C3bi Receptor Research Articles

Receptors for C3b and C3bi promote phagocytosis but not the release of toxic oxygen from human phagocytes.

We have measured the release of H2O2 from granulocytes, monocytes, and macrophages during spreading on ligand-coated culture surfaces. While IgG-coated surfaces stimulate vigorous release of H2O2, neither C3b- nor C3bi-coated surfaces promoted appreciable release of H2O2 despite full ligation of C3b and C3bi receptors. We also measured release of H2O2 from cultured monocytes spreading on surfaces coated with both fibronectin and C3. Under such circumstances, the C3 receptors elicit a strong phagocytic response, but no H2O2 release was recorded. We conclude that the C3b and C3bi receptors of monocytes and granulocytes do not signal the generation of toxic oxygen intermediates from these cells.

Fibronectin and serum amyloid P component stimulate C3b- and C3bi-mediated phagocytosis in cultured human monocytes.

Fibronectin (FN) and serum amyloid P component (SAP) markedly enhance phagocytosis mediated by the C3b and C3bi receptors of cultured human monocytes but not of granulocytes. (The C3b and C3bi receptors of granulocytes can be activated by treatment of these phagocytes with PMA.) Activation of monocyte C3 receptors by FN is developmentally regulated: Freshly explanted monocytes respond to FN with a small increase in C3 receptor-mediated phagocytosis while monocytes matured in culture exhibit a much greater response. The mechanism of action of FN on C3 receptors of cultured monocytes is unique in two respects. First, while substrate-bound FN or SAP activate monocyte C3 receptors, soluble FN does not. Second, stimulation of the basal surface of monocyte plasma membranes by substrate-bound FN activates C3b and C3bi receptors on the apical surface of the plasma membrane, i.e., at sites remote from the segments of membrane in contact with the FN or SAP.

Identification of the C3bi receptor of human monocytes and macrophages by using monoclonal antibodies.

We have obtained four monoclonal antibodies, IB4, OKM1, OKM9, and OKM10, all directed against the C3bi receptor of human monocytes and macrophages (M phi). Two criteria were used to determine the specificity of these antibodies. First, culture surfaces coated with the antireceptor antibodies caused specific down modulation of C3bi receptor activity on M phi adherent to these substrates. Second, receptor protein purified by using IB4 or OKM1 retained the ability to bind selectively to C3bi-coated erythrocytes. Each of the antibodies recognizes a distinct epitope on the C3bi receptor; they do not compete with one another for binding to monocytes. Further, when immobilized on a solid support, each of the antibodies binds a molecule from M phi lysates that can simultaneously bind one of the other monoclonal anti-C3bi receptor antibodies. OKM10 binds and masks the ligand-binding site of the C3bi receptor, while IB4, OKM1, and OKM9 bind to sites remote from the C3bi binding site. All four antibodies immunoprecipitated polypeptides of Mr 185,000 and 105,000 from 125I-surface-labeled M phi. IB4 also precipitates polypeptides of Mr 185,000, 153,000, and 105,000. We conclude that the C3bi receptor of human M phi is a complex composed of two polypeptides, Mr 185,000 and 105,000. We have identified monoclonal antibodies reacting with four distinct antigenic determinants of this complex. The determinant recognized by antibody OKM10 is at or near the ligand-binding site of the receptor. The determinant recognized by antibody IB4 is shared by at least two other leukocyte surface proteins.

Inhibition of zymosan activation of human neutrophil oxidative metabolism by a mouse monoclonal antibody

