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

Ligation of erythrocyte CR1 induces its clustering in complex with scaffolding protein FAP-1

The primary identified function of complement receptor 1 (CR1/CD35) on primate erythrocytes is to bind complement-tagged inflammatory particles including microbes and immune complexes. When erythrocytes circulate through liver and spleen, sinusoidal phagocytes remove CR1-adherent particles and erythrocytes return to the circulation. This process of immune adherence clearance is important for host defense and prevention of autoimmunity. CR1 was previously described as clustered in the human erythrocyte membrane, which was thought to be necessary for binding complement-opsonized particles. In contrast, we demonstrate that on erythrocytes CR1 is not clustered, but dispersed, and able to bind complement-tagged particles. When fresh erythrocytes are solubilized by nonionic detergent, CR1 partitions to the cytoskeleton fraction. Using a PDZ-peptide array, CR1's cytoplasmic tail, which contains 2 PDZ-motifs, binds PDZ domains 2, 3, and 5 of Fas-associated phosphatase 1 (FAP-1), a scaffolding protein. We show that FAP-1, not previously recognized as an erythroid protein, is expressed on circulating erythrocytes. CR1 and FAP-1 coimmunoprecipitate, which confirms their molecular association. Disperse CR1 on erythrocytes may be advantageous for capturing immune-complexes, while ligation-induced CR1 clustering may prevent ingestion of the erythrocyte during the immune-complex transfer to the macrophages by keeping the opsonic stimulus localized thus preventing phagocyosis.

The anti-inflammatory role of the erythrocyte: impairment in the elderly

Human erythrocytes have significant anti-inflammatory capability. Via their complement receptor, CR1 (CD35), they function as the major carriers of immune complexes in the circulation and as a co-factor for factor-I in the cleavage of C3b and the resultant inactivation of C3- and C5-convertases. Erythrocytes of the elderly are defective in their control of C3- and C5-convertases and are thus defective in protecting the elderly from the inflammatory consequences of the activation of complement in the circulation. This defect stems from the reduced levels of CR1 and decay accelerating factor and from defective CR1 function. Erythrocytes of the elderly resemble senescent erythrocytes from young donors in that their CR1 can neither bind immune complexes nor function as a co-factor in the factor-I mediated cleavage of C3b. The erythrocytes of the elderly are defective in both promoting convertase decay and supporting C3b cleavage. The reduced levels and functional defects of erythrocyte CR1 should hamper the ability of the elderly individual to effectively clear the circulation of potentially inflammatory immune complexes as well as of micro-organisms which have bound complement via the alternative complement pathway. This defect in the ability to clear immune complexes and micro-organisms bearing C3b from the circulation should render the elderly individual susceptible to varied pathologies including infection, inflammation and concomitant damage to the vascular tissue commonly observed in the elderly.

In vivo administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) can lead to enhanced erythrocyte sequestration

Enhanced erythrocyte sequestration is one of the very few major adverse effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). IVIg contains high molecular weight IgG complexes ( approximately 300 kDa) which, in the presence of serum, mimic immune complexes by activating complement, binding to CR1 of red blood cells (RBC) (CD35) and mediating erythrophagocytosis. Four of seven patients undergoing IVIg therapy showed significant drops in haematocrit and haemoglobin that were not due to isoantibodies in the IVIg. Prior to treatment, patients' RBC carried IgG and complement (C') 3d that were not bound as immune complexes via CR1 (CD35). The patients whose RBC bound immune complex-like moieties and showed drops in haematocrit and haemoglobin subsequent to IVIg were young adults (22-35 years); older patients (50-69 years) showed no ill effects. In the presence of complement, RBC of young patients bound IVIg complexes in vitro while those of older patients did not. It is not the absolute levels of erythrocyte-associated IgG or C'3 fragments, neither pre- nor post-therapy, which are predictive of IVIg associated decreases in haematocrit and haemoglobin levels. Patient age and RBC inability to bind the IVIg immune complex-like moieties in vitro both appear to be predictors of resistance to sequestration after in vivo treatment with IVIg.

