A glycoprotein binding complement component C3d was isolated from media used for culture of Raji human lymphoblastoid cells. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. and gas/liquid chromatography indicated that the C3d-binding glycoprotein consisted of a single polypeptide chain with extensive intrachain. disulfide bonds, a molecular weight of 72,000, and several different bound carbohydrates. Several, lines of evidence-indicated that this mediumderived C3d-binding protein originated from membrane complement receptor type two (CR2, the C3d receptor), presumably shed during membrane turnover. The C3d-binding protein bound to sheep erythrocytes coated with C3d (EC3d) but not to sheep erythrocytes coated with C3b (EC3b). Antisera, prepared by immunization with the purified C3d-binding glycoprotein, inhibited lymphocyte rosette formation with EC3d but not with ECAb. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of the radiolabeled and. solubilized lymphocyte antigens reactive with the anti-C3d-binding protein sera revealed a single-chain cell-surface protein of molecular weight 72,000 that was apparently identical to the isolated C3d-binding protein. Parallel assay of lymphocytes for CR2 by direct immunofluorescence withlF(ab')2 anti-C3d-binding protein (anti-CR2) and rosette formation with EC3d indicated that both assays had the same specificity and nearly the same sensitivity. With both systems CR2 expression was limited to B cells, and was undetectable on T cells, monocytes, or neutrophils.Bone marrow-derived (B) lymphocytes express two distinct types of membrane receptors for the third component of complement (C3) (1), a receptor for f1lH globulin (2) and' surfacebound C5 (3). Complement (C) receptor type one (CR1, the C3b receptor) has recently been isolated and shown to be a 205,000 Mr glycoprotein (4). Isolated CR1 bound to both C4b, and Cab, and lymphocytes treated with Fab' anti-CRI did not form rosettes with the erythrocyte-complement complexes EC3b or EAC14b (5). Previous attempts to isolate lymphocyte C recteptor type two (CR2, the C3d receptor) have been unsuccessful (6). CR2 differs from CRI in that it is expressed exclusively on lymphocytes, whereas CR1 is also expressed on monocytes, neutrophils, erythrocytes, and, kidney cells (7). Although the functions of CR1 and. CR2 are unknown, B colls do respond to either 81H receptor triggering or the cleavage of surface C5 by releasing endogenous C3b inactivator (C3bINA) (2, *).In the present study, media from B-type lymphoblastoid cells were shown to contain a soluble C3d-binding protein. This C3d-binding protein was purified and found to be a glycoprotein of 72,000 Mr. Antibody prepared by immunization of rabbits with the C3d-binding protein inhibited lymphocyte rosette formation with EC3d'but not with EC3b, and reacted with a single cell-surface protein of 72,000 Mr.
MATERIALS AND METHODSLymphoid Cells, Neutrophils, and Spent Culture Media. Normal human blood mononuclear cells and neutrophils were isolated o...