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Receptors Mediate Subsequent Neutrophil Recruitment
Address correspondence to Tanya N. Mayadas, Dept. of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 77 Ave. Louis Pasteur, 7520 NRB, Boston, MA 02115. Phone: (617) 525-4336; Fax: (617) 525-4333; email: tmayadas{at}rics.bwh.harvard.edu
| Abstract |
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receptors (Fc
Rs), particularly Fc
RIII, with complement C3 and C5 having no detectable role. These studies suggest a regulatory mechanism of IC deposition and leukocyte trafficking in IC-mediated inflammation requiring C1q and Fc
Rs in sequential, noninteracting roles.
Key Words: antigenantibody complex Fc receptors animal models complement 1q microscopy
| Introduction |
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IC deposition initiates a complex cascade of events, involving adhesion molecules, Fc
Rs, and complement, which culminate in the recruitment and activation of PMN and macrophages. In non-IC models of inflammation, selectins support leukocyte rolling, a prerequisite for adhesion mediated by leukocyte-specific integrins (CD18) interacting with Ig superfamily members on ECs (11). In the context of IC-mediated diseases, P-selectin was required for leukocyte rolling in an OVA-induced, IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction and an IgG-mediated reverse Arthus reaction in murine cremaster muscles (1214). Importantly, ICs bind to Fc
Rs and activate complement, and both are critical for leukocyte accumulation and subsequent clinical disease in many murine models of IC-mediated disease (10, 15). However, the relative importance of the Fc
R and complement pathway in the pathogenesis of these diseases is contentious (16, 17) and due to their complexity, the exact mechanisms of leukocyte recruitment have not been fully elucidated. Several possibilities exist. IC-mediated activation of Fc
Rs on mast cells or macrophages may release inflammatory mediators (e.g., histamine) that up-regulate adhesion molecules (18). Leukocyte recruitment may also occur through direct interaction of PMN Fc
Rs with ICs. Specifically, Fc
RIII (a low affinity Fc
R) promoted the capture of PMN on IC-coated surfaces under physiological flow in vitro (19). Complement activation may recruit leukocytes through chemokine release and/or up-regulation of EC adhesion molecules (20).
Here we report on a model of circulating IgG-ICs amenable to intravital microscopy (IVM), designed to mimic human immune-mediated diseases characterized by high levels of circulating ICs that access tissues through the vasculature. Mice injected i.v. with soluble preformed ICs developed IC deposits in postcapillary venules, not arterioles and capillaries, within minutes of manipulations, which increased vascular permeability. IC deposition was primarily dependent on C1q. IC deposition recruited PMN by decreasing their P-selectindependent rolling velocity and promoting adherence and subsequent emigration into extravascular tissue. The IC-induced alterations in rolling velocity were dependent on Fc
Rs, whereas adhesion and emigration were specifically dependent on PMN Fc
RIII. Our results define a novel in vivo role for C1q in initiating deposition of circulating ICs and for leukocyte Fc
Rs in mediating subsequent recruitment, thus suggesting that complement and Fc
Rs have sequential, but noninteracting, roles in acute IC-mediated inflammation.
| Materials and Methods |
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Mice lacking the Fc
chain and Fc
RII, i.e., lacking all three Fc
Rs, on a mixed background (Fc
R/) and controls (B6/129S6F1) were from Taconic. Fc
RIII (Fc
RIII/), C5 (C5/), and two strains of mast cell (Sl/Sld and W/Wv) KO mice with controls were from The Jackson Laboratory. Mice were housed in a virus antibody (Ab)-free facility at Longwood Medical Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital. Experiments were conducted under a protocol approved by the institutional animal care and use committee.
Preparation and Administration of ICs.
Soluble ICs at four to six times Ag excess were formed using BSA (sterile low endotoxin solution; ICN Biomedicals) and polyclonal rabbit anti-BSA Ab (Sigma-Aldrich), and were injected i.v. The amount of rabbit IgG injected was 90165 µg, as determined by ELISA. Injections of BSA alone or PBS served as controls. ICs were also produced from DNP-conjugated chicken Ig (Biosearch Technologies) and goat anti-DNP Ab (Biogenesis). Deposition was evaluated as described below. All remaining Abs were from Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories unless otherwise stated.
Visualization of IC Deposits.
