Human umbilical vein endothelial cells synthesize functional C3, C5, C6, C8 and C9 in vitro

Scand J Immunol. 1991 Jun;33(6):667-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1991.tb02539.x.

Abstract

Human endothelial cells (EC), cultured serum-free, synthesize de novo protein which increasingly bind to agarose beads (an alternative pathway activator), until a plateau phase is reached after 24-48 h. EC synthesize functional C3, C5, C6, C8 and C9, which were detected on co-cultured agarose beads, using relevant polyclonal anti-complement antibodies. Two monoclonal anti-C9 neoepitope antibodies (aE11, poly C9-MA) bound to the co-cultured beads, showing that the terminal complement complex (TCC) (C5b-9) was assembled on the beads. This also suggests that C7 is synthesized. There seems to be a positive correlation between the amount of agarose-bound labelled protein and agarose-bound complement. The results indicate that EC produce and secrete the components for the functional alternative and terminal pathways of complement.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Complement C3 / biosynthesis
  • Complement C5 / biosynthesis
  • Complement C6 / biosynthesis
  • Complement C8 / biosynthesis
  • Complement C9 / biosynthesis
  • Complement System Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Cycloheximide / pharmacology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Microspheres
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Sepharose
  • Umbilical Veins / cytology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Complement C3
  • Complement C5
  • Complement C6
  • Complement C8
  • Complement C9
  • Complement System Proteins
  • Sepharose
  • Cycloheximide