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Zhou D, King EH, Rothwell S, Krystufkova O, Notarnicola A, Coss S, Abdul-Aziz R, Miller KE, Dang A, Yu GR, Drew J, Lundström E, Pachman LM, Mamyrova G, Curiel RV, De Paepe B, De Bleecker JL, Payton A, Ollier W, O'Hanlon TP, Targoff IN, Flegel WA, Sivaraman V, Oberle E, Akoghlanian S, Driest K, Spencer CH, Wu YL, Nagaraja HN, Ardoin SP, Chinoy H, Rider LG, Miller FW, Lundberg IE, Padyukov L, Vencovský J, Lamb JA, Yu CY. Low copy numbers of complement C4 and C4A deficiency are risk factors for myositis, its subgroups and autoantibodies. Ann Rheum Dis 2023; 82:235-245. [PMID: 36171069 PMCID: PMC9887400 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2022-222935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a group of autoimmune diseases characterised by myositis-related autoantibodies plus infiltration of leucocytes into muscles and/or the skin, leading to the destruction of blood vessels and muscle fibres, chronic weakness and fatigue. While complement-mediated destruction of capillary endothelia is implicated in paediatric and adult dermatomyositis, the complex diversity of complement C4 in IIM pathology was unknown. METHODS We elucidated the gene copy number (GCN) variations of total C4, C4A and C4B, long and short genes in 1644 Caucasian patients with IIM, plus 3526 matched healthy controls using real-time PCR or Southern blot analyses. Plasma complement levels were determined by single radial immunodiffusion. RESULTS The large study populations helped establish the distribution patterns of various C4 GCN groups. Low GCNs of C4T (C4T=2+3) and C4A deficiency (C4A=0+1) were strongly correlated with increased risk of IIM with OR equalled to 2.58 (2.28-2.91), p=5.0×10-53 for C4T, and 2.82 (2.48-3.21), p=7.0×10-57 for C4A deficiency. Contingency and regression analyses showed that among patients with C4A deficiency, the presence of HLA-DR3 became insignificant as a risk factor in IIM except for inclusion body myositis (IBM), by which 98.2% had HLA-DR3 with an OR of 11.02 (1.44-84.4). Intragroup analyses of patients with IIM for C4 protein levels and IIM-related autoantibodies showed that those with anti-Jo-1 or with anti-PM/Scl had significantly lower C4 plasma concentrations than those without these autoantibodies. CONCLUSIONS C4A deficiency is relevant in dermatomyositis, HLA-DRB1*03 is important in IBM and both C4A deficiency and HLA-DRB1*03 contribute interactively to risk of polymyositis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlei Zhou
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Emily H King
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Simon Rothwell
- National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK,Centre for Genetics and Genomics Versus Arthritis, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Olga Krystufkova
- Institute of Rheumatology and Department of Rheumatology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Antonella Notarnicola
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, University Hospital Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Samantha Coss
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rabheh Abdul-Aziz
- Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA,Division of Allergy/Immunology and Rheumatology, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Katherine E Miller
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Amanda Dang
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - G Richard Yu
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Joanne Drew
- Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Emeli Lundström
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, University Hospital Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lauren M Pachman
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Gulnara Mamyrova
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rodolfo V Curiel
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Boel De Paepe
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Antony Payton
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - William Ollier
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Terrance P O'Hanlon
- Environmental Autoimmunity Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ira N Targoff
- Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Willy A Flegel
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vidya Sivaraman
- Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Edward Oberle
- Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Shoghik Akoghlanian
- Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kyla Driest
- Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Yee Ling Wu
- Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Haikady N Nagaraja
- Division of Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Stacy P Ardoin
- Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Hector Chinoy
- National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK,Centre for Genetics and Genomics Versus Arthritis, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Lisa G Rider
- Environmental Autoimmunity Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Frederick W Miller
- Environmental Autoimmunity Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ingrid E Lundberg
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, University Hospital Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leonid Padyukov
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, University Hospital Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jiří Vencovský
- Institute of Rheumatology and Department of Rheumatology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Janine A Lamb
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Chack-Yung Yu
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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2
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Kerick M, Acosta-Herrera M, Simeón-Aznar CP, Callejas JL, Assassi S, Proudman SM, Nikpour M, Hunzelmann N, Moroncini G, de Vries-Bouwstra JK, Orozco G, Barton A, Herrick AL, Terao C, Allanore Y, Fonseca C, Alarcón-Riquelme ME, Radstake TRDJ, Beretta L, Denton CP, Mayes MD, Martin J. Complement component C4 structural variation and quantitative traits contribute to sex-biased vulnerability in systemic sclerosis. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:57. [PMID: 36198672 PMCID: PMC9534873 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-022-00327-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Copy number (CN) polymorphisms of complement C4 play distinct roles in many conditions, including immune-mediated diseases. We investigated the association of C4 CN with systemic sclerosis (SSc) risk. Imputed total C4, C4A, C4B, and HERV-K CN were analyzed in 26,633 individuals and validated in an independent cohort. Our results showed that higher C4 CN confers protection to SSc, and deviations from CN parity of C4A and C4B augmented risk. The protection contributed per copy of C4A and C4B differed by sex. Stronger protection was afforded by C4A in men and by C4B in women. C4 CN correlated well with its gene expression and serum protein levels, and less C4 was detected for both in SSc patients. Conditioned analysis suggests that C4 genetics strongly contributes to the SSc association within the major histocompatibility complex locus and highlights classical alleles and amino acid variants of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DPB1 as C4-independent signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kerick
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain.
| | - Marialbert Acosta-Herrera
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain.
- Systemic Autoimmune Disease Unit, Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs. GRANADA, Granada, Spain.
| | | | | | - Shervin Assassi
- Department of Rheumatology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Susanna M Proudman
- Rheumatology Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital and University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Mandana Nikpour
- The University of Melbourne at St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Gianluca Moroncini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche e Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Gisela Orozco
- Center for Genetics and Genomics Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Center, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Anne Barton
- Center for Genetics and Genomics Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Center, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Ariane L Herrick
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Northern care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Chikashi Terao
- Laboratory for Statistical and Translational Genetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yannick Allanore
- Department of Rheumatology A, Hospital Cochin, Paris, Île-de-France, France
| | - Carmen Fonseca
- Center for Rheumatology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK
| | - Marta Eugenia Alarcón-Riquelme
- Center for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO), Pfizer-University of Granada-Andalusian Regional Government, Granada, Spain
| | - Timothy R D J Radstake
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lorenzo Beretta
- Referral Center for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Christopher P Denton
- Center for Rheumatology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK
| | - Maureen D Mayes
- Department of Rheumatology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Javier Martin
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain.
