Mapping of the domains required for decay acceleration activity of the human factor H-like protein 1 and factor H

The human factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1) is composed of seven repetitive elements (short consensus repeats; SCR) that are identical in sequence to the seven N-terminal SCR of complement factor H. We show that the FHL-1 protein has decay acceleration activity in that it can dissociate C3/C5-convertases bound to the surface of sheep red blood cells. The same activity was also determined for factor H. However, compared to FHL-1, factor H was more efficient in decay acceleration, as about 100-fold less protein was required for a 50% inhibition of activity. The domain required for decay accelerating activity of FHL-1 and factor H was mapped by the use of recombinant fragments. FHL-1 and a series of truncated forms of the protein were expressed in the baculovirus system. Recombinant FHL-1 and all mutants which include SCR 1-4 were functionally active. These four N-terminal SCR are essential and sufficient for activity, as deletion mutants which lack SCR 1 or SCR 4 showed no activity. These results demonstrate that FHL-1 and factor H have identical and overlapping regulatory functions in the complement system and that the domain required for this activity is located in the overlapping region of both proteins within the N-terminal four SCR.

Factor H co-purifies with thrombospondin isolated from platelet secretate

Thrombospondin is a trimeric glycoprotein that has several known functions, including roles in platelet aggregation, phagocytosis and an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Typically the molecule is isolated from platelet secretate by heparin affinity followed by sizing chromatography. In this study, purity is analysed by 7.5% SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions when thrombospondin monomers run as a band at around 180 kDa. Under nonreducing conditions of 7.5% SDS-PAGE, thrombospondin does not penetrate beyond the stacking gel; however, under these conditions a major contaminating band can be seen which, upon reduction, merges into the thrombospondin band. Further purification of this contaminating protein was achieved by DEAE chromatography and it was identified as Factor H by peptide sequencing and immunoblotting. Factor H function was demonstrated by the ability of the protein to function as a cofactor in the Factor-I-mediated cleavage of C3b. Since Factor H has several known functions, such contamination could confound functional studies of thrombospondin thus purified and a pre-elution step of the heparin affinity column is recommended.

Prediction from sequence comparisons of residues of factor H involved in the interaction with complement component C3b

The amino acid sequence of the region of bovine factor H containing the C3b binding site has been derived from sequencing overlapping cDNA clones. A cDNA sequence encoding 669 amino acids was obtained. Like human and mouse factor H the sequence can be arranged into a number of internally homologous units (CPs), each of which is about 60 amino acids long and is based on a framework of four conserved cysteine residues. Bovine factor H is of the same molecular mass as human and mouse factor H, and is therefore likely to be composed of 20 contiguous CPs. Comparisons with human and mouse factor H indicate that the partial bovine sequence encodes CPs 2-12 inclusive of bovine factor H. Bovine factor H binds to human ammonia-treated C3 (causing thiolester cleavage) [C3(NH3)] and promotes the cleavage of human C3(NH3) in the presence of bovine factor I. Other studies indicate that CPs 2-5 of human factor H encompass the C3b binding and factor I cofactor activity site. Multiple sequence alignments of human factor H, mouse factor H (which also interacts with human C3b) and bovine factor H with CP modules whose structures have been determined experimentally, have been used to predict residues in the hypervariable loops of CPs 2-5 and to identify residues of potential importance in human C3 binding and factor I cofactor activity. Leu-17 and Gly-20 of CP 2, Ser-17, Ala-19, Glu-21, Asp-23 and Glu-25 of CP 3 and Lys-18 of CP 4 are all conserved between the three species. It may be that CPs 3 and 4 interact with C3(NH3) directly, whilst CPs 2 and 5 maintain the correct orientation for CPs 3 and 4 to interact.

