title: Adiponectin binds C1q and activates the classical pathway of complement.
abstract: The adipose-specific protein adiponectin binds to a number of target molecules, including damaged endothelium and the surface of apoptotic cells. However, the significance of this binding remains unclear. This study demonstrates the binding of purified C1q to recombinant adiponectin under physiological conditions, and the dependence of this upon Ca(++) and Mg(++). Binding was enhanced by metaperiodate-mediated destruction of glucosylgalactosyl sugars on adiponectin. Adiponectin was bound by the globular domain of the A chain of collagenase-digested C1q, and C1q binding induced deposition of C4 and C3 through activation of the classical complement pathway. After Western blotting, affinity-purified adiponectin from human serum bound C1q, whereas adiponectin in whole serum did not, unless pre-treated with metaperiodate. These results suggest adiponectin is member of the pattern-recognition family of defence collagens, able to bind target molecules and activate complement. It may therefore play an important role in innate immunity and autoimmune phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, High Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Peake
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Charlesworth
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000737:chemistry; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000737:chemistry*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000737:chemistry; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D015922:Complement C1q