Human Complement Receptor Research Articles

Ontogeny of human complement receptors CR1 and CR3: expression of these molecules on monocytes and neutrophils from maternal, newborn and fetal samples.

Higher levels of the expression of CR1 and CR3 molecules were detected on the surface of monocytes and neutrophils from maternal and newborn (cord) blood samples than in adult controls. Chemotactic factors such as formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine or leukotriene B4 induced an increase of the expression of CR1 and CR3 which was more pronounced on cells from maternal and cord samples than from nonpregnant adult controls. CR1 and CR3 molecules were detected in monocytes and neutrophils from peripheral blood obtained from fetuses more than 14 weeks old and on subpopulations of cells in bone marrow, spleen and thymus.

Differential expression of the human thymosin-beta 4 gene in lymphocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes.

A cDNA clone encoding human thymosin-beta 4 was isolated from a cDNA library prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes of a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia. This clone contained the entire coding sequence of 43 amino acid residues of thymosin-beta 4 and had an initiation codon and two termination codons. The amino acid and nucleotide sequences in the coding region were well conserved between rat and human. Nine of 132 nucleotides were different in the coding sequences (93% homology), but the deduced amino acid sequences were identical. No signal peptide was found in the deduced protein sequence. Human thymosin-beta 4 mRNA, approximately 830 nucleotides in length, was about 30 nucleotides larger than rat thymosin-beta 4 mRNA. Expression of the human thymosin-beta 4 gene in various primary myeloid and lymphoid malignant cells and in a few human hemopoietic cell lines was studied. Northern blot analyses of different neoplastic B lymphocytes revealed that steady state levels of thymosin-beta 4 mRNA varied as a function of differentiation stage. Thymosin-beta 4 mRNA levels were decreased in myeloma cells as are class II human leukocyte antigen, Fc receptor, and complement receptor, suggesting a relationship between thymosin-beta 4 and the immune response. Thymosin-beta 4 mRNA was more highly expressed in mature granulocytes than in immature blastic cells. Treatment of THP-1 cells, a human monocytic cell line, with recombinant human interferon-lambda reduced the levels of thymosin-beta 4 mRNA. Its level decreased after differentiation of THP-1 cells into Ia+ macrophages, but increased after differentiation of HL-60 cells into Ia- macrophages. The pattern of thymosin-beta 4 gene expression suggests that it may play a fundamental role in the host defense mechanism.

Phagocytosis of Legionella pneumophila is mediated by human monocyte complement receptors.

We have examined receptors mediating phagocytosis of the intracellular bacterial pathogen, Legionella pneumophila. Three mAbs against the type 3 complement receptor (CR3), which recognizes C3bi, inhibit adherence of L. pneumophila to monocytes by 64 +/- 8% to 74 +/- 11%. An mAb against the type 1 complement receptor (CR1), which recognizes C3b, inhibits adherence by 68 +/- 1%. mAbs against other monocyte surface antigens do not significantly influence adherence. Monocytes plated on substrates of L. pneumophila membranes modulate their CR1 and CR3 receptors but not Fc receptors; such monocytes bind 70% fewer C3b-coated erythrocytes and 53% fewer C3bi-coated erythrocytes than control monocytes. Adherence of L. pneumophila to monocytes in nonimmune sera is dependent on heat-labile serum opsonins; adherence is markedly reduced in heat-inactivated serum (84% reduction) or buffer alone (97% reduction) compared with fresh serum. mAbs against CR1 and CR3 receptors also inhibit L. pneumophila intracellular multiplication and protect monocyte monolayers from destruction by this bacterium. This study demonstrates that human monocyte complement receptors, CR1 and CR3, mediate phagocytosis of L. pneumophila. These receptors may play a general role in mediating phagocytosis of intracellular pathogens.

Characterization of the human erythrocyte complement receptor CR1 (C3b receptor) by epitope mapping

Monoclonal antibodies and an anti-idiotypic serum against human complement receptorCR1 (C3b receptor, immune adherence receptor) were used to identify CR1 and some of its proteolytic fragments by an immunoblotting technique. The anti-idiotypic serum had a specificity for the C3b-binding site, as could be shown by its cross-reactivity with complement factor H. The monoclonal antibodies GARP-4 and GARP-37 were specific for epitopes located nearby the ligand-binding site, because they blocked the immune adherence reaction. For the immunoblotting technique, it was essential to use non-reducing conditions, since reduction of CR1 destroyed the epitopes. Therefore, mainly large (disulphide-linked) frag ments of CR1 were obtained. A chymotryptic fragment of Mr 56,000 identified by GARP-4, was the smallest cleavage product to be associated with the C3b-binding domain. Different proteases gave CR1 degradation products of similar Mr, indicating the presence of distinct domains, three of which had a M r ∼ 38,000. A schematic model of CR1 substructure was deduced from the epitope mapping data.

Human complement receptor type 3

This chapter describes the purification of complement receptor type 3 (CR3), its assay, biosynthesis, and molecular cloning. The existence of CR3, a receptor that recognizes a fragment of the third component of complement termed iC3b, is initially based on the inability of antibodies specific for the CR1 or CR2 complement receptors to inhibit binding of iC3b-coated sheep erythrocytes to human leukocytes. CR3 is identical to Mol (synon. OKM1, Mac-l), 3-7 a monocyte/macrophage differentiation antigen defined by monoclonal antibodies. 8-1° Mol (CR3) is a surface membrane glycoprotein heterodimer present on monocytes, granulocytes, and large granular lymphocytes. For purification, Human granulocytes are obtained from ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA)-anticoagulated human blood centrifuged over a Ficoll-Hypaque cushion at 4°, followed by hypotonic lysis of the contaminating red cells. The presence of CR3 can be detected using immunochemical or functional assays. Biosynthesis of the/3 subunit of CR3 has been studied in mice and humans. Because the fl subunlt is also present on lymphocytes and thymocytes (in association with the subunlt of LFA-1), human EBV-transformed cell lines as well as the mouse thymocyte cell line, EL4, have been used.

Expression of specific binding sites on Candida with functional and antigenic characteristics of human complement receptors.

Receptors for C3 degradation fragments (CR1, CR2, and CR3) are present on many human cells including phagocytes and lymphoid cells and may be critical in the attachment of invading microorganisms. In these studies Candida were found to mimic the human CR by binding erythrocytes coated with specific human C3 fragments. Yeast forms of Candida species were adhered to glass slides and were allowed to germinate. Sheep erythrocytes (E) were coated with IgM (EA) and human complement components to prepare EA, EAC14, EAC3b, EAC3bi, and EAC3d. These test cells were then examined for adherence to the organism. Antibodies to human CR1, CR2, and CR3 were used to evaluate their potential for blocking adherence of the test erythrocytes to Candida. Fluorescein-labeled antibodies to human complement receptors were also used to characterize the binding sites. EAC3bi and EAC3d, but not E, EA, or EAC14, bound extensively to the germ tubes and pseudohyphae of Candida albicans and C. stellatoidea. EAC3b bound infrequently. Other Candida species, generally considered less pathogenic, bound significantly fewer specific test erythrocytes than C. albicans. Monoclonal antibodies to human CR1 and CR3 (3D9, 1B4, C511, 2B6, anti-B2, Mo1, and anti-Mac-1), in general, did not block adherence of test erythrocytes. Blocking of adherence of EAC3bi and EAC3d test erythrocytes coated with small quantities of C3 fragments occurred with high concentrations of monoclonal (anti-CR2) HB-5 and polyclonal (anti-CR2) anti-GP 140. Immunofluorescence studies demonstrated binding of Mo-1 to the germinated forms of the organism, whereas binding of the other antibodies was not seen. These studies suggest a surface constituent on the organism similar to CR on human cells. Additional studies are necessary to further define the molecular nature of the binding site. The ability of organisms to mimic human CR may be more generalized than previously known and may serve as a mechanism for modification of the inflammatory and immune response.

Analysis of multiple restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the gene for the human complement receptor type I. Duplication of genomic sequences occurs in association with a high molecular mass receptor allotype.

Human CR1 exhibits an unusual form of polymorphism in which allotypic variants differ in the molecular weight of their respective polypeptide chains. To address mechanisms involved in the generation of the CR1 allotypes, DNA from individuals having the F allotype (250,000 Mr), the S allotype (290,000 Mr), and the F' allotype (210,000 Mr) was digested by restriction enzymes, and Southern blots were hybridized with CR1 cDNA and genomic probes. With the use of Bam HI and Sac I, an additional restriction fragment was observed in 20 of 21 individuals having the S allotype with no associated loss of other restriction fragments. Southern blot analysis with a noncoding genomic probe derived from the S allotype-specific Bam HI fragment showed hybridization to this fragment and to two other fragments that were also present in FF individuals. Thus, an intervening sequence may be repeated twice in the F allele and three times in the S allele. A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) unique to two individuals expressing the F' allotype was seen with Eco RV, but the absence of persons homozygous for this rare allotype prevented further comparisons with the F and S allotypes. Analysis of the CR1 transcripts associated with the three CR1 allotypes indicated that these differed by 1.3-1.5 kb and had the same rank order as the corresponding allotypes. Taken together, these findings suggest that the S allele was generated from the F allele by the acquisition of additional sequences, the coding portion of which may correspond to a long homologous repeat of approximately 1.4 kb that has been identified in CR1 cDNA. We saw two other RFLPs with Hind III and Pvu II that were in linkage dysequilibrium with the Bam HI-Sac I RFLPs associated with the S allotype, and a third polymorphism was seen with Eco RI that was not in linkage dysequilibrium with the other polymorphisms. Thus, 10 commonly occurring CR1 alleles can be defined, making this locus a useful marker for the long arm of chromosome 1 to which the CR1 gene maps.

Release of immune complexes bound to erythrocyte complement receptor (CR1), with particular reference to the role of factor I.

The release of 125I-bovine serum albumin (BSA)-anti-BSA immune complexes (IC) bound to human erythrocyte complement receptors (E-CR1) was studied. IC were complement-solubilized in normal human serum (NHS), and reacted with human erythrocytes at conditions optimal for binding of the IC to E-CR1. E-CR1-bound IC could be released by the addition of NHS or purified factor I. Factor I-deficient or I-depleted serum mediated no release, and addition of purified factor I restored the release. Factor H was not required for the release of IC. The kinetics of IC release was influenced by the NHS concentration, the presence of EDTA, and the time of prior storage of the erythrocytes at 4 degrees C. NHS (1:5 to 1:10) in the presence of EDTA caused nearly maximal release within 10-20 min at 37 degrees C. In the absence of EDTA the NHS-induced IC release was markedly slower. IC released within the first 30 min showed significant rebinding to new E. The release of IC was not associated with loss of the IC binding activity of E-CR1. The NHS-mediated release of IC could be inhibited by rabbit anti-CR1 and by a mixture of protease inhibitors. Release induced by purified factor I was also inhibited by protease inhibitors. The affinity of IC binding to E-CR1 was reduced after cleavage of CR1-bound C3b-IC to iC3b-IC by factor I.

Identification of a partial cDNA clone for the C3d/Epstein-Barr virus receptor of human B lymphocytes: homology with the receptor for fragments C3b and C4b of the third and fourth components of complement.

Human complement receptor type 2 (CR2) is the B-lymphocyte receptor both for the C3d fragment of the third component of complement and for the Epstein-Barr virus. Amino acid sequence analysis of tryptic peptides of CR2 revealed a strong degree of homology with the human C3b/C4b receptor, CR1. This homology suggested that CR1 gene sequences could be used to detect the CR2 sequences at conditions of low-stringency hybridization. Upon screening a human tonsillar cDNA library with CR1 cDNA sequences, two clones were identified that hybridized at low, but not at high, stringency. Redundant oligonucleotides specific for CR2 sequences were synthesized and used to establish that the two cDNA clones weakly hybridizing with the CR1 cDNA contained CR2 sequences. One of these CR2 cDNA clones hybridized to oligonucleotides derived from two distinct CR2 tryptic peptides, whereas the other, smaller cDNA clone hybridized to oligonucleotides derived from only one of the CR2 peptides. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the CR2 cDNA confirmed that the site of oligonucleotide hybridization was identical to that predicted from the peptide sequence, including flanking sequences not included within the oligonucleotide probes. The CR2-specific cDNA sequences identified a poly(A)+ RNA species of 5 kilobases in RNA extracted from human B cells but did not hybridize to any RNA obtained from the CR2-negative T-cell line HSB-2, thus confirming the appropriate size and tissue-specific distribution for the CR2 mRNA. The striking peptide sequence homology between CR2 and CR1 and the cross-hybridization of the CR2 cDNA with the CR1-specific sequences allow the placement of CR2 in a recently defined gene family of C3- and C4-binding proteins consisting of CR1, C4-binding protein, factor H, and now, CR2.