To detect IC deposits, ICs were labeled in vitro or in vivo with secondary fluorescent Abs as described below. The cremaster muscle vasculature was visualized in real-time using IVM, and then the muscle was harvested as a whole mount and examined with a fluorescent microscope. ICs were labeled in vitro with fluorescent-labeled antirabbit IgG (1:10) for 20 min, and then were injected i.v. Whole IgG and F(ab')2 fragments of FITC-donkey antirabbit IgG, Cy3 or FITC-donkey, FITC-mouse (Sigma-Aldrich), and FITC-goat (Vector Laboratories) antirabbit IgGs were used with equivalent results. The polyclonal rabbit anti-BSA Ab was also directly FITC conjugated (FluoReporter Fluorescein-EX Kit; Pierce Chemical Co.) and ICs thus created were deposited similarly to ICs labeled with secondary Abs. To show that deposition was specific for ICs, we used the following controls: BSA and specific secondary Ab (FITC-donkey antirabbit IgG), ICs and nonspecific secondary Ab (FITC-donkey antigoat IgG), FITC-BSA (Molecular Probes) in PBS, and specific secondary Ab alone in PBS. To detect deposited unlabeled ICs in vivo, unlabeled ICs or BSA was injected i.v., followed by 2 x 108 fluorescent (yellow-green) 1-µm polystyrene microspheres (Polysciences, Inc.) coupled to goat antirabbit IgG, given in two boluses at 10-min intervals via the femoral artery. 80 µg Cy3-donkey antirabbit IgG was then given i.v. via the retroorbital plexus. Microsphere accumulation was quantified in whole mounts and expressed as numbers per area of harvested muscle.
For detection of ICs by immunohistochemistry (IHC), frozen OCT-embedded, 6-µm cryostat tissue sections were stained for rabbit IgG using standard methods and a streptavidin-peroxidase system (ABC Elite; Vector Laboratories) with amino-ethyl carbazide substrate. IHC for C1q, C3, and platelets was performed using rat antimurine C1q, C3d (1:20; Cell Science), or CD41 (GPIIb, 1:50; BD Biosciences).
IVM.
Leukocyte recruitment in cremaster muscle venules was evaluated in mice within 1 h of a single i.v. injection of unlabeled ICs or controls. Mice were anesthetized with 90 mg/kg ketamine, 18 mg/kg xylazine, and 0.24 mg/kg atropine. The cremaster was prepared as described previously (25), which took 1520 min. The mouse was transferred to saline immersion intravital microscope (Mikron Instruments). Fluorescent signals were generated by a xenon lamp, video synchronized with a stroboscope (model 315-T; Colorado Video), and detected using a silicon-intensified camera (Hamamatsu Phototonics). Signals were transferred through an online image processor (Argus 20; Hamamatsu Phototonics) to a video recorder and color monitor (Sony). Transilluminated light was captured by a CCD camera (Sony) that was linked to the video recorder. Data from mice were captured on S-VHS tapes (Maxell) and played back through the Argus 20 for data analysis.
Endogenous leukocytes were labeled i.v. with 2 mg/ml rhodamine 6G-chloride (Molecular Probes) and detected with the silicon-intensified camera. Five to eight venules were analyzed over 20 min. During analysis, the muscle was bathed in warmed lactated ringer's solution, with 185 µM NaHCO3. Centerline blood flow velocity was measured using a Doppler flow velocimeter (Texas A&M University Health Science Center). The mouse was then injected i.v. with FITC-dextran (10 mg/ml, 160 kD; Sigma-Aldrich) and venule size was measured with the Argus 20. At the completion of microscopy, blood was collected into EDTA for total and differential leukocyte counts.
Analysis of IVM Data.
Leukocyte rolling flux was defined as the number of leukocytes rolling past a perpendicular point in a vessel over 60 s. This was converted to the leukocyte rolling flux fraction as described previously (26). The mean blood flow velocity (Vb) was calculated as centerline velocity/1.6 and wall shear rate as 8 (Vb/venule diameter) (13). Leukocyte rolling velocities were measured by tracking single leukocytes (20/venule) frame by frame and calculating distance moved per unit time (micrometer/second). Adherent leukocytes were defined as cells remaining stationary for 30 s and were expressed per mm2 of venule.