Comparative modeling of the three CP modules of the beta-chain of C4BP and evaluation of potential sites of interaction with protein S

A computer model of the beta-chain of C4b-binding protein (C4BP) was constructed, using the backbone fold of the NMR structures of the sixteenth CP module of factor H (H16) and of a pair of modules consisting of the fifteenth and sixteenth CPs of factor H (H15-16). The characteristic hydrophobic core responsible for dictating the three-dimensional structure of the CP family is conserved in the amino acid sequence of C4BP beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3. The distribution of the electrostatic potential shows that the model is mainly covered by a negative contour. Interestingly, a positive area is observed in the C-terminal region of the first CP module, enclosing peptide 31-45, known to be a binding site for protein S. This observation suggests that electrostatic interactions can be of importance for the interaction of C4BP to protein S. A solvent-accessible hydrophobic patch, located nearby and involving the peptide 31-45, was also found in the model, further confirming that this area is involved in the interaction with protein S. The contribution of beta-chain residues 31-45 to the affinity for protein S was studied further by means of synthetic mutant peptides. The results suggest that both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions are important for the binding to protein S.

Structural, immunological and functional comparisons of factor H, rheumatoid arthritis protein (RHP), and its apparent normal counterpart (N-RHP)

The isolation and characterization of two human serum proteins, RHP and N-RHP, are described. N-RHP appears to be the normal counterpart of RHP which is found at elevated levels in sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis [Rosano et al. (1988b) Inflammation 12, 351 - 360]. Although both proteins crossreact with anti-Factor H and have identical N-terminal amino acid sequences, they differ from Factor H in pI, solubility at low ionic strength, and in glycosylation. RHP differs from Factor H and N-RHP in antigenicity in the rabbit, in effect on the C1q-anti-C1q precipitin reaction, and in ability to disaggregate C1, the first component of the complement system. Removal of RHP, N-RHP and Factor H from binding to C1q is a prerequesite for separation of RHP and N-RHP from Factor H by anion exchange chromatography and isoelectric focusing. The finding of uniquely demonstrable RHP activity (enhancement of C1q-anti-C1q precipitin activity) in unfractionated sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but not in normal sera, suggests that RHP is not an artefact of Factor H produced during isolation.

Identification of complement regulatory domains in human factor H

Factor H, a regulator of complement activation, contains 20 short consensus repeat (SCR) domains common among the family of C3b/C4b-binding proteins. Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with cDNA corresponding to the N-terminal tryptic fragment of factor H (containing SCR 1-5 and part of SCR 6) secreted protein with cofactor activity for factor I-dependent cleavage of C3b. A series of deletion mutants, each lacking one of the first five SCR, were constructed, and the supernatants of transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells were tested for cofactor activity. Supernatants of Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with SCR 1, SCR 4, and SCR 5 deletion mutants retained cofactor function, although the SCR 1 deletion had reduced cofactor activity. Deletion of SCR 2 or 3 totally abolished cofactor activity. Expression and functional analysis of SCR units 1-3, 2-3, and 2-4 demonstrated that the SCR 1-3 unit is sufficient for cofactor activity, but SCR 1-4 is required for full activity. For assays involving cell protection, a construct linking SCR 1-5 to the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor of decay-accelerating factor was prepared, and stable transfectants were obtained. These cells were protected against complement-mediated cytotoxicity, similarly to decay-accelerating factor- and membrane cofactor protein-transfected cells. These studies define the complement regulatory domains in factor H and suggest that the general complement functional unit for C3 convertase regulation involves three or four consecutive SCR units.

Characterization of a complement receptor 2 (CR2, CD21) ligand binding site for C3. An initial model of ligand interaction with two linked short consensus repeat modules

