title: Identification and characterization of the effector region within human C5a responsible for stimulation of IL-6 synthesis.
abstract: Human C fragment C5a is known to be a proinflammatory mediator and more recently shown to be a potent modulator of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. We recently reported that natural and recombinant C5a induces the synthesis of IL-6-specific mRNA and secreted protein from human monocytes. Our studies using analogue peptides that are homologous to the carboxyl-terminal sequence of human C5a, indicate that the "effector" site for inducing IL-6 synthesis resides within the C-terminal region (C5a (70-74)) of the C5a molecule. C5a peptides containing the exact sequence of the natural factor were found to retain full agonist activity but exhibited low potency (0.01-0.1% of intact C5a). It was also shown that amino acid substitutions in the C5a peptides by aromatic/hydrophobic residues, outside the immediate effector site, resulted in analogue peptides with a substantial increase in potency relative to the most active natural peptide (C5a (56-74)). Moreover, these peptides approach the potency of natural C5a for induction of IL-6. Taken together, these results suggest that the inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities associated with C5a may, in part, be due to the synthesis of IL-6.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Noonan
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Weigle
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Hugli
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015936:Complement C5a / Q000737:chemistry*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015936:Complement C5a