Immune complex-like moieties in immunoglobulin for intravenous use (i.v.Ig) bind complement and enhance phagocytosis of human erythrocytes

Treatment with i.v.Ig can, on rare occasions, lead to detrimental effects such as enhanced erythrocyte sequestration and an increase in serum immune complexes with inflammatory sequellae such as exacerbation of glomerular nephritis. In this study, i.v.Ig (Sandoglobin) was examined for complement binding moieties which resemble immune complexes and can mediate the binding of IgG and C'3b to human erythrocytes via CR1 and enhance erythrocyte susceptibility to sequestration. Sephacryl S-200 HR separated i.v.Ig into two fractions: monomeric IgG (74%) and larger complexes of the molecular weight of an IgG dimer or greater (> or = 300 kD) (26%). In the presence of complement, the 'dimers' bound to human erythrocytes, rendering them susceptible to phagocytosis in vitro. Removal of erythrocyte-specific isoantibodies from the i.v.Ig had no effect on 'dimer' binding to the erythrocytes. Monomeric IgG contained virtually no complement-activating, erythrocyte-binding activity. Erythrocyte binding of complement-bearing IgG 'dimers' and subsequent phagocytosis resembles the binding of complement-bearing immune complexes to erythrocyte CR1. Exposure to Factor I leads to the release of complement-bearing IgG 'dimers' from erythrocyte CR1 and to the abrogation of erythrophagocytosis. Binding of complement-bearing IgG 'dimers' to the erythrocyte is blocked by To5, a CR1-specific monoclonal antibody.

An enzyme based assay for the measurement of complement mediated binding of immune complexes to red blood cells

A new in vitro method is presented for measuring directly the ability of sera to induce binding of immune complexes (ICs) to erythrocytes (ICRB assay). The assay measures the binding of alkaline phosphatase (AP)-anti-alkaline phosphatase (anti-AP) complexes formed in the presence of the test sera to the complement receptor 1 (CR1) on normal human red blood cells (RBCs). By using a standard serum source, the assay can also be used to measure the IC binding ability of RBCs from different donors. As compared to the traditional CH50 method, the ICRB assay generally showed more pronounced abnormality in 10 individuals tested, of whom 5 had primary deficiency of classical pathway components. Seven out of ten individuals had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 2/10 had other rheumatic diseases without primary complement deficiency. The ICRB measured in samples from 9 other patients with SLE was significantly decreased when compared to values from 80 normal individuals. ICRB in serum samples from a C2 deficient SLE patient collected during plasma infusion treatment reflected closely the rising amount of C2 in the serum. Using RBCs from different donors ICRB activity correlated well with the numbers of CR1 as measured by a flow cytometric assay (FCA). These methods should be valuable for measuring the overall IC clearance capacity of the blood and have the advantage that the use of radioactive isotopes is avoided.

Mechanism and computer simulation of immune complex formation, opsonization, and clearance

A computer simulation of immune complex formation, opsonization, and clearance has been developed (ICMODEL) that uses equations describing the kinetics of known immunologic processes and an additional pathologic process of immune complex-mediated tissue damage and antigen production. ICMODEL was used to (1) compare simulated with reported immune response kinetics, (2) evaluate the relative stability of the immune system described by the simulation, and (3) determine the conditions required to produce high immune complex levels as found in patients with immune complex-mediated disease. ICMODEL simulated primary and secondary immune responses as well as short- and long-term immunity. ICMODEL also depicted a relatively stable immune response system. Under certain conditions, however, the system could be perturbed, resulting in an unstable response. For example, when the rate constant regulating Fc gamma-mediated phagocytosis was decreased and the rate constant regulating immune complex-mediated tissue damage/antigen production was increased, immune complex concentrations oscillated with time and increased exponentially. These data suggest that ICMODEL can be used to define the specific parameters that, when perturbed, will give rise to increased immune complex concentrations. As such, this model has direct implications for studies of immune complex-mediated disease in human patients.

Binding to erythrocyte complement receptor type 1 of BSA/anti-BSA complexes opsonized by C4A3 or C4B1 in the presence of serum

An in vitro model with human serum and human 0 Rh-negative erythrocytes was used for studies on preformed BSA/anti-BSA complex binding to complement receptor type 1 (CR1). The serum used was first depleted of Clq, factor D and properdin, then of C3, C4 or both and finally reconstituted with the desired proteins (serum reagent). With varying C4 concentrations and 100% C3 present, binding curves obtained for the two C4 isotypes were similar. When the serum reagent was not reconstituted with factor D and properdin there was no difference between the CR1 binding of normal serum and the partially reconstituted serum reagent, nor between the two C4 isotypes in this serum reagent. When C3 at 50% or 100% of normal concentrations was added to the serum reagent together with 100% C4A3 or C4B1, the C4B1-opsonized complexes showed more binding than the C4A3-opsonized complexes. At very low levels of C3 (< 25%) the binding could not be distinguished from the background. The results suggest that the binding of complement opsonized antigen/antibody complexes to erythrocyte CR1 is mediated mainly by C3, originating from activation of the classical pathway, and that the difference in properties between C4A and C4B does not have a major influence.

Differential susceptibility of immune complexes to release from the erythrocyte CR1 receptor by factor I

This study was designed to explore the role of Factor I in the release of immune complexes (IC) from human erythrocytes (E). The interactions between E and IC constructed with murine monoclonal antibodies were examined using, as a complement source, autologous plasma, plasma depleted of Factor I by > 90%, or Factor I-depleted plasma reconstituted with purified Factor I. Striking differences were observed in the interactions between E and different types of IC in Factor I-depleted plasma. The release of IC constructed with IgG1, IgG3, IgM or IgA antibodies was abolished by Factor I depletion whereas IC containing IgG2a or IgG2b antibodies were still released from E in Factor I-depleted plasma. Moreover, when IC containing IgG2a antibodies were incubated briefly in Factor I-depleted plasma, under conditions in which the IC were bound but not released, and then resuspended in the presence or absence of Factor I, as little as 5% of the normal physiologic level of Factor I released the IC from E. Thus, IC containing IgG2a antibodies appear to be exquisitely susceptible to release from E by Factor I. Additional differences in the susceptibility of IC containing IgG1, IgG3, IgM or IgA antibodies to release from E were revealed when Factor I-depleted plasma was reconstituted with Factor I. Under these conditions, the relative susceptibility of IC to release was: IC containing IgG1 or IgA antibodies > IC containing IgM antibodies > IC constructed with IgG3 antibodies. While isotype was critical in determining susceptibility to release, some clonotypic differences between isotype-matched pairs of IC were also evident. Differences in IC release from E by Factor I may reflect antibody matrix-mediated differential susceptibility of IC-bound C3b and/or C4b to cleavage by Factor I and may have implications for immunoregulation, host effector cell mechanisms and the pathophysiology of IC diseases.

Erythrocytes from young but not elderly donors can bind and degrade immune complex- and antibody-bound C3 in vitro

In situ aged erythrocytes (senescent erythrocytes from young donors and both young and old erythrocytes from elderly donors) demonstrate high levels of membrane-bound C3c and C3d and elevated susceptibility to in vitro phagocytosis. In this study we demonstrate that in situ aged erythrocytes are defective in their ability to degrade C3 fragments and clear them from the erythrocyte membrane. Erythrocytes from young donors bind complement-bearing immune complexes via CR1 and become susceptible to complement-mediated erythrophagocytosis ('innocent bystander' sequestration). Erythrocytes from elderly donors are defective in their ability to bind such immune complexes, as attested by the lack of an increment in membrane-associated C3 fragments as detected by flow cytometry and lack of an increment in in vitro sequestration. Factor I (serum)-dependent cleavage of C3 fragments and release of immune complexes from the erythrocytes of young donors lead to a drop in erythrocyte-associated C3 fragments and the disappearance of the 'innocent bystander' phenomenon. Inhibition of Factor I, and thus inhibition of C3b degradation and immune complex release for the erythrocyte membrane, enhances the levels of 'innocent bystander' sequestration of erythrocytes from young donors. Erythrocytes from elderly donors are defective in the dynamic process of CR1 binding of complement-bearing immune complexes and Factor I-associated release of membrane-associated C3 fragments. A defect in the ability of all in situ aged erythrocytes to clear their membranes of C3 fragments is also demonstrated for complement bound to the erythrocyte via IgM isoagglutinins. While erythrocytes from both young and elderly donors allow for the IgM-mediated binding of complement to the erythrocyte, only young erythrocytes from young donors demonstrate degradative activity with the release of membrane-associated C3c. Erythrocytes from elderly donors demonstrate lower levels of detectable CR1 (CD35), decay accelerating factor (DAF) (CD55) and Protectin (CD59) than do erythrocytes from young donors. Time course studies determine that the defect in handling of immune complexes observed for in situ aged erythrocytes is not due to differences in the kinetics of loading or releasing of immune complexes. These findings on the refractiveness of erythrocytes of elderly donors to uptake of immune complexes and the degradation of C3 fragments may be of importance not only in the understanding of erythrocyte sequestration, but also in the physiology of immune clearance in the elderly.