Human CR2 (CD21, EBV receptor) is an approximately 145-kDa receptor and a member of the regulators of complement activation gene family. Regulators of complement activation proteins are characterized by the presence of repeating motifs of 60 to 70 amino acids that are designated short consensus repeats (SCR). CR2 serves as a receptor for four distinct ligands. Three of these ligands (complement C3, gp350/220 of EBV, and CD23) interact with the amino terminal 2 of 16 SCR (SCR 1 and 2). Previous studies have determined that at least four sites are important in allowing CR2 to efficiently bind EBV. Two of these sites are also important for binding mAb OKB7, a reagent that blocks both EBV and iC3b/C3dg binding to CR2. We have identified and characterized important sites of iC3b ligand binding by utilizing human-mouse CR2 chimeras, a rat anti-mouse CR2 mAb designated 4E3 that blocks receptor binding to C3, and human CR2-derived peptides. In addition to demonstrating an important role for the same sequence in SCR 1 that is part of the mAb OKB7 and EBV binding site, we have identified a new region within SCR 2 that interacts with C3. These results, when compared with a model of a dual SCR solution structure derived from human factor H SCR, predict that two distinct largely surface-exposed sites on CR2 interact with iC3b. A relative twist of 130 degrees about the long axis of the second SCR in this model would be necessary for these sites to form a single patch for iC3b binding on CR2.

Hereditary porcine membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II is caused by factor H deficiency

We have recently described hereditary membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II in the pig. All affected animals had excessive complement activation, revealed as low plasma C3, elevated plasma terminal complement complex, and massive deposits of complement in the renal glomeruli, and eventually died of renal failure within 11 wk of birth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cause of complement activation in this disease. Transfusion of normal porcine plasma to affected piglets inhibited complement activation and increased survival. Plasma was successively fractionated and the complement inhibitory effect of each fraction tested in vivo. A single chain 150-kD protein which showed the same complement inhibitory effect as whole plasma was finally isolated. Immunologic cross-reactivity, functional properties, and NH2-terminal sequence identified the protein as factor H. By Western blotting and enzyme immunoassay, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis-affected piglets were demonstrated to be subtotally deficient in factor H. At 1 wk of age, median (range) factor H concentration was 1.6 mg/liter (1.1-2.3) in deficient animals (n = 13) and 51 mg/liter (26-98) in healthy littermates (n = 52). Our data show that hereditary porcine membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis type II is caused by factor H deficiency.

Complement factor H and related proteins: an expanding family of complement-regulatory proteins?

Recently, several factor-H-related molecules have been identified in humans and mice, initiating new interest in this group of serum proteins. Although no complement-regulatory activity has been demonstrated yet for the human factor-H-related proteins, the immunological and structural similarities to factor H suggest overlapping functions. Here, Peter Zipfel and Christine Skerka review these similarities and suggest a new nomenclature to identify members of the factor-H-related family.

Identification and characterization of a major bovine serum tyrosine-O-sulfate-binding protein as a complement factor H

A major tyrosine-O-sulfate (TyrS)-binding protein present in bovine serum was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity using a combination of TyrS-Affi-Gel 10 affinity chromatography, DEAE-Bio-Gel A ion-exchange chromatography, and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The purified TyrS-binding protein migrated as doublet protein bands with apparent molecular weights of ca. 160,000, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. N-termini of the two forms of purified TyrS-binding protein contain most likely identical sequence for the first fifteen amino acids residues, which displays a high degree of homology to those of human and mouse complement factor H. Furthermore, the purified TyrS-binding protein exhibited immunologic cross-reactivity with anti-human complement factor H. These results indicate the identity of the purified TyrS-binding protein being bovine complement factor H. The two forms of the purified bovine factor H were investigated with respect to the sensitivity to limited trypsin digestion. The high-molecular weight form was cleaved into two fragments with apparent molecular masses of, respectively, 45 kD and 125 kD. The low-molecular weight form was cleaved in a different manner to generate three major fragments with molecular masses of 25 kD, 45 kD and 100 kD, respectively. Limited V8 protease mapping of the two forms yielded similar, yet unidentical, peptide band patterns. Purified bovine factor H appeared to bind agarose-bonded heparin through its anion-binding domain and the binding was inhibited by the presence of free heparin or dextran sulfate.

