentation. HL-60 and MOLT-4 cells treated with dGal-1 continue to grow normally. By contrast, camptothecin-treated HL-60 cells, etoposide-treated MOLT-4 cells, and anti-Fas-treated neutrophils exhibit extensive DNA fragmentation and/or cell death. Lactose inhibits the dGal-1-induced effects, indicating that dGal-1-induced signaling requires binding to cell surface beta-galactosides. The dimeric form of Gal-1 is required for signaling, because a monomeric mutant form of Gal-1, termed mGal-1, binds to cells but does not cause these effects. Importantly, dGal-1, but not mGal-1, treatment of HL-60 cells and activated human neutrophils significantly promotes their phagocytosis by activated mouse macrophages. These dGal-1-induced effects are distinguishable from apoptosis, but like apoptotic agents, prepare cells for phagocytic removal. Such effects of dGal-1 may contribute to leukocyte homeostasis.     

CD15 monoclonal antibodies react with a phosphotyrosine-containing protein on the surface of human neutrophils

mAb are useful as probes in the study of the roles of cell-surface components in neutrophil function. Many mAb that bind to human neutrophils react with the oligosaccharide lacto-N-fucopentaose III (CD15 antibodies). These antibodies, as well as several other widely used mAb reactive with human neutrophils, were employed to detect phosphoproteins present on these cells. Immunoprecipitation and subsequent gel electrophoresis of proteins from neutrophils labeled with [gamma-32P]ATP revealed a 170 to 190-kDa phosphoprotein specifically reactive with CD15 antibodies. No phosphoproteins were immunoprecipitated by CD11 or CD18 mAb. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the 170- to 190-kDa protein showed that it contained predominantly phosphotyrosine and a low level of phosphoserine. Recently, it was shown that this phosphoprotein is one of the major substrates of ecto-protein kinase activity on human neutrophils. The roles for the 170- to 190-kDa phosphoprotein and the ecto-protein kinase in neutrophil function remain to be determined.     

Interaction of the thyrotropin receptor on rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells with thyrotropin and a thyrotropin-stimulating autoantibody from Graves' patients

FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells were either surface-labeled with 125I or biosynthetically labeled with [3H]N-acetylglucosamine, solubilized by lithium diiodosalicylate and immunoprecipitated after sequential exposure to bovine thyrotropin and anti-bovine thyrotropin. Autoradiography of polyacrylamide gels run under denaturing conditions and in the presence of a reducing agent revealed two prominent bands with approximate molecular weights of 66-70 kDa and 47 kDa. Immunoprecipitation of the same radiolabeled and solubilized membrane preparations with a Graves' disease IgG having thyroid stimulating but no thyrotropin-binding inhibiting activity revealed only one major band, migrating near the 47 kDa component reactive with thyrotropin. No bands were immunoprecipitated in control incubations using normal human IgG or substituting radiolabeled, solubilized membranes from a rat thyroid cell line with no thyrotropin receptor activity. Thin layer chromatography of Folch extracts of the [3H]-N-acetylglucosamine-labeled immunoprecipitates obtained by either procedure indicated that a specific thyroid ganglioside was coprecipitated with the immunoprecipitated proteins in both cases.     

The retinoic acid receptors alpha and beta are expressed in the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60

