Alternative Complement Pathway Activation Provokes a Hypercoagulable State with Diminished Fibrinolysis.

Abstract

Introduction:

Several disease processes trigger prolonged activation of the alternative complement pathway. Crosslinks between complement activation and physiologic changes in platelets and neutrophils have been identified, but how this interplay alters the hemostatic potential in humans remains undefined. We hypothesize that activation of the alternative pathway triggers a hypercoagulable state.

Methods:

C3/C5 convertase Cobra Venom Factor (CVF, 10 Units/mL) was employed to activate the alternative complement pathway in whole blood. Complement inhibition was completed with inhibitors for C3/C3b (Compstatin, 25 and 50 μM), C3a receptor (SB290157, 300 nM, C3aR), and C5a receptor (W54011, 6 nM, C5aR). Coagulation was assessed using native thrombelastography which produces the following: reaction time (R time); angle; maximum amplitude (MA); percent fibrinolysis at 30-minutes post-MA (LY30).

Results:

Inhibition with C3aR and C5aR inhibitors did not alter clot formation (R time, 11.2 vs 11.6 min, p=0.36), clot strength (MA, 52.0 vs 52.3 mm, p=0.43) or fibrinolysis (LY30, 1.6 vs 4.0%, p=0.19). Compstatin did not influence clot formation or clot strength but did induce a dose-dependent increase in fibrinolysis (control LY30 3.0 vs 7.8% and 12.4% for 25 and 50 μM respectively, p=0.0002). CVF increased MA (58.0 vs 62.8 mm, p<0.0001), decreased LY30 (2.3 vs 1.4%, p=0.004), and increased R time (8.4 vs 9.9 min, p=0.008). Compstatin reversed the effects of CVF, while C5a reversed only the change in LY30.

Conclusions:

C3 contributes to fibrinolysis, as inhibition with Compstatin enhanced fibrinolysis, and CVF cleavage of C3 decreased fibrinolysis. CVF also induced a hypercoagulable state with increased clot strength.

Introduction:

The relationship between activation of the complement pathway and alterations in coagulation have long been shown.(1-3) Several diseases associated with abnormal complement regulation, such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, vasculitis, and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, produce dramatic, inappropriate complement activation, which can stimulate thrombin generation and dysregulated clot formation.(4-6) This deregulated activation of complement is not limited to chronic disease, but also occurs following trauma, as severe injury triggers robust activation of complement that persists for days after the initial resuscitation is complete.(7-10) In the days following severe injury, a hypercoagulable state frequently develops as well, (11) and consequently, patients face a heightened risk for both venous thromboembolic events and post-injury multiple organ failure.(12-14)

Several studies have explored mechanistic connections between complement and coagulation.(15-17) Complement activation, with production of the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a, increases monocyte expression of tissue factor, an effective procoagulant.(18, 19) C5a also induces TNF-α production by monocytes, which similarly contribute to a pro-thrombotic state.(20, 21) Likewise, platelets express receptors for both C3a and C5a and are rapidly activated by C3a binding.(22, 23) With insertion of the membrane attack complex (C5b-9) at sub-lytic concentrations, platelets undergo activation and degranulation, and binding of the MAC increases platelet prothrombinase activity.(16, 24) The endothelium also has multiple responses to C5a binding, including increased Von Willebrand factor expression, enhanced prothrombinase activity, and exposure of plasminogen binding sites.(25-27) Similar complement-induced changes in hemostasis have been shown in vivo. As an example, Subramaniam et al. found that C3 knockout mice had defective platelet aggregation, while C5 knockout had reduced fibrin formation.(28)

One limitation of the previously mentioned in vitro studies is the use of simpler plasma-based models. Despite these studies demonstrating mechanistic links between complement and coagulation, how complement contributes to coagulation in whole blood is poorly described. Specifically, the mechanism in which complement-induced activation of cellular components of whole blood alter clot dynamics remains unknown. Several blood-borne cell lines contain complement inhibiting proteins that alter how complement activation changes coagulation. For example, platelets can secrete factor H, the main inhibitor of complement activation, limiting dysregulated activation.(29) Understanding the cellular effects of hemostasis in context of complement activity is necessary to determine the true in vivo effects.(30)

The objective of this study is to evaluate how complement activation affects coagulation in whole blood in vitro, as measured by thrombelastography (TEG), when combined with a sterile activator of the alternative complement pathway, Cobra Venom Factor (CVF). We hypothesize that activation of the alternative complement pathway leads to a hypercoagulable profile with stronger clots, formed more rapidly, and with decreased degradation.

