Spontaneous lytic activity against heterologous erythrocytes in cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) serum

Although innate immunity has been well studied in laboratory animal models, no such documentation exists for wild species possessing a diversity of physiological adaptations to their environment. We examined the blood sera of 188 hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) for naturally occurring hemolytic activity against heterologous erythrocytes. Ninety-two percent of the blood sera samples from cotton rats lysed sheep erythrocytes. All sera tested against chicken erythrocytes showed hemolytic activity, while only 44% of the same sera could lyse bovine erythrocytes. No hemolytic activity was present in cotton rat sera against erythrocytes from other rodent species (Eastern woodrat, Neotoma floridana, and pine vole, Microtus pinetorum). Hemolytic activity was heat labile and appeared to be mediated through the classical complement pathway. The protective nature of this hemolytic factor is unclear but it is probably directed at a more relevant molecule. These data, along with other reports of naturally occurring target specific serum factors in the cotton rat, may reflect the importance of innate protective mechanisms to small mammal populations.     

荷斯坦种公牛血清替代补体溶血活性研究

本文将国外脊椎动物血清补体溶血活性标准测定方法,运用到荷斯坦种公牛研究中,首次建立了测定荷斯坦种公牛血清补体溶血ACH50的方法。种公牛血清经相应靶红细胞吸附后,可溶解悬浮在EGTAMgGVB缓冲液中的正常的兔血红细胞、人A,B,AB,O型红细胞,小鼠、大鼠、鸡红细胞,但对绵羊、山羊、猪红细胞溶血活性较低;对奶牛红细胞无溶血活性。且发现种公牛血清的溶血活性和靶红细胞的动物种类在系统发育上和种公牛的亲缘关系远近没有直接联系。种公牛血清在EGTAMgGVB缓冲液中对兔血红细胞发生溶血的最适条件是:温度是37℃,最适pH是7.3-7.4,最适Mg2 的浓度是4mmol/L,最适孵育时间为90min。溶血活性是二价离子依赖、热敏感(溶血活性热灭活温度是56℃)。种公牛血清对兔血红细胞的溶血活性在受到酵母聚糖、甲胺、肼、EDTA、鸡抗酵母聚糖牛血清结合物抗血清处理时,溶血活性可全部或部分消失,溶血活性抑制程度与补体抑制剂浓度相关。我们运用建立的标准溶血方法并以兔血红细胞作为指示细胞检测不同年龄的53头种公牛血清补体替代途径的溶血活性,溶血值在13.2-44.3u/ml之间,还发现不同年龄组公牛之间溶血活性有随年龄增加而逐步增大趋势,但差异不显著(P>0.05),在4-5岁公牛群中达到最大值。对种公牛血清补体系统溶血水平进行系统研究,一方面可以填补国内在此领域研究空白,另一方面也利于种公牛疾病监测、控制,此外也为兽医临床诊断试剂的研制提供新的技术手段。     

Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells

Antibodies against red blood cells (RBCs) can lead to complement activation resulting in an accelerated clearance via complement receptors in the liver (extravascular hemolysis) or leading to intravascular lysis of RBCs. Alloantibodies (e.g. ABO) or autoantibodies to RBC antigens (as seen in autoimmune hemolytic anemia, AIHA) leading to complement activation are potentially harmful and can be - especially when leading to intravascular lysis - fatal¹. Currently, complement activation due to (auto)-antibodies on RBCs is assessed in vitro by using the Coombs test reflecting complement deposition on RBC or by a nonquantitative hemolytic assay reflecting RBC lysis^1-4. However, to assess the efficacy of complement inhibitors, it is mandatory to have quantitative techniques. Here we describe two such techniques. First, an assay to detect C3 and C4 deposition on red blood cells that is induced by antibodies in patient serum is presented. For this, FACS analysis is used with fluorescently labeled anti-C3 or anti-C4 antibodies. Next, a quantitative hemolytic assay is described. In this assay, complement-mediated hemolysis induced by patient serum is measured making use of spectrophotometric detection of the released hemoglobin. Both of these assays are very reproducible and quantitative, facilitating studies of antibody-induced complement activation.     