We have studied a neutrophil-specific murine monoclonal antibody, PMN7C3 (IgG3), which specifically alters PMN oxidative metabolism stimulated by serum-opsonized zymosan (STZ) or Candida albicans (STC). Polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) exposed to PMN7C3 show a significant depression in O2- release (52.8% +/- 2.5% of control), H2O2 release (44.4% +/- 6.0% of control), and O2 consumption (73.9% +/- 2.6% of control) in response to STZ. O2 release in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was modestly reduced (78.4% +/- 3.7%) by PMN7C3 treatment, but not to the extent seen with STZ or STC. PMN7C3 did not affect O2 release by PMNs stimulated by zymosan opsonized with IgG or by S. aureus, A 23187, or FMLP. PMN7C3 was not cytotoxic, did not trigger oxidative metabolism when used as a stimulus, did not alter STZ-induced degranulation, and did not interfere with binding or uptake of STZ by PMNs. Exposure of PMNs to PMN7C3 decreased PMN rosette formation with erythrocytes coated with C3b (54% of control) or C3bi (63% of control), but had no affect on rosette formation with IgG-coated erythrocytes. PMN7C3 does not bind to monocytes and had no affect on rosette formation by this cell type. Binding of antibody PMN7C3 to the neutrophil surface inhibits the oxidative response to opsonized STZ or STC, possibly in part by altering the function or expression of C3b and C3bi receptors. Monoclonal antibodies such as PMN7C3 provide highly specific probes that may be used to define the molecular features of the stimulus-coupled response of PMN activation.

Inhibition of Zymosan Activation of Human Neutrophil Oxidative Metabolism by a Mouse Monoclonal Antibody

Abstract We have studied a neutrophil-specific murine monoclonal antibody, PMN7C3 (IgG3), which specifically alters PMN oxidative metabolism stimulated by serum-opsonized zymosan (STZ) or Candida albicans (STC). Polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) exposed to PMN7C3 show a significant depression in O2- release (52.8% +/- 2.5% of control), H2O2 release (44.4% +/- 6.0% of control), and O2 consumption (73.9% +/- 2.6% of control) in response to STZ. O2 release in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was modestly reduced (78.4% +/- 3.7%) by PMN7C3 treatment, but not to the extent seen with STZ or STC. PMN7C3 did not affect O2 release by PMNs stimulated by zymosan opsonized with IgG or by S. aureus, A 23187, or FMLP. PMN7C3 was not cytotoxic, did not trigger oxidative metabolism when used as a stimulus, did not alter STZ- induced degranulation, and did not interfere with binding or uptake of STZ by PMNs. Exposure of PMNs to PMN7C3 decreased PMN rosette formation with erythrocytes coated with C3b (54% of control) or C3bi (63% of control), but had no affect on rosette formation with IgG-coated erythrocytes. PMN7C3 does not bind to monocytes and had no affect on rosette formation by this cell type. Binding of antibody PMN7C3 to the neutrophil surface inhibits the oxidative response to opsonized STZ or STC, possibly in part by altering the function or expression of C3b and C3bi receptors. Monoclonal antibodies such as PMN7C3 provide highly specific probes that may be used to define the molecular features of the stimulus-coupled response of PMN activation.

Importance of Factors H and I for the Adherence of C3b-Coated Erythrocytes to Cells

The role of cell membrane-associated human factor H for the binding of cell-bound Cab to complement receptor-carrying (CR +) cells was investigated. Pretreatment of CR + cells with antibodies to factor H inhibited the adherence of Cab-coated red cells to human tonsil lymphocytes (TL) and peripheral blood monocytes (Mø). The Cab receptor reactivity of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was not influenced and the one of Raji lymphoblastoid cells only slightly influenced; iC3b and Cad receptor reactivity was in no case affected. When diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) in a concentration of 0.1 mM was present during pretreatment of the CR + cells with anti H, the antibodies gained the capacity to inhibit the adherence of Cab-coated erythrocytes to Raji cells; this effect was dose-dependent with respect to DFP. In contrast, there was no influence of DFP on the inhibition pattern of anti H in the case of TL and Mø. The adherence of Cab-coated erythrocytes to PMN remained unaffected by anti H antibodies in the presence of DFP. Polyclonal as well as monoclonal antibodies directed against human factor I inhibited the binding of Cab cells to Raji cells but not to TL. Additionally, when anti I and anti H antibodies were both present, Cab receptor reactivity of Raji cells was inhibited to a larger extent than with either antibody alone; again, TL remained unaffected. Results obtained by washing the Raji cells before and after treatment with anti H and anti I suggest that the respective antibodies act on factor H primarily on the level of the cell membrane and on factor I in the fluid phase. The results presented indicate that factor H may, to a certain extent, be involved in the binding process of particle-bound Cab to CR + cells. However, regarding lymphocytes and Raji cells, different mechanisms have to be proposed for the adherence of Cab-coated erythrocytes. In the case of Raji cells, we believe that membrane-associated proteases are involved in the binding of EAC14°23b to the CR + cell. It may be that a conversion of Cab to iC3b occurs after the initial adherence of Cab-coated erythrocytes to Raji cells.

