Complement is part of the innate immune system that plays an important role in host defense. Recent evidence suggests that complement may also play an adjuvant role in T cell immunity. While important in host defense, activated complement is a double-edged sword that, if not properly regulated, can cause severe inflammatory tissue injury. To protect the host from complement attack, several membrane-anchored and fluid-phase complement regulatory proteins have evolved. Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and factor H (fH) are two prototypical complement regulators, one residing on the cell surface (DAF) and the other existing in the plasma (fH). Dysfunction of DAF and fH, as well as other complement regulators, are associated with several human inflammatory disorders. The pathogenesis of these diseases, the relative activity and tissue specificity of complement regulators, and the mechanism by which DAF and complement effectors regulate T cell immunity are outstanding questions that remain to be addressed. In the present proposal, we will use several knockout and transgenic mouse models to address these questions and to test the following two hypotheses: that tissue sensitivity to complement attack is determined by combined activities of membrane and fluid phase complement regulators;and that DAF and complement regulate T cell immunity through a mechanism that is independent of an intrinsic role of DAF on T cells. We propose the following three specific aims: 1): To characterize the relative roles of DAF, Crry and fH in vivo in host cell protection;2): To determine the site and mechanism of action of DAF in regulating T cell immunity;3) To determine the role, site and mechanism of action of C5aR and C3aR signaling in T cell immunity. These studies will provide novel insights into the mechanism of action of complement and its regulators in innate and adaptive immunity and inflammation, and will facilitate the understanding and treatment of human autoimmune and inflammatory disorders associated with complement dysregulation.

Public Health Relevance

This project studies the role of the complement system in tissue injury and host immune response. We will use gene ablated and transgenic mice to create animal models wherein complement is abnormally activated to mimic several human inflammatory diseases. We will also perform experiments to understand how complement might help the host develop a robust T cell immune response for fighting infection. These studies will increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of human inflammatory diseases and may ultimately lead to the development of new therapeutic drugs for autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AI044970-11
Application #
7903793
Study Section
Innate Immunity and Inflammation Study Section (III)
Program Officer
Bourcier, Katarzyna
Project Start
2000-09-15
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2010-06-01
Budget End
2011-05-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$384,970
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Gullipalli, Damodar; Zhang, Fengkui; Sato, Sayaka et al. (2018) Antibody Inhibition of Properdin Prevents Complement-Mediated Intravascular and Extravascular Hemolysis. J Immunol 201:1021-1029
Wang, Xiaoxu; Van Lookeren Campagne, Menno; Katschke Jr, Kenneth J et al. (2018) Prevention of Fatal C3 Glomerulopathy by Recombinant Complement Receptor of the Ig Superfamily. J Am Soc Nephrol 29:2053-2059
Williams, Allison Lesher; Gullipalli, Damodar; Ueda, Yoshiyasu et al. (2017) C5 inhibition prevents renal failure in a mouse model of lethal C3 glomerulopathy. Kidney Int 91:1386-1397
Ueda, Yoshiyasu; Mohammed, Imran; Song, Delu et al. (2017) Murine systemic thrombophilia and hemolytic uremic syndrome from a factor H point mutation. Blood 129:1184-1196
Zhang, Congcong; Wang, Chunxiao; Li, Yulin et al. (2017) Complement C3a signaling facilitates skeletal muscle regeneration by regulating monocyte function and trafficking. Nat Commun 8:2078
Wang, Yuan; Miwa, Takashi; Ducka-Kokalari, Blerina et al. (2015) Properdin Contributes to Allergic Airway Inflammation through Local C3a Generation. J Immunol 195:1171-81
Ratajczak, Mariusz Z; Borkowska, Sylwia; Mierzejewska, Kasia et al. (2015) Further evidence that paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria is a disorder of defective cell membrane lipid rafts. J Cell Mol Med 19:2193-201
Miao, Jing; Lesher, Allison M; Miwa, Takashi et al. (2014) Tissue-specific deletion of Crry from mouse proximal tubular epithelial cells increases susceptibility to renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Kidney Int 86:726-37
Zhang, Congcong; Li, Yulin; Wang, Chunxiao et al. (2014) Complement 5a receptor mediates angiotensin II-induced cardiac inflammation and remodeling. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 34:1240-8
Lesher, Allison M; Zhou, Lin; Kimura, Yuko et al. (2013) Combination of factor H mutation and properdin deficiency causes severe C3 glomerulonephritis. J Am Soc Nephrol 24:53-65

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