Selective carboxypropionylation of chitosan: synthesis, characterization, blood compatibility, and degradation

Two water-soluble chitosan (WSC) derivatives of N-succinyl-chitosan (NSCS) and N,O-succinyl-chitosan (NOSCS) with a degree of substitution (DS) that ranged form 0.28 to 0.61 were selectively synthesized by varying the molar ration of succinic anhydride and chitosan. The chemical structure and physical properties of the chitosan derivatives were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and XRD. XRD analysis showed that the derivatives were amorphous. The lysozyme enzymatic degradation results revealed that the NSCS was of higher susceptibility to lysozyme. The degradation rate and the solubility of the chitosan derivatives were strongly determined by the degree of substitution and the position of the substitution. The results of antithrombotic properties, hemolytic properties and anticoagulant properties of WSCs indicated that the blood compatibility was dramatically improved, and the carboxyl group introduced on the C-6 or C-2 hydroxyl group appeared to impact anticoagulant activity in different ways.     

Titration of Bactericidal Activity against Smooth and Rough Strains of Salmonella which Are Resistant in Isotonic Medium

Bactericidal factors in antisera against various chemotype strains of Salmonella were assayed by means of the spot method. Certain smooth and rough strains were resistant to the killing effect of immune mouse sera when the activity was assayed in an isotonic salt medium and guinea pig complement was used. However, the sensitivity was found to be increased in various degrees by assaying it in a medium containing hypotonic concentrations of NaCl or tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane-HCl (Tris-HCl). Keeping the resistant bacteria in hypotonic solutions before or after treatment with complement increased the titer of antiserum, indicating that the hypotonic solution increases the sensitivity of bacterial cells to the antiserum and/or complement. The optimal salt concentration for the assay of serum-sensitive and -resistant smooth strains was 0.02 M NaCl. With Ra through Rd chemotype strains, 0.1 m NaCl before complement treatment and 0.05 m NaCl after the treatment was the best. Isotonic medium was necessary for the titration of the Re chemotype strain. Specificity of the killing effect which was assayed by the hypotonic spot method was shown by adsorption studies on the immune sera. Use of C4-deficient guinea pig complement resulted in low titers against certain strains of bacteria and high titers were restored by the addition of the C4 component of complement. These results indicate that serologically specific bactericidal factors including antibody can be assayed by the spot method using hypotonic NaCl or Tris-HCl.     

Antimicrobial activity of leucine‐substituted decoralin analogs with lower hemolytic activity

Linear cationic α‐helical antimicrobial peptides are promising chemotherapeutics. Most of them act by different mechanisms, making it difficult to microorganisms acquiring resistance. Decoralin is an example of antimicrobial peptide; it was described by Konno et al. and presented activity against microorganisms, but with pronounced hemolytic activity. We synthesized leucine‐substituted decoralin analogs designed based on important physicochemical properties, which depend on the maintenance of the amphiphilic α‐helical tendency of the native molecule. Peptides were synthesized, purified, and characterized, and the conformational studies were performed. The results indicated that the analogs presented both higher therapeutic indexes, but with antagonistic behavior. While [Leu]¹⁰‐Dec‐NH₂ analog showed similar activity against different microorganisms (c.a. 0.4–0.8 μmol L^?1), helical structuration, and some hemolytic activity, [Leu]⁸‐Dec‐NH₂ analog did not tend to helical structure and presented antimicrobial activities two orders higher than the other two peptides analyzed. On the other hand, this analog showed to be the less hemolytic (MHC value = 50.0 μmol L^?1). This approach provided insight for understanding the effects of the leucine substitution in the amphiphilic balance. They led to changes on the conformational tendency, which showed to be important for the mechanism of action and affecting antimicrobial and hemolytic activities. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of electrochemical gradients of Na+ and K+ upon the membrane binding and pore forming activity of the terminal complement proteins

