scholarly journals A Computational Model for the Evaluation of Complement System Regulation under Homeostasis, Disease, and Drug Intervention

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nehemiah Zewde ◽  
Dimitrios Morikis

HighlightsComputational model describing dynamics of complement system activation pathwaysComplement dysregulation leads to deviation from homeostasis and to inflammatory diseasesModel identifies biomarkers to quantify the effects of complement dysregulationKnown drugs restore impaired dynamics of complement biomarkers under dysregulationDisease-specific models are suitable for diagnosis and patient-specific drug treatmentAbstractThe complement system is a part of innate immunity that rapidly removes invading pathogens and impaired host-cells. Activation of the complement system is balanced under homeostasis by regulators that protect healthy host-cells. Impairment of complement regulators tilts the balance, favoring activation and propagation that leads to inflammatory diseases. The most potent regulator of the complement system is Factor H (FH), and its impairment induces improper complement activation that leads to inflammatory diseases, such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and age related macular degeneration. To understand the dynamics involved in the pivotal balance between activation and regulation, we have developed a comprehensive computational model of the alternative and classical pathways of the complement system. The model is composed of 290 ordinary differential equations with 142 kinetic parameters that describe the state of complement system under homeostasis and disorder through FH impairment. We have evaluated the state of the system by generating concentration-time profiles for the biomarkers C3, C3a-desArg, C5, C5a-desArg, Factor B (FB), Ba, Bb, and fC5b-9 that are influenced by complement dysregulation. We show that FH-mediated disorder induces substantial levels of complement activation compared to homeostasis, by generating reduced levels of C3 and FB, and to a lesser extent C5, and elevated levels of C3a-desArg, Ba, Bb, C5a-desArg, and fC5b-9. These trends are consistent with clinically observed biomarkers associated with complement-mediated diseases. Furthermore, we introduced therapy states by modeling known drugs of the complement system, a compstatin variant (C3 inhibitor) and eculizumab (a C5 inhibitor). Compstatin demonstrates strong restorative effects for early-stage biomarkers, such as C3a-desArg, FB, Ba, and Bb, and milder restorative effects for late-stage biomarkers, such as C5a-desArg and fC5b-9, whereas eculizumab has strong restorative effects on late-stage biomarkers, and negligible effects on early-stage biomarkers. These results highlight the need for patient-specific therapies that target early complement activation at the C3 level, or late-stage propagation of the terminal cascade at the C5 level, depending on the specific FH-mediated disease and the manifestations of a patient’s genetic profile in complement regulatory function.

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (15) ◽  
pp. 3987-3992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara L. Lenis ◽  
Shanta Sarfare ◽  
Zhichun Jiang ◽  
Marcia B. Lloyd ◽  
Dean Bok ◽  
...  

Recessive Stargardt macular degeneration (STGD1) is caused by mutations in the gene for the ABCA4 transporter in photoreceptor outer segments. STGD1 patients and Abca4−/− (STGD1) mice exhibit buildup of bisretinoid-containing lipofuscin pigments in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), increased oxidative stress, augmented complement activation and slow degeneration of photoreceptors. A reduction in complement negative regulatory proteins (CRPs), possibly owing to bisretinoid accumulation, may be responsible for the increased complement activation seen on the RPE of STGD1 mice. CRPs prevent attack on host cells by the complement system, and complement receptor 1-like protein y (CRRY) is an important CRP in mice. Here we attempted to rescue the phenotype in STGD1 mice by increasing expression of CRRY in the RPE using a gene therapy approach. We injected recombinant adeno-associated virus containing the CRRY coding sequence (AAV-CRRY) into the subretinal space of 4-wk-old Abca4−/− mice. This resulted in sustained, several-fold increased expression of CRRY in the RPE, which significantly reduced the complement factors C3/C3b in the RPE. Unexpectedly, AAV-CRRY–treated STGD1 mice also showed reduced accumulation of bisretinoids compared with sham-injected STGD1 control mice. Furthermore, we observed slower photoreceptor degeneration and increased visual chromophore in 1-y-old AAV-CRRY–treated STGD1 mice. Rescue of the STGD1 phenotype by AAV-CRRY gene therapy suggests that complement attack on the RPE is an important etiologic factor in STGD1. Modulation of the complement system by locally increasing CRP expression using targeted gene therapy represents a potential treatment strategy for STGD1 and other retinopathies associated with complement dysregulation.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (2) ◽  
pp. F555-F564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda M. Lenderink ◽  
Katharine Liegel ◽  
Danica Ljubanović ◽  
Kathrin E. Coleman ◽  
Gary S. Gilkeson ◽  
...  