Complement receptor expression by neoplastic and normal human cells.

Complement receptor (CR) expression in cell lines derived from Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), Epstein Barr virus-transformed cord blood lymphocytes (CB), and peripheral lymphocytes from patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) was examined. Red cell intermediates bearing various densities of C4b, C3b, C3bi, or C3d were tested for rosette formation with the cell lines. In addition, a series of studies was performed under conditions that precluded the cleavage of cellbound C3b by Factor I (C3bINA). These conditions did not alter rosetting by the cells that were tested. RAJI cells rosetted with EAC3bi greater than EAC3d greater than EAC3b, but not with EAC4b. EAC3b/RAJI rosette formation required much greater quantities of C3b bound to red cells than did CB and IM lines, which unlike RAJI, also bound EAC4b. All of the BL lines failed to bind EAC4b even at a C4b density of 50,000 molecules/cell, but several lines did form rosettes with EAC3b, and most formed rosettes with EAC3bi and EAC3d. Fluid phase C3b blocked RAJI/EAC3b rosetting while having little effect on RAJI/EAC3bi rosette activity. Moreover, fluid phase C3b, as well as C4b, blocked RAJI/EAC3b rosettes more effectively than CB/EAC3b rosettes. The results indicate that the RAJI cell line has a receptor for C3b, with characteristics that differ markedly from the C3b receptor of cell lines derived from CB lymphocytes and of lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from patients with IM. This receptor is capable of interacting with soluble but not cellbound C4b. In these studies, rosette formation was examined under various ionic conditions. RAJI/EAC3b rosette formation was severely reduced as ionic strength was increased, whereas RAJI/EAC3bi binding was only moderately decreased at physiologic ionic strength. In striking contrast, EAC3bi binding to monocytes, PMN, and human erythrocytes was markedly reduced as ionic strength increased, but EAC3b binding to these cells was less sensitive to changes in ionic strength. Under conditions of physiologic ionic strength, the C3bi receptor of phagocytic cells may be at a functional disadvantage in the binding of C3bi-coated particles. This may have major physiologic implications.

Inhibition of phagocytosis of complement C3- or immunoglobulin G-coated particles and of C3bi binding by monoclonal antibodies to a monocyte-granulocyte membrane glycoprotein (Mol).

Events that lead to phagocytosis of complement (C3)- or IgG-coated particles after their interaction with specific cell surface receptors are poorly understood. Two mouse monoclonal antibodies (an IgM and an IgG2a) to a human granulocyte-monocyte surface membrane differentiation antigen (Mol) inhibited ingestion by granulocytes both of oil Red O particles opsonized with normal human serum or with IgG and of sheep erythrocytes sensitized with IgG. In addition, they specifically inhibited rosetting between phagocytes and sheep erythrocytes coated with C3bi, a fragment of the complement component C3, generated by cleaving C3b with C3b inactivator and beta IH protein. These monoclonal anti-Mol antibodies did not inhibit IgG Fc, C3b or C3d receptor-mediated binding of erythrocytes coated with the respective proteins. The Fab fragment of the IgG2a monoclonal antibody inhibited noncytotoxic enzyme release from granulocytes when these cells were stimulated with zymosan coated with C3bi. Electrophoretic transfer of polymorphonuclear leukocyte detergent lysates to nitrocellulose, followed by immunofixation with monoclonal antibody, showed that these antibodies were directed to a 155,000-mol wt glycoprotein. This surface membrane structure appears to be involved in Fc and C3 receptor-dependent phagocytosis and closely associated with the C3bi receptor.

The complement-mediated binding of soluble antibody/dsDNA immune complexes to human neutrophils.

The complement-mediated binding of soluble antibody/3H-dsDNA immune complexes (prepared in vitro) to human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) has been investigated quantitatively. Studies with isolated complement components in conjunction with experiments on the binding of these complexes to human red blood cells suggest that the binding to both cell types is mediated predominantly by CR1 (C4b-C3b) receptors but that CR3 (iC3b or C3d-g) receptors may play a role in binding to PMN but probably not to RBC. Our results also indicate that under the standard conditions of these assays (37 degrees C, 20 to 40 min incubations) there is no significant internalization of the soluble antibody/dsDNA immune complexes after they are bound by the PMN.

Complement (C3) receptor-mediated attachment of agarose beads to mouse peritoneal macrophages and human monocytes.

We have determined the receptors on human monocytes and mouse peritoneal macrophages producing agarose binding. By using isolated human complement factors C3, B and D, agarose beads were coated with C3b. In some experiments C3b was converted to C3bi by using human serum diluted 1:20. Agarose beads coated with C3b or C3bi bound strongly to monocytes. Only agarose beads coated with C3bi were attached to mouse macrophages. Trypsinization of agarose beads coated with C3bi abolished the attachment of the beads to macrophages and monocytes, probably because of conversion of C3bi to C3d. Endocytosis by macrophages of agarose preincubated in human serum or in C5-deficient AKR mouse serum reached the same levels, indicating that the amount of C5 present in serum during preincubation is not important for the degree of endocytosis. It is concluded that internalization of agarose by macrophages is mediated via the C3bi receptor.

Capping of complement receptors on human neutrophils induced by group A streptococcal cell walls.

Peptidoglycan-polysaccharide polymers derived from group A streptococcal cell walls (PG-PS) were opsonized with either purified C3 or normal human serum and were used as a probe to investigate the mobility of CR1 and CR3, the C3b and iC3b receptors, respectively, on human neutrophils. Incubation of monolayers or cell suspensions of neutrophils with PG-PS opsonized with C3b or serum resulted in capping of PG-PS, as detected by fluorescein-labeled antibody to PS. No binding of PG-PS to neutrophils was observed with heat-inactivated serum. By 30 min the cell walls were internalized and observed in one to three vacuoles. Capping was totally inhibited when PG-PS opsonized with C3b or serum was preincubated with Fab'-anti-C3b. Similar inhibition was observed when C3b-opsonized PG-PS was incubated with neutrophils that were preincubated with anti-CR1 or fluid-phase C3b; only partial inhibition of neutrophil capping was observed by using serum-opsonized PG-PS. Because anti-CR1 blocks only the C3b receptor, the cap formation observed with serum-opsonized PG-PS is probably due to CR3. These results suggest that both CR1 and CR3 on neutrophils cap after stimulation by group A streptococcal cell wall fragments.

The Epstein-Barr virus receptor is distinct from the C3 receptor.

Polyvalent serum directed against C3 receptors was employed in an attempt to block Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) binding to virus receptor-containing cell lines. The serum eliminated 90% of virus binding to Daudi and BJAB, lines which express only the C3d receptor. Raji and Ramos cells, which express the C3d, C3b and C3bi receptors, still adsorbed 70% of their virus capacity in the presence of excess antiserum. These effects were independent of the virus strain. In the light of previous reports, these data imply that, although the two receptors, EBV and C3d, are closely associated, the binding sites of EBV and complement are distinct. Additionally, an unusual EBV substrain-specific receptor found on U698 and P3HR-1/ASNP lines was shown to be independent of complement receptors.

Distinction of receptors for C3b, C3bi, and C3d on raji cells by functional assays and monoclonal antibodies

Distinction of receptors for C3b, C3bi, and C3d on raji cells by functional assays and monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies as tools to define receptors for C3b, C3bi and C3d on human lymphocytes, phagocytes, erthyrocytes and renal glomerulum cells

Monoclonal antibodies as tools to define receptors for C3b, C3bi and C3d on human lymphocytes, phagocytes, erthyrocytes and renal glomerulum cells

Antisera with anti-pan C3 receptor reactivity which block complement C3b, C3bi and C3d receptors

Antisera directed at human C3 receptors were prepared by 2 different methods. In method I rabbits were immunized with EAC coated with C3 receptors of tonsil cells (AC3RS type I). In method II rabbits were immunized with insoluble aggregates of tonsil membrane constituents containing significant amounts of C3 receptors. After appropriate absorptions both types of AC3RS showed a selective reactivity with those cells known to express C3 receptors. With the EAC rosette inhibition test it is demonstrated that both types of AC3RS contain antibodies against the binding sites of C3b, C3bi and C3d receptors. The antibody titer was consistently higher in AC3RS of type II.