Summary The hemolytic activity of the terminal complement proteins (C5b-9) towards erythrocytes containing high potassium concentration has been reported to be dramatically increased when extracellular Na⁺ is substituted isotonically by K⁺ (Dalmasso, A.P., et al., 1975,J. Immunol. 115:63–68). This phenomenon was now further investigated using resealed human erythrocyte ghosts (ghosts), which can be maintained at a nonlytic osmotic steady state subsequent to C5b-9 binding: (1) The functional state of C5b-9-treated ghosts was studied from their ability to retain trapped [¹⁴C]-sucrose or [³H]-inulin when suspended either in the presence of Na⁺ or K⁺. A dramatic increase in the permeability of the ghost membrane to both nonelectrolytes-in the absence of significant hemoglobin release-was observed for C5b-9 assembly in the presence of external K⁺. (2) The physical binding of the individual¹²⁵I-labeled terminal complement proteins to ghost membranes was directly measured as a function of intra- and extracellular K⁺ and Na⁺. The uptake of¹²⁵I-C7,¹²⁵I-C8, and¹²⁵I-C9 into membrane C5b-9 was unaltered by substitution of Na⁺ by K⁺. (3) The binding of the terminal complement proteins to ghosts subjected to a transient membrane potential generated by the K⁺-ionophore valinomycin (in the presence of K⁺ concentration gradients) was measured. No significant change in membrane binding of any of the C5b-9 proteins was detected under the influence of both depolarizing and hyperpolarizing membrane potentials. It can be concluded that the differential effect of Na⁺ versus K⁺ upon the erythrocyte membrane isnot due to an effect upon the binding of the complement proteins to the membraneper se, but upon the functional properties of the assembled C5b-9 pore site.     

Structure‐activity relationship of indolicidin,a Trp‐rich antibacterial peptide

A series of Trp and Arg analogs of antibacterial indolicidin (Ind) was synthesized and the antimicrobial and hemolytic activities were investigated. [L⁹]Ind, [L¹¹]Ind, [K⁸,L⁹]Ind and [K^{6, 8},L⁹]Ind showed desirable characteristics, exhibiting negligible hemolytic activity while keeping strong antibacterial activity. The results indicated that the Trp residue at position 11 essentially contributes to both activities and one can not be exchanged for the other, whereas the Trp residues at positions 4 and 9 play important roles in antimicrobial and hemolytic activities, respectively. The Trp residues at positions 6 and 8 play no important roles in biological activities. We then found that the retro analog of Ind showed higher antibacterial activity than Ind against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria but remarkably lower hemolytic activity than that of Ind. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Schistosoma mansoni: The role of the complement C3-activating system in the cercaricidal action of normal serum

Living Schistosoma mansoni cercariae incubated with normal serum from several species were damaged, as revealed by immobilization of their tails, uptake of methylene blue dye and the incapacity to infect appropriate vertebrate hosts. The following data indicate that the cercaricidal action of normal sera is dependent on the complement system, activation of the system proceeding through the alternate (properdin) pathway: (a) consumption of appreciable amounts of total hemolytic complement during the incubation of fresh serum with living cercariae; (b) the preferential consumption of the late reacting components and except for human C₄, only limited consumption of the classical early components; (c) the inactivity of sera depleted of C₃ or properdin; (d) the selective requirement for the presence of Mg²⁺ in the incubation mixture; (e) the full cercaricidal effect of C₄—deficient guinea pig serum; and (f) the conversion of C₃ after incubation of normal serum with the cercariae to electrophoretically faster migrating products. Immunofluorescence analyses indicated that the structures responsible for the complement activation are present in the cercarial coat.     

Genetic polymorphism of the second component of human complement (C2)

Summary Proteins were separated by prolonged isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels, whereupon C2 bands were detected by a specific hemolytic assay. This was performed by treating the gel with iodine to increase C2 activity, and then developing C2 bands with an agarose gel overlay containing sensitized sheep cells and diluted human serum as a complement source deficient in functional C2. The gene frequencies observed in a material of 122 unrelated adults were: C2¹:0.97 and C2²:0.03.C2 linkage relations and C2 haplotype associations have been examined a family material. It is concluded that C2 is very closely linked to HLA loci.     

