Activation of the complement system

AFM study of complement system assembly initiated by antigen-antibody complex

The shape and size of complement system C1 components assembled on a SiO2 surface after classical activation by antigen-antibody complex was determined by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). The SiO2 substrate was silanized and bovine leukemia virus proteins gp51 were covalently bound to the SiO2 substrate. Self-assembly of complement system proteins was investigated by AFM. Uniform coating of silanized surface by gp51 proteins was observed by AFM. After incubation of gp51 coated substrate in anti-gp51 antibody containing solution, Ag-Ab complexes were detected on the substrate surface by AFM. Then after treatment of Ag-Ab complex modified substrate by guinea-pig blood serum containing highly active complement system proteins for 3 minutes and 30 minutes features 2–3 times and 5–8 times higher in diameter and in height if compared with those observed after formation of Ag-Ab complex, were observed respectively on the surface of SiO2. This study revealed that AFM might be applied for the imaging of complement system assembly and provides valuable information that can be used to complement other well-established techniques.

Microglia and inflammatory mechanisms in the clearance of amyloid beta peptide

There is now abundant evidence that brain microglia, when activated, have the lineage, receptors, and synthetic capacity to participate in both potentially neurotoxic inflammatory responses and potentially beneficial phagocytic responses. Amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) forms highly insoluble, beta-pleated aggregates that are widely deposited in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) cortex and limbic system. Aggregated Abeta also activates the classical and alternative complement cascades. These properties make Abeta an excellent target for microglial phagocytosis, a view supported by multiple reports, through well established mechanisms of phagocyte clearance.

Solid-phase Clq-binding fluorescence immunoassay for detection of circulating immune complexes

A fluorescence immunoassay for detection of immune complexes bound to solid-phase C1q was developed. The method was standardized by using human aggregated immunoglobulin G (IgG) to simulate immune complexes. A linear relationship existed between the concentrations of the aggregated IgG standards and the resulting fluorescent intensity. The method was found to be reproducible and capable of detecting as little as 10 micrograms of aggregated IgG per ml of heat-inactivated human serum. Antigen-antibody complexes prepared in vitro were detectable from equivalence to moderate antigen excess. Endogenous serum C1q inhibited the binding of aggregated IgG to solid-phase C1q. Pretreatment of test sera with EDTA was ineffective in eliminating this competitive effect. Heating the sera at 56 degrees C alleviated, but did not abolish, interference of endogenous C1q. Elevated levels of immune complexes were detectable in sera fro seven of nine patients wit systemic lupus erythematosus, provided the samples were heat inactivated before testing. Heparin and DNA were also found to interfere with the detection of aggregated IgG added to human serum. Assay values were falsely decreased due to competitive inhibition by these anions. Lipopolysaccharides from a variety of bacterial preparations produced no detectable interference. A comparative study was conducted on samples that had previously been tested by fluid-phase C1q-binding radioimmunoassay. The two methods were concordant in assigning normal or elevated levels of immune complexes in 70% of the samples tested. This solid-phase fluorescence immunoassay is proposed as a possible alternative to radioimmunoassay for the detection of circulating immune complexes.

Antibody-independent binding of Clq and activation of serum complement by human skin in vitro

By exposing frozen sections of human skin to fresh normal human serum, binding and activation of complement was observed. Attached complement components Clq, C4, and C3 were detected by immunofluorescence microscopy using anticomplement conjugates. Isolated Clq bound to the same structures as serum Clq, C4, and C3 and binding of C4 and C3 was dependent on binding of Clq. The complement components bound to capillary endothelial cells and to fibrillar structures in the dermis and reacted with the epidermis. Complement binding dermal fibrillar structures in adult skin were scant but abundant in fetal skin. They had similar distribution as "microfibrils" demonstrable by human autoantibodies. Antibody independence of the Clq binding was shown using isolated Clq and by the observed constant and reproducible binding of complement of normal sera lacking antibodies to the described target structures. The observations suggest that antibody independent binding of complement should be considered as a possible mechanism leading to dermal complement deposition in vivo.

Immune complexes in breast cancer patients as detected by C1q binding

Levels of Clq binding activity have been measured in the sera of patients with benign and malignant breast disease. Cancer patients showed significantly higher binding activity than patients with gross fibrocystic disease. Clq binding levels were not related to levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, or rheumatoid factor. The Clq reactive material was identified as being precipitable with Protein A, and predominantly eluted in gel filtration fractions with a molecular weight of approximately 1 x 10(6). These studies indicate that Clq binding level may be of use in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast disease.

Interactions between mycoplasma pneumoniae and the first components of complement

Mycoplasma pneumoniae cells were rounded and killed by fresh guinea pig serum (GPS) which did not contain detectable amounts of antibody. The first component of complement (C1) was bound by M. pneumoniae in considerable amounts from both GPS and purified C1. The C1 bound by the cells was reacting with C4. Sequential addition of C1, C4, C2, and C-ethylenediaminetetraacetate to glass-grown M. pneumoniae cells resulted in rounding of a significant number of cells. M. orale and M. fermentans showed a reduced binding capacity for C1 as compared with M. pneumoniae. Both species were only slowly killed by fresh GPS, whereas M. hominis was as sensitive as M. pneumoniae. The results suggest an antibody-independent interaction between some components of the membrane surface of M. pneumoniae and C1, resulting in an activation of the complement system leading to the killing of the mycoplasma cells.