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Liu J, Zha Y, Zhang P, He P, He L. The Association Between Serum Complement 4 and Kidney Disease Progression in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study. Front Immunol 2022; 13:896654. [PMID: 35707542 PMCID: PMC9189306 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.896654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionComplement system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), however, the relationship between serum complement 4 (C4) and kidney disease progression in IMN is unclear. This study aims to investigate the association of serum C4 level with the risk of kidney disease progression among patients with IMN.MethodsThe retrospective cohort assessed 1,254 participants with biopsy-proven IMN from three centers in Xi ‘an, Shaanxi Province, China. Baseline serum C4 levels were measured at renal biopsy. The association between baseline serum C4 and the risk of renal function progression, defined as a 30% decline in renal function or end stage renal disease, was evaluated in Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsA total of 328 patients with IMN and nephrotic proteinuria were eligible, and 11.3% (37/328) of them attained the renal function progression events after a median follow-up of 51 months (37-59 months). After adjustment for other confounders, a higher value of serum C4 was independently associated with a higher risk of renal function progression event with a hazard ratio (HR) of 4.76 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.77-12.79) per natural log-transformed C4. In reference to the low level of C4, the adjusted HRs were 2.72 (95% CI, 1.02-7.24) and 3.65 (95% CI, 1.39-9.60), respectively, for the median and high levels of C4 (P for trend=0.008). Additionally, the results were robust and reliable in the sensitivity and subgroup analyses.ConclusionAmong patients with IMN and nephrotic proteinuria, serum C4 at renal biopsy is an independent predictor for kidney disease progression regardless of other confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Postgraduate Student, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yang Zha
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Postgraduate Student, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Peng He
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Lijie He, ; Peng He,
| | - Lijie He
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Lijie He, ; Peng He,
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4
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Ghodasara P, Satake N, Sadowski P, Kopp S, Mills PC. Investigation of cattle plasma proteome in response to pain and inflammation using next generation proteomics technique, SWATH-MS. Mol Omics 2021; 18:133-142. [PMID: 34860232 DOI: 10.1039/d1mo00354b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Pain assessment in farm animals has primarily relied on a combination of behavioral and physiological responses, although these are relatively subjective and difficult to quantify. It is essential to develop more effective biomarkers of pain in production animals since they are frequently exposed to routine surgical husbandry procedures. More effective biomarkers of pain would improve welfare, limit the loss of productivity associated with pain and permit better assessment of analgesics. This study aimed to investigate the use of a modern mass spectrometry data independent acquisition strategy, termed Sequential Window Acquisition of All Theoretical Mass Spectra (SWATH-MS), to detect candidate protein biomarkers that are known to associate with nociceptive and inflammatory processes in cattle, which could then be used to assess the efficacy of potential analgesics. Calves were randomly divided into two groups that were either surgically dehorned or subjected to restraint stress, without provision of anaesthesia or analgesia in accordance with current industry standards. Samples were analysed before and after dehorning at multiple timepoints. Significant changes in protein concentrations were detected predominantly at 24 and 96 h following dehorning, including kininogens, proteins associated with the coagulation and complement cascades and serine protease inhibitors. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the identified candidate biomarkers were associated with stress, wound healing, immune response, blood coagulation and the inflammatory and acute phase responses, which could be expected following surgical damage to tissues, but can now be more objectively assessed. These results offer more definitive and quantitative monitoring of response to tissue injury induced pain and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Ghodasara
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.,VIDO-InterVac, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Nana Satake
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.,School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pawel Sadowski
- Central Analytical Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Steven Kopp
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul C Mills
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
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5
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Complement C4 Gene Copy Number Variation Genotyping by High Resolution Melting PCR. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176309. [PMID: 32878183 PMCID: PMC7504122 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complement C4 gene copy number variation plays an important role as a determinant of genetic susceptibility to common diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, schizophrenia, rheumatoid arthritis, and infectious diseases. This study aimed to develop an assay for the quantification of copy number variations in the C4 locus. METHODS the assay was based on a gene ratio analysis copy enumeration (GRACE) PCR combined with high resolution melting (HRM) PCR. The test was optimized using samples of a known genotype and validated with 72 DNA samples from healthy blood donors. RESULTS to validate the assay, standard curves were generated by plotting the C4/RP1 ratio values against copy number variation (CNV) for each gene, using genomic DNA with known C4 CNV. The range of copy numbers in control individuals was comparable to distributions observed in previous studies of European descent. CONCLUSIONS the method herein described significantly simplifies C4 CNV diagnosis to validate the assay.
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Zhou D, Lai M, Luo A, Yu CY. An RNA Metabolism and Surveillance Quartet in the Major Histocompatibility Complex. Cells 2019; 8:E1008. [PMID: 31480283 PMCID: PMC6769589 DOI: 10.3390/cells8091008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
At the central region of the mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a complement gene cluster that codes for constituents of complement C3 convertases (C2, factor B and C4). Complement activation drives the humoral effector functions for immune response. Sandwiched between the genes for serine proteinase factor B and anchor protein C4 are four less known but critically important genes coding for essential functions related to metabolism and surveillance of RNA during the transcriptional and translational processes of gene expression. These four genes are NELF-E (RD), SKIV2L (SKI2W), DXO (DOM3Z) and STK19 (RP1 or G11) and dubbed as NSDK. NELF-E is the subunit E of negative elongation factor responsible for promoter proximal pause of transcription. SKIV2L is the RNA helicase for cytoplasmic exosomes responsible for degradation of de-polyadenylated mRNA and viral RNA. DXO is a powerful enzyme with pyro-phosphohydrolase activity towards 5' triphosphorylated RNA, decapping and exoribonuclease activities of faulty nuclear RNA molecules. STK19 is a nuclear kinase that phosphorylates RNA-binding proteins during transcription. STK19 is also involved in DNA repair during active transcription and in nuclear signal transduction. The genetic, biochemical and functional properties for NSDK in the MHC largely stay as a secret for many immunologists. Here we briefly review the roles of (a) NELF-E on transcriptional pausing; (b) SKIV2L on turnover of deadenylated or expired RNA 3'→5' through the Ski-exosome complex, and modulation of inflammatory response initiated by retinoic acid-inducible gene 1-like receptor (RLR) sensing of viral infections; (c) DXO on quality control of RNA integrity through recognition of 5' caps and destruction of faulty adducts in 5'→3' fashion; and (d) STK19 on nuclear protein phosphorylations. There is compelling evidence that a dysregulation or a deficiency of a NSDK gene would cause a malignant, immunologic or digestive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlei Zhou
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
| | - Michalea Lai
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Aiqin Luo
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Chack-Yung Yu
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
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7
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Savelli SL, Roubey RAS, Kitzmiller KJ, Zhou D, Nagaraja HN, Mulvihill E, Barbar-Smiley F, Ardoin SP, Wu YL, Yu CY. Opposite Profiles of Complement in Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Among Patients With Antiphospholipid Antibodies (aPL). Front Immunol 2019; 10:885. [PMID: 31134052 PMCID: PMC6514053 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