Effects of residue 5-point mutation and N-terminus hydrophobic residues on temporin-SHc physicochemical and biological properties

Temporin-SHc (FLSHIAGFLSNLF_amide) first isolated from skin extraction of the Tunisian frog Pelophylax saharica, which shows potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and is highly active against yeasts and fungi without hemolytic activity at antimicrobial concentrations. The peptide adopts well-defined α-helical conformation when bound to SDS micelles. In this study, we explored the effects of residue at position 5 and the N-terminus hydrophobic character on the hydrophilic/polar face of temp-SHc, on its biological activities (antimicrobial and hemolytic) and biophysical properties (hydrophobicity, amphipathicity and helicity). Antibacterial and hemolytic properties of temporin-SHc derivatives depend strongly on physicochemical properties. Therefore, slight decreasing amphipathicity together with hydrophobicity and helicity by the substitution Ile⁵ → Leu decreased antimicrobial potency approximately twofold without changing of hemolytic activity. It is noteworthy that a conservative amino acid substitution decreases the antimicrobial activity, underlining the differences between Leu/Ile side chains insertion into the lipid bilayer. While the modification of N-terminal hydrophobic character by four residue inversion decreased amphipathicity (twofold) of (4-1)L₅temp-SHc and resulted in an increase in antibacterial activity against E. coli, E. faecalis and C. parapsilosis of at least fourfold, its therapeutic potential is limited by its drastic increase of hemolysis (LC₅₀ = 2 μM). We found that the percentage of helicity of temp-SHc analog is directly correlated to its hemolytic activity. Last, the hydrophobic N-terminal character is an important determinant of antimicrobial activity.     

Cytotoxic effects of normal sera on lymphoid cells. I. Antibody-independent killing of heterologous thymocytes by guinea pig, rabbit, and human sera: role of the alternative pathway of complement activation.

The mechanisms whereby normal sera may cause the death of xenogeneic lymphoid cells in vitro have been reviewed in this study using guinea pig, rabbit and human sera as the source of activity and rat and mouse thymocytes as target cells. In all of the combinations analyzed the cytotoxic reactions were found to be mediated by complement (C) as evidenced by sensitivity of the sera towards either heat inactivation (56 °C, 30 min) or treatment with cobra venom factor or sodium ethylenediaminotetraacetate (EDTA). C activity was provided via the alternative pathway in every instance: (i) both C4-deficient guinea pig serum and C2-deficient human serum displayed cytotoxicity on the target cells; (ii) sera from all three sources were active in the absence of free Ca²⁺, which is required to activate C via the classical pathway; and (iii) GPS incubated at 50 °C for 20 min to destroy the activity of factor B of the alternative pathway lacked significant cytotoxic activity while still able to lyse sensitized sheep red blood cells, a reaction proceeding via the C142 pathway. Two independent lines of evidence appeared to exclude the possible role of antibodies in nonspecific serum cytotoxicity. First, the cytotoxic capacities and the titers of guinea pig and rabbit sera were not significantly affected after absorption with target cells in the presence of EDTA, i.e., in the absence of free divalent cations, a condition which does not interfere with antigen antibody binding. By contrast, the activity was eliminated when absorption was performed in the absence of chelating agents or in the presence of a selective Ca²⁺ chelator, sodium ethyleneglycoltetraacetate, plus excess Mg²⁺ These observations also highlight the Mg²⁺-dependence of the removal of activity by absorption. Second, γ-globulins isolated from a highly cytotoxic guinea pig serum were not toxic for rat thymocytes when tested in the presence of rat C. These results suggest that conventional antibodies, whether of “natural” origin or otherwise, are unlikely to play a role in serum-produced nonspecific cytotoxicity. Furthermore, and since incubation of human serum with rat or mouse thymocytes produced conversion of factor B, “absorption” of cytotoxic activity would seem to be more likely a consequence of the consumption of C activity via the C3 shunt than of the removal of any antibodies.     

