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- Blom, Anna M, et al.
(author)
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A Novel Non-Synonymous Polymorphism (p.Arg240His) in C4b-Binding Protein Is Associated with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and Leads to Impaired Alternative Pathway Cofactor Activity.
- 2008
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In: Journal of Immunology. - 1550-6606. ; 180:9, s. 6385-6391
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a disorder characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. Mutations, polymorphisms, and copy number variation in complement factors and inhibitors are associated with aHUS. In this study, we report the first functional non-synonymous polymorphism in the complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein (C4BP) alpha-chain (c.719G>A; p.Arg240His), which is associated with aHUS. This heterozygous change was found in 6/166 aHUS patients compared with 5/542 normal (chi2 = 6.021; p = 0.014), which was replicated in a second cohort of aHUS patients in which we found 5/170 carriers. The polymorphism does not decrease expression efficiency of C4BP. p.Arg240His is equally efficient as the wild type in binding and supporting degradation of C4BP but its ability to bind C3b and act as cofactor to its degradation both in fluid phase and on surfaces is impaired. This observation supports the hypothesis that dysregulation of the alternative pathway of complement is pivotal for aHUS. Three of the patients carry also mutations in membrane cofactor protein and factor H strengthening the hypothesis that individuals may carry multiple susceptibility factors with an additive effect on the risk of developing aHUS.
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2. |
- Duncan, Renee C., et al.
(author)
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Identification of a Catalytic Exosite for Complement Component C4 on the Serine Protease Domain of C1s
- 2012
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In: Journal of Immunology. - : The American Association of Immunologists. - 1550-6606 .- 0022-1767. ; 189:5, s. 2365-2373
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The classical pathway of complement is crucial to the immune system, but it also contributes to inflammatory diseases when dys-regulated. Binding of the C1 complex to ligands activates the pathway by inducing autoactivation of associated C1r, after which C1r activates C1s. C1s cleaves complement component C4 and then C2 to cause full activation of the system. The interaction between C1s and C4 involves active site and exosite-mediated events, but the molecular details are unknown. In this study, we identified four positively charged amino acids on the serine protease domain that appear to form a catalytic exosite that is required for efficient cleavage of C4. These residues are coincidentally involved in coordinating a sulfate ion in the crystal structure of the protease. Together with other evidence, this pointed to the involvement of sulfate ions in the interaction with the C4 substrate, and we showed that the protease interacts with a peptide from C4 containing three sulfotyrosine residues. We present a molecular model for the interaction between C1s and C4 that provides support for the above data and poses questions for future research into this aspect of complement activation. The Journal of Immunology, 2012, 189: 2365-2373.
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3. |
- Duncan, Renee C., et al.
(author)
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Multiple domains of MASP-2, an initiating complement protease, are required for interaction with its substrate C4
- 2012
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In: Molecular Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-9142 .- 0161-5890. ; 49:4, s. 593-600
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The complement system is fundamental to both innate and adaptive immunity and can be initiated via the classical, lectin or alternative pathways. Cleavage of C4 by MASP-2, the initiating protease of the lectin pathway, is a crucial event in the activation of this pathway, preceding the eventual formation of the C3 convertase (C4bC2a) complex on the pathogen surface. Interactions required for the cleavage of C4 by MASP-2 are likely to be facilitated by the initial binding of C4 to an exosite on the protease. We have shown that both proteolytically active and catalytically inactive CCP1-CCP2-serine protease (CCP1-CCP2-SP) forms bind C4 with similar affinity. Interestingly, proteins containing the CCP1-CCP2 domains or the SP domain alone bound C4 with much lower affinity than the CCP1-CCP2-SP protein, suggesting that the CCP domains cooperate positively with the active site to mediate efficient binding and cleavage of C4. In addition, mutation of residue K342 to alanine in the CCP1 domain abolished binding to both C4 and C4b in its CCP1-CCP2 form, suggesting a key electrostatic role for this amino acid. The presented data indicates that all of the domains are required in order to mediate high affinity interaction with C4. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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5. |
- Felberg, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Elevated expression of complement factor I in lung cancer cells associates with shorter survival–Potentially via non-canonical mechanism
- 2024
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In: Translational Research. - 1931-5244. ; 269, s. 1-13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While numerous membrane-bound complement inhibitors protect the body's cells from innate immunity's autoaggression, soluble inhibitors like complement factor I (FI) are rarely produced outside the liver. Previously, we reported the expression of FI in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. Now, we assessed the content of FI in cancer biopsies from lung cancer patients and associated the results with clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes. Immunohistochemical staining intensity did not correlate with age, smoking status, tumor size, stage, differentiation grade, and T cell infiltrates, but was associated with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Multivariate Cox analysis of low vs. high FI content revealed HR 0.55, 95 % CI 0.32-0.95, p=0.031 for PFS, HR 0.51, 95 % CI 0.25-1.02, p=0.055 for OS, and HR 0.32, 95 % CI 0.12-0.84, p=0.021 for DSS. Unfavorable prognosis might stem from the non-canonical role of FI, as the staining pattern did not correlate with C4d - the product of FI-supported degradation of active complement component C4b. To elucidate that, we engineered three human NSCLC cell lines naturally expressing FI with CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and compared the transcriptome of FI-deficient and FI-sufficient clones in each cell line. RNA sequencing revealed differentially expressed genes engaged in intracellular signaling pathways controlling proliferation, apoptosis, and responsiveness to growth factors. Moreover, in vitro colony-formation assays showed that FI-deficient cells formed smaller foci than FI-sufficient NSCLC cells, but their size increased when purified FI protein was added to the medium. We postulate that a non-canonical activity of FI influences cellular physiology and contributes to the poor prognosis of lung cancer patients.