APS is the association of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) with thromboses and/or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Among patients with SLE, one-third have aPL and 10–15% have a manifestation of secondary APS. Animal studies suggested that complement activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis and pregnancy loss in APS. We performed a cross-sectional study on complement proteins and genes in 525 patients with aPL. Among them, 237 experienced thromboses and 293 had SLE; 111 had both SLE and thromboses, and 106 had neither SLE nor thrombosis. Complement protein levels were determined by radial immunodiffusion for C4, C3 and factor H; and by functional ELISA for mannan binding lectin (MBL). Total C4, C4A and C4B gene copy numbers (GCN) were measured by TaqMan-based realtime PCR. Two to six copies of C4 genes are frequently present in a diploid genome, and each copy may code for an acidic C4A or a basic C4B protein. We observed significantly (a) higher protein levels of total C4, C4A, C4B, C3, and anticardiolipin (ACLA) IgG, (b) increased frequencies of lupus anticoagulant and males, and (c) decreased levels of complement factor H, MBL and ACLA-IgM among patients with thrombosis than those without thrombosis (N = 288). We also observed significantly lower GCNs of total C4 and C4A among aPL-positive patients with both SLE and thrombosis than others. By contrast, aPL-positive subjects with SLE had significantly reduced protein levels of C3, total C4, C4A, C4B and ACLA-IgG, and higher frequency of females than those without SLE. Patients with thrombosis but without SLE (N = 126), and patients with SLE but without thrombosis (N = 182) had the greatest differences in mean protein levels of C3 (p = 2.6 × 10−6), C4 (p = 2.2 × 10−9) and ACLA-IgG (p = 1.2 × 10−5). RPL occurred in 23.7% of female patients and thrombotic SLE patients had the highest frequency of RPL (41.0%; p = 3.8 × 10−10). Compared with non-RPL females, RPL had significantly higher frequency of thrombosis and elevated C4 protein levels. Female patients with homozygous C4A deficiency all experienced RPL (p = 0.0001) but the opposite was true for patients with homozygous C4B deficiency (p = 0.017). These results provide new insights and biomarkers for diagnosis and management of APS and SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Savelli
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Robert A S Roubey
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Kathryn J Kitzmiller
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Danlei Zhou
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Haikady N Nagaraja
- Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Evan Mulvihill
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Fatima Barbar-Smiley
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Stacy P Ardoin
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Yee Ling Wu
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Chack-Yung Yu
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Division of Rheumatology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
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8
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Clarke DJ, Chohan TW, Kassem MS, Smith KL, Chesworth R, Karl T, Kuligowski MP, Fok SY, Bennett MR, Arnold JC. Neuregulin 1 Deficiency Modulates Adolescent Stress-Induced Dendritic Spine Loss in a Brain Region-Specific Manner and Increases Complement 4 Expression in the Hippocampus. Schizophr Bull 2019; 45:339-349. [PMID: 29566220 PMCID: PMC6403066 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sby029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
One neuropathological feature of schizophrenia is a diminished number of dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) system is involved in the plasticity of dendritic spines, and chronic stress decreases dendritic spine densities in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Here, we aimed to assess whether Nrg1 deficiency confers vulnerability to the effects of adolescent stress on dendritic spine plasticity. We also assessed other schizophrenia-relevant neurobiological changes such as microglial cell activation, loss of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons, and induction of complement factor 4 (C4). Adolescent male wild-type (WT) and Nrg1 heterozygous mice were subjected to chronic restraint stress before their brains underwent Golgi impregnation or immunofluorescent staining of PV interneurons, microglial cells, and C4. Stress in WT mice promoted dendritic spine loss and microglial cell activation in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. However, Nrg1 deficiency rendered mice resilient to stress-induced dendritic spine loss in the infralimbic cortex and the CA3 region of the hippocampus without affecting stress-induced microglial cell activation in these brain regions. Nrg1 deficiency and adolescent stress combined to trigger increased dendritic spine densities in the prelimbic cortex. In the hippocampal CA1 region, Nrg1 deficiency accentuated stress-induced dendritic spine loss. Nrg1 deficiency increased C4 protein and decreased C4 mRNA expression in the hippocampus, and the number of PV interneurons in the basolateral amygdala. This study demonstrates that Nrg1 modulates the impact of stress on the adolescent brain in a region-specific manner. It also provides first evidence of a link between Nrg1 and C4 systems in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Clarke
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tariq W Chohan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Kristie L Smith
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rose Chesworth
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia,Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael P Kuligowski
- Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Sandra Y Fok
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Jonathon C Arnold
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Brain and Mind Centre, Level 6, Building F, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; tel: +61-29351-0812, e-mail:
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9
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Genome-Wide Copy Number Variation Scan Identifies Complement Component C4 as Novel Susceptibility Gene for Crohn's Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2016; 22:505-15. [PMID: 26595553 DOI: 10.1097/mib.0000000000000623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genetic component of Crohn's disease (CD) is well known, with 140 susceptibility loci identified so far. In addition to single nucleotide polymorphisms typically studied in genome-wide scans, copy number variation is responsible for a large proportion of human genetic variation. METHODS We performed a genome-wide search for copy number variants associated with CD using array comparative genomic hybridization. One of the found regions was validated independently through real-time PCR. Serum levels of the found gene were measured in patients and control subjects. RESULTS We found copy number differences for the C4S and C4L gene variants of complement component C4 in the central major histocompatibility complex region on chromosome 6p21. Specifically, we saw that CD patients tend to have lower C4L and higher C4S copies than control subjects (P = 5.00 × 10 and P = 9.11 × 10), which was independent of known associated classical HLA I and II alleles (P = 7.68 × 10 and P = 6.29 × 10). Although C4 serum levels were not different between patients and control subjects, the relationship between C4 copy number and serum level was different for patients and control subjects with higher copy numbers leading to higher serum concentrations in control subjects, compared with CD patients (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS C4 is part of the classical activation pathway of the complement system, which is important for (auto)immunity. Low C4L or high C4S copy number, and corresponding effects on C4 serum level, could lead to an exaggerated response against infections, possibly leading to (auto)immune disease.
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10
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Flachsbart F, Caliebe A, Heinsen FA, Hemming-Karlsen T, Schreiber S, Franke A, Nebel A. Investigation of complement component C4 copy number variation in human longevity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e86188. [PMID: 24465950 PMCID: PMC3899116 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic factors have been estimated to account for about 25% of the variation in an adult's life span. The complement component C4 with the isotypes C4A and C4B is an effector protein of the immune system, and differences in the overall C4 copy number or gene size (long C4L; short C4S) may influence the strength of the immune response and disease susceptibilities. Previously, an association between C4B copy number and life span was reported for Hungarians and Icelanders, where the C4B*Q0 genotype, which is defined by C4B gene deficiency, showed a decrease in frequency with age. Additionally, one of the studies indicated that a low C4B copy number might be a genetic trait that is manifested only in the presence of the environmental risk factor "smoking". These observations prompted us to investigate the role of the C4 alleles in our large German longevity sample (∼ 700 cases; 94-110 years and ∼ 900 younger controls). No significant differences in the number of C4A, C4B and C4S were detected. Besides, the C4B*Q0 carrier state did not decrease with age, irrespective of smoking as an interacting variable. However, for C4L*Q0 a significantly different carrier frequency was observed in the cases compared with controls (cases: 5.08%; controls: 9.12%; p = 0.003). In a replication sample of 714 German cases (91-108 years) and 890 controls this result was not replicated (p = 0.14) although a similar trend of decreased C4L*Q0 carrier frequency in cases was visible (cases: 7.84%; controls: 10.00%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Flachsbart
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Amke Caliebe
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Femke-Anouska Heinsen
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tom Hemming-Karlsen
- Norwegian PSC Research Center, Division of Cancer, Surgery and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Research Institute for Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Division of Cancer, Surgery and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Gastroenterology, Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Stefan Schreiber
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Department of General Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Popgen Biobank, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Andre Franke
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Almut Nebel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- * E-mail:
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11
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Bánlaki Z, Szabó JA, Szilágyi Á, Patócs A, Prohászka Z, Füst G, Doleschall M. Intraspecific evolution of human RCCX copy number variation traced by haplotypes of the CYP21A2 gene. Genome Biol Evol 2013; 5:98-112. [PMID: 23241443 PMCID: PMC3595039 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evs121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The RCCX region is a complex, multiallelic, tandem copy number variation (CNV). Two complete genes, complement component 4 (C4) and steroid 21-hydroxylase (CYP21A2, formerly CYP21B), reside in its variable region. RCCX is prone to nonallelic homologous recombination (NAHR) such as unequal crossover, generating duplications and deletions of RCCX modules, and gene conversion. A series of allele-specific long-range polymerase chain reaction coupled to the whole-gene sequencing of CYP21A2 was developed for molecular haplotyping. By means of the developed techniques, 35 different kinds of CYP21A2 haplotype variant were experimentally determined from 112 unrelated European subjects. The number of the resolved CYP21A2 haplotype variants was increased to 61 by bioinformatic haplotype reconstruction. The CYP21A2 haplotype variants could be assigned to the haplotypic RCCX CNV structures (the copy number of RCCX modules) in most cases. The genealogy network constructed from the CYP21A2 haplotype variants delineated the origin of RCCX structures. The different RCCX structures were located in tight groups. The minority of groups with identical RCCX structure occurred once in the network, implying monophyletic origin, but the majority of groups occurred several times and in different locations, indicating polyphyletic origin. The monophyletic groups were often created by single unequal crossover, whereas recurrent unequal crossover events generated some of the polyphyletic groups. As a result of recurrent NAHR events, more CYP21A2 haplotype variants with different allele patterns belonged to the same RCCX structure. The intraspecific evolution of RCCX CNV described here has provided a reasonable expectation for that of complex, multiallelic, tandem CNVs in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Bánlaki
- 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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12
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Lee HH. Variants of the CYP21A2 and CYP21A1P genes in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Clin Chim Acta 2013; 418:37-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2012.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Revised: 12/30/2012] [Accepted: 12/31/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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13
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Genetics of SLE: functional relevance for monocytes/macrophages in disease. Clin Dev Immunol 2012; 2012:582352. [PMID: 23227085 PMCID: PMC3511832 DOI: 10.1155/2012/582352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Genetic studies in the last 5 years have greatly facilitated our understanding of how the dysregulation of diverse components of the innate immune system contributes to pathophysiology of SLE. A role for macrophages in the pathogenesis of SLE was first proposed as early as the 1980s following the discovery that SLE macrophages were defective in their ability to clear apoptotic cell debris, thus prolonging exposure of potential autoantigens to the adaptive immune response. More recently, there is an emerging appreciation of the contribution both monocytes and macrophages play in orchestrating immune responses with perturbations in their activation or regulation leading to immune dysregulation. This paper will focus on understanding the relevance of genes identified as being associated with innate immune function of monocytes and macrophages and development of SLE, particularly with respect to their role in (1) immune complex (IC) recognition and clearance, (2) nucleic acid recognition via toll-like receptors (TLRs) and downstream signalling, and (3) interferon signalling. Particular attention will be paid to the functional consequences these genetic associations have for disease susceptibility or pathogenesis.
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14
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Chen W, Xu Z, Nishitani M, Van Ryzin C, McDonnell NB, Merke DP. Complement component 4 copy number variation and CYP21A2 genotype associations in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Hum Genet 2012; 131:1889-94. [PMID: 22886582 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-012-1217-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 08/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of cortisol biosynthesis caused by CYP21A2 mutations. An increase in gene copy number variation (CNV) exists at the CYP21A2 locus. CNV of C4, a neighboring gene that encodes complement component 4, is associated with autoimmune disease susceptibility. In this study, we performed comprehensive genetic analysis of the RP-C4-CYP21-TNX (RCCX) region in 127 unrelated 21-OHD patients (100 classic, 27 nonclassic). C4 copy number was determined by Southern blot. C4 CNV and serum C4 levels were evaluated in relation to CYP21A2 mutations and relevant phenotypes. We found that the most common CYP21A2 mutation associated with the nonclassic form of CAH, V281L, was associated with high C4 copy number (p = 7.13 × 10(-16)). Large CYP21A2 deletion, a common mutation associated with the classic form of CAH, was associated with low C4 copy number (p = 1.61 × 10(-14)). Monomodular RCCX with a short C4 gene, a risk factor for autoimmune disease, was significantly less frequent in CAH patients compared to population estimates (2.8 vs. 10.6 %; p = 1.08 × 10(-4)). In conclusion, CAH patients have increased C4 CNV, with mutation-specific associations that may be protective for autoimmune disease. The study of CYP21A2 in relation to neighboring genes provides insight into the genetics of CNV hotspots, an important determinant of human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuyan Chen
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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15
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Mayilyan KR. Complement genetics, deficiencies, and disease associations. Protein Cell 2012; 3:487-96. [PMID: 22773339 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-012-2924-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system is a key component of innate immunity. More than 45 genes encoding the proteins of complement components or their isotypes and subunits, receptors, and regulators have been discovered. These genes are distributed throughout different chromosomes, with 19 genes comprising three significant complement gene clusters in the human genome. Genetic deficiency of any early component of the classical pathway (C1q, C1r/s, C2, C4, and C3) is associated with autoimmune diseases due to the failure of clearance of immune complexes (IC) and apoptotic materials, and the impairment of normal humoral response. Deficiencies of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and the early components of the alternative (factor D, properdin) and terminal pathways (from C3 onward components: C5, C6, C7, C8, C9) increase susceptibility to infections and their recurrence. While the association of MBL deficiency with a number of autoimmune and infectious disorders has been well established, the effects of the deficiency of other lectin pathway components (ficolins, MASPs) have been less extensively investigated due to our incomplete knowledge of the genetic background of such deficiencies and the functional activity of those components. For complement regulators and receptors, the consequences of their genetic deficiency vary depending on their specific involvement in the regulatory or signalling steps within the complement cascade and beyond. This article reviews current knowledge and concepts about the genetic load of complement component deficiencies and their association with diseases. An integrative presentation of genetic data with the latest updates provides a background to further investigations of the disease association investigations of the complement system from the perspective of systems biology and systems genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine R Mayilyan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Armenian National Academy Sciences, Yerevan 0014, Armenia.
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16
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Bánlaki Z, Raizer G, Acs B, Majnik J, Doleschall M, Szilágyi A, Rácz K, Füst G, Patócs A. ACTH-induced cortisol release is related to the copy number of the C4B gene encoding the fourth component of complement in patients with non-functional adrenal incidentaloma. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2012; 76:478-84. [PMID: 21967755 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2011.04247.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE According to our previous findings, carriers of the C4B*Q0 genotype, which means zero or one copy of the C4B gene, which is located in the RCCX copy number variation region on chromosome 6, have a significantly shorter life-expectancy and higher risk of cardiovascular disease than non-carriers. We have postulated that the C4B*Q0 genotype is linked to variant(s) of the neighboring CYP21A2 gene encoding a steroid 21-hydroxylase with altered function. DESIGN Single-center, observational, retrospective study. PATIENTS Seventy-six patients with non-functional, benign adrenal incidentaloma. MEASUREMENTS Serum cortisol, aldosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, corticosterone and ACTH levels basally and after ACTH-stimulation, metyrapone or dexamethasone tests were determined. C4B gene copy number was quantified. RESULTS The ratio of ACTH-stimulated and baseline cortisol concentrations was significantly higher (P = 0·001) in the group of patients carrying the C4B*Q0 genotype compared to the rest of the patients. This difference remained significant (P = 0·004) after adjustment for sex and age, as well as for tumor size. A significant (P = 0·018), adjusted difference between carriers and non-carriers was found also for ACTH-induced/basal aldosterone ratio. In C4B*Q0 carriers, metyrapone hardly reduced the serum cortisol level, while in non-carriers it induced a highly significant (P = 0·002) decrease. CONCLUSIONS The C4B*Q0 genotype may be associated with hyperreactivity of the HPA axis (manifested as an increased responsiveness to ACTH-stimulation), probably through enhanced function of steroid 21-hydroxylase. Since hyperreactivity of the HPA axis is known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, our present findings may explain the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of C4B*Q0 carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Bánlaki
- 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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17
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Sozeri B, Mir S, Berdeli A. Complement-4 deficiency in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with standard treatment-resistant severe skin lesion. ISRN RHEUMATOLOGY 2011; 2011:917673. [PMID: 22482068 PMCID: PMC3317086 DOI: 10.5402/2011/917673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2010] [Accepted: 01/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The complement system is of great importance in systemic lupus erythematosus. Complete genetically determined deficiencies are with few exceptions reported for the various complement proteins, and most of the deficiency states are rare. Deficiencies of the factors in the classical pathway are also associated with development SLE and SLE-like disorders. Most of the patients with lupus present skin involvement. Approximately, 75-95% of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus respond to antimalarial therapy and/or topical glucocorticosteroids. Immunosuppressive agents are usually considered a second-line approach in patients with resistant disease. In this study, we present the clinical features and determine the molecular basis responsible for the complete C4A and C4B deficiencies in a lupus patient presented subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and resistance to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betul Sozeri
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, 35040 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sevgi Mir
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, 35040 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Afig Berdeli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, 35040 Izmir, Turkey
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18
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Kiszel P, Kovács M, Szalai C, Yang Y, Pozsonyi E, Blaskó B, Laki J, Prohászka Z, Fazakas A, Pánczél P, Hosszúfalusi N, Rajczy K, Wu YL, Chung EK, Zhou B, Blanchong CA, Vatay A, Yu CY, Füst G. Frequency of Carriers of 8.1 Ancestral Haplotype and its Fragments in Two Caucasian Populations. Immunol Invest 2009; 36:307-19. [PMID: 17558713 DOI: 10.1080/08820130701241404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Within the human MHC region larger stretches of conserved DNA, called conserved ancestral haplotypes exist. However, many MHC haplotypes contain only fragments of an ancestral haplotype. Little is known, however, on relative distribution of the ancestral haplotypes to their fragments. Therefore we determined the frequency of carriers of the whole ancestral haplotype 8.1 (AH8.1) and its fragments in 127 healthy Hungarian people, 101 healthy Ohioian females, and in nine Hungarian families. The HLA-DQ2, HLA-DR3(17), RAGE -429C allele, the mono-S-C4B genotype, the HSP70-2 1267G allele and the TNF -308A (TNF2) allele were used as markers of the AH8.1. Frequency of carriers of the whole AH8.1 and its fragments was similar in the both populations. 18% of the subjects carried the whole AH8.1 in at least one chromosome, while 17-20%, 36-39%, and 24-29%, respectively carried two or three constituents of the haplotype, only one constituent or none of them. Similar results were obtained in the family study. In addition, marked differences were found in the relationship of the constituents' alleles to the whole AH8.1. In both populations, 29%, 50-59%, 52-56% and 76-96%, respectively of the carriers of HSP70-2 1267G, RAGE-429C, TNF2, and mono-S carriers carried the whole 8.1 haplotype. These findings may have important implications for studies of the disease associations with different MHC ancestral haplotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Kiszel
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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19
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Wu YL, Hauptmann G, Viguier M, Yu CY. Molecular basis of complete complement C4 deficiency in two North-African families with systemic lupus erythematosus. Genes Immun 2009; 10:433-45. [PMID: 19279649 PMCID: PMC2767122 DOI: 10.1038/gene.2009.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2008] [Revised: 02/03/2009] [Accepted: 02/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Complete deficiency of complement C4 is among the strongest genetic risk factors for human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). C4 is a constituent of the RP-C4-CYP21-TNX (RCCX) module in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) that exhibits inter-individual copy-number and gene-size variations. Here, we studied two North-African families with complete C4 deficiency and SLE. The first included a Moroccan male SLE patient (1P) and a sibling, who were both homozygous for HLA-A*02 B*17 DRB1*07. The second had an Algerian female SLE patient (2P) homozygous for HLA-A*01 B*17 DRB1*13. Early SLE disease onset, the presence of photosensitive rashes, anti-Ro/SSA, renal disease and high titers of antinuclear antibodies were the common features of complete C4 deficiency. Southern blot analyses showed that 1P had monomodular RCCX with a long C4A, whereas 2P had bimodular RCCX with one long C4A and one short C4B. Genomic DNA fragments for these mutant genes were amplified and sequenced. A C>T transition that created the R540X nonsense mutation in C4A was found in 1P. An identical 4-bp insertion that generated the Y1537X nonsense mutation was discovered in both C4A and C4B of 2P. The high concordance of SLE and C4 deficiency among patients with non-DR3 and non-DR2 haplotypes underscores the importance of C4 proteins in the protection against SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Ling Wu
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Georges Hauptmann
- Laboratoire d’Immunogenetique Moleculaire, Universite Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, Cedex, France
| | - Manuelle Viguier
- Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - C. Yung Yu
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA
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Linkage analysis of the C4A/C4B copy number variation and polymorphisms of the adjacent steroid 21-hydroxylase gene in a healthy population. Mol Immunol 2009; 46:2623-9. [PMID: 19505723 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2009.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2009] [Revised: 04/21/2009] [Accepted: 04/29/2009] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Genes encoding the steroid 21-hydroxylase (CYP21A2) and the complement component C4 proteins (C4A and C4B) are located in the MHC region in a strongly linked structure named RCCX module. Previous studies found that carriers of C4B gene deficiency (C4B*Q0) have higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. A potential explanation is that lacking the C4B gene may result in altered function of the neighboring CYP21A2 gene. Therefore we sequenced the CYP21A2 gene in 96 healthy individuals to identify polymorphisms and to characterize their linkage pattern. Fifty-three variations were detected including a new one which alters the TATA-box of the gene. Only three known mutations (V281L, Q318X and R479L) associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, were found in 7, 2 and 1 subjects, respectively. Linkage analysis revealed that some variations exhibit strong correlation with the C4 copy number polymorphism and constituents of the MHC III region. Rare alleles of three polymorphisms were identified as components of the 8.1 ancestral haplotype. Haplotyping and family study confirmed that the variant alleles of two intronic SNPs were constituents of haplotype blocks lacking the C4B gene. These results suggest that variations of CYP21A2 gene can be involved in disease associations of the 8.1 haplotype and the C4B*Q0 genotype.
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21
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Saxena K, Kitzmiller KJ, Wu YL, Zhou B, Esack N, Hiremath L, Chung EK, Yang Y, Yu CY. Great genotypic and phenotypic diversities associated with copy-number variations of complement C4 and RP-C4-CYP21-TNX (RCCX) modules: a comparison of Asian-Indian and European American populations. Mol Immunol 2009; 46:1289-303. [PMID: 19135723 PMCID: PMC2716727 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2008.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2008] [Accepted: 11/22/2008] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Inter-individual gene copy-number variations (CNVs) probably afford human populations the flexibility to respond to a variety of environmental challenges, but also lead to differential disease predispositions. We investigated gene CNVs for complement component C4 and steroid 21-hydroxylase from the RP-C4-CYP21-TNX (RCCX) modules located in the major histocompatibility complex among healthy Asian-Indian Americans (AIA) and compared them to European Americans. A combination of definitive techniques that yielded cross-confirmatory results was used. The medium gene copy-numbers for C4 and its isotypes, acidic C4A and basic C4B, were 4, 2 and 2, respectively, but their frequencies were only 53-56%. The distribution patterns for total C4 and C4A are skewed towards the high copy-number side. For example, the frequency of AIA-subjects with three copies of C4A (30.7%) was 3.92-fold of those with a single copy (7.83%). The monomodular-short haplotype with a single C4B gene and the absence of C4A, which is in linkage-disequilibrium with HLA DRB1*0301 in Europeans and a strong risk factor for autoimmune diseases, has a frequency of 0.012 in AIA but 0.106 among healthy European Americans (p=6.6x10(-8)). The copy-number and the size of C4 genes strongly determine the plasma C4 protein concentrations. Parallel variations in copy-numbers of CYP21A (CYP21A1P) and TNXA with total C4 were also observed. Notably, 13.1% of AIA-subjects had three copies of the functional CYP21B, which were likely generated by recombinations between monomodular and bimodular RCCX haplotypes. The high copy-numbers of C4 and the high frequency of RCCX recombinants offer important insights to the prevalence of autoimmune and genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kapil Saxena
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus Ohio 43205
| | - Kathryn J. Kitzmiller
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus Ohio 43205
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Yee Ling Wu
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus Ohio 43205
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Bi Zhou
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus Ohio 43205
| | - Nazreen Esack
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus Ohio 43205
| | - Leena Hiremath
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Erwin K. Chung
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus Ohio 43205
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Yan Yang
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus Ohio 43205
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - C. Yung Yu
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus Ohio 43205
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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22
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Abstract
Partial and/or complete deficiency of the complement protein C4 is associated with autoimmune and infectious diseases. Infectious or autoimmune processes may have a role in schizophrenia. Previous reports suggest abnormalities in the complement C4B isotype in schizophrenia and other mental disorders. We assessed C4A and C4B isotypes and serum C4B protein concentration in Armenian schizophrenic patients. Although there was no difference in frequency of C4BQ0, C4B serum protein level was significantly decreased in the schizophrenic patients compared with healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine R Mayilyan
- MRC Immunochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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23
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Kaur G, Kumar N, Szilagyi A, Blasko B, Fust G, Rajczy K, Pozsonyi E, Hosso A, Petranyi G, Tandon N, Mehra N. Autoimmune-associated HLA-B8-DR3 haplotypes in Asian Indians are unique in C4 complement gene copy numbers and HSP-2 1267A/G. Hum Immunol 2008; 69:580-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2008.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2008] [Revised: 06/10/2008] [Accepted: 06/16/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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24
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Tseng YT, Lee HH, Lee YJ. An investigation of the C4 gene arrangement in ethnic Chinese (Taiwanese). Int J Immunogenet 2008; 35:323-9. [PMID: 18680512 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-313x.2008.00783.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
C4 complement components are encoded by two genes, C4A and C4B , located on chromosome 6p21.3 of the major histocompatibility complex class III region. The isotypic residues at position 1101-1106 of the C4A gene contain the Pro-Cys-Pro-Val-Leu-Asp sequence which has a higher affinity for binding amino group-containing antigens, while C4B contains the Leu-Ser-Pro-Val-Ileu-His sequence which has a higher affinity for hydroxyl group-containing antigens. These two genes show different reaction rates which infer solubilization of antibody-antigen aggregates and propagation of the activation pathway to form the membrane attack complex. Using a polymerase chain reaction-based amplification method to identify and differentiate the locations of the C4A and C4B genes adjacent to the respective CYP21A2P and CYP21A2 genes, the isotypic residues at position 1101-1106 for the C4 isotype were categorized into five haplotypes of C4 gene arrangements. Among them, we found that 65% of the gene proportions between C4A and C4B were balanced, while 35% of them were unbalanced in this ethnic Chinese (i.e. Taiwanese) cohort. We consider that the unbalanced arrangements of the C4 locus in the individuals might have influenced the clearance of apoptotic debris and immune complexes which may injure tissue by initiating autoimmune diseases and immunity responses associated with susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Te Tseng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, Ilan, Taiwan
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25
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Chung EK, Wu YL, Yang Y, Zhou B, Yu CY. Human complement components C4A and C4B genetic diversities: complex genotypes and phenotypes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; Chapter 13:Unit 13.8. [PMID: 18432942 DOI: 10.1002/0471142735.im1308s68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This unit describes methods that can accurately determine the genotypes and phenotypes of human complement components C4A and C4B. Specifically, they allow investigators to determine how many C4 genes are present in a diploid genome of a human subject and to quantify how many of them encode C4A proteins and how many of them encode C4B proteins. In addition, methods to determine how many long and short C4 genes are present in a diploid genome of a subject are described together with experimental strategies to determine haplotypes and order or configuration of these genes in the MHC. Finally, methods to assess the degree of polymorphism in C4A and C4B proteins and whether low protein levels of plasma C4 may be caused by low C4 gene dosages and/or by mutant C4 genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin K Chung
- Columbus Children's Research Institute and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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26
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Blasko B, Kolka R, Thorbjornsdottir P, Sigurtharson ST, Sigurthsson G, Ronai Z, Sasvari-Szekely M, Bothvarsson S, Thorgeirsson G, Prohaszka Z, Kovacs M, Fust G, Arason GJ. Low complement C4B gene copy number predicts short-term mortality after acute myocardial infarction. Int Immunol 2007; 20:31-7. [DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxm117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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27
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Wu YL, Savelli SL, Yang Y, Zhou B, Rovin BH, Birmingham DJ, Nagaraja HN, Hebert LA, Yu CY. Sensitive and specific real-time polymerase chain reaction assays to accurately determine copy number variations (CNVs) of human complement C4A, C4B, C4-long, C4-short, and RCCX modules: elucidation of C4 CNVs in 50 consanguineous subjects with defined HLA genotypes. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2007; 179:3012-25. [PMID: 17709516 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.179.5.3012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent comparative genome hybridization studies revealed that hundreds to thousands of human genomic loci can have interindividual copy number variations (CNVs). One of such CNV loci in the HLA codes for the immune effector protein complement component C4. Sensitive, specific, and accurate assays to interrogate the C4 CNV and its associated polymorphisms by using submicrogram quantities of genomic DNA are needed for high throughput epidemiologic studies of C4 CNVs in autoimmune, infectious, and neurological diseases. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays were developed using TaqMan chemistry and based on sequences specific for C4A and C4B genes, structural characteristics corresponding to the long and short forms of C4 genes, and the breakpoint region of RP-C4-CYP21-TNX (RCCX) modular duplication. Assignments for gene copy numbers were achieved by relative standard curve methods using cloned C4 genomic DNA covering 6 logs of DNA concentrations for calibrations. The accuracies of test results were cross-confirmed internally in each sample, as the sum of C4A plus C4B equals to the sum of C4L plus C4S or the total copy number of RCCX modules. These qPCR assays were applied to determine C4 CNVs from samples of 50 consanguineous subjects who were mostly homozygous in HLA genotypes. The results revealed eight HLA haplotypes with single C4 genes in monomodular RCCX that are associated with multiple autoimmune and infectious diseases and 32 bimodular, 4 trimodular, and one quadrimodular RCCX. These C4 qPCR assays are proven to be robust, sensitive, and reliable, as they have contributed to the elucidation of C4 CNVs in >1000 human samples with autoimmune and neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Ling Wu
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, Columbus Children's Research Institute, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
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28
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Ichim TE, Solano F, Glenn E, Morales F, Smith L, Zabrecky G, Riordan NH. Stem cell therapy for autism. J Transl Med 2007; 5:30. [PMID: 17597540 PMCID: PMC1914111 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-5-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2007] [Accepted: 06/27/2007] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions whose incidence is reaching epidemic proportions, afflicting approximately 1 in 166 children. Autistic disorder, or autism is the most common form of ASD. Although several neurophysiological alterations have been associated with autism, immune abnormalities and neural hypoperfusion appear to be broadly consistent. These appear to be causative since correlation of altered inflammatory responses, and hypoperfusion with symptology is reported. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are in late phases of clinical development for treatment of graft versus host disease and Crohn's Disease, two conditions of immune dysregulation. Cord blood CD34+ cells are known to be potent angiogenic stimulators, having demonstrated positive effects in not only peripheral ischemia, but also in models of cerebral ischemia. Additionally, anecdotal clinical cases have reported responses in autistic children receiving cord blood CD34+ cells. We propose the combined use of MSC and cord blood CD34+cells may be useful in the treatment of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabio Solano
