Studies on the interactions between C-reactive protein and complement proteins IntroductionThe classical acute-phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) is a pentameric, disc-shaped serum protein.1 Its basic features are the control of inflammation, the stimulation of clearance of damaged cell and tissue components, and the initiation of repair functions.2 CRP shows calcium-dependent affinity for phosphate monoesters, such as phosphatidylcholine, but several other ligands of CRP have been characterized, including damaged cell membranes, small ribonucleoprotein particles, apoptotic cells and fibronectin. Native CRP can undergo subunit dissociation into individual monomeric units, for example upon association with negatively charged lipid monolayers. 4 This modified form of CRP can be produced in vitro by urea chelation, acid treatment, heating or direct immobilization of native CRP onto polystyrene.5 This modified form of CRP (mCRP) has reduced solubility and exhibits different electrophoretic characteristics as the result of a decrease of isoelectric point (pI) from 6Á4 to 5Á4. 6 The structural changes releasing CRP subunits from the pentamer are correlated with expression of a new antigenic reactivity and formation of neo-epitopes. 7 The forms of CRP expressing SummarySeveral studies have investigated the interactions between C-reactive protein (CRP) and various complement proteins but none of them took into consideration the different structural forms of CRP. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the different antigenic forms of CRP are able to bind C1q, to trigger activation of the C1 complex and to study the ability of the various CRP forms to bind complement factor H (FH) and C4b-binding protein (C4BP). Interactions between various CRP forms and complement proteins were analysed in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and surface plasmon resonance tests and activation of the C1 complex was followed in a reconstituted system using purified C1q, C1r and C1s in the presence of C1-INH. Native, ligand-unbound CRP activated the classical pathway weakly. After binding to phosphocholine, native CRP bound C1q and significantly activated C1. Native CRP complexed to phosphocholine did not bind the complement regulatory proteins FH and C4BP. After disruption of the pentameric structure of CRP, as achieved by urea-treatment or by site-directed mutagenesis, C1q binding and C1 activation further increased and the ability of CRP to bind complement regulatory proteins was revealed. C1q binds to CRP through its globular head domain. The binding sites on CRP for FH and C4BP seemed to be different from that of C1q. In conclusion, in parallel with the increase in the C1-activating ability of different CRP structural variants, the affinity for complement regulatory proteins also increased, providing the biological basis for limitation of excess complement activation.

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The classical pathway of complement is an essential component of the human innate immune system involved in the defense against pathogens as well as in the clearance of altered self-components. Activation of this pathway is triggered by C1, a multimolecular complex comprising a recognition protein C1q associated with a catalytic subunit C1s-C1r-C1r-C1s. We report here the direct observation of organized binding of C1 components C1q and C1s-C1r-C1r-C1s on carbon nanotubes, an ubiquitous component in nanotechnology research. Electron microscopy imaging showed individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes with protein molecules organized along the length of the sidewalls, often over 1 μm long. Less well-organized protein attachment was also observed on double-walled carbon nanotubes. Protein-solubilized nanotubes continued to attract protein molecules after their surface was fully covered. Despite the C1q binding properties, none of the nanotubes activated the C1 complex. We discuss these results on the adsorption mechanisms of macromolecules on carbon nanotubes and the possibility of using carbon nanotubes for structural studies of macromolecules. Importantly, the observations suggest that carbon nanotubes may interfere with the human immune system when entering the bloodstream. Our results raise caution in the applications of carbon nanotubes in biomedicine but may also open possibilities of novel applications concerning the many biochemical processes involving the versatile C1 macromolecule.

DPhil, FRCP; for the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) Study InvestigatorsBackground-Several recent studies have indicated an association between key inflammatory mediators and atherosclerotic diseases. We evaluated whether high levels of antibodies against heat shock proteins and cholesterol (ACHA) predicted cardiovascular (CV) events. Methods and Results-We used blood samples from the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) study to conduct a nested case-control study of 386 cases with CV events and 386 age-and sex-matched HOPE study controls without events. We explored the relationship between anti-hsp antibodies, ACHA, and subsequent outcomes (incident myocardial infarction, stroke, or CV death) during a mean follow-up of 4.5 years using conditional logistic regression. High levels of anti-hsp65 antibodies (Ն90th percentile) predicted CV events (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.9, Pϭ0.01). Anti-hsp60 antibodies did not predict any event type, whereas incident stroke developed significantly less frequently in patients with high ACHA levels. Anti-hsp antibodies and ACHA did not correlate with inflammatory (fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, intracellular adhesion molecule-1) or infectious markers (C pneumoniae or cytomegalovirus antibodies). Anti-hsp65 antibodies (Ն90th percentile) and fibrinogen (highest tertile) had a strong joint effect: patients with high concentrations of both had more CV events (OR, 5.5; 95% CI, 1.8 to 17.5, Pϭ0.004) than patients with low levels of both. A similar joint effect (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.3 to 5.7, Pϭ0.01) was found for high levels of anti-hsp65 and presence of cytomegalovirus antibodies. Conclusions-Serum antibodies to hsp65 were associated with subsequent CV events in this study of high-risk patients, independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors and other inflammatory markers. (Circulation. 2002;106:2775-2780.)

