Related Experiment Videos

Endothelial oxidative stress activates the lectin complement pathway: role of cytokeratin 1

C D Collard1, M C Montalto, W R Reenstra

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Insights

Oxidative stress elevates cytokeratin 1 (CK1) on endothelial cells, promoting mannose-binding lectin (MBL) attachment and activating the lectin complement pathway (LCP). This interaction is key to understanding endothelial complement activation.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Oxidative stress is known to increase endothelial mannose-binding lectin (MBL) binding and activate the lectin complement pathway (LCP).
  • The precise molecular mechanism linking oxidative stress to MBL binding on endothelial cells remained unclear.
  • Intermediate filaments have previously been implicated in antibody-independent classical complement pathway activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if oxidative stress upregulates cytokeratin 1 (CK1) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
  • To determine if MBL binding to CK1 mediates the activation of the LCP following oxidative stress.
  • To elucidate the role of endothelial CK1 in oxidative stress-induced complement activation.

Main Methods:

  • Hypoxic HUVECs were reoxygenated to induce oxidative stress.
  • CK1 mRNA and membrane protein expression were quantified using in situ hybridization and ELISA/confocal microscopy.
  • MBL and C3 deposition on purified CK1 and HUVECs were assessed using ELISA and confocal microscopy, with and without MBL inhibition or anti-CK1 antibodies.

Main Results:

  • Reoxygenation significantly increased CK1 mRNA and membrane protein expression in HUVECs.
  • MBL and C3 deposition on purified CK1 was attenuated by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and anti-MBL antibodies.
  • CK1 and MBL were co-immunoprecipitated, and anti-cytokeratin Fab fragments reduced endothelial MBL and C3 deposition post-oxidative stress.

Conclusions:

  • Endothelial oxidative stress enhances CK1 expression, leading to increased MBL binding and C3 deposition.
  • Inhibition of MBL effectively reduces CK1-induced complement activation.
  • Anti-cytokeratin antibodies significantly attenuate complement deposition on endothelial cells after oxidative stress, suggesting MBL-CK1 interaction mediates LCP activation.

Related Concept Videos