Requirements for C5a receptor-mediated IL-4 and IL-13 production and leukotriene C4 generation in human basophils

Anaphylatoxin derived from the fifth complement component (C5a) in the presence of IL-3 induces continuous leukotriene C4 generation and IL-4 and IL-13 expression in human basophils for a period of 16-18 h, This indicates that the G protein-coupled C5a receptor (C5aR) can induce long-lasting cellular responses. Using anti-N-terminal C5aR Abs, C-terminal C5a hexapeptide analogs, and pertussis toxin, we demonstrate that the putative activation site of the C5aR is both necessary and sufficient for these late cellular responses. Furthermore, continuous pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor activation and receptor-ligand interaction is ongoing and required during the entire period of product release. However, the late basophil responses have a more stringent requirement for optimal receptor activation. Leukotriene C4 generation appears to be influenced mostly by the way the receptor is activated, because the most active hexapeptide is a superagonist for this response. By contrast, C5a(desarg), lacking the C-terminal arginine, induces minimal lipid mediator formation but is fully active to induce IL-4 production and is even a superagonist for IL-13 release. Nevertheless, IL-4/IL-13 synthesis in response to C5a(desarg) could be blocked by both C-terminal antagonistic peptide as well as anti-N-terminal C5aR Abs, indicating only minor differences of ligand-receptor interactions between C5a and C5a(desarg). Taken together, our data demonstrate that long-lasting and continuous signaling occurs through a limited activation domain of the C5aR, which can differentially promote separate basophil functions.