Heterogeneity of complement receptor expression on surface immunoglobulin-bearing cells from neonatal and adult mice.

The ontogeny of acquisition of complement receptors (CR) on splenic B lymphocytes from mice of varying ages was examined. Reagents used for the identification of CR included antibody- and complement-coated erythrocytes (EAC), bacteria (BAC) and bacteria treated with complement alone (BC). When whole mouse serum used as the source of complement both EAC and BAC failed to bind to human erythrocytes (C3b receptor-negative), showed binding to Raji and Daudi cells (C3d receptor) and formed rosettes with human neutrophils (C3bi receptor). Therefore these reagents bore C3d and C3bi, but not intact C3b. Although EAc and BAC detected nearly equal percentages of CR lymphocytes in adult mice, BAC bound to a higher percentage of neonatal lymphocytes (8-12%) than did EAC (1-3%). The ability of BAC to detect EAC-negative lymphocytes among neonatal spleen lymphocytes appeared to be due to the increased sensitivity of this bacterial reagent for binding to CR. Further evidence of this enhanced sensitivity was that BAC were less inhibitable than EAC by soluble antigen-antibody-complement complexes.

Identification of a C3bi-specific membrane complement receptor that is expressed on lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and erythrocytes.

Cells expressing a membrane C receptor (CR(3)) specific for C3b-inactivator- cleaved C3b (C3bi) were identified by rosette assay with C3bi-coated sheep erythrocytes (EC3bi) or C3bi-coated fluorescent microspheres (C3bi-ms). C3bi- ms, probably because of their smaller size, bound to a higher proportion of cells than did EC3bi. C3bi-ms bound to greater than 90 percent of mature neutrophils, 85 percent of monocytes, 92 percent of erythrocytes, and 12 percent of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Binding of C3bi-ms to neutrophils, monocytes, and erythrocytes was inhibited by fluid-phase C3bi, Fab anti-C3c, or Fab anti-C3d but was not inhibited by F(ab')(2) anti-CR(1) (C3b receptor) or F(ab')(2) anti-CR(2) (C3d receptor) nor by fluid-phase C3b, C3c, or C3d. This indicated that monocytes, neutrophils, and erythrocytes expressed C3bi receptors (CR(3)) that were separate and distinct from CR(1) and CR(2) and specific for a site in the C3 molecule that was only exposed subsequently to cleavage of C3b by C3b inactivator and that was either destroyed, covered, or liberated by cleavage of C3bi into C3c and C3d fragments. Lymphocytes differed from these other cell types in that they expressed CR2 in addition to CRa. Lymphocyte C3bi-ms rosettes were inhibited from 50 to 84 percent by F(ab')(2)-anti-CR(2) or fluid-phase C3d, whereas C3d-ms rosettes were inhibited completely by F(ab')(2) anti-CR(2), fluid-phase C3bi, or fluid- phase C3d. Thus, with lymphocytes, C3bi was bound to CR(3), and in addition was bound to CR(2) by way of the intact d region of the C3bi molecule. In studies of the acquisition of C receptors occurring during myeloid cell maturation, the ability to rosette with C3bi-coated particles was detected readily with immature low-density cells, whereas this ability was nearly undetectable with high density mature polymorphonuclear cells. This absence of C3bi binding to polymorphs was not due to a loss of the CR(3) but instead was due to the maturation-linked acquisition of the abiity to secrete elastase that cleaved reagent particle-bound C3bi into CR(3)-unreactive C3d. Neither neutrophils nor monocytes bound C3d-coated particles at any stage of maturation. Assay of CR(3) with mature neutrophils required inhibition of neutrophil elastase with either soybean trypsin inhibitor or anti-elastase antibodies, and the amounts of these elastase inhibitors required to allow EC3bi rosette formation increased with neutrophil maturation. Because lymphocytes bound C3bi to CR(2) as well as to CR(3), specific assay of lymphocyte CR(3) required saturation of membrane CR(2) with Fab' anti-CR(2) before assay for rosettes with C3bi-ms. Only 3.5 percent of anti-CR(2)- treated peripheral blood lymphocytes bound C3bi-ms. Therefore, among normal blood lymphocytes the majority of the 12 percent C3bi-ms-binding cells expressed only CR(2) (8.5 percent), and the small proportion of C3bi-ms- binding cells that expressed CR(3) (3.5 percent) represented a distinct subset from the CR2(+) cells. Double-label assay indicated that 3.0 percent out of 3.5 percent of these CR(3)-bearing lymphocytes were B cells because they expressed membrane immunoglobulins. Of the remaining CR(3)(+) cells, 0.2 percent expressed either Leu-1 or 3A1 T cell antigens, and 0.6 percent expressed the OKM-1 monocyte-null lymphocyte determinant.