The complement system effectively identifies and clears invasive pathogens as well as injured host cells. Uncontrolled complement activation can also contribute to tissue injury, however, and inhibition of this system may ameliorate many types of inflammatory injury. Several studies have demonstrated that the filtration of complement proteins into the renal tubules, as occurs during proteinuric renal disease, causes tubular inflammation and injury. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that activation of the complement system in the urinary space requires an intact alternative pathway. Using a model of adriamycin-induced renal injury, which induces injury resembling focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, we examined whether mice deficient in factor B would be protected from the development of progressive tubulointerstitial injury. Complement activation was attenuated in the glomeruli and tubulointerstitium of mice with congenital deficiency of factor B ( fB−/−) compared with wild-type controls, demonstrating that complement activation does occur through the alternative pathway. Deficiency in factor B did not significantly protect the mice from tubulointerstitial injury. However, treatment of wild-type mice with an inhibitory monoclonal antibody to factor B did delay the development of renal failure. These results demonstrate that complement activation in this nonimmune complex-mediated model of progressive renal disease requires an intact alternative pathway.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (26) ◽  
pp. 8746-8758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Pedersen ◽  
Rasmus K. Jensen ◽  
Annette G. Hansen ◽  
Trine A. F. Gadeberg ◽  
Steffen Thiel ◽  
...  

The complement system is a tightly controlled proteolytic cascade in the innate immune system, which tags intruding pathogens and dying host cells for clearance. An essential protein in this process is complement component C3. Uncontrolled complement activation has been implicated in several human diseases and disorders and has spurred the development of therapeutic approaches that modulate the complement system. Here, using purified proteins and several biochemical assays and surface plasmon resonance, we report that our nanobody, hC3Nb2, inhibits C3 deposition by all complement pathways. We observe that the hC3Nb2 nanobody binds human native C3 and its degradation products with low nanomolar affinity and does not interfere with the endogenous regulation of C3b deposition mediated by Factors H and I. Using negative stain EM analysis and functional assays, we demonstrate that hC3Nb2 inhibits the substrate–convertase interaction by binding to the MG3 and MG4 domains of C3 and C3b. Furthermore, we notice that hC3Nb2 is cross-reactive and inhibits the lectin and alternative pathway in murine serum. We conclude that hC3Nb2 is a potent, general, and versatile inhibitor of the human and murine complement cascades. Its cross-reactivity suggests that this nanobody may be valuable for analysis of complement activation within animal models of both acute and chronic diseases.


2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.B. Sim ◽  
S.A. Tsiftsoglou

The complement system is a group of about 35 soluble and cell-surface proteins which interact to recognize, opsonize and clear or kill invading micro-organisms or altered host cells (e.g. apoptotic or necrotic cells). Complement is a major part of the innate immune system. Recognition proteins such as C1q, MBL (mannan-binding lectin) and ficolins bind to targets via charge or sugar arrays. Binding causes activation of a series of serine protease proenzymes, such as C1r, C1s and MASP2 (MBL-associated serine protease 2), which in turn activate the atypical serine proteases factor B and C2, which then activate the major opsonin of the system, C3. Activated C3 binds covalently to targets, and is recognized by receptors on phagocytic cells. Two of the complement proteases, factors D and I, circulate not as proenzymes, but in activated form, and they have no natural inhibitors; their substrates are transient protein complexes (e.g. C3bB and C3bH) which form during complement activation. Factor B and C2 also have no natural inhibitor; they are active only when proteolytically cleaved and bound in an unstable, short-lived complex with C3b or C4b. C1r, C1s and the MASPs, in contrast, are regulated more conventionally by the natural serpin, C1-inhibitor. Complement proteases in general have very narrow specificity, and low substrate turnover with both natural and synthetic substrates. Excessive activation of complement is inflammatory, and causes tissue damage (e.g. in rheumatoid arthritis, or in ischaemia/reperfusion injury). Substances that regulate complement activation are likely to be useful in the regulation of inflammation. Complement activation might potentially be controlled at many different steps. Much attention has been focused on controlling the formation or activity of the protease complexes C3bBb and C4b2a (containing activated factor B and C2 respectively), as these generate the inflammatory peptides C3a and C5a.


2021 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-48
Author(s):  
A.G. Rumyantsev ◽  
◽  
A.G. Rumyantsev ◽  
O.M. Demina ◽  
◽  
...  

It has been shown that the inflammatory response in acne develops at the early subclinical stages of the disease, sometimes before the formation of comedones. It is known that an important component of the innate immune system is the complement system, which includes more than 60 components, including 9 basic proteins (C1-C9), a variety of activation products (C3a, C3b, iC3b, C3d and C3dg), regulatory and inhibitory molecules [factor H, fH-like protein 1 (FHL1), CR1 (CD35), C4b-binding protein (C4BP), C1inh and vitronectin], proteases and secreted enzymes (factor B, factor D, C3bBb and C4bC2b), as well as receptors for effector molecules [C3aR, C5aR, C5L2 and C1q receptor (C1qR)]. The compliment is the central part of innate immunity, which is the first line of protection against alien and altered host cells. The objectives of this study were to determine and analyze the variants of the nucleotide sequence of the genes of the complement system C1QA, C1S, C2, C3, C5, C6, C7, C8A, C8B, C8G, C9 in patients with severe acne. Materials and methods of research: To achieve the target a prospective open non-randomized one-center study was carried out in 2017–2020. Under our supervision in the clinical setting at the Department of Skin Diseases and Cosmetology of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, there were 50 patients in the main group and 20 participants in the comparison group (70 people in total) (42/60% men and 28/40% women) aged 15 to 46 years (median – 22,1 years). Molecular genetic diagnostics was performed in all 70 patients of the main and control groups by the method of high-throughput DNA sequencing – next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: when analyzing the nucleotide sequence variants of the complement system genes identified in our study, it is shown that the severe form of acne probably has an association (4 SNPs of the C8A gene, 1 SNPs of the C8B gene, 2 SNPs of the C1S gene, 3 SNPs of the C3 gene, 2 SNPs of the C9 gene, 1 SNPs of the C7 gene, 1 SNPs of the C6 gene, 1 SNPs of the C2 gene, 2 SNPs of the C5 gene, 2 SNPs of the C8G gene), 13 SNPs of the complement system genes in introns (1 SNPs of the C8A gene, 1 SNPs of the C8B gene, 2 SNPs of the C1S gene, 1 SNPs of the C3 gene, 1 SNPs of the C7 gene, 2 SNPs of the C6 gene, 4 SNPs of the C5 gene, 1 SNPs of C8G gene), 6 SNPs of the complement system genes (2 SNPs of the C8B gene: one SNPs each in the 3'UTR and 5'UTR zones; 3 SNPs of the C3 gene in the 5'UTR zone, 1 SNPs of the C7 gene in the 3'UTR zone). Two mutations of the frame shift of the C2 gene (frameshift deletion) and the C9 gene (rs748464075, frameshift insertion) seem to have a protective effect in the development of acne. Conclusion: the obtained variants of the nucleotide sequence of the genes of the complement system C1QA, C1S, C2, C3, C5, C6, C7, C8A, C8B, C8G, C9, apparently, are associated with the formation of severe acne and cause an imbalance of the components of the complement system. It can cause a defect in chemotactic and phagocytic reactions, and as a result a disturbance of the regulation of the inflammatory reaction with chronization of the skin process occures. Thus, results of studies carried out, revealed – for the first time – polymorphic loci of genes of components of the complement system, the imbalance of which is the pathophysiological mechanism of acne.


Author(s):  
Sorena Lo ◽  
Li Jiang ◽  
Savannah Stacks ◽  
Haixia Lin ◽  
Nirmala Parajuli

Aberrant complement activation leads to tissue damage during kidney transplantation, and it is recognized as an important target for therapeutic intervention (6, 19, 35, 64). However, it is not clear whether cold storage (CS) triggers the complement pathway in transplanted kidneys. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of CS on complement activation in renal transplants. Male Lewis and Fischer rats were used, and donor rat kidneys were exposed to 4 h or 18 h of CS followed by transplantation (CS+Transplant). To study CS-induced effects, a group with no CS was included in which the kidney was removed and transplanted back to the same rat (autotransplantation, ATx). Complement proteins (C3 and C5b-9) were evaluated with western blotting (reducing and non-reducing conditions) and immunostaining. Western blot of renal extracts or serum indicated that the levels of C3 and C5b-9 increased after CS+Transplant compared to ATx. Quite strikingly, intracellular C3 was profoundly elevated within renal tubules after CS+Transplant but was absent in Sham or ATx groups, which showed only extratubular C3. Similarly, C5b-9 immunofluorescence staining of renal sections showed an increase in C5b-9 deposits in kidneys after CS+Transplant. Real-time PCR (SYBR Green) showed increased expression of CD11b and CD11c, components of complement receptors 3 and 4, respectively, as well as inflammatory markers such as TNF-α. In addition, recombinant TNF-α significantly increased C3 levels in renal cells. Collectively, these results demonstrate that CS activates the complement system in renal transplants.


2000 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 545-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Sim ◽  
A. Laich

The complement system in blood plasma is a major mediator of innate immune defence. The function of complement is to recognize, then opsonize or lyse, particulate materials, including bacteria, yeasts and other microrganisms, host cell debris and altered host cells. Recognition occurs by binding of complement proteins to charge or saccharide arrays. After recognition, a series of serine proteases is activated, culminating in the assembly of complex unstable proteases called C3/C5 convertases. These activate the complement protein C3, which acts as an opsonin. The complement serine proteases include the closely related Clr, Cls, MASPs 1–3 (80–90 kDa), C2 and Factor B (100 kDa), Factor D (25 kDa) and Factor 1 (85 kDa). Each of these has unusually restricted specificity and low enzymic activity. The C1r, C1s and MASP group occur as proenzymes. When activated, they are regulated, like many plasma serine proteases, by a serpin, C1-inhibitor. C2 and Factor B, however, have complex multiple regulation by a group of complement proteins called the Regulation of Complement Activation (or RCA) proteins, whereas Factors I and D appear to have no natural inhibitors. Advances in structure determination and protein-protein interaction properties are leading to a more detailed understanding of the complement-system proteases, and are indicating possible new routes for potential therapeutic control of complement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Guo ◽  
Min Li ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Li-wei Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The complement system plays a critical role as the pathogenic factor in the models of acute lung injury due to various causes. Cobra venom factor (CVF) is a commonly used complement research tool. The CVF can cause acute inflammation in the lung by producing complement activation components. Atorvastatin (ATR) is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitor approved for control of plasma cholesterol levels. This inhibitor can reduce the acute pulmonary inflammatory response. However, the ability of ATR in treating acute lung inflammation caused by complement activation is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ATR on lung inflammation in mice induced by activation of the complement alternative pathway in this study. Methods ATR (10 mg/kg/day via oral gavage) was administered for 7 days before tail vein injection of CVF (25 μg/kg). On the seventh day, all mice were sacrificed 1 h after injection. The lung lobe, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and blood samples were collected. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of the lung homogenate, the leukocyte cell count, and the protein content of BALF were measured. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), P-selectin, and Intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in BALF and serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pathological change of the lung tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The deposition of C5b-9 in the lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. The phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in the lung tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Results The lung inflammation levels were determined by measuring the leukocyte cell numbers and protein content of BALF, the lung MPO activity, and expression and staining of the inflammatory mediators (IL-6 and TNF-α), and adhesion molecules (P-selectin and ICAM-1) for lung lesion. A significant reduction in the lung inflammation levels was observed after 7 days in ATR pre-treated mice with a CVF-induced lung disease. Deposition of C5b-9 was significantly alleviated by ATR pretreatment. Early intervention with ATR significantly reduced the development of acute lung inflammation on the basis of phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in the lung. Conclusion These findings suggest the identification of ATR treatment for the lung inflammation induced by activating the complement system on the basis of its anti-inflammatory response. Together with the model replicating the complement activating characteristics of acute lung injury, the results may be translatable to the overactivated complement relevant diseases.


mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa E. Gralinski ◽  
Timothy P. Sheahan ◽  
Thomas E. Morrison ◽  
Vineet D. Menachery ◽  
Kara Jensen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is immune-driven pathologies that are observed in severe cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection. SARS-CoV emerged in 2002 to 2003 and led to a global outbreak of SARS. As with the outcome of human infection, intranasal infection of C57BL/6J mice with mouse-adapted SARS-CoV results in high-titer virus replication within the lung, induction of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and immune cell infiltration within the lung. Using this model, we investigated the role of the complement system during SARS-CoV infection. We observed activation of the complement cascade in the lung as early as day 1 following SARS-CoV infection. To test whether this activation contributed to protective or pathologic outcomes, we utilized mice deficient in C3 (C3–/–), the central component of the complement system. Relative to C57BL/6J control mice, SARS-CoV-infected C3–/– mice exhibited significantly less weight loss and less respiratory dysfunction despite equivalent viral loads in the lung. Significantly fewer neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes were present in the lungs of C3–/– mice than in C56BL/6J controls, and subsequent studies revealed reduced lung pathology and lower cytokine and chemokine levels in both the lungs and the sera of C3–/– mice than in controls. These studies identify the complement system as an important host mediator of SARS-CoV-induced disease and suggest that complement activation regulates a systemic proinflammatory response to SARS-CoV infection. Furthermore, these data suggest that SARS-CoV-mediated disease is largely immune driven and that inhibiting complement signaling after SARS-CoV infection might function as an effective immune therapeutic. IMPORTANCE The complement system is a critical part of host defense to many bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. It works alongside pattern recognition receptors to stimulate host defense systems in advance of activation of the adaptive immune response. In this study, we directly test the role of complement in SARS-CoV pathogenesis using a mouse model and show that respiratory disease is significantly reduced in the absence of complement even though viral load is unchanged. Complement-deficient mice have reduced neutrophilia in their lungs and reduced systemic inflammation, consistent with the observation that SARS-CoV pathogenesis is an immune-driven disease. These data suggest that inhibition of complement signaling might be an effective treatment option following coronavirus infection.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4580-4580
Author(s):  
Katarina Le Blanc ◽  
Guido Moll ◽  
Ida Rasmusson ◽  
Kristina Nilsson Ekdahl ◽  
Graciela Elgue ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4580 Infusion of third-party mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) appears to be a promising therapy for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Little is known about how MSCs interact with the innate immune system after clinical infusion. In this study, we show that exposure of MSCs to ABO-compatible human blood activates the complement system, which triggers complement-mediated effector cell functions, and correlates with the immunosuppressive properties of MSCs. We found deposition of the complement component 3 (C3) derived opsonins iC3b and C3dg on MSCs, and fluid-phase generation of the chemotactic anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a. These events triggered complement receptor 3 (CD11b/CD18)-mediated effector cell activation; but could be prevented by culturing MSCs in human ABserum or by blocking complement function. Our study demonstrates the important role of the complement system as a possible mediator of immune modulation in clinical applications using MSCs, and implies that complement activation may substantially affect the treatment efficiency. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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