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8. |
- Gunnarsdóttir, Frida Björk, et al.
(author)
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Inflammatory macrophage derived TNFα downregulates estrogen receptor α via FOXO3a inactivation in human breast cancer cells
- 2020
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In: Experimental Cell Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0014-4827. ; 390:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Patients with estrogen receptor α positive (ERα+) breast cancer can respond to endocrine therapy, but treatment resistance is common and associated with downregulation of ERα expression in the dormant residual cells. Here we show, using long-term NSG xenograft models of human breast cancer and primary human monocytes, in vitro primary cell cultures and tumors from breast cancer patients, that macrophage derived tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) downregulates ERα in breast cancer cells via inactivation of the transcription factor Forkhead box O transcription factor 3a (FOXO3a). Moreover, presence of tumor associated macrophages in the primary tumor of breast cancer patients, was associated with ERα negativity, and with worse prognosis in patients with ERα+ tumors. We propose that pro-inflammatory macrophages, despite being tumoricidal, may have direct effects on tumor progression and endocrine resistance in breast cancer patients. Our findings suggest that TNFα antagonists should be evaluated for treatment of ERα+ breast cancer.
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9. |
- Karakaya, Sinan, et al.
(author)
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Cytoplasmic HIF-2α as tissue biomarker to identify metastatic sympathetic paraganglioma
- 2023
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In: Scientific Reports. - 2045-2322. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors. PGLs can further be divided into sympathetic (sPGLs) and head-and-neck (HN-PGLs). There are virtually no treatment options, and no cure, for metastatic PCCs and PGLs (PPGLs). Here, we composed a tissue microarray (TMA) consisting of 149 PPGLs, reflecting clinical features, presenting as a useful resource. Mutations in the pseudohypoxic marker HIF-2 & alpha; correlate to an aggressive tumor phenotype. We show that HIF-2 & alpha; localized to the cytoplasm in PPGLs. This subcompartmentalized protein expression differed between tumor subtypes, and strongly correlated to proliferation. Half of all sPGLs were metastatic at time of diagnosis. Cytoplasmic HIF-2 & alpha; was strongly expressed in metastatic sPGLs and predicted poor outcome in this subgroup. We propose that higher cytoplasmic HIF-2 & alpha; expression could serve as a useful clinical marker to differentiate paragangliomas from pheochromocytomas, and may help predict outcome in sPGL patients.
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10. |
- Kremlitzka, Mariann, et al.
(author)
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Alternative translation and retrotranslocation of cytosolic C3 that detects cytoinvasive bacteria
- 2022
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In: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1420-682X .- 1420-9071. ; 79:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Complement C3 was originally regarded as a serum effector protein, although recent data has emerged suggesting that intracellular C3 can also regulate basic cellular processes. Despite the growing interest in intracellular C3 functions, the mechanism behind its generation has not been demonstrated. In this study we show that C3 can be expressed from an alternative translational start site, resulting in C3 lacking the signal peptide, which is therefore translated in the cytosol. In contrast to the secreted form, alternatively translated cytosolic C3 is not glycosylated, is present mainly in a reduced state, and is turned over by the ubiquitin–proteasome system. C3 can also be retrotranslocated from the endoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol, structurally resembling secreted C3. Finally, we demonstrate that intracellular cytosolic C3 can opsonize invasive Staphylococcus aureus within epithelial cell, slowing vacuolar escape as well as impacting bacterial survival on subsequent exposure to phagocytes. Our work therefore reveals the existence and origin of intracellular, cytosolic C3, and demonstrates functions for cytosolic C3 in intracellular detection of cytoinvasive pathogens.
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