Interaction of target cell-bound C3bi and C3d with human lymphocyte receptors. Enhancement of antibody-mediated cellular cytotoxicity.

The occurrence and distribution of distinct receptors for three C3 fragments on purified human blood lymphocytes were studied by rosette formation. Indicator cells were bovine, chicken, or sheep erythrocytes (E) bearing up to 100,000 molecules of human C3b (EC3b) without antibody. EC3b was converted to C3bi-bearing-E (EC3bi) with purified C3b inactivator (factor I) and beta1H (factor H), and to C3d-bearing E (EC3d) by treatment of EC3bi with trypsin. Using bovine E (Eb) as indicators, approximately 11% of the lymphocytes bound EbC3b, 6% bound EbC3bi and 2% bound EbC3d. Fractionation of the lymphocytes by adsorption to monolayers of C3-fragment-bearing Eb or by rosetting indicated that most of the cells with receptors for C3b were distinct from those having receptors for C3bi and/or C3d. Cells from two lymphoblastoid cell lines (Raji and Daudi) formed strong rosettes with EC3b, which were weak. 51Cr-labeled E was used as a target in antibody, C3-fragment-bearing E was not lysed by the lymphocytes. However, at suboptimal concentrations of IgG enhancing capacity of the fragments occurred in the order of C3bi greater than C3d greater than C3b. In addition, C3-fragment-bearing cells inhibited the lysis of antibody-coated cells not concluded that target cell bound C3 fragments enhance ADCC by improving contact between target cells and those effector cells which have C3 receptors. Cell-bound C3 effector cells. It is proposed that certain lymphocytes are capable of interacting with C3bi in addition to C3b and C3d and that C3bi and C3d have a greater regulatory effect on their cytolytic function than C3b.

Human monocyte spreading induced by Factor B of the alternative pathway of complement activation

A new method was developed for preparing homogeneous populations of human monocytes from EDTA-blood with >60% theoretical recovery and >95% viability. Monocytes prepared in this manner phagocytose carbonyl iron and latex particles and exhibit cellsurface receptors for IgG Fc, C3b, and C3bi. In contrast to cells isolated by commonly employed procedures monocytes prepared from EDTA-blood could be maintained in culture for 7 days in serum-free medium with a very low degree of spontaneous spreading (<15%). Using these cells, studies were initiated to explore the mechanism of complement-dependent monocyte spreading. Purified activated Factor B(Bb) of the alternative pathway of complement activation induced monocyte spreading in serum-free medium. Spreading induced by Bb was dose and time dependent and was inhibited by pretreating Bb with heat (56 °C/30 min) or diisopropylfluorophosphate. This suggested that enzymatically active Bb was required for this reaction. Native Factor B (B) induced spreading only when it was present in the culture medium for 20–40 hr. This delayed response was probably due to the generation of Bb from B by cell-derived proteases inhibitable by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI). In doseresponse experiments 50% of the monocytes were spread after a 3-hr treatment with 0.5 μg Bb/ml. A maximal response did not require the continuous presence of Bb since a brief exposure of monocytes to the isolated enzyme for 10 min was sufficient to commit the cells to spread. The results suggest that proteins of the complement system may be physiological mediators which promote cellular immunity by activating mononuclear phagocytes.