Abstract: chapter 5 Complement Francis Moore Jr., Francis Moore Jr.Search for more papers by this author Francis Moore Jr., Francis Moore Jr.Search for more papers by this author Book Editor(s):Gerald B. Pier, Gerald B. Pier Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MassachusettsSearch for more papers by this authorJeffrey B. Lyczak, Jeffrey B. Lyczak Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MassachusettsSearch for more papers by this authorLee M. Wetzler, Lee M. Wetzler Evans Biomedical Research Center and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MassachusettsSearch for more papers by this author First published: 08 April 2004 https://doi.org/10.1128/9781555816148.ch5 AboutPDFPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShareShare a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Summary Complement proteins fall into three broad categories, although some complement proteins may actually fit into two of these categories. The first category encompasses the complement serum proteins, which react with foreign bodies in either an antibody-dependent or antibody-independent manner. The second are regulatory proteins present in serum or on the membranes of host cells. The third are cell surface receptors that bind to the products of complement activation and signal host cells to participate in inflammatory and immune reactions. The complement system is designed to mobilize a large number of immune effector mechanisms when it detects infected or injured self tissues. Three pathways of complement activation are now known: the alternative pathway, the classical pathway, and the lectin pathway. A third pathway of complement activation, the lectin pathway, has recently been defined but, like the alternative pathway of complement activation, likely arose during evolution prior to the classical pathway. Serum opsonins include antibody, complement, fibronectin, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Host phagocytes, such as neutrophils and macrophages, have receptor proteins on their cell surfaces that specifically recognize portions of the antibody molecule (Fc receptors), fragments of complement (C3 receptors), and fibronectin. Immune cells attracted to such sites expose cell surface receptor proteins that recognize particular fragments of C3 and fulfill the biologic function of phagocytosis. Thus, complement constitutes the fundamental proinflammatory response system that can trigger and regulate the remainder of the immune response. Immunology, Infection, and Immunity RelatedInformation
Publication Year: 2015
Publication Date: 2015-09-25
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 3
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot