Structural basis of profactor D activation: from a highly flexible zymogen to a novel self-inhibited serine protease, complement factor D. (1/132)

The crystal structure of profactor D, determined at 2.1 A resolution with an Rfree and an R-factor of 25.1 and 20.4%, respectively, displays highly flexible or disordered conformation for five regions: N-22, 71-76, 143-152, 187-193 and 215-223. A comparison with the structure of its mature serine protease, complement factor D, revealed major conformational changes in the similar regions. Comparisons with the zymogen-active enzyme pairs of chymotrypsinogen, trypsinogen and prethrombin-2 showed a similar distribution of the flexible regions. However, profactor D is the most flexible of the four, and its mature enzyme displays inactive, self-inhibited active site conformation. Examination of the surface properties of the N-terminus-binding pocket indicates that Ile16 may play the initial positioning role for the N-terminus, and Leu17 probably also helps in inducing the required conformational changes. This process, perhaps shared by most chymotrypsinogen-like zymogens, is followed by a factor D-unique step, the re-orientation of an external Arg218 to an internal position for salt-bridging with Asp189, leading to the generation of the self-inhibited factor D.  (+info)

Calcium-independent haemolysis via the lectin pathway of complement activation in the guinea-pig and other species*. (2/132)

We previously reported that complement-dependent haemolysis of sheep erythrocytes (E) coated with mannan (M) and sensitized with human mannan-binding lectin (MBL) via the lectin pathway in man occurs in Mg-EGTA and requires alternative pathway amplification. Calcium was required for MBL binding to E-M, but once the E-M-MBL intermediate was formed, MBL was retained and haemolysis occurred in the absence of calcium. Comparable or greater lectin pathway haemolysis in the absence of calcium was observed upon incubation of E-M-MBL in guinea-pig, rat, dog and pig sera, and was further investigated in the guinea-pig, in which titres were much higher ( approximately 14-fold) than in man, and in contrast to humans, greater than classical pathway haemolytic activity. As in human serum, no lysis was observed in C4- or C2-deficient guinea-pig serum until purified C4 or C2, respectively, were restored. However, lectin pathway haemolytic activity in the guinea-pig did not require the alternative pathway. Removal (>98%) of factor D activity by three sequential passages through Sephadex G-75, resulting in serum which retained a normal classical pathway but no alternative pathway haemolytic activity, did not reduce the ability of guinea-pig serum to mediate haemolysis via the lectin pathway. Further, the C3-convertase formed via the lectin pathway (E-M-MBL-C4,2) lysed in C2-deficient guinea-pig but not human serum chelated with EDTA, a condition which precludes alternative pathway amplification. Thus, lectin pathway haemolysis occurs efficiently in guinea-pig serum, in the absence of calcium and without requirement for alternative pathway amplification. The guinea-pig provides a model for studying the assembly and haemolytic function of a lectin pathway which contrasts with the lectin pathway of man, and allows for comparisons that may help clarify the role of this pathway in complement biology.  (+info)

The Arthus reaction in rodents: species-specific requirement of complement. (3/132)

We induced reverse passive Arthus (RPA) reactions in the skin of rodents and found that the contribution of complement to immune complex-mediated inflammation is species specific. Complement was found to be necessary in rats and guinea pigs but not in C57BL/6J mice. In rats, within 4 h after initiation of an RPA reaction, serum alternative pathway hemolytic titers decreased significantly below basal levels, whereas classical pathway titers were unchanged. Thus the dermal reaction proceeds coincident with systemic activation of complement. The serine protease inhibitor BCX 1470, which blocks the esterolytic and hemolytic activities of the complement enzymes Cls and factor D in vitro, also blocked development of RPA-induced edema in the rat. These data support the proposal that complement-mediated processes are of major importance in the Arthus reaction in rats and guinea pigs, and suggest that BCX 1470 will be useful as an anti-inflammatory agent in diseases where complement activation is known to be detrimental.  (+info)

Mutational analysis of the primary substrate specificity pocket of complement factor B. Asp(226) is a major structural determinant for p(1)-Arg binding. (4/132)

Factor B is a serine protease, which despite its trypsin-like specificity has Asn instead of the typical Asp at the bottom of the S(1) pocket (position 189, chymotrypsinogen numbering). Asp residues are present at positions 187 and 226 and either one could conceivably provide the negative charge for binding the P(1)-Arg of the substrate. Determination of the crystal structure of the factor B serine protease domain has revealed that the side chain of Asp(226) is within the S(1) pocket, whereas Asp(187) is located outside the pocket. To investigate the possible role of these atypical structural features in substrate binding and catalysis, we constructed a panel of mutants of these residues. Replacement of Asp(187) caused moderate (50-60%) decrease in hemolytic activity, compared with wild type factor B, whereas replacement of Asn(189) resulted in more profound reductions (71-95%). Substitutions at these two positions did not significantly affect assembly of the alternative pathway C3 convertase. In contrast, elimination of the negative charge from Asp(226) completely abrogated hemolytic activity and also affected formation of the C3 convertase. Kinetic analyses of the hydrolysis of a P(1)-Arg containing thioester by selected mutants confirmed that residue Asp(226) is a primary structural determinant for P(1)-Arg binding and catalysis.  (+info)