For all mice, analysis was performed in venules ranging from 13 to 66 µm, with Vb of 0.6 to 7.3 mm/s and shear rates of 155 to 2,014 s1. There were no significant differences (not depicted) in these parameters or leukocyte counts comparing KO and WT mice or treatment groups (mice given ICs, BSA, or PBS), unless otherwise noted.
Analysis of Vascular Permeability.
Permeability changes were evaluated using colloidal carbon, which is retained by leaky vessels and can be assessed microscopically (27, 28), or FITC-dextran. Mice were given labeled ICs, followed 15 min later by colloidal carbon i.v. (200 µl of a 1:4 dilution; Sanford-Higgins). Mice were then killed before or after cremaster exteriorization. To increase EC barrier function, mice were given 5 mg/kg rolipram and 1 mg/kg forskolin (R/F; both from Sigma-Aldrich) i.p. 20 min before IC or 30 min before colloidal carbon injection. Deposition was scored by independent observers. To assess effects of vasoactive mediators, mice were injected i.v. with labeled ICs, followed within 15 min by PBS, 37 µg histamine (Sigma-Aldrich), or 100 ng of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; PeproTech) i.p. Mice were then given colloidal carbon before being killed. H1 receptor antagonists, 30 mg/kg diphenhydramine (Sigma-Aldrich), and 20 mg/kg pyrilamine (Sigma-Aldrich) were given i.p. 15 min before IC injection. All harvested muscles from killed mice were pressed onto poly-l-lysinecoated microscope slides, mounted with Fluorosave (Calbiochem), and colloidal carbon and IC deposits were visualized using phase contrast and fluorescent microscopy, respectively. To evaluate permeability "real-time" during IVM, leakage of FITC-dextran into extravascular tissue (a gross indicator of permeability; reference 29) was assessed at the end of the leukocyte recruitment experiments and was subjectively graded (1 to 4+).
Detection of Leukocytes in Tissues.
Emigrated leukocytes (numbers/mm2) were counted under transillumination in a 0.25-mm2 field of extravascular tissue around each analyzed venule, at the end of the experiment. Extravascular leukocytes were also counted in Giemsa-stained cremaster whole mounts (26). Plastic-embedded sections of cremaster were stained for PMN with chloroacetate-esterase. In addition, differential counts (100 cells) were performed on extravascular and intravascular leukocytes in Giemsa-stained whole mounts and expressed as percentages.
Detection of Adhesion Molecules in Cremaster Muscle Vessels and Circulating PMN.
IHC for E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 was performed on frozen sections, as described above using rat antimurine E-selectin (BD Biosciences) or VCAM-1 (Cymbus Biotechnology) and Armenian hamster antimurine ICAM-1 (BD Biosciences).
Blood was obtained from mice 1 h after IC or BSA injection. Standard FACS analysis was performed using the following antimurine Abs (BD Biosciences) with the following suitable isotype controls: PE antiLy6-G (Gr-1) for PMN, FITC antiMac-1, and FITC antiL-selectin. Gr-1+ cells were gated and FITC+ cells were identified on histogram plots.
Peripheral Blood Counts and Platelet Purification and Labeling.
Blood was collected from the retroorbital plexus into EDTA. Platelet counts were performed with a Unopette and hemocytometer (Fisher Scientific). Total leukocyte counts were determined with a Coulter counter (Coulter Electronics). Differential counts (100 cells) were performed on Wright's stained blood smears.
For platelet purification, blood was obtained from WT mice into 25 µM heparin (Sigma-Aldrich), centrifuged at 200 g, washed with modified Tyrode's buffer (with 1 µM prostaglandin E1; Sigma-Aldrich), and then labeled with 0.25 µg/ml calcein acetoxymethyl (Molecular Probes). Labeled platelets were injected i.v. at 108 cells/mouse 15 min before ICs. IVM was performed 1 h later.
ELISA for Measurement of Rabbit IgG and C3.
Concentrations of rabbit IgG in ICs and C3 in sera were determined using a capture ELISA (30). Capture and detection Abs were unconjugated or horseradish peroxidase conjugated with donkey antirabbit IgG or goat antimurine C3 (Cappel; ICN Biomedicals), respectively. Serial sample dilutions were compared with standards (rabbit IgG [Pierce Chemical Co.] or C3 standard [Calbiochem]), using regression analysis of OD (450 nm) versus concentration. In the C3 assay, sera from C3/ mice had ODs below background, confirming assay specificity.