Materials and Methods:

Human Subjects

Healthy adult volunteers were enrolled after completion of a questionnaire (supplemental methods) and informed consent. Inclusion criteria were healthy adults (age 18–85) without history of a coagulopathy. Exclusion criteria included prisoners and pregnant subjects or any subject with underlying cardiovascular, liver, or kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, disorders of coagulation, obesity (BMI≥30), infection, recent surgery, or injury. Subjects were also excluded if they were taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications within a week of enrollment or any of the following medications in the month preceding enrollment: aspirin or aspirin-containing drugs, clopidogrel, steroids, heparin, fondaparinux, warfarin, direct thrombin inhibitors, factor Xa inhibitors, abciximab or antifibrinolytics. Subjects were also excluded if they had surgery, traumatic injury, or received a transfusion in the six weeks preceding enrollment, or if they had an active illness. This study was approved by the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board (COMIRB #18-0625).

Sample Collection

Blood was collected via venipuncture in the antecubital fossa with collection into 3.2% citrated vacuum tubes. After collection, citrated tubes were incubated for fifteen minutes in a 37°C water bath to allow for equilibration.

Thrombelastography

Citrated native (without activator) thrombelastography (TEG) was performed after recalcification at 37⁰C using the TEG 5000 Thrombelastograph Hemostasis Analyzer (Haemonetics, Niles, IL) according to manufacturer instructions.(31) TEG provides the following measurements: reaction time (R time [minutes]); angle (degrees); maximum amplitude (MA [millimeters]); percent fibrinolysis at 30 minutes post-MA (LY30 [percent]).

Measuring the effects of complement activation on coagulation

To evaluate how activation of the alternative complement pathway alters coagulation, we employed the C3/C5 convertase Cobra Venom Factor (CVF, EMD Millipore Corp, Billerica, MA). CVF was added to 500 μL of whole blood to a final concentration of 10 Units activity/mL. Following the addition of CVF or vehicle control (PBS), to allow for rigorous complement activation, samples were incubated for 30 minutes in 37°C water bath. A trial study was completed comparing 15-minute and 30-minute incubation times (data not shown), and 30-minute incubation was found to induce a stronger signal. Following incubation, citrated native TEG was completed as above.

Inhibition of complement during whole blood coagulation.

Changes in TEG were evaluated following complement inhibition. Two receptor inhibitors were used, one for the C3a receptor (SB 290157, C3aRI, Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI) and another for the C5a receptor (W54011, C5aRI, EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA).(32, 33) The C3aRI and C5aRI were solubilized in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and further diluted in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to obtain the experimental solution per supplier instructions. An equivalent carrier (0.05% v/v DMSO in PBS) was used as a control. The C3aRI and C5aRI inhibitors were added to 500 μL of whole blood (WB) for a final concentration of 300 nM and 6 nM, respectively. These doses are comparable to the inhibitors’ respective IC50 doses of the C3aRI (IC₅₀ of 200 nM) and C5aRI (IC₅₀ of 3.1 nM), respectively. (32, 33) To evaluate inhibition of upstream alternative complement pathway, the C3 and C3b inhibitor Compstatin (Tocris Bioscience, Bristol, UK) was added to whole blood to a final concentration of 25 μM and 50 μM. After the addition of inhibitors, samples were incubated for five minutes in 37°C water bath prior to running TEG using the same methodology as described previously.

Reversal of complement activation and the effects on coagulation.

To block the effects of CVF as a complement activator, Compstatin (50 μM) was added in the presence of CVF (10 U/mL) prior to a 30-minute incubation. A control vehicle of PBS in whole blood was used. All samples were incubated for 30 minutes in a 37°C water bath. Similarly, to reverse the effects of anaphylatoxin release, the C3aRI (2 μM) and C5aRI (500 nM) inhibitors were added in the presence of CVF (10 U/mL) prior to incubation.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism version 7.04 for Windows, (GraphPad Software, La Jolla California USA). TEG variables were compared using repeated measures ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test depending on whether the variables were normally distributed or skewed. Normality was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Dunnet’s or Dunn’s correction were used to correct for multiple comparisons also depending on whether a normal distribution was present or not.

Results

CVF activation increases clot strength and decreases fibrinolysis.

Twenty two subjects provided samples for this experiment. The median age was 31 years (range 23–46) with 54% male. Activation of the alternative complement pathway with CVF induced several effects on coagulation. First, an increase in the R time occurred following incubation with CVF compared to control: median R time 9.9 vs. 8.5 minutes, (P=0.0008, Figure 1A); however, angle was not statistically different (median angle 51.9 vs 50.5 degrees, p=0.90). Secondly, clot strength increased significantly with the addition of CVF: MA 62.3 vs 57.5 mm (p<0.0001, Figure 1B). Lastly, fibrinolysis was diminished with complement activation: median LY30 1.4 vs 2.3% (p= 0.004, Figure 1C).

Figure 1:

a.Complement activation prolongs time to clot initiation, b. increases clot strength, and c. decreases fibrinolysis. (LY30 – lysis 30 minutes after MA, CVF – Cobra Venom Factor)

Inhibition of upstream complement activation, but not the receptor, alters clot dynamics.

Twelve subjects contributed samples, of whom 8 (67%) were male. The group had a median age of 30 years (range 24-47). The upstream complement inhibitor Compstatin did not alter coagulation, as R time, angle, and MA were unchanged (Table 1). However, clot degradation (fibrinolysis) was significantly increased with the inhibition of C3/C3b by Compstatin (LY30 3.0 vs 7.8%, p=0.0002, Figure 2). Clot dynamics were unchanged with either the C3a or C5a receptor inhibitor (Table 2). Fibrinolysis was higher in the presence of the C3aR and C5aR inhibitors, but this did not reach statistical significance (Table 2).

Table 1:

Compstatin did not alter R time, angle, or MA.

	Control (Median [IQR])	Compstatin		P value
		25 uM (Median [IQR])	50 uM (Median [IQR])
R time (minutes)	9.8 (7.0 - 13.9)	14.1 (9.2 - 16.1)	10.8 (9.2 - 13.9)	0.30
Angle (degrees)	42.8 (32.3 - 54.9)	47.2 (30.5 - 53.3)	42.0 (34.0 - 51.8)	0.93
MA (mm)	51.8 (47.1 - 56.4)	48.5 (42.9 - 52.4)	45.3 (42.6 - 52.1)	0.76
LY30 (%)	3.0 (1.2 - 6.0)	7.8 (5.0 - 13.4)	12.4 (6.3 - 17.4)	< 0.01

R – reaction time, MA – Maximal Amplitude, LY30 – Lysis 30 minutes after MA, IQR – interquartile range

Figure 2:

Inhibition of complement C3 with Compstatin increases clot degradation. (LY30 – lysis 30 minutes after MA)

Table 2:

TEG Changes Following Inhibition of the C3a and C5a receptor.

	Control Median (IQR)	C3aR Inhibitor Median (IQR)	C5aR Inhibitor Median (IQR)	P value
Reaction time (minutes)	11.2 (9.2 – 11.5)	11.6 (10.5 – 12.7)	11.4 (9.0 – 13.7)	0.36
Angle (degrees)	42.3 (36.6 – 49.6)	45.5 (39.9 – 51.9)	45.7 (40.6 – 51.5)	0.18
MA (mm)	52.0 (48.1 – 59.0)	52.3 (50.1 – 55.6)	54.3 (50.0 – 58.0)	0.43
LY30 (%)	1.6 (1.2 – 3.9)	4.0 (0.9 – 9.2)	5.0 (1.5 – 7.7)	0.19

R – reaction time, MA – Maximal Amplitude, LY30 – Lysis 30 minutes after MA, IQR – interquartile range. C3aR – C3a receptor, C5aR – C5a receptor.

Reversing complement activation with Compstatin blocks alterations in coagulation.