C/EBPbeta, when expressed from the C/ebpalpha gene locus, can functionally replace C/EBPalpha in liver but not in adipose tissue. (5/132)

Knockout of C/EBPalpha causes a severe loss of liver function and, subsequently, neonatal lethality in mice. By using a gene replacement approach, we generated a new C/EBPalpha-null mouse strain in which C/EBPbeta, in addition to its own expression, substituted for C/EBPalpha expression in tissues. The homozygous mutant mice C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) are viable and fertile and show none of the overt liver abnormalities found in the previous C/EBPalpha-null mouse line. Levels of hepatic PEPCK mRNA are not different between C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) and wild-type mice. However, despite their normal growth rate, C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) mice have markedly reduced fat storage in their white adipose tissue (WAT). Expression of two adipocyte-specific factors, adipsin and leptin, is significantly reduced in the WAT of C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) mice. In addition, expression of the non-adipocyte-specific genes for transferrin and cysteine dioxygenase is reduced in WAT but not in liver. Our study demonstrates that when expressed from the C/ebpalpha gene locus, C/EBPbeta can act for C/EBPalpha to maintain liver functions during development. Moreover, our studies with the C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) mice provide new insights into the nonredundant functions of C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta on gene regulation in WAT.  (+info)

Induction of adipocyte-specific gene expression is correlated with mammary tumor regression by the retinoid X receptor-ligand LGD1069 (targretin). (6/132)

Targretin (LGD1069; a high-affinity ligand for the retinoid X receptors) is an efficacious chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agent in the N-nitroso-N-methylurea-induced rat mammary carcinoma model. To evaluate the molecular action of LGD1069 in mammary carcinoma we have examined gene expression patterns in controls and nonresponding tumors compared with tumors undergoing regression (responding) by LGD1069. When compared with controls or nonresponding tumors, the expression of adipocyte-related genes such as adipocyte P2 (aP2), adipsin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), and lipoprotein lipase was elevated in LGD1069-responding tumors. Further analysis showed that gene expression changes occurred rapidly, in as little as 6 h, after the first dose of LGD1069. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that aP2 protein was also highly expressed in responding tumors when compared with control or nonresponding tumors. More importantly, aP2 protein was localized in the tumor cells in addition to the adipocytes present in the tumors. Similar changes in gene expression and inhibition in growth were seen in tumor cells (cloned from N-nitroso-N-methylurea-induced carcinoma) exposed to LGD1069 in vitro. These data suggest that tumor regression by LGD1069 involves differentiation induction along the adipocyte lineage.  (+info)

A comparison of on-line hemodiafiltration and high-flux hemodialysis: a prospective clinical study. (7/132)

Some of the morbidity associated with chronic hemodialysis is thought to result from retention of large molecular weight solutes that are poorly removed by diffusion in conventional hemodialysis. Hemodiafiltration combines convective and diffusive solute removal in a single therapy. The hypothesis that hemodiafiltration provides better solute removal than high-flux hemodialysis was tested in a prospective, randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomized to either on-line postdilution hemodiafiltration or high-flux hemodialysis. The groups did not differ in body size, treatment time, blood flow rate, or net fluid removal. The filtration volume in hemodiafiltration was 21 +/-1 L. Therapy prescriptions were unchanged for a 12-mo study period. Removal of both small (urea and creatinine) and large (ss(2)-microglobulin and complement factor D) solutes was significantly greater for hemodiafiltration than for high-flux hemodialysis. The increased urea and creatinine removal did not result in lower pretreatment serum concentrations in the hemodiafiltration group. Pretreatment plasma beta(2)-microglobulin concentrations decreased with time (P< 0.001); however, the decrease was similar for both therapies (P = 0.317). Pretreatment plasma complement factor D concentrations also decreased with time (P<0.001), and the decrease was significantly greater with hemodiafiltration than with high-flux hemodialysis (P = 0.010). The conclusion is that on-line hemodiafiltration provides superior solute removal to high-flux hemodialysis over a wide molecular weight range. The improved removal may not result in lower pretreatment plasma concentrations, however, possibly because of limitations in mass transfer rates within the body.  (+info)

A family with complement factor D deficiency. (8/132)

A complement factor D deficiency was found in a young woman who had experienced a serious Neisseria meningitidis infection, in a deceased family member with a history of meningitis, and in three relatives without a history of serious infections. The patient and these three relatives showed a normal activity of the classical complement pathway, but a very low activity of the alternative complement pathway and a very low capacity to opsonize Escherichia coli and N. meningitidis (isolated from the patient) for phagocytosis by normal human neutrophils. The alternative pathway-dependent hemolytic activity and the opsonizing capacity of these sera were restored by addition of purified factor D. The family had a high degree of consanguinity, and several other family members exhibited decreased levels of factor D. The gene encoding factor D was found to contain a point mutation that changed the TCG codon for serine 42 into a TAG stop codon. This mutation was found in both alleles of the five completely factor D-deficient family members and in one allele of 21 other members of the same family who had decreased or low-normal factor D levels in their serum. The gene sequence of the signal peptide of human factor D was also identified. Our report is the first, to our knowledge, to document a Factor D gene mutation. The mode of inheritance of factor D deficiency is autosomal recessive, in accordance with the localization of the Factor D gene on chromosome 19. Increased susceptibility for infections in individuals with a partial factor D deficiency is unlikely.  (+info)