The identification of N-linked oligosaccharides on the human CR2/Epstein-Barr virus receptor and their function in receptor metabolism, plasma membrane expression, and ligand binding.

Human complement receptor type 2 (CR2) was biosynthetically labeled by pulsing SB B lymphoblastoid cells for 25 min with [35S]methionine followed by chase in the presence of excess unlabeled methionine. An Mr 134,000 polypeptide represented the major form of the receptor at the end of the pulse period, and within 1 h of chase this disappeared coincident with the appearance of the Mr 145,000 mature form of CR2. Precursor, but not mature, CR2 was sensitive to endoglycosidase H, indicating that maturation of CR2 represented processing of N-linked high mannose oligosaccharides to the complex type. The processing of precursor CR2 was impaired by monensin. In the presence of tunicamycin an Mr 111,000 form of CR2 was synthesized by SB cells, and this did not chase into either precursor or mature CR2. This Mr 111,000 form of CR2 did not incorporate [3H]glucosamine, indicating that it lacked both N- and O-linked oligosaccharide. The half-lives of mature CR2 and nonglycosylated CR2 pulse-labeled in the presence of tunicamycin were 13.8 and 2.8 h, respectively; the turnover rate of B1, a membrane protein normally lacking carbohydrate, was unaffected by the presence of the antibiotic. The percentage of pulse-labeled, nonglycosylated CR2 that was expressed at the cell surface after 1 h of chase in the presence of tunicamycin was 30%, identical to that of mature CR2 in cells chased in the absence of the antibiotic. However, after 6 h of chase there was no additional net accumulation of nonglycosylated CR2 at the plasma membrane, while the proportion of pulse-labeled mature CR2 at this site had risen to 81%. Therefore, N-linked oligosaccharides are essential for the stability of CR2 and have some role in its plasma membrane expression. In contrast, the observation that all three forms of CR2 bound to Sepharose C3 indicates that oligosaccharides are not necessary for the interaction between CR2 and its complement ligand.

Growth control of activated, synchronized murine B cells by the C3d fragment of human complement.

Three restriction points control the cell cycle of activated B lymphocytes. The first occurs directly after mitosis and is controlled by the occupancy of surface-bound immunoglobulin. The second is observed approximately 4 h after mitosis in the G1 phase of the cycle, that is, before DNA replication, and is controlled by growth factors that are produced by macrophages which we have previously classified as alpha-type factors. The third restriction point occurs in the G2 phase, 2-4 h before mitosis, and is controlled by beta-type growth factors probably produced by helper T lymphocytes. The third component of complement, C3, has long been implicated in the control of B-cell responses. C3 is secreted by monocytes and macrophages. We have found recently that crosslinked, but not soluble, human C3 stimulates activated, but not resting, murine B cells to thymidine uptake. Here we investigate the role of C3b and C3d in the progression of the cell cycle of activated, synchronized murine B cells. We find that crosslinked C3d replaces the action of alpha-factors within the cell cycle of these cells and allows entry into S phase. In contrast, soluble C3d inhibits the action of alpha-factors. This implies that a C3d-specific receptor, probably the murine analogue to the human complement receptor CR2, is a growth factor receptor on activated B cells that will give the cell a growth-positive signal when it is crosslinked, while occupancy by the soluble form of C3d will result in inhibition of the action of alpha-factors or of crosslinked C3b or C3d. A stretch of weak homology between the cDNA sequence of murine C3d and those of murine growth factors indicates that an insulin-like growth factor could be the active principle of C3d that controls the cell cycle of activated B cells.

Human Complement Receptors for C3b (CR1) and C3d (CR2)

The human C3b receptor (CR1) is a polymorphic glycoprotein comprised of a single polypeptide chain. Of the 4 allotype forms of CR1 that have been described, the 2 most common have Mr's of 250,000 and 260,000, and are regulated by alleles having frequencies in a Caucasian population of 81.5% and 18.5%, respectively. CR1 is present on erythrocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, macrophages, B lymphocytes, some T lymphocytes, mast cells, and glomerular podocytes. CR1 number on erythrocytes is genetically regulated, and ranges from less than 100 sites per cell to greater than 1000 sites per cell, the average in the normal population being 500-600 sites per cell. A model accounting for this wide distribution proposes the existence of 2 codominant alleles determining low and high receptor number respectively; CR1 number is not affected by the structural polymorphism, so that the loci for these two phenotypic characteristics are distinct. The function of CR1 on erythrocytes may be to promote the clearance of immune complexes from the circulation. CR1 number on myelomonocytic cells is regulated by chemotactic factors which can rapidly transfer CR1 sites from a latent, presumably intracellular, site to the plasma membrane of these cells, thereby enhancing their ability to interact with opsonized foreign material. The receptor is involved in the endocytic reactions of these cells, and recent findings have demonstrated that this function can be modulated by T cell-derived factors, fibronectin, and phorbol esters. The role of CR1 on lymphocytes remains to be fully explored, although the receptor may enhance the differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting cells.

Deficiency of a surface membrane glycoprotein (Mo1) in man.

Deficiency of a granulocyte surface glycoprotein of 150,000-D had been associated with defective C3- and IgG-dependent phagocytosis in a patient with recurrent bacterial infections. By using monoclonal antibodies, we found that this patient's granulocytes, monocytes, and null cells were deficient in Mo1 (equivalent to OKM1 and Mac-1), a cell surface molecule consisting of two noncovalently linked glycoproteins of 155,000 and 94,000 D. The 155,000-D subunit is closely associated with the human complement receptor that recognizes C3bi and/or a further degradation product termed C3dg (C3bi receptor); the 94,000-D subunit has been shown to be shared, on normal cells, by two other surface membrane glycoproteins: lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and P-150, 95. Both subunits of Mo1 were deficient on the patient's granulocytes as determined by immunoprecipitation with subunit-specific monoclonal antibodies as well as fluorescence analysis. Mol-deficient monocytes, like granulocytes, had defective C3-and IgG-dependent phagocytosis. Natural killing activity by the patient's peripheral blood leukocytes was normal. Mo1-deficient granulocytes and monocytes rosetted normally with sheep erythrocytes coated with C3bi. This rosetting was totally inhibited by a mixture of anti-Mo1 and anti-C3b (the major fragment of C3) receptor antibodies but not by either antibody alone. Since monoclonal antibodies to the 155,000-D subunit of Mo1 can inhibit C3bi receptor binding, immune phagocytosis, opsonized zymosan-induced degranulation, and superoxide generation by normal phagocytes (functions which are defective in Mo1-deficient cells), it appears likely that Mo1 deficiency may in part underlie the functional aberrations leading to recurrent bacterial infections in man.

Monoclonal antibodies to human complement receptor (CR1) detect defects in glomerular diseases

The complement receptor for C3b of the epithelial cells of human glomeruli is structurally and functionally very similar or identical to CR1, the complement receptor for C3b and C4b present on the membrane of red cells and leukocytes. Four monoclonal antibodies directed against separate epitopes of CR1 react with an antigen in the glomeruli, which appears to be present on the epithelial podocytes. Moreover, the monoclonal antibodies very effectively inhibit the binding of C3b-bearing red cells to the glomeruli. The pattern of immunofluorescence of the receptor was normal or slightly altered in patients with minimal change disease, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (GN). or idiopathic membranous GN. Glomeruli with endocapillary proliferation showed some attenuation of staining. Glomeruli in which the capillary tuft architecture was altered, or of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, or of patients with diffuse diabetic nephropathy tended to have few foci or no staining for the receptor. No correlation was found between the intensities of staining of the C3b receptor and of C3 antigen deposited in the glomeruli.