Detection of antibodies to Herpesvirus simiae and Herpesvirus hominis in nonhuman primates

Sera from nonhuman primates, predominantly Macaca species, were assayed by a serum neutralization test for antibodies to antigenically related Herpesvirus simiae (B virus) and Herpesvirus hominis type 1. The data indicate that there would have been approximately 50% error in the diagnosis of Herpesvirus simiae infection if these sera had been tested only against Herpesvirus hominis antigen. The role of active guinea pig complement in the serum neutralization test was also evaluated and found to be required by many of the sera for reproducible and enhanced virus neutralization, particularly for B virus antibody determination. A plaque reduction assay was found to be highly sensitive, especially when complement (2.5-5.0 hemolytic units) was added, but impractical for large-scale serum surveys.     

Conductive and Kinetic Properties of Connexin45 Hemichannels Expressed in Transfected HeLa Cells

Human HeLa cells transfected with mouse connexin Cx45 were used to examine the conductive and kinetic properties of Cx45 hemichannels. The experiments were carried out on single cells using a voltage-clamp method. Lowering the [Ca²⁺]_o revealed an extra current. Its sensitivity to extracellular Ca²⁺ and gap junction channel blockers (18α-glycyrrhetinic acid, palmitoleic acid, heptanol), and its absence in non-transfected HeLa cells suggested that it is carried by Cx45 hemichannels. The conductive and kinetic properties of this current, I _hc, were determined adopting a biphasic pulse protocol. I _hc activated at positive V _m and deactivated partially at negative V _m. The analysis of the instantaneous I _hc yielded a linear function g _hc,inst = f(V _m) with a hint of a negative slope (g _hc,inst: instantaneous conductance). The analysis of the steady-state I _hc revealed a sigmoidal function g _hc,ss = f(V _m) best described with the Boltzmann equation: V _m,0 = −1.08 mV, g _hc,min = 0.08 (g _hc,ss: steady-state conductance; V _{m, 0}:V _m at which g _hc,ss is half-maximally activated; g _hc,min: minimal conductance; major charge carriers: K⁺ and Cl⁻). The g _hc was minimal at negative V _m and maximal at positive V _m. This suggests that Cx45 connexons integrated in gap junction channels are gating with negative voltage. I _hc deactivated exponentially with time, giving rise to single time constants, τ_d. The function τ_d = f(V _m) was exponential and increased with positive V _m (τ_d = 7.6 s at V _m = 0 mV). The activation of I _hc followed the sum of two exponentials giving rise to the time constants, τ_a1 and τ_a2. The function τ_a1 = f(V _m) and τ_a2 = f(V _m) were bell-shaped and yielded a maximum of ≅ 0.6 s at V _m ≅ −20 mV and ≅ 4.9 s at V _m ≅ 15 mV, respectively. Neither τ_a1 = f(V _m) nor τ_a2 = f(V _m) coincided with τ_d = f(V _m). These findings conflict with the notion that activation and deactivation follow a simple reversible reaction scheme governed by first-order voltage-dependent processes.     

Structural and functional changes in complement protein C4 under UV irradiation

The influence of ultraviolet (UV) light on the structural and functional states of the complement factor C4 was investigated using hemolytic and acid-base titration, PAG electrophoresis, and IR and UV spectrophotometry. UV doses of 75.5 and 755 J/m² initiated C4 activation through changes in the globule structure (increased number of aromatic amino acids and ionogenic groups at the surface). The maximal dose of 2265 J/m² has a destructive effect and decreases its C4 activity in the cascade of hemolytic reactions of the complement system.     

Effect of Complement and Viral Filtration on the Neutralization of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

The addition of 10 hemolytic units of guinea pig complement has been shown to enhance the neutralizing capacity of respiratory syncytial (RS) immune sera produced in guinea pigs and ferrets. This same immune sera, when tested without complement, had little or no neutralizing capacity. The addition of complement to RS immune horse serum did not significantly increase its neutralizing capacity. Immune horse serum effectively neutralized RS virus without complement. Other studies indicated that a 50% tissue culture infective dose of between 30 and 100 should be used in RS serum neutralization tests and that incubation should be for 90 to 105 min at room temperature. The neutralizing capacity of guinea pig immune serum was not increased by the use of filtered virus. The rate of virus neutralization, however, was increased with the addition of 10 hemolytic units of complement. The neutralizing capacity of RS immune horse serum was much greater for filtered than for unfiltered RS virus. The addition of complement increased the rate of virus neutralization but did not increase the neutralizing capacity of the horse immune serum.     

