Nascent C3b can form ester bonds with various target molecules on the cell surface and in the fluid phase. Previously, we showed that C3b2-IgG complexes represent the major covalent product of C3 activation in serum [Lutz, Stammler, Jelezarova, Nater and Späth (1996) Blood 88, 184-193]. In the present report, binding of alternative pathway proteins to purified C3b2-IgG complexes was studied in the fluid phase by using biotinylated IgG for C3b2-IgG generation and avidin-coated plates to capture complexes. Up to seven moles of properdin ‘monomer’ bound per mole of C3b2-IgG at physiological conditions in the absence of any other complement protein. At low properdin/C3b2-IgG ratios bivalent binding was preferred. Neither factor H nor factor B affected properdin binding. On the other hand, properdin strongly stimulated factor B binding. Interactions of all three proteins with C3b2-IgG exhibited pH optima. An ionic strength optimum was most pronounced for properdin, while factor B binding was largely independent of the salt concentration. C3b2-IgG complexes were powerful precursors of the alternative pathway C3 convertase. In the presence of properdin, C3 convertase generated from C3b2-IgG cleaved about sevenfold more C3 than the enzyme generated on C3b. C3b2-IgG complexes could therefore maintain the amplification loop of complement longer than free C3b.
Properdin factor B in black Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients