Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1993 Aug;93(2):248–252. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1993.tb07974.x

Trichosanthin, an initiator of the alternative complement activation pathway.

X Chen 1, B L Ma 1
PMCID: PMC1554856  PMID: 8348752

Abstract

Trichosanthin (TCS), a protein purified from the plant Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maxim, activates normal human serum complement via the alternative pathway, as shown by TCS-induced C3 conversion in normal serum and its prevention by depletion of factor B, but not with the addition of EGTA. Injection of TCS to BALB/c mice consumed the complement alternative pathway (APC) activity in serum, implying in vivo activation of the alternative pathway by TCS. Elevation of peripheral blood leucocyte count as well as protein exudation and neutrophil accumulation in the peritoneal cavities could be induced by peritoneal injection of TCS. The main effect of complement activation by TCS was demonstrated to be induction of neutrophil accumulation.

Full text

PDF
248

Images in this article

249Fig. 1
on p.249

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Byers V. S., Levin A. S., Waites L. A., Starrett B. A., Mayer R. A., Clegg J. A., Price M. R., Robins R. A., Delaney M., Baldwin R. W. A phase I/II study of trichosanthin treatment of HIV disease. AIDS. 1990 Dec;4(12):1189–1196. doi: 10.1097/00002030-199012000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cheung A. K., Hohnholt M., Gilson J. Adherence of neutrophils to hemodialysis membranes: role of complement receptors. Kidney Int. 1991 Dec;40(6):1123–1133. doi: 10.1038/ki.1991.324. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cooper P. D., Carter M. The anti-melanoma activity of inulin in mice. Mol Immunol. 1986 Aug;23(8):903–908. doi: 10.1016/0161-5890(86)90076-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Ferrari P., Trabaud M. A., Rommain M., Mandine E., Zalisz R., Desgranges C., Smets P. Toxicity and activity of purified trichosanthin. AIDS. 1991 Jul;5(7):865–870. doi: 10.1097/00002030-199107000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Frank M. M. Complement in the pathophysiology of human disease. N Engl J Med. 1987 Jun 11;316(24):1525–1530. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198706113162407. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gardinali M., Cicardi M., Frangi D., Franzinelli M., Gattoni F., Uslenghi C., Agostoni A. In vivo study of the complement system during infusion of radiographic contrast media. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1986 May;77(5):690–692. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(86)90411-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hobbhahn J., Habazettl H., Conzen P., Peter K. Komplikationen durch Protamin. Teil 1: Pharmakologie und Pathophysiologie. Anaesthesist. 1991 Jul;40(7):365–374. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ishibashi Y., Nagaoka I., Yamashita T. Studies on inflammation in mice: dynamics of inflammatory response induced by extract from Escherichia coli and influence of antiinflammatory drugs. Int J Tissue React. 1988;10(1):7–16. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kahn J. O., Kaplan L. D., Gambertoglio J. G., Bredesen D., Arri C. J., Turin L., Kibort T., Williams R. L., Lifson J. D., Volberding P. A. The safety and pharmacokinetics of GLQ223 in subjects with AIDS and AIDS-related complex: a phase I study. AIDS. 1990 Dec;4(12):1197–1204. doi: 10.1097/00002030-199012000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Kahn J. Anti-human immunodeficiency virus therapeutics: now and the future. Semin Liver Dis. 1992 May;12(2):121–127. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1007384. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Klerx J. P., Beukelman C. J., Van Dijk H., Willers J. M. Microassay for colorimetric estimation of complement activity in guinea pig, human and mouse serum. J Immunol Methods. 1983 Oct 14;63(2):215–220. doi: 10.1016/0022-1759(83)90425-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Kubota S., Yeung H. W., Yang J. T. Conformation similarities of ricin A-chain and trichosanthin. Int J Pept Protein Res. 1987 Nov;30(5):646–651. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3011.1987.tb03375.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Li X. Y., Lin Z. Y., Zhu P. P., Jin Y. F. [Effect of cyclophosphamide on serum complement in mice]. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1987 Jan;8(1):79–83. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lu P. X., Jin Y. C. Ectopic pregnancy treated with trichosanthin. Clinical analysis of 71 patients. Chin Med J (Engl) 1989 May;102(5):365–367. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lu P. X., Jin Y. C. Trichosanthin in the treatment of hydatidiform mole. Clinical analysis of 52 cases. Chin Med J (Engl) 1990 Mar;103(3):183–185. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. McGrath M. S., Hwang K. M., Caldwell S. E., Gaston I., Luk K. C., Wu P., Ng V. L., Crowe S., Daniels J., Marsh J. GLQ223: an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus replication in acutely and chronically infected cells of lymphocyte and mononuclear phagocyte lineage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1989 Apr;86(8):2844–2848. doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.8.2844. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Nagaoka I., Ishibashi Y., Yamashita T. Studies on phytohemagglutinin-induced peritonitis of mice: dynamics of inflammatory responses and influence of anticomplementary agents and anti-inflammatory drugs. Int J Tissue React. 1987;9(3):179–188. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Schifferli J. A., Steiger G., Polla L., Didierjean L., Saurat J. H. Activation of the alternative pathway of complement by skin immune deposits. J Invest Dermatol. 1985 Nov;85(5):407–411. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12277069. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wang D. Z., Zhong X. X., Lin Z. X. [Factorial analysis on artificial termination of pregnancy using trichosanthin]. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1988 Aug;8(8):461-3, 451-2. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Wang Q. C., Ying W. B., Xie H., Zhang Z. C., Yang Z. H., Ling L. Q. Trichosanthin-monoclonal antibody conjugate specifically cytotoxic to human hepatoma cells in vitro. Cancer Res. 1991 Jul 1;51(13):3353–3355. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Wordell C. J. Use of intravenous immune globulin therapy: an overview. DICP. 1991 Jul-Aug;25(7-8):805–817. doi: 10.1177/106002809102500717. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Zhang J. S., Liu W. Y. The mechanism of action of trichosanthin on eukaryotic ribosomes--RNA N-glycosidase activity of the cytotoxin. Nucleic Acids Res. 1992 Mar 25;20(6):1271–1275. doi: 10.1093/nar/20.6.1271. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Zheng S. S., Wai W. L., Hin W. Y., Wu A. R. Kinetics of IgE antibody response to trichosanthin alpha-momorcharin and beta-momorcharin in mice. Chin Med J (Engl) 1991 Apr;104(4):292–299. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. del Balzo U., Polley M. J., Levi R. Activation of the third complement component (C3) and C3a generation in cardiac anaphylaxis: histamine release and associated inotropic and chronotropic effects. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1988 Sep;246(3):911–916. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Clinical and Experimental Immunology are provided here courtesy of British Society for Immunology

RESOURCES