We previously reported that enzymatically modified low-density lipoprotein (E-LDL) particles obtained by LDL treatment with trypsin and then cholesterol esterase are recognized by C1q and activate the C1 complex of complement. The objective of this study was to identify the E-LDL component(s) recognized by C1q. In addition to trypsin, plasmin, thrombin, tryptase, and matrix metalloprotease-2 each yielded E-LDL particles with high C1-activating efficiency, and the C1 activation extent was strictly dependent on cholesterol esterase treatment in all cases. When incorporated into vesicles, the lipid fraction of E-LDL, but not of native LDL, triggered C1 activation, and activation correlated with the amount of unesterified cholesterol generated by cholesterol esterase. Whereas treatment of E-LDL particles with human serum albumin reduced their fatty acid content, both cholesterol and unesterified fatty acids were decreased by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, both treatments resulting in dose-dependent inhibition of the C1-activating ability of the particles. Incorporation of linoleic acid into phosphatidylcholine-containing model vesicles enabled them to interact with the C1q globular domain and to trigger C1 activation, and cholesterol enhanced both processes by facilitating incorporation of the fatty acid into the vesicles. Direct evidence that C1q binds E-LDL through its globular domains was obtained by electron microscopy. This study demonstrates that C1 binding to E-LDL particles involves recognition by the C1q globular domain of the unesterified fatty acids generated by cholesterol esterase. The potential implications of these findings in atherogenesis are discussed.

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Many recent data indicate that some alleles encoded in the central major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region (Class III) of short arm of chromosome 6 may modify the risk of cancer development. Therefore we determined 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of this region (TNF‐α −308 G > A, RAGE −429 T > C, HSP70‐2 −1267 A > G, LTA 252 A > G) in genomic DNA samples from 183 Hungarian patients with colorectal cancer and 141 age matched control subjects representing the Hungarian population of the same age and gender. No significant differences were found in either SNP tested. When, however, three‐ or four‐locus haplotypes consisting of known constituents of the so‐called 8.1 ancestral haplotype (8.1AH) were considered, marked differences were observed. Frequency of TNF‐α −308A, RAGE −429C, HSP70‐2 −1267G, LTA 252G (8.1AH) haplotype was significantly (p = 0.006) more frequent (19.1%) among patients than in the controls (7.7%). Age‐ and gender‐adjusted ratio of the 8.1AH carriers vs. non‐carriers to have colorectal cancer was 2.514 (1.130–5.594). This risk was higher in ≤67 years old subjects (4.073 (1.317–12.596)) and in females (3.771 (1.302–10.927). These findings—consistent with similar recent results with ovarian cancer—indicate that carriers of the 8.1AH, encoding for an altered immune response and known to be associated with alterations of several immune functions and autoimmune diseases have an increased risk for some cancer types. These findings may contribute to better understanding how the defense mechanisms against tumors could be enhanced/strengthened. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Heat shock proteins (Hsp), especially 70 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) play an important role in the life cycle of HIV-1 virus. Hsp70 is overexpressed in HIV-infected cells and this is the most abundant Hsp associated with HIV virions. The aim of our study was to investigate whether HIV infection increases the extent of specific humoral immune response against Hsp70. The serum concentration of anti-Hsp70 IgG antibodies was measured in 47 HIV-infected patients, and 62 healthy, HIV-seronegative persons. Nineteen patients on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) were followed for 24 months in a longitudinal study. Anti-Hsp70 antibodies were measured by ELISA, using recombinant human Hsp70. Levels of anti-Hsp70 antibodies were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in the HIV-infected patients (median: 1409 (25th-75th percentile: 1031-2214) AU/ml) than in healthy control subjects (626 (429-970) AU/ml). In 19 HIV patients, serum levels of anti-Hsp70 antibodies significantly (P < 0.001) decreased during 24 (11-41) months HAART (1309 (887-2213) AU/ml before and 640 (386-959) AU/ml during HAART), accompanied by viral load reduction and CD4+ count elevation. It is concluded that HIV-infection induces a marked increase in the anti-Hsp70 antibody levels, which is consistent with the enhanced expression of Hsp70 on the surface of HIV-infected cells and/or incorporation of the protein into the membrane of HIV virions.