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DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1660858
Novel Immunoassay for Complement Activation by PF4/Heparin Complexes
Funding This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health P01 HL110860 (G.M.A.) and AI030040 (J.D.L.)Publication History
22 April 2018
07 May 2018
Publication Date:
30 June 2018 (online)
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Platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin and protamine/heparin (PRT/heparin) complexes elicit antigen-specific antibodies in 25 to 50% of heparin-exposed patients in certain clinical settings.[1] [2] In recent studies, we showed that antibody response to protein/heparin complexes may, in part, be derived from their complement-activating properties.[3] These studies, performed with flow-based assays, showed that PF4/heparin ultra-large complexes (ULCs) added to blood of healthy donors, or generated in situ in patients receiving heparin, activate complement in a heparin-dependent manner leading to selective binding of antigen to B cells via complement receptor 2/CD21. These studies also showed that complement activation by PF4/heparin complexes occurs in plasma and not on the cell surface.
Flow-based techniques, however, are cumbersome, costly and require technical expertise. To circumvent these limitations, we have developed a robust and simple two-stage functional capture immunoassay for detecting complement activation by PF4/heparin complexes. In this communication, we show that an antigen-C3 capture immunoassay can be used for studying mechanisms of immune activation, examining complement activating effects of variant heparins and investigating the therapeutic potential of complement inhibitors.
In this assay, plasma is first incubated with PF4/heparin complexes (25 µg/mL and 0.25 U/mL, respectively; formed at a PF4:heparin molar ratio [PHR] of 6.6), or equivalent amounts of PF4 alone, heparin alone or buffer. After a 1-hour incubation complement-fixed antigen is captured by KKO, a PF4/heparin-specific monoclonal antibody and complement fragments containing C3 are detected using a biotinylated anti-C3c antibody (please refer to the [Supplementary Material] section for detailed methods, available in the online version). As shown in [Fig. 1A], this assay detects the activation of complement as indicated by bound C3c to captured PF4/heparin complexes, but not when plasma is incubated with equivalent amounts of PF4 alone, heparin alone or buffer. The degree of complement activation by PF4/heparin complexes seen in this assay relative to PF4 or heparin alone is comparable to findings using flow cytometry endpoints[3] ([Fig. 1B]). In data not shown, we demonstrate that a polyclonal rabbit anti-PF4 antibody recognizing both PF4 and PF4/heparin complexes could substitute for KKO in the immunoassay, albeit with a higher background. To demonstrate requirements for an intact complement pathway, we inhibited complement by using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), ice or the cyclic peptide complement inhibitor Cp40[4] and examined PF4/heparin-induced complement activation. As shown in [Figs. 1C] and [D], C3 generation by PF4/heparin complexes is abrogated if complement is inhibited by EDTA, ice (0°C temperature) or the C3/C3b inhibitor, Cp40.
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The observation that Cp40 ([Fig. 1D]) significantly inhibits PF4/heparin-triggered complement activation suggests a potential therapeutic role for these inhibitors in the prevention of anti-PF4/heparin antibodies that trigger heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). This strategy may be particularly effective for patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, many of who develop anti-PF4/heparin antibodies after a one time exposure.[1]
Other applications of the antigen-C3 capture immunoassay include investigations of pathogenic mechanisms in HIT. Recent studies have shown that autoimmune HIT[5] arises from host reactivity to PF4/glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) complexes. To determine if PF4/GAG complexes are comparable to PF4/heparin complexes in eliciting complement activation, we used a fixed concentration of PF4 and variable doses of GAGs in the antigen-C3 immunoassay. As previously shown, we noted a bell-shaped response for complement activation using PF4/unfractionated heparin (UFH) complexes, with maximal C3c detection occurring at PHRs of 1.6. Not surprisingly, complexes of PF4 and dextran sulphate, a highly sulphated bacterial-derived glucan, showed robust complement activation (PHR, 0.64). However, we noted minimal complement activation by PF4/GAG complexes. Addition of chondroitin sulphate A or C, dermatan sulphate and/or heparan sulphate over a wide range of concentrations to plasma containing PF4 did not generate C3c fragments ([Fig. 1E]). These findings are unlikely explained by lack of KKO binding to PF4/GAG complexes, as prior studies show adequate recognition of PF4/GAGs by KKO.[6] These striking differences in complement activation by PF4/heparin versus PF4/GAG complexes, are perhaps responsible for the relatively high incidence of anti-PF4/heparin antibody formation after heparin exposure[1] as compared with the rare occurrence of autoimmune HIT.[5]
To demonstrate the versatility of this assay for investigating complement activation by other heparin-binding proteins, we examined complement activation by PRT. Using a newly described monoclonal anti-PRT/heparin antibody,[7] we show that PRT/heparin ULCs, like PF4/heparin ULCs, activate complement, whereas PRT alone or heparin alone do not ([Fig. 1F]). These findings support previous observations from the 1970s and 1980s of shared properties of complement activation by a variety of polycationic/polyanionic compounds[8] and likely account for their in vivo immunogenicity[2] [9] as well.
Other animal sources of heparin, such as bovine and ovine heparin, are being clinically developed due to concerns over vulnerability of the porcine heparin supply chain as the sole source of pharmaceutical heparin.[10] As the antigen-C3 immunoassay can readily assess the complement-activating properties of variant heparins, we compared two bovine heparins (E1 and E2) with commercial porcine heparin. Using a fixed dose of PF4 (25 µg/mL) and equipotent concentrations of porcine or bovine UFHs (0.0005–5 U/mL), we showed differences in the complement activating profiles of the two bovine heparins relative to porcine heparin ([Fig. 1G]). Whereas low concentrations of porcine and bovine heparins were similar with respect to complement activation (concentrations 0.0005–0.005 U/mL), porcine heparin at concentrations of 0.1 to 1 U/mL, appeared to have stronger complement-activating effects. While additional in vivo studies are needed to correlate complement activation with immunogenicity, this assay is nonetheless useful for comparative investigations of biosimilar heparins.
In summary, we show the utility of a simple and rapid functional immunoassay for investigating complement-activating effects of PF4/heparin complexes. In addition to understanding fundamental mechanisms related to the immune pathogenesis of HIT, this assay will be helpful for facilitating studies of complement therapeutics and biologic characterization of generic and/or novel heparins under development.
Authors' Contributions
Conception and design: S. Khandelwal, G. Arepally. Provision of study materials: G. Arepally, S. Khandelwal, G. Lee, J Liu, D. Keire, C. Sommers, J Lambris, E. Reis. Collection and assembly of data: S. Khandelwal, A Johnson, J. Ravi. Data analysis and interpretation: G. Arepally, S. Khandelwal, G. Lee, J Liu, D. Keire, C. Sommers, A. Johnson, J. Ravi, J. Lambris, E. Reis. Manuscript writing: G. Arepally, S. Khandelwal, G. Lee. Final approval of manuscript: G. Arepally, S. Khandelwal, G. Lee, A. Johnson, J Liu, D. Keire, C. Sommers, J. Ravi, J. Lambris, E. Reis.
Note
This article reflects the views of the authors and should not be construed to represent Food and Drug Administration's views or policies. This study was presented in part at the 58th Annual meeting of American Society of Hematology at San Diego, CA, 2016.
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References
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