Exposure to complement-bearing immune complexes enhances the in vitro sequestration of erythrocytes from young but not elderly donors

Complement and immunoglobulin have each been claimed to be the major opsonins responsible for sequestration of the effete erythrocyte. Binding of immune complexes to the erythrocyte via CR1 (CD35) provides a model for studying the effects of increments in membrane-bound complement and immunoglobulin on the sequestration of the erythrocyte ('innocent bystander' sequestration). It is possible that C3b-bearing immune complexes (IC-C3b) bound to erythrocyte CR1 contribute to the levels of immunoglobulin and complement fragments detectable on the human erythrocyte. We have, therefore, compared the capacity of erythrocytes from young and elderly donors to bind IC-C3b and the effect of this binding on in vitro sequestration. Erythrocytes from young donors exposed to IC-C3b bind these complexes, as attested by an increment in membrane-bound C3, and undergo 'innocent bystander' sequestration. However, when density-separated erythrocytes are so exposed, it is only the low density (young) erythrocytes from young donors which are susceptible to 'innocent bystander' sequestration. High density (old) erythrocytes from young donors and all erythrocytes from elderly donors show initially high in vitro sequestration and are resistant to the 'innocent bystander' effect. (Those erythrocytes which show initially high in vitro sequestration are referred to collectively as 'in situ aged' erythrocytes.) There is a great similarity between the mechanisms of sequestration of 'in situ aged' and 'innocent bystander' erythrocytes in that they are both inhibited by the integrin binding peptide arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) and the beta-galactosyl sugar N-acetyl-galactosamine, and unaffected by the Fc-gamma binding protein, Protein-G. Complement is the major opsonin in 'innocent bystander' sequestration since this sequestration occurs whether the isotype of the antibody in the immune complex is IgM or IgG, and Protein-G, which inhibits IgG-dependent erythrophagocytosis, has no effect on 'innocent bystander' sequestration. The present studies demonstrate that in vitro sequestration of 'in situ aged' erythrocytes is similar to complement-dependent 'innocent bystander' sequestration, thus supporting the contention that complement recognition is cardinal in sequestration of 'in situ aged' erythrocytes.

Activity of Type 1 Erythrocyte Complement Receptors in Uremia and after Renal Transplantation

The effect of uremia on the activity of the erythrocyte complement receptors type 1 (CR1), and the changes occurring after renal transplantation, were studied. The complement receptor activity was measured by immune adherence utilizing a rosette technique. Patients with terminal kidney failure on the hemodialysis program exhibited significantly lower values of the erythrocyte CR1 activity in comparison with healthy controls. The circulating immune complexes did not affect erythrocyte CR1 activity. After successful renal transplantation, irrespective of the immunosuppressive program used, a significant increase in erythrocyte CR1 activity appeared, similar to control group values. However, the activity of erythrocyte CR1, in the graft recipients under cyclosporin A treatment, was significantly higher than in the patients receiving azathioprine with prednisone. Therefore, it is possible that cyclosporin A, transported in the erythrocytes, modifies the complement receptor function.

