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Copyright © 2016 Pednekar, Pathan, Paudyal, Tsolaki, Kaur, Abozaid, Kouser, Khan, Peerschke, Shamji, Stenbeck, Ghebrehiwet and Kishore. The heterotrimeric globular head (gC1q) domain of human C1q is made up of the C-terminal ends of the three individual chains, ghA, ghB and ghC. The receptor for the gC1q domain is a multi-functional pattern recognition protein, gC1qR. Since understanding of gC1qR and gC1q interaction could provide an insight into the pleiotropic functions of gC1qR, this study was undertaken to identify the gC1qR binding site on the gC1q domain, using the recombinant ghA, ghB and ghC modules and their substitution mutants. Our results show that ghA, ghB and ghC modules can interact with gC1qR independently, thus reinforcing the notion of modularity within the gC1q domain of human C1q. Mutational analysis revealed that while Arg162 in the ghA module is central to interaction between gC1qR and C1q, a single amino acid substitution (Arginine to Glutamate) in residue 114 of the ghB module resulted in enhanced binding. Expression of gC1qR and C1q in adherent monocytes with or without pro-inflammatory stimuli was also analyzed by qPCR; it showed an autocrine/paracrine basis of C1q and gC1qR interaction. Microscopic studies revealed that C1q and gC1qR are co-localized on PBMCs. Cell proliferation assays indicated that ghA, ghB and ghC modules were able to attenuate PHA stimulated proliferation of PBMCs. Addition of gC1qR had an additive effect on the anti-proliferative effect of gh modules. In summary, our results identify residues involved in C1q interaction and explain, to a certain level, their involvement on the immune cell surface, which is relevant for C1q-induced functions including inflammation, infection and immunity. Brunel University London; King Saud University, Deanship of Scientific Research Group No. RGP-009 (HK); National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases R01 AI 060866 and R01 AI-084178 (BG and EP), NIH/NCI Cancer Center support Grant P30 CA008748 (EP).

Two types of widely coexpressed, highly acidic, cell membrane binding proteins that display preferential domain specificity for C1q have been described: a 60-kDa calreticulin homologue, designated cC1q-R, that binds to the collagen-like "stalk" and a 33-kDa glycoprotein with affinity for the globular "heads" (gC1q-R). Although the two molecules are known to be coexpressed on all cell types examined to date and often coelute during purification, there is no direct evidence showing that they associate with each other either on the membrane or when examined in a purified system. In this report we present the first evidence that 1) biotinylated cC1q-R binds to recombinant as well as native gC1q-R, as assessed by solid phase ELISA; 2) binding sites for cC1q-R are located within N-terminal residues 76 through 93 of the mature form of gC1q-R and within residues 204 through 218; 3) this interaction is inhibited by two mAbs, 60.11 and 46.23, that recognize primarily epitopes within the N terminus of gC1q-R corresponding to residues 74 through 96 and by mAb 74.5.2 that recognizes epitopes within residues 204 through 218; and 4) biotinylated cC1q-R binds to microtiter-fixed Raji and K562 cells, and this interaction is inhibited by mAb 60.11. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation analysis of Raji cell membranes with anti-gC1q-R mAbs showed the presence of cC1q-R in addition to gC1q-R. Taken together, the evidence suggests that cC1q-R is able to form a complex with gC1q-R and may associate with gC1q-R on the cell surface.

The partial characterization and expression of the C1q receptor (C1q-R) in relation to other complement receptors present on the surface of neutrophils has been examined, as well as the effects of free C1q on cell function. A polyclonal anti-C1q-R antibody recognizes a 68-kD neutrophil surface protein. C1q-R expression was not upregulated upon warming, priming, or exposure to FMLP, but decreased after exposure to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), because of shedding of the receptor into the extracellular medium, as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CR3 and CR1 expression was upregulated from intracellular pools after cell stimulation by PMA. No evidence of intracellular pools of C1q-R was found, as assessed by immunoblotting of subcellular fractions. But C1q-R appeared to be expressed early in cell differentiation, was detected on undifferentiated HL-60 cells, and like CR3 expression, increased upon 5 days differentiation towards a neutrophil lineage. However, C1q-R expression decreased upon additional culture, whereas CR3 expression continued to increase. A large variation in the percentage of peripheral cells expressing C1q receptors in donors was observed, ranging from 13% to 100%, contrasting with CR3 receptors that exhibited less variability. Interactions between free monomeric C1q and neutrophils were also studied. Incubation of stimulated neutrophils with 10 to 100 micrograms/mL C1q resulted in a further increase in CR3 expression and adherence to albumin-coated surfaces. Staphylococci opsonized with low quantities of C1q (0.1 to 1 microgram/mL) mediated a moderate and sustained respiratory burst in neutrophils, whereas a burst of similar magnitude was generated only with free C1q at concentrations 10- to 100-fold higher. Stimulation was only partially inhibited if cells were first treated with anti-C1q-R antibody, suggesting other C1q binding proteins may be present on the cell surface. In summary, neutrophil C1q receptor is approximately 68-kD, exhibits varying expression on different subjects, and is not upregulated from intracellular stores on exposure to soluble stimuli. Stimulated, but not resting, neutrophils selectively respond to raised levels of free C1q, resulting in altered cell function and enhanced CR3 receptor expression. These studies thus suggest complex roles for C1q in neutrophil function.

Although the existence and ubiquity of the C1q receptor is well established, its role in health and disease is largely unknown. Interleukin 1 (IL 1) is the major immunoregulatory molecule produced by macrophages and B lymphoblastoid cell lines. In this paper we present evidence that occupancy of C1q receptors by C1q on B lymphoblastoid cell lines inhibits "IL 1-like" activity, which is constitutively produced by these cells. When 5 X 10(6) Raji cells were cultured (24 hr at 37 degrees C) in the presence or absence of various concentrations of C1q (final concentration; 5 to 50 micrograms/ml) and the cellfree supernatants were analyzed for their effect on thymocyte proliferation by using the concanavalin A co-mitogenesis assay for IL 1, a statistically significant dose-dependent reduction of 3H-TdR incorporation was observed. Similar results were obtained when Daudi and Wil2WT cells were used, whereas Molt4, which is a T cell lymphoblastoid cell line, neither produced "IL 1-like" activity nor was affected by C1q. When immune complex-bound C1q was used instead of free C1q, inhibition of B cell IL 1 activity was also observed. Mixing experiments showed that Raji cells incubated with C1q released an inhibitor of IL 1-induced thymocyte proliferation. C1q alone had no effect on thymocyte proliferation in the presence or absence of human IL 1. In addition, the effect of C1q on IL 1 activity was abrogated either when the C1q was heat inactivated (56 degrees C, 60 min) or when the C1q was incubated with the cells in the presence of F(ab')2 anti-C1q. On the basis of these data, it is concluded that B cell receptor-bound C1q may play an important role in immunoregulation.