Biomaterial Database

Activation and binding of opsonic fragments of C3 on encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans by using an alternative complement pathway reconstituted from six isolated proteins. 1989

T R Kozel, and M A Wilson, and G S Pfrommer, and A M Schlageter

Department of Microbiology, University of Nevada-Reno 89557.

Encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans yeast cells are potent activators of the complement system. We examined the interaction of the yeast cells with an alternative complement pathway reconstituted from isolated factor D, factor B, factor H, factor I, C3, and properdin. Incubation of encapsulated cryptococci with the reconstituted pathway led to activation and binding of C3 fragments to the yeast cells that was quantitatively and qualitatively identical to that observed with normal human serum. Incubation with either normal serum or a mixture of isolated proteins led to binding of 4 x 10(7) to 5 x 10(7) C3 molecules to the yeast cells. The kinetics for activation and binding of C3 were identical, with maximum binding observed after a 20-min incubation. Immunoglobulin G was not needed for optimal activation kinetics. C3 fragments eluted from the yeast cells by treatment with hydroxylamine and subsequent analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the presence primarily of iC3b on yeast cells incubated with either normal serum or the reconstituted pathway. Ultrastructural examination of the opsonized yeast cells showed that the cryptococcal capsule was the site for binding of C3 activated from normal serum or the reconstituted pathway, with a dense accumulation of C3 at the periphery of the capsule. Thus, incubation of encapsulated cryptococci in the reconstituted pathway led to deposition of opsonic complement fragments at a site that was appropriate for interaction with phagocyte receptors. Cryptococci opsonized with the reconstituted pathway showed a markedly enhanced interaction with cultured human monocytes compared with unopsonized yeast cells, indicating that the alternative pathway alone is opsonic for yeast cells. However, the results indicate that additional serum factors are needed for optimal opsonization of yeast cells because a 35% reduction in the number of cryptococci bound to macrophages was observed with cryptococci opsonized with the reconstituted pathway compared with that observed when yeast cells were opsonized with normal serum.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009895	Opsonin Proteins	Proteins that bind to particles and cells to increase susceptibility to PHAGOCYTOSIS, especially ANTIBODIES bound to EPITOPES that attach to FC RECEPTORS. COMPLEMENT C3B may also participate.	Opsonin,Opsonin Protein,Opsonins,Protein, Opsonin
D010587	Phagocytosis	The engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign particles by phagocytic cells (PHAGOCYTES).	Phagocytoses
D011414	Properdin	A 53-kDa protein that is a positive regulator of the alternate pathway of complement activation (COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION PATHWAY, ALTERNATIVE). It stabilizes the ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY C3 CONVERTASE (C3bBb) and protects it from rapid inactivation, thus facilitating the cascade of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION and the formation of MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX. Individuals with mutation in the PFC gene exhibit properdin deficiency and have a high susceptibility to infections.	Complement Factor P,Factor P, Complement
D011415	Complement Factor B	A glycine-rich, heat-labile serum glycoprotein that contains a component of the C3 CONVERTASE ALTERNATE PATHWAY (C3bBb). Bb, a serine protease, is generated when factor B is cleaved by COMPLEMENT FACTOR D into Ba and Bb.	C3 Proactivator,C3PA,Complement 3 Proactivator,Factor B,Properdin Factor B,Bb Fragment of Factor B,Complement Factor B Fragment, Bb,Complement Factor B, Alternative Pathway,Complement Factor B-Derived Fragment Bb,Complement Factor Ba,Complement Factor Bb,Complement Protein B,Complement Protein Factor B,Properdin Factor Ba,Properdin Factor Bb,Properdin Factor Bf,Properdin Factor Bf F1,Bb, Complement Factor,Complement Factor B Derived Fragment Bb,Factor B, Complement,Factor B, Properdin,Factor Ba, Complement,Factor Ba, Properdin,Factor Bb, Complement,Factor Bb, Properdin,Factor Bf, Properdin,Proactivator, C3,Proactivator, Complement 3,Protein B, Complement
D011416	Complement Factor D	A serum protein which is important in the ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION PATHWAY. This enzyme cleaves the COMPLEMENT C3B-bound COMPLEMENT FACTOR B to form C3bBb which is ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY C3 CONVERTASE.	Adipsin,C3 Convertase Activator,C3PA Convertase,Factor D,Properdin Factor D,28 kDa Protein, Adipocyte,C3 Proactivator Convertase,C3PAse,Complement Protein D,D Component of Complement,GBGase,Proactivator Convertase,Activator, C3 Convertase,Complement D Component,Convertase Activator, C3,Convertase, C3 Proactivator,Convertase, C3PA,Convertase, Proactivator,Factor D, Complement,Factor D, Properdin,Protein D, Complement
D003167	Complement Activation	The sequential activation of serum COMPLEMENT PROTEINS to create the COMPLEMENT MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX. Factors initiating complement activation include ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY COMPLEXES, microbial ANTIGENS, or cell surface POLYSACCHARIDES.	Activation, Complement,Activations, Complement,Complement Activations
D003170	Complement Pathway, Alternative	Complement activation initiated by the interaction of microbial ANTIGENS with COMPLEMENT C3B. When COMPLEMENT FACTOR B binds to the membrane-bound C3b, COMPLEMENT FACTOR D cleaves it to form alternative C3 CONVERTASE (C3BBB) which, stabilized by COMPLEMENT FACTOR P, is able to cleave multiple COMPLEMENT C3 to form alternative C5 CONVERTASE (C3BBB3B) leading to cleavage of COMPLEMENT C5 and the assembly of COMPLEMENT MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX.	Alternative Complement Pathway,Properdin Pathway,Alternative Complement Activation Pathway,Complement Activation Pathway, Alternative
D003176	Complement C3	A glycoprotein that is central in both the classical and the alternative pathway of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION. C3 can be cleaved into COMPLEMENT C3A and COMPLEMENT C3B, spontaneously at low level or by C3 CONVERTASE at high level. The smaller fragment C3a is an ANAPHYLATOXIN and mediator of local inflammatory process. The larger fragment C3b binds with C3 convertase to form C5 convertase.	C3 Complement,C3 Precursor,Complement 3,Complement C3 Precursor,Complement Component 3,Precursor-Complement 3,Pro-C3,Pro-Complement 3,C3 Precursor, Complement,C3, Complement,Complement, C3,Component 3, Complement,Precursor Complement 3,Precursor, C3,Precursor, Complement C3,Pro C3,Pro Complement 3
D003180	Complement C3b Inactivator Proteins	Endogenous proteins that inhibit or inactivate COMPLEMENT C3B. They include COMPLEMENT FACTOR H and COMPLEMENT FACTOR I (C3b/C4b inactivator). They cleave or promote the cleavage of C3b into inactive fragments, and thus are important in the down-regulation of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION and its cytolytic sequence.	C3b Inactivators,C3b Inhibitors,Complement 3b Inactivators,Complement 3b Inhibitors,Complement C3b Inactivators,Complement C3b Inhibitor Proteins,Conglutinogen Activating Factors,Factors, Conglutinogen Activating,Inactivators, C3b,Inactivators, Complement 3b,Inactivators, Complement C3b,Inhibitors, C3b,Inhibitors, Complement 3b
D003454	Cryptococcus	A mitosporic Tremellales fungal genus whose species usually have a capsule and do not form pseudomycellium. Teleomorphs include Filobasidiella and Fidobasidium.	Torula