Fifteen subjects provided samples, of whom 9 (60%) were male. The group had a median age of 31 years (range 24–46). Compstatin inhibited each of CVF’s procoagulant effects. Comparing the combination of Compstatin and CVF to a control, no difference was seen between R time, angle, MA, or LY30 (Table 3).

Table 3:

Comparison of Compstatin and CVF to control

	Control Median (IQR)	CVF + Compstatin Median (IQR)	P value
Reaction time (min)	8.2 (7.1 – 8.6)	8.8 (7.9 – 10.7)	0.30
Angle (degrees)	51.0 (49.4 – 58.9)	51.6 (46.2 – 58.2)	0.49
MA (mm)	62 (55 – 63.5)	60 (53 – 65)	0.95
LY30 (%)	2.1 (1.5 – 2.8)	1.7 (0.7 – 4.5)	0.99

R – reaction time, MA – Maximal Amplitude, LY30 – Lysis 30 minutes after MA, IQR – interquartile range. CVF – Cobra Venom Factor

Reversing complement activation with C5aRI blocks alterations of fibrinolysis.

This experiment consisted of a cohort of fourteen subjects, of whom 8 (57%) were male. The median age of this cohort was 31 years (range 24–33). The receptor inhibitors for C3a and C5a failed to abrogate several of the effects of CVF. The C3aR and C5aR inhibitor did not prevent CVF’s effects on the R time or MA (Table 4). However, the C5aR inhibitor did reverse CVF’s effects on fibrinolysis (2.2 vs 1.2%, p=0.58), while the C3aRI did not. Also, while CVF and the C3aRI alone had no effect on angle in the previous experiments, the combination of C3aRI and CVF decreased the angle compared to controls (45.8 vs 51.2°, p=0.008).

Table 4:

Comparison of CVF and Receptor Inhibitors to Controls

	Control median (IQR)	CVF + C3aRI median (IQR)	CVF + C5aRI median (IQR)
Reaction time (min)	8.3 (6.9 - 8.7)	9.7 (8.3 - 11.1)*	8.5 (7.9 - 9.8)*
Angle (degrees)	51.2 (48.1 - 59.2)	45.8 (40.6 - 53.8)**	53.0 (44.7 - 55.8)
MA (mm)	58.8 (54.3 - 63.5)	61.8 (57.9 - 66.3)**	63.8 (60.8 - 68.6)**
LY30 (%)	2.2 (1.7 - 3.0)	0.7 (0.5 - 1.5)**	1.2 (0.8 - 5.1)

R – reaction time, MA – Maximal Amplitude, LY30 – Lysis 30 minutes after MA, IQR – interquartile range. CVF – Cobra Venom Factor

^*p<0.05 compared to controls

^**p<0.005 compared to controls

Discussion:

Using a whole blood assay, this study demonstrates several ways in which complement contributes to clot formation and degradation. First, the alternative pathway (AP) of complement alters fibrinolysis, with activation of this pathway decreasing fibrinolysis and inhibition of C3 increasing fibrinolysis. Secondly, activation of the AP increases clot strength. In contrast, a surprising prolongation of the time to clot formation occurred with incubation with CVF. Compstatin, an inhibitor of C3, effectively reversed each of the effects of CVF, while the C5aR inhibitor reversed the effect of CVF on fibrinolysis alone.

Activation of the AP primarily drives changes in coagulation via an increase in platelet activation, presenting as increased clot strength. This AP-induced activation is most likely explained by interactions of the terminal complement complex with the platelet membrane, as the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a appear to play a minimal role in platelet activity. This supports the findings by Wiedmer et al. who found that platelet activation increased in the presence of the membrane attack complex.(24) However, Subramaniam et al. reported that platelet activation by complement occurred independent of C5b-9 activation.(28) Our data suggest that C5b-9 is the primary driver of platelet activation in response to complement activation, as C5a and C3a receptor inhibition failed to reverse the effects of complement activation.