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Eduardo Glenn
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Frank Morales
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Leonard Smith
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | | | - Neil H Riordan
- Medistem Laboratories Inc, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- 2027 E. Cedar Street Suite 102 Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
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29
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Yang Y, Chung EK, Wu YL, Savelli SL, Nagaraja HN, Zhou B, Hebert M, Jones KN, Shu Y, Kitzmiller K, Blanchong CA, McBride KL, Higgins GC, Rennebohm RM, Rice RR, Hackshaw KV, Roubey RAS, Grossman JM, Tsao BP, Birmingham DJ, Rovin BH, Hebert LA, Yu CY. Gene copy-number variation and associated polymorphisms of complement component C4 in human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): low copy number is a risk factor for and high copy number is a protective factor against SLE susceptibility in European Americans. Am J Hum Genet 2007; 80:1037-54. [PMID: 17503323 PMCID: PMC1867093 DOI: 10.1086/518257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2006] [Accepted: 03/07/2007] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Interindividual gene copy-number variation (CNV) of complement component C4 and its associated polymorphisms in gene size (long and short) and protein isotypes (C4A and C4B) probably lead to different susceptibilities to autoimmune disease. We investigated the C4 gene CNV in 1,241 European Americans, including patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), their first-degree relatives, and unrelated healthy subjects, by definitive genotyping and phenotyping techniques. The gene copy number (GCN) varied from 2 to 6 for total C4, from 0 to 5 for C4A, and from 0 to 4 for C4B. Four copies of total C4, two copies of C4A, and two copies of C4B were the most common GCN counts, but each constituted only between one-half and three-quarters of the study populations. Long C4 genes were strongly correlated with C4A (R=0.695; P<.0001). Short C4 genes were correlated with C4B (R=0.437; P<.0001). In comparison with healthy subjects, patients with SLE clearly had the GCN of total C4 and C4A shifting to the lower side. The risk of SLE disease susceptibility significantly increased among subjects with only two copies of total C4 (patients 9.3%; unrelated controls 1.5%; odds ratio [OR] = 6.514; P=.00002) but decreased in those with > or =5 copies of C4 (patients 5.79%; controls 12%; OR=0.466; P=.016). Both zero copies (OR=5.267; P=.001) and one copy (OR=1.613; P=.022) of C4A were risk factors for SLE, whereas > or =3 copies of C4A appeared to be protective (OR=0.574; P=.012). Family-based association tests suggested that a specific haplotype with a single short C4B in tight linkage disequilibrium with the -308A allele of TNFA was more likely to be transmitted to patients with SLE. This work demonstrates how gene CNV and its related polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to a human complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yang
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
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30
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Arason GJ, Kramer J, Blaskó B, Kolka R, Thorbjornsdottir P, Einarsdóttir K, Sigfúsdóttir A, Sigurdarson ST, Sigurdsson G, Rónai Z, Prohászka Z, Sasvári-Székely M, Bödvarsson S, Thorgeirsson G, Füst G. Smoking and a complement gene polymorphism interact in promoting cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Clin Exp Immunol 2007; 149:132-8. [PMID: 17425651 PMCID: PMC1942025 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2007.03391.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We have demonstrated previously that carriers of a genotype called C4B*Q0 (silent allele of the C4B gene) have a substantially increased risk to suffer from myocardial infarction or stroke, and are selected out from the healthy elderly population. Because smoking carries a major risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), it seemed worthwhile to study if these two factors interact. Study 1 involved 74 patients with angina pectoris (AP), 85 patients with recent acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 112 survivors of a previous AMI and 382 controls from Iceland. Study 2 involved 233 patients with severe CVD and 274 controls from Hungary. Smoking habits were registered for each subject. The number of C4A and C4B genes was determined by phenotyping or genotyping. Compared to controls, C4B*Q0 carrier frequency was significantly higher at diagnosis in Icelandic smokers with AP (P = 0.005) and AMI (P = 0.0003) and Hungarian smokers with severe coronary artery disease (P = 0.023), while no such difference was observed in non-smoking subjects. Age-associated decrease in C4B*Q0 observed previously in two remote Caucasian populations was found, in the present study, to be associated strongly with smoking, and to already occur in smokers after age 50 years both in Iceland and Hungary. Our findings indicate that the C4B*Q0 genotype can be considered as a major covariate of smoking in precipitating the risk for AMI and associated deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- G J Arason
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Medical Laboratory Sciences, Landspítali University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland.
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31
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Blaskó B, Széplaki G, Varga L, Ronai Z, Prohászka Z, Sasvari-Szekely M, Visy B, Farkas H, Füst G. Relationship between copy number of genes (C4A, C4B) encoding the fourth component of complement and the clinical course of hereditary angioedema (HAE). Mol Immunol 2007; 44:2667-74. [PMID: 17229465 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2006.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2006] [Accepted: 12/10/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In order to study if in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), copy number of the two genes (C4A and C4A) encoded in the central region of main histocompatibility complex (MHC) influences the diagnostically important C4 serum concentration as well as the clinical course of the disease, we determined copy number of the complement C4A and C4B genes in DNA samples of 95 HAE patients and 246 healthy controls. Distribution of both the C4A and C4B copy numbers significantly (p=0.0183 and 0.0318, respectively) differed between the two groups, the most marked difference we observed was the lower frequency of the high (3 or 4) C4A copy numbers in the patients. As it expected, the dosage of both C4A and C4B genes positively correlated to the longitudinally measured serum C4 concentrations. Moreover, we found an unexpected clinical correlation with the dosage of the C4B gene. The course of the disease was milder in the 9/95 patients carrying 3 or 4 copies of C4B gene, compared to the rest of patients, i.e. diagnosis was established at significantly (p=0.0052) older age (36.0 (31.0-39.5)) years versus 20.5 (7.5-31.5 years), bi-yearly attack rate was significantly (p=0.0145) lower (1.0 (0.0-11.0)) versus 11.0 (3.5-21.5), and the over-all activity of the classical pathway and the enzyme-inhibitor activity of the C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) was closer to the normal values. These observations indicate that high copy number of the C4B gene can be a protective factor against disease severity in HAE and therefore its determination is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernadett Blaskó
- 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Kútvölgyi út 4, H-1125 Budapest, Hungary
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32
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Wu YL, Higgins GC, Rennebohm RM, Chung EK, Yang Y, Zhou B, Nagaraja HN, Birmingham DJ, Rovin BH, Hebert LA, Yu CY. Three distinct profiles of serum complement C4 proteins in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients: tight associations of complement C4 and C3 protein levels in SLE but not in healthy subjects. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2007; 586:227-47. [PMID: 16893076 DOI: 10.1007/0-387-34134-x_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The serial changes of serum complement proteins C4 and C3 in SLE were characterized in 33 pediatric SLE patients with defined C4 genotypes. Three distinct groups of C4 protein profiles were observed. The first group was characterized by persistently low C4 levels (<10 mg/dL) throughout the course of the study. Patients with this profile had mild disease manifestations and low to medium copy numbers of C4 genes. The second group featured periodic fluctuations of serum C4 protein concentrations above and below 10 mg/dL, paralleled with ups and downs of SLE disease activities. Most patients with the second profile had unequal copy numbers of C4A and C4B genes and relatively severe disease. The third group had normal serum C4 levels (>15 mg/dL) most of the time and occasionally low C4 and C3 levels that were mostly coincident with disease flares prior to effective medical treatment. Most patients in this group
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee-Ling Wu
- Columbus Children's Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43205 USA
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33
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Lee HH, Tseng YT, Lee YJ. Use of a PCR-based amplification analysis as a substitute for the Southern blot method to determine the C4A and C4B genes. J Immunol Methods 2006; 317:126-31. [PMID: 17095005 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2006.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2006] [Revised: 09/13/2006] [Accepted: 09/24/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The human C4 complement components of the C4 gene are encoded by two genes, C4A and C4B, located on chromosome 6p21.3 of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class III region. Genetic determination of these two genes was by the Southern blot method: the 276- and 191-bp NlaIV fragments represent the C4A gene with the sequence, PCPVLP, at residues 1101-1106; the 467-bp NlaIV fragment represents the C4B gene with the sequence, LSPVIH, at residues 1101-1106. Here, we describe a PCR-based approach for differential amplification of the C4 genes adjacent to the respective CYP21A1P and CYP21A2, followed by NlaIV restriction digestion in a secondary PCR product and direct analysis by electrophoresis on an agarose gel to determine the C4A and C4B genes. From the results of this study, we concluded that 87% and 85% of the C4 genes adjacent to the CYP21A1P and CYP21A2 genes carried the C4A and C4B genes, respectively. The frequencies of the C4A and C4B genes comprising the C4 locus were 51.5 and 49%, respectively in this ethnic Chinese (Taiwanese) cohort. Since no radiolabelling application is involved, the protocol is reliable as a substitute for the Southern blot method for C4A and C4B determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Hsiung Lee
- Department of Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, No. 45 Min-Sheng Road, Tanshui, Taipei County 251, Taiwan.