Altered erythrocyte CR1 binding kinetics compensate for decreased binding capacity in rheumatoid arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have decreased numbers of CR1 per erythrocyte and decreased binding of immune complexes to erythrocytes. Overall erythrocyte immune complex binding activity depends on both the number and the binding kinetics of CR1. We measured kinetic parameters for the interaction between a complement-containing dsDNA:anti-dsDNA probe and erythrocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and normal controls. The results indicate that: 1) the maximum quantity of immune complexes bound per erythrocyte was significantly decreased in rheumatoid arthritis compared with normal controls (p less than or equal to 0.009); 2) the steady state binding constant, Kss, and the association rate constant for binding of immune complexes to erythrocytes, ka, were significantly increased in rheumatoid arthritis versus normal controls (p less than or equal to 0.0001 and 0.002 respectively); 3) the dissociation rate constant for the release of bound immune complexes from erythrocytes, kd, was slightly smaller in rheumatoid arthritis but this difference was not statistically significant; and 4) the energies of activation for the association and dissociation reactions, Eaa, and Ead, did not differ between the two groups. These data confirm that while the maximum quantity of immune complexes bound per erythrocyte is decreased in rheumatoid arthritis, the association rate constants are larger and dissociation rate constants slightly smaller than those of normal controls. Changes in these kinetic parameters compensate for the decrease in the maximum quantity of immune complexes bound per erythrocyte.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Immune complex binding to erythrocyte-CR1 (CD 35), CR1 expression and levels of erythrocyte-fixed C3 fragments in SLE outpatients

Erythrocytes (E) from a cross-sectional group of 22 outpatients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and/or mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), the majority without active disease (n = 14), were analyzed for CR1 antigen expression and capacity to bind complement opsonized, radiolabelled immune complexes (IC). Furthermore, E-bound C3 fragments and the plasma C3d concentration were determined. E-bound C3b/iC3b fragments were not elevated in patients with SLE, whereas E from 11 out of 22 SLE patients had increased C3d levels which correlated with the plasma C3d concentration (Rs 0.73, p less than 0.001). E-fixed C3d fragments did not affect the binding of Mab or preopsonized IC to E-CR1 and were not correlated with disease activity or medical treatment. Antigen expression of E-CR1 measured by ELISA or agglutination showed positive correlation with the IC binding capacity of E-CR1 (Rs 0.92 and 0.72 respectively, p less than 001). The IC binding capacity of E-CR1 from SLE patients was significantly reduced (p less than 0.005), whereas the antigen expression of CR1 (ELISA) on E from the patients did not differ from that of E from healthy donors (p greater than 0.1). E-CR1 antigen was measured by Mab reacting with an epitope outside the IC-binding site of E-CR1. E-CR1 antigen expression or IC binding showed no correlation either with disease activity or prednisolone treatment. However, 4 og 5 patients with MCTD and 4 of 5 patients receiving Imurel were found to have low E-CR1 expression and capacity to bind IC. Thus, measurement of antigenic E-CR1 in a cross-sectional group of SLE outpatients by use of Mab reacting with an epitope outside the ligand-binding region of CR1 did not reveal a significantly reduced CR1 expression. However, an assay for CR1-mediated IC binding showed a clearly reduced E-CR1 function.

Zinc ions inhibit factor I-mediated release of CR1-bound immune complexes and degradation of cell-bound complement factors C3b and C4b

ZnCl2 exerted a dose-dependent inhibition of citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) plasma-induced release of 125I-labelled BSA-anti-BSA immune complexes (IC) bound to complement receptor type 1 (CR1, CD35) in human whole blood. Maximal inhibition was observed at 10 mM of ZnCl2. Furthermore, the release of IC bound to erythrocyte (E)-CR1 by purified factor I, factor I-deficient serum plus purified factor I, or normal human serum was reduced by approximately 90%, 64%, and 52%, respectively, in the presence of 10 mM ZnCl2. The effect of ZnCl2 on factor I-mediated degradation of cell-bound C3b/C4b was also investigated employing CPD blood or E from a factor I-deficient donor. These cells expressed covalently bound C3b and C4b as demonstrated by a simple agglutination technique. Upon incubation of CPD whole blood with purified factor I, or of E with purified factor I or normal CPD plasma, the C-fragments were cleaved and the cells were no longer agglutinated by antibodies to C3c and C4c. The presence of ZnCl2 prevented this factor I-mediated degradation of C3b and C4b, as evidenced by the unaffected agglutination of the cells by the antibodies. We conclude that ZnCl2 inhibited factor I activity since: (1) release of complement-preopsonized IC from E-CR1 by purified factor I was markedly inhibited (90%) in the presence of ZnCl2, (2) preincubation of the cells with ZnCl2 caused only a moderate inhibition (32-38%) of the IC release, and (3) degradation by purified factor I of covalently cell-bound C3b and C4b was abrogated in the presence of 10 mM ZnCl2.