Anti-Mac-1 selectively inhibits the mouse and human type three complement receptor.

Anti-Mac-1 (M1/70), a rat monoclonal antibody that reacts with mouse and human macrophages, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), and natural killer cells, selectively inhibited complement receptor-mediated rosetting by murine macrophages and human PMNL. Preincubation of macrophages with anti-Mac-1 inhibited formation of rosettes with sheep erythrocytes bearing IgM antibody and murine C3 fragments. No inhibition was observed when other monoclonal antibodies that react with macrophages (such as anti-Ly5, anti-H-2, or anti-pan-leukocyte) were tested at 10-fold higher concentrations. Anti-Mac-1 did not affect macrophage Fc receptor-mediated rosetting. Erythrocytes bearing homogeneous human C3 fragments C3b (EC3b) or C3bi (EC3bi) were used to test the specificity of the murine macrophage and human PMNL complement receptor inhibited by anti-Mac-1. In both cases, anti-Mac-1 inhibited CR3-mediated rosetting of EC3bi but not CR1-dependent rosetting of EC3b. The results show that Mac-1 is either identical to CR3 or closely associated with CR3 function. This is one of the first cases in which a monoclonal antibody-defined differentiation antigen has been associated with a specific cell surface function.

Characterization of the human complement (c3b) receptor with a fluid phase C3b dimer.

The interaction of C3b receptor with C3b, the major cleavage product of C3, elicits important biologic functions, such as enhanced phagocytosis and release of cellular enzymes. We determined the binding kinetics and binding isotherm of C3b-receptor interaction by using human cells and fluid phase C3b generated by trypsin cleavage of purified native C3. 125I labeled C3b was separated into 2 molecular species, a dimer and a monomer by column chromatography. We found that dimeric C3b bound to human erythrocyte C3b receptors with an affinity that was more than 25 times that of the monomer. 125I dimeric C3b did not bind to sheep red blood cells, which lack the C3b receptor, nor to trypsinized or 2-mercaptoethanol treated normal human red blood cells, 2 methods for abrogating the immune adherence activity. Binding of 125I fluid phase C3b dimer to the C3b receptor was specific, saturable (about 90 ng of C3b dimer bound maximally per 1 X 10(9) red blood cells), reversible (in the presence of a 100-fold molar excess of unlabeled ligand), and of moderate affinity (Kd about 9.53 nM). The equilibrium binding constants were similar with the various cells tested. Binding was characterized by rapid on and off rates and did not exhibit ligand cooperativity. This specific interaction reached a steady state within 10 to 15 min at 0 degrees C; 50% of specifically bound ligand dissociated from its binding site on human red blood cells in approximately 1 min at 0 degrees C. The density of C3b receptors on human red blood cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes, and B lymphocyte-enriched preparations was 360, 20,000, 30,000, and 21,000 receptors/cell, respectively.

Binding sites for immune complexes containing IgG in the renal interstitium

In immunologically mediated interstitial renal disease, immunoglobulin and complement are often localized in involved areas of the kidney. The mechanism by which these immune components localize in renal tubulo-interstitial sites is not known. Here, we describe the presence of binding sites for the Fc fragment of IgG in the renal interstitium of man and in a variety of other species. These binding sites were demonstrated in vitro by the specific adherence of IgG-coated sheep or human red blood cells to frozen sections of renal tissue. Binding was specifically blocked by IgG and not by IgM, IgA, or other human and animal proteins. Reagent RBC coated with the (Fab′) 2 fragment of IgG were not bound. In contrast to the previously described human glomerular complement receptors, these interstitial IgG-Fc receptors are present in man and in all animal species studied. Such receptor sites may be involved in the deposition of antigen-antibody complexes in renal interstitial areas.