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34
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Odell D, Maciulis A, Cutler A, Warren L, McMahon WM, Coon H, Stubbs G, Henley K, Torres A. Confirmation of the association of the C4B null allelle in autism. Hum Immunol 2005; 66:140-5. [PMID: 15694999 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2004.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2004] [Revised: 11/05/2004] [Accepted: 11/10/2004] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine and attempt to confirm our previous findings of an increased frequency of the C4B null allele (C4BQ0) in subjects with autism. Newly identified subjects from Utah and Oregon were studied. Families evaluated included 85 who had a child with autism and 69 control families. Of the subjects with autism studied, 42.4% carried at least one C4BQ0, compared with 14.5% of the control subjects (p = 0.00013), with a relative risk of 4.33. Over half of the C4B null alleles in the subjects with autism involved C4A duplications. A marked increase in the ancestral haplotype 44.1 that lacks a C4B gene and has 2 C4A genes was also observed. The results of this study suggest that the human leukocyte antigen class III C4BQ0 significantly increases the risk for autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Odell
- Center for Persons with Disabilities, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
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35
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Abstract
The MHC, primarily known for its antigen-presenting class I and II molecules, harbours, within a central segment of less than 1 Mb, a dense collection of genes involved in various biological functions. Although MHC I and MHC II are principal players of adaptive immunity, several loci within this central (still called class III) MHC region encode members of the innate immune system. These include the long known factors of the complement system--potentially inhibitory and triggering natural killer receptors as well as stress proteins. Whether this physical proximity is fortuitous or functionally advantageous is an important question for the future of MHC genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Hauptmann
- Centre de Recherche d'Immunologie et d'Hématologie, Faculté de Médecine, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 4 rue Kirschleger, F-67085 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
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36
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Yang Y, Lhotta K, Chung EK, Eder P, Neumair F, Yu CY. Complete complement components C4A and C4B deficiencies in human kidney diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2004; 173:2803-14. [PMID: 15294999 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.4.2803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although a heterozygous deficiency of either complement component C4A or C4B is common, and each has a frequency of approximately 20% in a Caucasian population, complete deficiencies of both C4A and C4B proteins are extremely rare. In this paper the clinical courses for seven complete C4 deficiency patients are described in detail, and the molecular defects for complete C4 deficiencies are elucidated. Three patients with homozygous HLA A24 Cw7 B38 DR13 had systemic lupus erythematosus, mesangial glomerulonephritis, and severe skin lesions or membranous nephropathy. Immunofixation, genomic restriction fragment length polymorphisms, and pulsed field gel electrophoresis experiments revealed the presence of monomodular RP-C4-CYP21-TNX (RCCX) modules, each containing a solitary, long C4A mutant gene. Sequencing of the mutant C4A genes revealed a 2-bp, GT deletion in exon 13 that leads to protein truncation. The other four patients with homozygous HLA A30 B18 DR7 had SLE, severe kidney disorders including mesangial or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and/or Henoch Schoenlein purpura. Molecular genetic analyses revealed an unusual RCCX structure with two short C4B mutant genes, each followed by an intact gene for steroid 21-hydroxylase. Nine identical, intronic mutations were found in each mutant C4B. In particular, the 8127 g-->a mutation present at the donor site of intron 28 may cause an RNA splice defect. Analyses of 12 complete C4 deficiency patients revealed two hot spots of deleterious mutations: one is located at exon 13, the others within a 2.6-kb genomic region spanning exons 20-29. Screening of these mutations may facilitate epidemiologic studies of C4 in infectious, autoimmune, and kidney diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yang
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Department of Molecular Virology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43205, USA
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Yang Y, Chung EK, Zhou B, Blanchong CA, Yu CY, Füst G, Kovács M, Vatay A, Szalai C, Karádi I, Varga L. Diversity in intrinsic strengths of the human complement system: serum C4 protein concentrations correlate with C4 gene size and polygenic variations, hemolytic activities, and body mass index. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2003; 171:2734-45. [PMID: 12928427 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.171.5.2734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Among the genes and proteins of the human immune system, complement component C4 is extraordinary in its frequent germline variation in the size and number of genes. Definitive genotypic and phenotypic analyses were performed on a central European population to determine the C4 polygenic and gene size variations and their relationships with serum C4A and C4B protein concentrations and hemolytic activities. In a study population of 128 healthy subjects, the number of C4 genes present in a diploid genome varied between two to five, and 77.4% of the C4 genes belonged to the long form that contains the endogenous retrovirus HERV-K(C4). Intriguingly, higher C4 serum protein levels and higher C4 hemolytic activities were often detected in subjects with short C4 genes than those with long genes only, suggesting a negative epistatic effect of HERV-K(C4) on the expression of C4 proteins. Also, the body mass index appeared to affect the C4 serum levels, particularly in the individuals with medium or high C4 gene dosages, a phenomenon that was dissimilar in several aspects from the established correlation between body mass index and serum C3. As expected, there were strong, positive correlations between total C4 gene dosage and serum C4 protein concentrations, and between serum C4 protein concentrations and C4 hemolytic activities. There were also good correlations between the number of long genes with serum levels of C4A, and the number of short genes with serum levels of C4B. Thus, the polygenic and gene size variations of C4A and C4B contribute to the quantitative traits of C4 with a wide range of serum protein levels and hemolytic activities, and consequently the power of the innate defense system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yang
- Center for Molecular and Human Genetics, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Ohio State University, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
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