Statistical Analysis.
Parametric data were represented as mean ± SEM, whereas nonparametric data were represented by medians. With parametric data, multiple groups were compared by analysis of variance. Comparisons between two groups and analysis of variance differences were further evaluated with a nonpaired Student's t test with a Bonferroni adjustment. For nonparametric data, multiple groups were compared with a Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by a Mann-Whitney U-test (31). A paired t test was used to compare total leukocyte and differential counts, platelet counts, and C3 levels in mice before and after IC or BSA injection. Significance was set at P < 0.05.
Online Supplemental Material.
Video 1 illustrates the granular deposition of fluorescently labeled ICs occurring in venules of exteriorized cremasters of anesthetized WT mice. Granule deposits do not extend into capillaries and arterioles, which are diffusely stained. Video 2 illustrates slow leukocyte rolling velocity and several adherent leukocytes after IC injection in WT mice. Leukocytes roll fast and none are adherent in Fc
R-KO mice. Videos 1 and 2 are available at http://www.jem.org/cgi/content/full/jem.20040501/DC1.
| Results |
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Although permeability changes after surgical exteriorization could be due to histamine, PAF, and mast cells (18), this permeability and IC deposition were not blocked by inhibiting histamine (H1 receptor antagonists), nor was it decreased in mast cell (Sl/Sld, W/Wv) or platelet-activating receptordeficient mice (not depicted). However, treatment of mice with R/F, which elevate cAMP and enhance EC barrier function (36), decreased permeability and IC deposition (IC deposition scores: control: 4.0 ± 0.0; R/F: 2.2 ± 0.3; P < 0.05; n = 5). In summary, our data strongly indicate that vascular permeability promotes IC deposition.
IC Deposits Are Accessible to Circulating Leukocytes.
To address whether IC deposits are accessible to circulating leukocytes, we determined if previously administered unlabeled ICs could be detected in vivo by secondary Abs given alone or coupled to 1 µm microspheres. The microsphere approach has been used previously to probe adhesion molecule expression on EC surfaces (37). Microspheres accumulated within 1 min of injection in venules of mice given ICs. Furthermore, Cy3-labeled secondary Ab, given after the microspheres, delineated IC deposits in vessels of mice given ICs (Fig. 1 K), but not BSA (Fig. 1 L). Importantly, significantly more microspheres accumulated in vessels of mice given ICs (5.6 ± 1.3/mm2) than BSA (1.7 ± 0.2/mm2; n = 4; P = 0.03). More ICs were labeled by soluble versus microsphere-coupled secondary Ab. This was attributed to dislodging of microspheres by high shear rates, rigidity of microspheres (which limits access to ICs between ECs), and that more secondary Ab was given alone (80 µg) than as microsphere conjugates (2.6 µg Ab/2 x 108 microspheres). Together, our data indicate that ICs deposited in cremaster venules after exteriorization are directly accessible to macromolecules (IgG) and insoluble particles (microspheres) and thus, by extension, to circulating leukocytes.
IC Deposition Is Dependent on C1q, but Does Not Require C3 or C5.
We examined if C1q and C3 were associated with IC deposits in exteriorized cremaster tissue by IHC. In mice given ICs, C1q colocalized, in a punctuate fashion, with rabbit IgG within vessels, whereas neither were detected in mice given BSA (Fig. 2 A), suggesting that preformed ICs activate and incorporate C1q. In contrast, C3 was identified diffusely in vessels of WT mice (but was absent in C3/ mice) given ICs or BSA (not depicted), which might be due to continuous low level "Ag-independent" complement activation in vivo (38).
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In certain microvessels ECs express Fc
Rs, which could directly bind ICs (39). However, IC deposition was unaltered in mice lacking all three Fc
Rs (Fc
R/; n = 6, not depicted), suggesting that Fc
Rs are not required for deposition of circulating ICs.
IC Deposition Triggers Leukocyte Recruitment That Is Partly Dependent on P-Selectin.