The human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 can be induced to differentiate into granulocytes upon exposure to retinoids. Previously we have shown that extracts of undifferentiated HL-60 cells possess a specific retinoid-binding activity (RSBP-1) corresponding to an approximate 95 kilodalton (kDa) protein as determined by size-exclusion chromatography. We now extend these observations to reveal a second approximate 95 kDa retinoic acid-binding component (RSBP-2), which is separable from RSBP-1 using anion exchange chromatography. We further show that the chromatographic properties of RSBP-1 and RSBP-2 are identical to those found for the retinoid-binding activities present in extracts of HeLa cells transfected with the human retinoic acid receptor (RAR) expression vectors RAR-beta phi and RAR-alpha phi, respectively. Moreover, an antiserum preparation directed against RAR-beta selectively immunoprecipitated both the retinoid-binding activity in extracts of HeLa cells transfected with RAR-beta phi and that corresponding to RSBP-1 in HL-60 cell extracts. Similarly, an antiserum preparation directed against RAR-alpha immunoprecipitated the retinoid-binding activity in extracts from RAR-alpha phi transfected HeLa cell as well as that corresponding to RSBP-2 in HL-60 cell extracts. Using these antisera, Western blot analyses of extracts from HL-60 cells, and from HeLa cells transfected with either RAR-alpha phi or RAR-beta phi, confirmed that RSBP-2 and RSBP-1 are identical to RAR-alpha and RAR-beta, respectively. However, RAR-alpha, RAR-beta, RSBP-1, and RSBP-2 appeared as an approximate 51 kDa species in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in contrast with an apparent approximate 95 k mol wt as estimated from size-exclusion chromatography in the presence of 0.6 M KCl.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characterization of the human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine derived from activated T cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages. It stimulates myeloid and erythroid progenitors to form colonies in semisolid medium in vitro, as well as enhancing multiple differentiated functions of mature neutrophils, macrophages, and eosinophils. We have examined the binding of human GM-CSF to a variety of responsive human cells and cell lines. The most mature myelomonocytic cells, specifically human neutrophils, macrophages, and eosinophils, express the highest numbers of a single class of high affinity receptors (Kd approximately 37 pM, 293-1000 sites/cell). HL-60 and KG-1 cells exhibit an increase in specific binding at high concentrations of GM-CSF; computer analysis of the data is nonetheless consistent with a single class of high affinity binding sites with a Kd approximately 43 pM and 20-450 sites/cell. Dimethyl sulfoxide induces a 3-10-fold increase in high affinity receptors expressed in HL-60 cells, coincident with terminal neutrophilic differentiation. Finally, binding of 125I-GM-CSF to fresh peripheral blood cells from six patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia was analyzed. In three of six cases, binding was similar to the nonsaturable binding observed with HL-60 and KG-1 cells. GM-CSF binding was low, or in some cases, undetectable on myeloblasts obtained from eight patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. The observed affinities of the receptor for GM-CSF are consistent with all known biological activities. Affinity labeling of both normal neutrophils and dimethyl sulfoxide-induced HL-60 cells with unglycosylated 125I-GM-CSF yielded a band of 98 kDa, implying a molecular weight of approximately 84,000 for the human GM-CSF receptor.     

The glycoprotease of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 eliminates binding of myeloid cells to P-selectin but not to E-selectin.

HL-60 cells and neutrophils treated with the glycoprotease from Pasteurella haemolytica A1, an enzyme which is specific for O-sialoglycoproteins, were found to be incapable of binding P-selectin but still bound E-selectin. Comparative analysis of [35-S] cysteine labeled proteins from HL-60 cells by 2-dimensional electrophoresis indicated that two major proteins with M(r) 100 and 115 kd were significantly removed from cells which had been treated.     

Purification and characterization of human lysosomal membrane glycoproteins

Two human cell lysosomal membrane glycoproteins of approximately 120 kDa, hLAMP-1 and hLAMP-2, were identified by use of monoclonal antibodies prepared against U937 myelomonocytic leukemia cells or blood mononuclear cells. The two glycoproteins were purified by antibody affinity chromatography and each was found to be a major constituent of human spleen cells, representing approximately 0.05% of the total detergent-extractable protein. Both molecules were highly glycosylated, being synthesized as polypeptides of 40 to 45 kDa and cotranslationally modified by the addition of Asn-linked oligosaccharides. NH2-terminal sequence analysis indicated that each was approximately 50% identical to the corresponding mLAMP-1 or mLAMP-2 of mouse cells. Electron microscopic studies of human blood monocytes, HL-60, and U937 cells demonstrated that the principal location of these glycoproteins was intracellular, in vacuoles and lysosomal structures but not in the peroxidase-positive granules of monocytes. Transport of the proteins between organelles was evidenced by their marked accumulation in the membranes of phagolysosomes. A fraction of each glycoprotein was also detected on the plasma membrane of U937 and HL-60 cells but not on a variety of other tissue culture cells. This cell-surface expression may be differentiation related, since the proteins were not detected in the plasma membrane of normal blood monocytes and their expression on U937 and HL-60 cells was reduced when the cells were treated with differentiating agents. Cell-surface expression of both glycoproteins was markedly increased in blood monocytes but not in U937 cells after exposure to the lysosomotropic reagent methylamine HCl, indicating differences in LAMP-associated membrane flow in these cell types.     

Parabutoporin--an antibiotic peptide from scorpion venom--can both induce activation and inhibition of granulocyte cell functions

Parabutoporin (PP) affects motility and NADPH oxidase activity in normal human polymorphonuclear neutrophils and in granulocytic HL-60 cells. These PP-induced interactions utilize a Rac activation pathway. PP induces chemotaxis of neutrophils and HL-60 cells via a pertussis toxin-sensitive way, thus using trimeric G-proteins. The enhanced chemotaxis is also apparent in undifferentiated HL-60 cells which lack functional formyl peptide receptors. On the other hand, PP strongly reduces the superoxide production by the NADPH oxidase complex after either PMA or fMLP activation of granulocytes. These combined results strongly suggest a direct activation of G-proteins and subsequent Rac activation as the basis for the observed effects. The unexpected inhibitory effect of PP, despite Rac activation, on superoxide production in granulocytes is explained by the direct interaction of membrane localized PP which prevents the formation of a functional NADPH oxidase complex.     

