title: Synthesis of complement proteins in amnion.
abstract: The amnion is a metabolically active tissue that has been identified as a site of synthesis of numerous products. We report that amnion tissue explants and amnion-derived epithelial cells synthesize and secrete six proteins of the complement system, C1r, C1s, C1 inhibitor, factor B, C3, and factor H. Synthesis of C2 was minimal and variable, and C5 was not detected. The six synthesized proteins had size and subunit composition characteristic of proteins synthesized in HEp2, a long term cell line derived from malignant epithelial cells. Constitutive and regulated synthesis of five of the six proteins was similar in amnion tissue and cells. However, synthesis of factor B was different in tissue and cells; constitutive synthesis was 12-fold higher in tissue than in cells, and interleukin-1 did not alter synthesis in tissue, but increased synthesis by 11.7-fold in cells. These results indicate that amnion may be a source of complement proteins present in the amnion fluid and may contribute to local host defense along with endometrial glandular epithelial cells, which synthesize C3. Furthermore, our results suggest that amnion tissue is stimulated in vivo to synthesize factor B and cannot respond to interleukin-1 with a further increase in the synthesis rate.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Immunology Unit, Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aladjem
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Strunk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion / Q000378:metabolism*; D001345:Autoradiography; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015923:Complement C1r / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003173:Complement C1s / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003175:Complement C2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011415:Complement Factor B / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes
chemical_list: C493495:CFH protein, human; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D003175:Complement C2; D003176:Complement C3; D007375:Interleukin-1; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D017242:Complement Factor H; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D008715:Methionine; D015923:Complement C1r; D003173:Complement C1s; D011415:Complement Factor B