Effect of Lipopolysaccharide on C3 and C5 Production by Human Lung Cells

Although studies to date have demonstrated the ability of the monocyte/macrophage to produce C components in vitro, very few studies on C production by nonhepatic tissue cells have been reported. Recently, using 35S-methionine incorporation and immunoprecipitation techniques our laboratory has demonstrated the ability of tissue cells, i.e., the human lung type II pneumocyte (A549) and human lung fibroblast (WI-38), to synthesize and secrete a variety of early and terminal complement components, as well as several regulatory proteins in vitro, i.e., C1r, C1s, C4, C3, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, factor B, factor H, factor I, and C1s inactivator. In our studies, we extended these observations by demonstrating the capability of LPS to modulate C3 production by A549 pneumocytes. Specifically, using a sensitive ELISA we demonstrated that A549 pneumocytes exposed to LPS induced an 80 to 180% increase in C3 levels when compared to untreated A549 cells. Interestingly, LPS had no effect on C5 production or total protein synthesis by A549 pneumocytes. In the case of the WI-38 fibroblast, LPS had no effect on 1) C3 production, 2) C5 production, or 3) total protein synthesis in vitro. These studies demonstrate that agents such as LPS have the potential to selectively regulate C production (i.e., C3) in individual lung cells in vitro, and suggests that in vivo LPS may alter the local tissue reservoir of C components during infection and lung injury, thus impacting on pulmonary inflammation and host defense.

Silica Induced Suppression of the Production of Third and Fifth Components of the Complement System by Human Lung Cells In Vitro

Although investigations to date have demonstrated the ability of the monocyte/macrophage to synthesize complement components, only a limited number of studies on complement synthesis by nonhepatic tissue cells have been reported. To begin to fill this gap in our knowledge we have recently evaluated the ability of lung tissue cells to synthesize and secrete various complement components in vitro. Using 35S-methionine incorporation and immunoprecipitation techniques we have previously demonstrated the ability human lung type II pneumocytes (A549) and human lung fibroblasts (WI-38), to synthesize and secrete a variety of both early and terminal complement components, as well as several regulatory proteins including C1r, C1s, C4, C3, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, Factor B, Factor H, Factor I and C1s inactivator. Our present studies demonstrate the capability of silica to regulate complement component production by A549 cells, but not complement component production by WI-38 cells. Specifically, using sensitive ELISAs we demonstrated that a non-toxic dose of silica had the capability to suppress the production of both C3 and C5 by A549 pneumocytes by 40-50 percent, but had no effect on C3 or C5 synthesis by WI-38 fibroblasts. Additionally, using 35S-methionine incorporation and TCA precipitation techniques, we demonstrated that suppression of C3 and C5 production by silica treated A549 pneumocytes was not a result of suppression of total protein synthesis. These studies demonstrate that silica, which has been implicated in pulmonary diseases, has the capability to regulate local complement production by lung tissue cells in vitro. In vivo, this suppression of complement production by the type II pneumocytes could alter the local tissue reservoir of complement components during infection and pulmonary injury, thus resulting in depressed pulmonary host defense.