Next, leukocyte recruitment in cremaster venules was examined by IVM after i.v. injection of ICs, BSA, or PBS. Leukocyte rolling flux fractions (i.e., numbers of cells initiating vessel wall contact), velocity of rolling leukocytes (slow rolling facilitates adhesion; reference 40), and adhesion and emigration were measured. Leukocyte rolling flux fractions in WT mice given ICs, BSA, or PBS were similar (Fig. 3 A). However, rolling velocity was significantly (P < 0.05) slower in mice given ICs (median: 21 µm/s) compared with BSA (median, 55 µm/s) or PBS (median, 53 µm/s; n = 200260 leukocytes/group). Furthermore, leukocyte adhesion was significantly increased after IC, compared with BSA or PBS, injection (Fig. 3 B). Thus, ICs do not affect numbers of rolling leukocytes, but significantly slow rolling velocity, which may favor adhesion, by prolonging transit times (26). Most of the interacting leukocytes were PMN (Fig. 3 C), which comprised 69 ± 2% of intravascular leukocytes on whole mounts.
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Leukocyte Adhesion Is Mediated by Fc
Receptors on Circulating Leukocytes.
Fc
R I, II, and III are expressed on murine macrophages, whereas mast cells and PMN constitutively express Fc
RII (an inhibitory receptor) and Fc
RIII (39). We tested the hypothesis that IC-induced leukocyte recruitment in WT and P-selectin/ mice in our in vivo model was due to the interaction of circulating leukocyte Fc
Rs with deposited ICs. Rolling flux fractions following ICs or BSA were similar in WT mice and mice deficient in all three FcgRs (Fc
R/; not depicted). However, the IC-induced slow leukocyte rolling observed in WT mice was absent in Fc
R/ mice (Video 2, available at http://www.jem.org/cgi/content/full/jem.20040501/DC1, and Fig. 4 A). Also, leukocyte adhesion was significantly reduced in IC-treated Fc
R/ mice (Video 2) and was similar to that in BSA-treated mice (Fig. 5 A). These results suggest a critical role for Fc
Rs in IC-induced slow leukocyte rolling and adhesion.
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RIII. Again, rolling flux fractions were similar between treated WT and Fc
RIII/ mice (not depicted). IC-induced slow rolling was only partly Fc
RIII dependent (Fig. 4 B), suggesting additional Fc
Rs, absent in Fc
R/ mice, contribute to IC-induced slow rolling. However, IC-induced adhesion was decreased in Fc
RIII/ mice to similar levels as Fc
R/ mice (Fig. 5 A; P > 0.05). Thus IC-induced adhesion is critically dependent on Fc
RIII, whereas slow rolling requires additional Fc
Rs.
The Fc
R-dependent slow rolling and adhesion after ICs support a primary role for leukocyte Fc
Rs in IC-induced leukocyte recruitment. However, ICs can bind directly to Fc
Rs on mast cells, releasing factors that could promote PMN recruitment (18). Thus, we examined recruitment in Sl/Sld and W/Wv mast cell KO mice. In both strains, rolling flux fractions, shown earlier to be P-selectin dependent, were significantly reduced (not depicted), whereas IC-induced adhesion was mildly, but not significantly, decreased compared with WT controls (Fig. 5 A). This suggests that mast cells may mediate some P-selectindependent rolling, but are not required for Fc
R-dependent adhesion in this model.
P-Selectin and Fc
RIII Have Distinct, but Overlapping, Roles in IC-mediated Leukocyte Adhesion.
To address the possibility that P-selectinmediated rolling facilitates Fc
RIII-dependent adhesion, we determined whether adhesion would be abolished if Fc
RIII/ mice are rendered P-selectin deficient. Thus, Fc
RIII/ and WT mice were given 20 µg of a functional blocking mAb against P-selectin. P-selectin/ mice were given the same mAb as controls. The mAb abolished rolling in WT and Fc
RIII/ mice, but did not affect IC deposition or permeability (not depicted). In WT mice, the mAb decreased adhesion to values similar to that in P-selectin/ mice given ICs alone or with the mAb (Fig. 5 B), thus confirming Ab specificity. Adhesion was significantly decreased in Fc
RIII/ mice compared with WT or P-selectin/ mice given ICs and the mAb (Fig. 5 B). Indeed, there was a proportional decrease in adhesion in WT (64%) and Fc
RIII/ mice (71%) given ICs and mAb compared with those given ICs alone, suggesting that the reduced adhesion in these mice is due to the abolition of P-selectinmediated rolling. The residual adhesion in Fc
RIII/ given ICs and the mAb was similar to that in P-selectin/ mice given PBS or BSA alone (refer to Fig. 3 A).
