A Complement C3-Specific Nanobody for Modulation of the Alternative Cascade Identifies the C-Terminal Domain of C3b as Functional in C5 Convertase Activity.

In this study, we describe the nanobody hC3Nb3, which is specific for the C-terminal C345c domain of human and mouse complement component C3/C3b/C3c and potently inhibits C3 cleavage by the alternative pathway. A high-resolution structure of the hC3Nb3-C345c complex explains how the nanobody blocks proconvertase assembly. Surprisingly, although the nanobody does not affect classical pathway-mediated C3 cleavage, hC3Nb3 inhibits classical pathway-driven hemolysis, suggesting that the C-terminal domain of C3b has an important function in classical pathway C5 convertase activity. The hC3Nb3 nanobody binds C3 with low nanomolar affinity in an SDS-resistant complex, and the nanobody is demonstrated to be a powerful reagent for C3 detection in immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Overall, the hC3Nb3 nanobody represents a potent inhibitor of both the alternative pathway and the terminal pathway, with possible applications in complement research, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
PMID: 32938727 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Journal of Immunology - September 15, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Pedersen H, Jensen RK, Jensen JMB, Fox R, Pedersen DV, Olesen HG, Hansen AG, Christiansen D, Mazarakis SMM, Lojek N, Hansen P, Gadeberg TAF, Zarantonello A, Laursen NS, Mollnes TE, Johnson MB, Stevens B, Thiel S, Andersen GR Tags: J Immunol Source Type: research