The α7β0 isoform of the complement regulator C4b-binding protein induces a semimature, anti-inflammatory state in dendritic cells

The classical pathway complement regulator C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is composed of two polypeptides (α- and β-chains), which form three plasma oligomers with different subunit compositions (α7β1, α7β0, and α6β1). We show in this article that the C4BP α7β0 isoform (hereafter called C4BP[β-] [C4BP lacking the β-chain]), overexpressed under acute-phase conditions, induces a semimature, tolerogenic state on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) activated by a proinflammatory stimulus. C4BP isoforms containing β-chain (α7β1 and α6β1; C4BP[b+]) neither interfered with the normal maturation of DCs nor competed with C4BP(β-) activity on these cells. Immature DCs (iDCs) treated with C4BP(β -) retained high endocytic activity, but, upon LPS treatment, they did not upregulate surface expression of CD83, CD80, and CD86. Transcriptional profiling of these semimature DCs revealed that treatment with C4BP(β-) prevented the induction of IDO and BIC-1, whereas TGF-β1 expression was maintained to the level of iDCs. C4BP(β -)-treated DCs were also unable to release proinflammatory Th1 cytokines (IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8) and, conversely, increased IL-10 secretion. They prevented surface CCR7 overexpression and, accordingly, displayed reduced chemotaxis, being morphologically indistinguishable from iDCs. Moreover, C4BP(β-)-treated DCs failed to enhance allogeneic T cell proliferation, impairing IFN-γ production in these cells and, conversely, promoting CD4+CD127 low/neg CD25highFoxp3+ T cells. Deletion mutant analysis revealed that the complement control protein-6 domain of the α-chain is necessary for the tolerogenic activity of C4BP(β -). Our data demonstrate a novel anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory function of the complement regulator C4BP, suggesting a relevant role of the acute-phase C4BP(β-) isoform in a number of pathophysiological conditions and potential applications in autoimmunity and transplantation. © 2013 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.