Characterization of cell surface glycoproteins recognized by the granulocyte-specific monoclonal antibody, AHN-1

Major surface-iodinated proteins of Mr 105,000 and 145,000 of normal human neutrophils are immunoprecipitated by a number of monoclonal antibodies (AHN-1 to AHN-6), which react specifically with granulocytes among peripheral blood cells and selectively inhibit phagocytosis. These proteins, and an Mr 60,000 component, were purified by monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography, molecular sieve chromatography, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Each of the three purified proteins was immunoprecipitated by all six antibodies. Nevertheless, tryptic peptide maps of the three proteins indicated that each was a distinct component. AHN-1 to AHN-6 also bound to glycolipid fractions of human neutrophils, and the binding of each antibody to human neutrophils was blocked by the carbohydrate sequences, lacto-N-fucopentaose III. The data indicate that a predominant antigenic determinant of human neutrophils is lacto-N-fucopentaose III, or related carbohydrates, present on three distinct proteins as well as glycolipids. At least one of these molecules appears to be involved in the process of phagocytosis.     

Isolation of human neutrophil plasma membranes employing neutrophil cytoplasts and changes in the cell-surface proteins upon cell activation

A plasma membrane fraction, highly enriched in 5'-nucleotidase activity, was prepared from human neutrophils by disruption of previously formed neutrophil cytoplasts (enucleated neutrophils), which were devoid of intracellular organelles. This plasma membrane fraction shows an extremely low contamination by specific and azurophilic granule markers as compared to previous reported preparations. Nevertheless, a novel tertiary granule (Mollinedo, F. and Schneider, D.L. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 7143-7150), unlike specific and azurophilic granules, fuses partially with the cell surface under the experimental conditions used for cytoplast preparation. Comparison between the external cell-surface proteins in resting neutrophils and neutrophil cytoplasts by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination showed some differences both in deletion and in addition of proteins. In resting cells, iodine was incorporated into at least 13 proteins ranging in size from over 200 to 30 kDa. A 140 kDa polypeptide, representing the major labeled surface component in resting neutrophils, was absent from cytoplasts. Furthermore, high-molecular-weight proteins (110 and over 160 kDa were more exposed to iodination after cytoplast preparation. Activation of human neutrophils by N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine induced some alterations in the pattern of labeled cell-surface proteins, which correlated to a certain degree with those observed during cytoplast preparation.     

Bactericidal but not nonbactericidal C5b-9 is associated with distinctive outer membrane proteins in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

In this study, we examined the bacterial constituents associated with the complement C5b-9 complex in detergent extracts from serum-treated Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC). 125I surface-labeled GC were incubated in 10% serum, were washed, and were solubilized in the zwitterionic sulfobetaine detergent SB12. Immunoprecipitation of 125I-GC from the extract with anti-C5 Sepharose was followed by 12.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis autoradiography of immunoprecipitated material. Polyacrylamide gel analysis of surface-labeled 125I-GC showed prominent bands for proteins I and III for both serum-resistant GC strain 6305 and serum-sensitive GC strain 7189. These same bands were visible with similar intensity in the SB12 extracts from presensitized and non-presensitized 6305 and 7189 after serum incubation. For those organisms bearing bactericidal C5b-9 (6305 + IgG and 7189 +/- IgG), additional distinctive bands immunoprecipitated with antibody to C5 Sepharose. These components were of 93,000, 44,000 40,000, and 15,000 daltons for 6305 + IgG, and were of 90,000, 50,000, 44,000, and 19,000 daltons for 7189 +/- IgG. Nonbactericidal C5b-9 extracted from the surface of 6305 incubated in serum, but not sensitized with antibody, was not associated with these distinctive proteins. However, this nonbactericidal C5b-9 did have a different pattern of associated bacterial surface constituents from that observed in control samples incubated with antibody to human serum albumin, which were similar to those with nonserum-incubated organisms. These studies support our earlier experiments which demonstrated that C5b-9 is in a different molecular configuration on the surface of serum-resistant GC from that on the surface of serum-sensitive GC or resistant GC rendered sensitive with bactericidal antibody.