Previous studies evaluating alterations of fibrinolysis by AP activation primarily implicated C5a via activation of macrophages and granulocytes, priming for the release of antifibrinolytic proteins.(15, 34) Other in vitro studies have shown C5a-induced expression of tissue factor by neutrophils, providing the activating ingredient for the extrinsic coagulation pathway.(35) C5a has been shown to stimulate PAI-1 release by human macrophages and basophils, thus inhibiting tPA mediated fibrinolysis.(15, 34) This is supported by our finding that a C5aR inhibitor reverses inhibition of fibrinolysis by activation of the AP. Alternatively, depletion or activation of C3 may alter fibrinolysis by changing C3 binding to the fibrin clot itself.(36, 37) This may explain our finding that the addition of Compstatin to whole blood increases fibrinolysis via Compstatin blocking C3 from interacting with the fibrin clot.

Several in vivo studies have implicated complement in coagulation, but not via the C5b-9.(38) For instance, knockout rodent studies have implicated both C3 and C5 in clot development and stability.(28, 39) However, the data presented here challenges several of these previous assertions. First, C5a does not appear to affect clot strength in whole blood. Secondly, C3 does not appear to contribute to clot initiation or clot strength, as has been suggested in rodent knockout models.(28) Instead, it appears the terminal complement complex (C5b-9) is the primary driver of complement activation of coagulation.(16) Importantly, no whole blood assays of coagulation have been completed in concordance with in vivo studies to measure the hemostatic potential following complement activation in vivo.

An unexpected finding is the prolongation of the R time with incubation with CVF. This prolongation may reflect low-level prothrombinase activity, a purported result of complement activation on platelets.(40) While the citrated samples did not undergo clot formation prior to recalcification, a degree of prothrombinase activity was likely occurring in the presence of CVF, leading to consumption of clotting factors and thus resulting in a prolongation in time to clot initiation on TEG.

This finding has important implications in trauma and sepsis patients, as it may explain the development of coagulopathy with prolonged complement activation. As complement activation persists, an increasing degree of coagulation factor consumption occurs. This consumptive coagulopathy is similar to the coagulopathy seen with disseminated intravascular coagulation with excessive clot formation and diminished clotting potential occurring concurrently with persistent inflammatory activation. Additionally, the mechanism underlying the synergistic effect of CVF and the C3aR inhibitor against clot formation, as demonstrated by the reduced TEG angle, remains unclear. This may reflect off target effects of the C3aR inhibitor that, during activated complement states, leads to consumption of fibrinogen or factor XIII.

One explanation for the inconsistency of studies exploring how complement activation alters coagulation is the existence of interspecies differences in expression of membrane-bound complement receptor proteins. For instance, studies have demonstrated that platelets in guinea pigs express the C3a and C5a receptor, (41-43) but studies in mice failed to identify these receptors on platelets.(44) Meanwhile, platelets in humans express receptors for both anaphylatoxins, and concentrations of these receptors are increased during inflammatory processes.(22) Membrane-bound complement-regulating proteins also differ significantly between species. Humans rely on the complement-regulating proteins Decay Accelerating Factor (DAF) and Membrane Cofactor Protein (MCP) to prevent inadvertent complement activation,(45) and these proteins are expressed on human platelets.(46, 47) In rodents, while DAF is widely distributed, it appears MCP is only expressed in the murine testis.(45) Rodent species also utilize an additional regulatory protein that is not present in humans, the complement receptor 1-related gene/protein Y (Crry).(48) Ultimately, how these differences in expression of complement proteins lead to differences in the coagulation-complement crosstalk is unknown.

A limitation of these findings is the absence of the endothelial component of the cellular based model of hemostasis, as the vascular endothelium broadly responds to complement in several ways. For example, receptors for C5a are expressed in several tissue beds including vascular endothelium, and these tissue beds respond to exposure in several ways.(49) C5a exposure to endothelium leads to expression of tissue factor, a powerful procoagulant.(50) These studies should be extended to include models that incorporate the contributions of the endothelium. Additionally, the precise mechanism of how AP activation promotes a procoagulant state is not fully elucidated. Another limitation is that these experiments were not done concurrently and utilized separate cohorts of healthy volunteers. This raises the potential for the changes seen with each subsequent experiment to be due to an unknown confounder rather than the addition of an experimental variable such as a complement inhibitor. Future studies will focus on the formation of the terminal complement complex, and how the formation of the terminal component of complement activation contributes to the findings described here. Complement inhibitors may offer an alternative to anticoagulant medications by removing the underlying insult initiating thrombotic states such as that seen in the post-injury phase following severe trauma.