Hemopexin Modulates Expression of Complement Regulatory Proteins in Rat Glomeruli

In systemic hemolysis and in hematuric forms of kidney injury, the major heme scavenging protein, hemopexin (HPX), becomes depleted, and the glomerular microvasculature (glomeruli) is exposed to high concentrations of unbound heme, which, in addition to causing oxidative injury, can activate complement cascades; thus, compounding extent of injury. It is unknown whether unbound heme can also activate specific complement regulatory proteins that could defend against complement-dependent injury. Isolated rat glomeruli were incubated in media supplemented with HPX-deficient (HPX⁻) or HPX-containing (HPX⁺) sera as a means of achieving different degrees of heme partitioning between incubation media and glomerular cells. Expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and of the complement activation inhibitors, decay-accelerating factor (DAF), CD59, and complement receptor-related gene Y (Crry), was assessed by western blot analysis. Expression of HO-1 and of the GPI-anchored DAF and CD59 proteins increased in isolated glomeruli incubated with HPX⁻ sera with no effect on Crry expression. Exogenous heme (hemin) did not further induce DAF but increased Crry expression. HPX modulates heme-mediated induction of complement activation controllers in glomeruli. This effect could be of translational relevance in glomerular injury associated with hematuria.     

Interaction of polypeptide antibiotic gramicidin S with platelets

Gramicidin S (GS) is a cyclic decapeptide antibiotic active against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria as well as against several pathogenic fungi. However, clinical application of GS is limited because of GS hemolytic activity. The large number of GS analogues with potentially attenuated hemolytic activity has been developed over the last two decades. For all new GS derivatives, the antimicrobial test is accompanied with the hemolytic activity assay. At the same time, neither GS nor its analogues were tested against other blood cells. In the present work, the effects of GS on platelets and platelet aggregates have been studied. GS interaction with platelets is concentration dependent and leads either to platelet swelling or platelet shape change. Effect of GS on platelets is independent of platelet aggregation mechanism. GS induces disaggregation of platelet aggregates formed in the presence of aggregation agonists. The rate of the GS interaction with platelet membranes depends on membrane lipid mobility and significantly increases with temperature. The interaction of GS with the platelet membranes depends strongly on the state of the membrane lipids. Factors affecting the membrane lipids (temperature, lipid peroxidation and ionising irradiation) modify GS interaction with platelets. Our results show that GS is active not only against erythrocytes but also against other blood cells (platelets). The estimated numbers of GS molecules per 1 µm² of a blood cell required to induce erythrocyte hemolysis and disaggregation of platelet aggregates are comparable. This must be considered when developing new antimicrobial GS analogues with improved hemolytic properties. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on the factors affecting the growth and hemolytic activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anabaena variabilis</Emphasis>

The hemolytic activity of the cell-free culture supernatant of Anabaena variabilis OL S1 was investigated using the hemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes as an assay. The culture medium of A. variabilis started to exhibit hemolytic activity at the late exponential growth phase, and maximized at the stationary phase. The hemolytic toxin is heat-stable and can be extracted in dichloromethane. The hemolytic activities under different temperature, light intensity and pH showed a high correlation with the cell densities (r=0.965, 0.951, 0.865, respectively), and the optimum condition is 28~30°C, pH 7.5~8.0, light intensity 120 μmol photons m⁻²s⁻¹. The addition of 10~20 μg mL⁻¹ chloramphenicol, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, exhibited no marked suppression on the hemolytic activity. The supplement of 1~20 μg mL⁻¹ glycerol increased the hemolytic activity significantly, suggesting that synthesis of hemolysin was dependent on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The spectrum of erythrocyte sensitivity to the hemolysin indicated that rabbit erythrocytes were more sensitive to the hemolysin than were rat and human erythrocytes. Goldfish and cat erythrocytes were, however, insensitive to the hemolytic toxin of A. variabilis.