Binding of soluble immune complexes to human glomerular complement receptors

It generally is admitted that the glomerular deposition of antigen-antibody complexes merely results from their trapping by the glomerular capillary bed during the ultrafiltration process [1]. The presence of glomerular complement receptors (GCR) [2–8] on the epithelial [3, 8] or mesangial cells [6, 7] suggests that another mechanism leading to the glomerular localization of complement-bearing immune complexes could be their selective interaction with the GCR. To study the binding of immune complexes to the GCR in vitro, we determined the normal GCR binding activity with a technique recently described by Gelfand et al [9]. After the binding conditions were standardized, we studied the GCR binding activity in the presence of increasing amounts of aggregated immunoglobulins or of DNA-anti-DNA complexes. The GCR binding activity then was measured in the presence of serum samples from patients presenting with presumed immune complex-mediated glomerular diseases. In those serum samples where the GCR binding activity was significantly reduced, the physicochemical and immunochemical properties of the causative material were characterized further. Finally, correlations were made between the GCR binding activity and the C1q binding test [10].

Enhancement of Human Eosinophil Complement Receptors by Pharmacologic Mediators

Abstract With the rosette technique, the ECF-A tetrapeptides (Val-Gly-Ser-Glu and Ala-Gly-Ser-Glu) and histamine, agents previously shown to be preferentially chemotactic for the eosinophil, markedly enhanced the expression of human eosinophil receptors for C3b. The enhancement was both dose- and time-dependent, and highly selective for the eosinophil since there was no evidence that C3b receptors on neutrophils or monocytes were altered by these pharmacologic agents even when varying concentrations of C3 were added to the indicator red cells. The agents similarly enhanced receptors for C4, but under the same conditions C3d and IgG (Fc) receptors were unaffected. A number of other pharmacologic mediators including bradykinin and the prostaglandins PGE1, E2, and F2α had no apparent effect on eosinophil C3b receptors at the same molar concentrations (5 × 10-5 to 5 × 10-7 moles 1-1). However, a major histamine catabolite, imidazoleacetic acid, also recognized as an anaphylaxis-associated eosinophilotactic agent, enhanced eosinophil C3b receptors to a degree comparable to that of histamine. In contrast, l-histidine and the histamine catabolites, N-acetylhistamine, 1,4-methylhistamine, and 1-methyl-4-imidazoleacetic acid, had no eosinophil C3b receptor-enhancing effect. 5-hydroxytryptamine at the highest concentration tested (5 × 10-5 moles 1-1) gave enhancment of eosinophil C3b receptors which was approximately one-third of that achieved with the same concentration of the ECF-A peptides, histamine, or imidazoleacetic acid. A human lung anaphylactic diffusate also enhanced eosinophil C3b receptors. Approximately 10 times more synthetic histamine than that contained in the lung-derived material was required for comparable enhancement, indicating that the histamine and ECF-A peptides present in the diffusate may have combined to give optimal enhancing effect. However, when synthetic histamine and the valyl- or alanyl-peptide, were mixed in various proportions, the enhancement was no greater than that achieved when each agent was tested alone. These results suggest that pharmacologic mediators of hypersensitivity may regulate certain eosinophil-dependent biologic reactions and that there may be a direct relationship between the cell surface “recognition unit” for eosinophil locomotion and some of the membrane receptors that promote the adhesion of eosinophils to opsonized particles.

Enhancement of Human Eosinophil Complement Receptors by Pharmacologic Mediators

Abstract Human eosinophils and neutrophils were shown to have receptors for rabbit and human IgG, and for the human complement components C4, C3b, and C3d (A. R. E. Anwar and A. B. Kay (1977), J. Immunol. 119: 976, 1977. We now report that agents which have a selective effect on human eosinophil motility in vitro, such as the ECF-A peptides and histamine, also enhance the number of receptors for C3b and C4, but not for IgG and C3d. The ECF-A tetrapeptides (Val-Gly-Ser-Glu and Ala-Gly-Ser-Glu) and histamine increased the percentage of eosinophils forming rosettes with EAC3b by approximately 90%, an effect that was observed in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Neutrophil and monocyte C3b receptors were unaltered by this treatment and other pharmacologic agents such as bradykinin and the prostaglandins E1, E2, and F2α were without effect on any of the cell types when tested in the dose range 10-4 to 10- mole/1.