Role of Complement in Leukocyte Adhesion.
Complement, particularly C5a, is critical for IC-induced inflammation in most models of IC disease (10, 16). However adhesion was not significantly decreased in C5 or C3 KO mice (Fig. 5 C). There was a trend toward decreased adhesion in C1q/ mice (by 45%; P = 0.056) compared with WT mice (Fig. 5 C), whereas rolling flux fractions and IC-induced slow rolling were unaltered (not depicted). The reduced adhesion was likely a direct consequence of fewer IC deposits (Fig. 2). These results indicate that C1q is likely not required for PMN adhesion, but indirectly affects recruitment due to its role in IC deposition in this model.
Leukocytes Emigrate into Extravascular Tissue in an FcgRIII-dependent Manner after IC Injection.
Because leukocyte adhesion is a prerequisite to emigration (26), we examined whether leukocytes emigrated into the extravascular tissue after ICs or BSA. This was done using IVM and the data was confirmed on cremaster whole mounts only in sets of mice where a significant decrease in emigration was observed by IVM. Significantly, more leukocytes were observed in extravascular tissue after ICs compared with BSA (Fig. 6). Importantly, although a deficiency in mast cells or complement (C1q, C3, or C5) had no significant effect on IC-induced emigration (not depicted), numbers of emigrated leukocytes were significantly decreased in Fc
R/ and Fc
RIII/ mice compared with WT, and were similar to BSA controls (Fig. 6). These results suggest that IC deposition promotes leukocyte emigration in an Fc
RIII-dependent manner. The numbers of emigrated leukocytes in IC-injected WT mice were comparable to that observed 4 h after intrascrotal injection of IL-1ß (43, 44).
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| Discussion |
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Rs (Fc
RII and III) with the deposited ICs and/or PMN rolling on P-selectin may interact with IC deposits via their low affinity Fc
Rs (Fc
RII and III). This interaction slows their rolling velocity and promotes firm adhesion via Fc
RIII. PMN then migrate into extravascular tissue, with ICs possibly acting as chemotaxins (Fig. 7). Recruited PMN may facilitate clearance of the IC deposits before returning to the circulation as described previously in rats (45). Alternatively, persistent deposition of C1q-containing ICs within vessels, due to chronic exposure to circulating ICs, may cause IC translocation and retention in extravascular tissue. This could result in prolonged Fc
R/IC-mediated recruitment and subsequent induction of tissue injury and disease by activating ECs (46, 47).
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Although C1q is required for IgGIC binding to human umbilical vein ECs in vitro (7), this study is the first demonstration that C1q-bound ICs localize to the vessel wall and that C1q is required for permeability-induced IC deposition in vivo. Administration of ICs i.v. causes rapid complement activation through the classical pathway (34), which is triggered when C1q binds to the Fc region of adjacent IgG molecules in ICs (50). Several mechanisms could promote deposition of C1q-containing ICs within the vessel wall. In vitro studies suggest the existence of a putative C1q receptor on ECs (7, 8), although a bona fide receptor has not yet been identified (43, 51). In vivo, we propose that vascular permeability factors may induce these receptors, thus allowing binding of C1q-containing ICs. It is also probable that C1q binds to extracellular matrix molecules exposed through permeability changes because C1q interacts with laminin and fibronectin (52, 53). In addition, C1q could modify the lattice structure of ICs (1), which could facilitate IC deposition. Finally, the residual IC deposition in C1q/ mice might be due to ICs binding directly to vitronectin or fibronectin (53, 54).
IC-induced complement activation produces chemotaxins (C3a and C5a; reference 20) and is critical for leukocyte recruitment in various murine models of IC-mediated disease (10, 17). Despite this, C3 and C5 were not required for recruitment in our model. This might be due to the relative absence of C3 activation after injection of a single dose of ICs, despite initial binding of C1q. It is likely that injected ICs rapidly bind and activate C1q, but further C activation is down-regulated by inhibitors (9, 55), thus preventing systemic inflammatory effects. C3 and C5 activation is likely pronounced during chronic IC exposure and may have a direct or indirect (via increased adhesion receptor expression) role in leukocyte accumulation under these conditions.
Our data indicate a critical role for Fc
RIII in mediating leukocyte adhesion in response to ICs in vivo. This data is in concert with previous results showing that neutrophils bind via Fc
RIII to ICs under physiological flow in vitro (19). Notably, IC-induced adhesion occurred in the absence of increased rolling flux fractions, indicating that the IC-induced adhesion is not the result of increased numbers of rolling cells. However, maximal interaction with ICs appears to require P-selectin and Fc
Rs, suggesting that rolling may facilitate the Fc
R-mediated adhesion to ICs. Rolling in this model is likely due to constitutive P-selectin expression (12) or mast cellmediated up-regulation with cremaster exteriorization (42). Our results suggest that Fc
Rs, particularly Fc
RIII, might be solely responsible for leukocyte recruitment to ICs in vascular beds lacking constitutive P-selectin expression, e.g., the glomerulus (56). Indeed, mice lacking Fc
Rs have reduced glomerular PMN accumulation in acute nephritis models (19, 57).
Although ICs did not alter rolling flux fractions, the velocity of P-selectinmediated rolling was significantly slowed in response to ICs, and this was Fc
R dependent. The currently held paradigm in non-IC models of inflammation is that slow rolling and long transit times, rather than flux fractions, are critical for efficient leukocyte adhesion (40). The fact that Fc
RIII alone was not responsible for the Fc
R-dependent, IC-induced slow rolling velocity suggests that Fc
RII or a new
chaincontaining Fc
R (58) is required for this step. Adhesion in response to ICs was critically dependent on Fc
RIII, likely because Fc
RIII transmits the activating signals for adhesion in murine PMN (59, 60). These data provide a possible mechanism for the reduced inflammation observed in Fc
RIII/ mice in several models of IC-mediated disease (10, 19, 60). Fc
Rs are also expressed by mast cells (39), yet they played a minimal role in early PMN recruitment after circulating IC deposition. However, once ICs diffuse into extravascular tissue, it is likely that tissue mast cells or macrophages have an important role in the unfolding inflammatory response.
Finally, IC promoted leukocyte emigration that was entirely Fc
RIII dependent, suggesting that ICs might be chemotactic, as reported in vitro (61). ICs may promote leukocyte emigration in an analogous fashion to surface-embedded chemokines, which can induce transendothelial migration under shear conditions without the presence of a chemotactic gradient (62). The increased extravasation may also be a direct consequence of IC-induced leukocyte adhesion. Emigration (as measured under transillumination) was reduced in P-selectin/ mice (WT: 64 ± 33 cells/mm2; P-selectin/: 20 ± 4 cells/mm2; P = 0.22), which paralleled the decreased adhesion in these mice. Thus, although adherence may promote emigration in our model, a chemotactic effect of ICs may also be operative and our results do not distinguish between these possibilities.
In summary, we have developed a model of acute IC-induced inflammation that allows visualization of the earliest events contributing to IC deposition and subsequent PMN accumulation. This model has relevance for human patients with diseases associated with high concentrations of circulating ICs, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, and is distinguished from other acute IC models, e.g., the reverse Arthus reaction, in which ICs are primarily generated in extravascular tissues (14, 49). Here, we show that ICs deposit within vessels in response to increased permeability and trigger rapid PMN accumulation by slowing PMN rolling velocity and promoting adhesion. IC deposition is dependent on C1q activation and this might be one of the earliest events permitting IC deposition in vessels in patients with IC-mediated diseases. The lack of an apparent role for C3 and C5 in IC deposition suggests that further complement activation is not required for this step. Fc
Rs, particularly Fc
RIII, are required for several aspects of the subsequent IC-mediated PMN recruitment, namely slowing rolling velocity and mediating adhesion and emigration. Together, these data suggest sequential, noninteracting roles for complement and Fc
Rs in this model of circulating IC-mediated inflammation.
| Acknowledgments |
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This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grants HL65095, DK51643, and HL036028 (to T.N. Mayadas), and National Research Service Award HL-67570 (to T. Stokol).
The authors have no conflicting financial interests.
Submitted: 16 March 2004
Accepted: 10 August 2004
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