title: Defective complement control of factor H (Y402H) and FHL-1 in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: The common variant in the human complement Factor H gene (CFH), with Tyr402His, is linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a prevalent disorder leading to visual impairment and irreversible blindness in elderly patients. Here we show that the risk variant CFH 402His displays reduced binding to C reactive protein (CRP), heparin and retinal pigment epithelial cells. This reduced binding can cause inefficient complement regulation at the cell surface, particularly when CRP is recruited to injured sites and tissue. In addition, we identify the Factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1), an alternative splice product of the CFH gene as an additional protein that includes the risk residue 402, and thus confers risk for AMD. FHL-1 is expressed in the eye and the FHL-1 402His risk variant shows similar reduced cell binding and likely reduced complement regulatory functions on the cell surface. CFH and FHL-1 may act in concert in the eye and the reduced surface binding may result in inappropriate local complement control, which in turn can lead to inflammation, disturbance of local physiological homeostasis and progression to cell damage. As a consequence, these processes may lead to AMD pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skerka
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: Andreas A W A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: Claudia N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Keilhauer
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sühnel
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlötzer-Schrehardt
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fritsche
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heinen
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Bernhard H F
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Zipfel
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003180:Complement C3b Inactivator Proteins; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006639:Histidine / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000235:genetics; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C517621:CFHR1 protein, human; D003180:Complement C3b Inactivator Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014443:Tyrosine; D006639:Histidine; D017242:Complement Factor H