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C1q-binding proteins and C1q receptors
A Nicholson-Weller1, L B Klickstein
1Division of Allergy, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA. anichols@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Current Opinion in Immunology
|February 27, 1999
Summary
Complement C1q triggers cellular reactions, potentially aiding host defense and preventing autoimmune diseases. Identifying C1q receptors is crucial for understanding these biological roles and associated human health conditions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Complement C1q, a key initiator of the classical complement pathway, engages various cell types.
- C1q-mediated cellular responses are implicated in host defense mechanisms and the prevention of autoimmune disorders.
- Deficiency in C1q is linked to increased susceptibility to infections and a higher prevalence of autoimmune diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular responses induced by aggregated or immobilized complement C1q.
- To explore the role of C1q-induced responses in host defense and autoimmunity.
- To review the ongoing 25-year search for C1q receptors and recent findings.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on C1q function and receptor identification.
- Analysis of cellular responses to aggregated or immobilized C1q.
- Categorization of C1q-binding proteins into intracellular and cell surface receptors.
Main Results:
- Aggregated or immobilized C1q elicits cellular responses across diverse cell types.
- C1q-binding proteins can be classified into two main groups: intracellular molecules and cell surface receptors.
- Recent research has advanced the identification of C1q receptors after a prolonged search.
Conclusions:
- C1q-induced cellular responses are significant for immune function and maintaining self-tolerance.
- Understanding C1q-cell interactions and receptor identification is vital for addressing C1q deficiency-related pathologies.
- The identification of distinct C1q receptor classes offers new avenues for therapeutic strategies.