Peripheral nerve CR1 express in situ cofactor activity for degradation of C3b

Adsorption of sheep erythrocytes (E) sensitized with IgM antibodies (A) and C3b (EAC3b) to C3b/C4b receptors (CR1) in cryostat sections of human myelinated nerves was studied using the closed chamber technique. The adsorption was stable for at least 3 h at 37 degrees C. In the presence of purified factor I, the indicator cells detached from the sections after 40 min at 37 degrees C. Factor H was not required. The release was not due to loss of CR1 activity in the sections. The detached indicator cells were negative in the immune adherence test and were agglutinated by antibody to C3d, but not by antibody to C3c. Western blot of the detached indicator cells revealed the presence of C3d and C3c was found in the chamber fluid. Accordingly, detachment of the indicator cells was due to degradation of C3b to C3d with the release of C3c into the chamber fluid. Protease inhibitors did not prevent the detachment of the indicator cells. EAC3b incubated with sections of myelinated nerves pre-incubated with anti-CR1 antibody or with sections of unmyelinated nerves which contain functionally inactive CR1 were not degraded. The results therefore indicate that CR1 in situ in myelinated nerves can provide the necessary cofactor activity for factor I-mediated degradation of C3b to C3d and C3c.

Isolation and characterization of complement receptors CR1 from human peripheral nerves

Extracts from myelinated and unmyelinated nerves, prepared using Nonidet P-40, contained receptors for C3b/C4b (CR1). Extracts from myelinated nerves inhibited EAC3b rosette formation with peripheral blood leucocytes and agglutinated EAC3b, whereas extract from unmyelinated nerves did not. Rosette formation with EAC3bi or EAC3d was not affected. CR1 in extracts from myelinated nerves also expressed decay-accelerating activity of the alternative pathway C3 convertase and cofactor activity in factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b, whereas CR1 in extract from unmyelinated nerves did not. Monoclonal anti-CR1 antibodies, but not monoclonal anti-CR2 (C3d receptors) or anti-CR3 (C3bi receptors) antibodies inhibited the functional activities. Accordingly, CR1 are the only C3 receptor present in the extracts and only CR1 in myelinated nerve extracts are functionally active. CR1 in both myelinated and unmyelinated nerve extracts had a molecular weight of approximately 190 kDa. The electrophoretic mobility did not change after reduction and the 190 kDa band was stained by concanavalin A, indicating that the CR1 are single-chained glycoproteins. Binding to lentil lectin-Sepharose 4B further sustained the glycoprotein nature of the CR1. Periodic acid abolished functional activities of CR1, whereas trypsin and heat did not, indicating the functional significance of the carbohydrate moiety. That CR1 are functionally active in myelinated nerves, but not in unmyelinated nerves, may therefore be due to differences in the carbohydrate moiety. The cofactor and decay-accelerating activities of CR1 may be of significance in the pathogenesis of demyelinating polyneuropathies by limiting complement activation.

A kinetic study of erythrocyte-DNA/anti-DNA immune complex association and dissociation reactions in systemic lupus erythematosus

Decreased binding capacity of the erythrocyte complement receptor (RBC CR1) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may contribute to abnormal handling of circulating immune complexes in these patients. Decreased numbers of RBC CR1 have been reported in SLE, but, since binding is a function of both receptor number and receptor binding kinetics, we measured kinetic parameters for the interaction of complement (C) containing [3H]DNA:anti-DNA immune complexes (IC) with normal control (NC) and SLE RBC. Experiments were performed at five temperatures ranging from 7-37 degrees C. The parameters measured included: (1) the maximum quantity of DNA:anti-DNA:C which could bind per RBC, S; (2) the association rate constant, ka, for the binding of DNA:anti-DNA:C to RBC; (3) the dissociation rate constant, kd, for the dissociation of bound DNA:anti-DNA:C IC from RBC; (4) the steady-state constant, Kss (ka/kd); and (5) the energies of activation for association, Eaa, and dissociation, Ead. Although the relative amount of bound DNA:anti-DNA:C per RBC was significantly decreased in SLE patients compared to NC (P less than 0.001), the mean values for Kss, ka, kd, Eaa and Ead did not differ significantly between the two groups. These data suggest the following: (1) RBC CR1 binding and dissociation of DNA:anti-DNA:C are consecutive reactions resulting in steady-state concentrations of free and RBC-bound IC; (2) at steady-state times, the ratio of RBC bound to unbound DNA:anti-DNA:C are governed by kinetic factors; (3) since the binding kinetics of SLE and NC RBC are not significantly different, the decreased binding activity described by other investigators can only be due to a decreased number of CR1 per RBC; and (4) values for Eaa and Ead suggest that the rate-determining steps in IC association with and dissociation from RBC involves making and breaking of hydrogen bonds.

Enhanced binding of immune complexes processed by erythrocyte CR1 (CD 35) receptors to purified CR2 (CD 21) receptors from tonsillar mononuclear cells

The binding of immune complexes (IC) opsonized by serum complement (C) and IC processed by CR1 (CD 35) receptors on human erythrocytes (E) to purified CR2 (CD 21) receptors was compared. Soluble CR2 was prepared from tonsillar mononuclear cells and purified by antibody affinity chromatography. Solid phase CR2 as well as CR2 subjected to PAGE and blotted onto nitro-cellulose membranes bound 125I-labelled BSA anti-BSA IC which had been opsonized by C and processed by CR1 up to ten times more efficiently than IC reacted with serum only. Radiolabelled monomeric C3d also bound to solid phase CR2. The binding of IC to purified and solid phase bound CR2 could be inhibited by anti-CR2 antibodies or by preincubation of the IC with polyclonal antibodies reacting with C3d or C3b/iC3b. Thus, both C3dg and iC3b appeared to mediate binding of IC to CR2. Preincubation of solid phase CR2 with purified monomeric C3d did not inhibit the subsequent binding of E-CR1 processed IC. The data indicate that E-CR1 have an important role in generating IC which bind effectively to CR2 receptors on B lymphocytes.

Reduced erythrocyte CR1 (CD 35) receptor function and complement opsonization in factor I-deficient patients is restored by plasma infusion

Erythrocytes (E) from three factor I-deficient patients were investigated for surface-bound complement factors and CR1 (CD 35) expression and function. The E were coated with C4b, C3b, and factor H. Following plasma infusion or in vitro incubation of the patients' E with normal human serum (NHS) or purified factor I, cell-bound C4b and C3b could no longer be detected. The E now expressed C3d, and factor H was unaffected, indicating that factor H was bound to the C3d part of the C3b molecules, providing the co-factor for effective cleavage of E-bound C3b when purified factor I was added. The binding of monoclonal anti-CR1 antibodies (M710) to the patients' E was markedly reduced compared with control E, and was not normalized by treatment with NHS, probably because covalently bound C3d/factor H interfered with the binding of M710. By contrast, the reduced ability of the patients' E-CR1 to bind complement-opsonized immune complexes (IC) was normalized after plasma infusion. This shows that the impaired CR1 function was acquired and emphasizes the importance of performing functional CR1 assays. Complement opsonization of IC for binding to normal E was severely compromised in the patients' sera due to consumption of factor B and C3. After plasma infusion the opsonization capacity of the patients' sera was restored. Thus, two mechanisms of importance for normal clearance of IC were compromised in factor I-deficient patients: (1) the opsonization of IC for binding to E-CR1, and (2) the capacity of E-CR1 to bind opsonized complexes. Both dysfunctions were temporarily corrected by plasma infusion.

Inefficient binding of IgM immune complexes to erythrocyte C3b-C4b receptors (CR1) and weak incorporation of C3b-iC3b into the complexes

The binding of soluble complement-reacted IgM immune complexes (IC) to erythrocyte (E) C3b-C4b receptors (CR1) and the incorporation of C3b-iC3b into solid phase IgM-IC was investigated. The optimal binding of liquid phase IgM-IC to E-CR1 was obtained with IC formed at moderate antibody excess, but the binding was low (2-3%) when compared to the binding of the corresponding IgG-IC (50-60%). Solid phase IC were prepared by coating microwells with heat-aggregated bovine serum albumin (BSA) followed by incubation with rabbit IgM anti-BSA antibody. The IC were reacted with human serum at 37 degrees C. The binding of C3b-iC3b was determined by use of biotinylated F(ab')2 antibodies to C3b-C3c and avidin-coupled alkaline phosphatase. The incorporation of C3b-iC3b into solid-phase IgM-IC increased when increasing amounts of IgM antibody were reacted with the antigen. The binding reaction was slow, reaching a maximum after about 2 h at 37 degrees C. The binding of C3b-iC3b to the IgM-IC was remarkably inefficient when compared to the incorporation into IgG-IC reacted with the same amounts of BSA-precipitating antibody.

Influence of processing by erythrocyte C3b/C4b receptors (CR1) on binding of immune complexes to Raji cells and polymorphonuclear granulocytes

The binding of 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin (BSA)-anti-BSA immune complexes (IC) to Raji cells and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells in vitro was studied. The IC were reacted for 1 h at 37 degrees C with normal human serum (NHS) diluted 1:2 in the presence or absence of human erythrocytes (E) before presentation for Raji cells or PMN cells. The IC showed a two to three fold increased binding to C3d, g receptors (CR2) on Raji cells, when E-CR1 had been present during the reaction with NHS, compared to IC similarly reacted with NHS only. Blocking of the E-CR1 by a polyclonal anti-CR1 antibody reduced the subsequent binding of IC to Raji cells to the same level as that obtained with IC reacted with serum only. Binding to PMN granulocytes of IC reacted with NHS in the presence of E-CR1 showed a 60% reduction compared to the binding of IC reacted with NHS only. It is concluded that interaction of complement-reacted IC with CR1 on erythrocytes leads to a more efficient generation of CR2-binding C3d, g-containing IC with reduced reactivity to PMN cells.

Interaction of complement-solubilized immune complexes (IC) with CR1 receptors on human erythrocytes. Polysulfated compounds inhibit IC binding and induce IC-release from CR1

The effect of the polysulfated compounds heparin, dextran sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and suramin, and non-sulfated poly-, oligo-, and monosaccharides on binding and release of complement-solubilized 125I BSA-anti BSA immune complexes (IC) reacting with complement C3b receptors (CR1) on human erythrocytes (E) was investigated. Following presolubilization of IC in normal autologous human serum (NHS) a clear dose-dependent inhibition of IC-binding to E-CR1 was obtained by addition of polysulfated compounds. The inhibitory effect was dependent on the sulfate content of the reagents used but independent of their anticoagulant activity as heparin preparations with high and low affinity for antithrombin III inhibited IC binding to E-CR1 to approximately the same extent. Dextran sulfate caused a stronger inhibition than heparin while chondroitin sulfate was inhibitory only at high concentrations. The inhibitory effect was exerted at the IC-C3b level as normal IC-binding occurred following preincubation of E with the polysulfated compounds. Non-sulfated saccharides showed no inhibition of IC binding to E-CR1. All polysulfated compounds, apart from chondroitin sulfate, induced a dose-dependent release of E-CR1 bound IC in the absence of NHS. No release was obtained by use of non-sulfated saccharides. Heparin induced IC-release was rapid (40-45% after 3 min) and incubation beyond 30 min caused only an insignificant further release of IC from E-CR1. Following release of IC the E-CR1 retained full binding capacity for freshly added IC-C3b.