Solution structure of a pair of complement modules by nuclear magnetic resonance

A portion of human complement factor H spanning the 15th (H15) and 16th (H16) of its 20 modules, has been expressed in a yeast vector and subjected to structure determination in solution using two-dimensional 1H-NMR. The structure of H15 is very similar to that already established for the fifth module of factor H and H16, consistent with the view that all such complement control (C-) modules share a common overall topology. In addition, the tertiary structures of the component modules of the H15-16 pair are very similar to those of the modules when expressed individually, implying that each folds entirely autonomously within intact factor H. Aromatic residues in the third turn of H15 and the second turn of H16, together with a leucine residue from the linker region, contribute to a small intermodular interface. Comparatively few nuclear Overhauser effects were observable between protons on different modules. Consequently, a wide range of angles of "twist" (131 (+/- 146) degrees, mean value (+/- 1 standard deviation)), i.e. rotation about the long axis of one module with respect to the other, exists in the family of structures generated on the basis of the experimental data. However, much smaller variations occur in the two, orthogonal, angles (175 (+/- 12) degrees and 103 (+/- 6) degrees) that describe the "tilt". These observations may suggest upper limits on the relative flexibility of the two modules. Models were built to assess the outcome of applying such restrictions to all the neighbours within a string of 20 C-modules, and the resulting structures compare well with factor H as visualized by electron microscopy.

Functional properties of the allotypes of mouse complement regulatory protein, factor H: difference of compatibility of each allotype with human factor I

Three allotypes of mouse factor H, H.1, H.2, and H.3 were purified from the sera of mice with different factor H allotypes, and their functional properties were investigated. The three allotypes all bound to heparin, DNA, Con A, and methylamine-treated mouse C3 (C3(MA)mo) with similar affinities for each protein immobilized, showed identical mobilities on SDS-PAGE, and were reacted well with rabbit polyclonal antibody against H.1 and H.2. Factor I-cofactor activity of these factor H allotypes was measured using highly purified material of mouse, guinea-pig, and human origin. In a homologous system, these allotypes expressed indistinguishable mouse factor I (Imo)-cofactor activity for the cleavage of C3(MA)mo. Imo-cofactor activity was again indistinguishable in these allotypes when methylamine-treated human C3 (C3(MA)hu) or methylamine-treated guinea-pig C3 (C3(MA)gp) was substituted for the C3(MA)mo substrate. The cofactor activity of these factor H allotypes, however, was augmented 4-5 times if C3(MA)hu) was used instead of C3(MA)mo, and was barely detected if C3(MA)gp was employed. In contrast, differences in the potency of the cofactor activity for the three allotypes were revealed if human factor 1 (Ihu) was substituted for Imo: the order of the efficiency for the cleavage of C3(MA)hu was H.2 > H.1 = H.3. These results, taken together with the finding that the homologous combinations of mouse and human factors H and I expressed greater activity for the cleavage of C3(MA)hu than did the heterologous combinations of factor H and factor I, suggest that mouse factor H allotypes discriminate species of protease factor I but not those of substrate (C3(MA), and H.2 possesses the best compatibility for Ihu in C3(MA)hu inactivation.

A novel short consensus repeat-containing molecule is related to human complement factor H

We have identified a novel factor H-related cDNA, which was isolated from a human liver cDNA library. The DOWN16 clone is 1269 base pairs in size and hybridized to a mRNA of 1.4 kilobases. Similar to the previously described factor H-related proteins, the predicted translation product of 331 amino acids contains a hydrophobic signal sequence followed by a stretch of five short consensus repeats (SCRs). These five SCRs display homology to SCRs of factor H: SCRs1-3 (DOWN16) are homologous to SCRs6-8 of factor H, while SCRs4 and -5 are related to SCRs19 and -20. In vitro translation demonstrated that the DOWN16 cDNA encodes a primary translation product of an apparent molecular mass of 37,500 Da which is directed to the secretory pathway and is glycosylated. Thus, we propose that the protein will be present in human serum. The relatedness of structural elements between this novel gene and factor H may suggest common functions of these proteins not yet determined.