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Primitive complement system--recognition and activation.

Teizo Fujita1, Yuichi Endo, Masaru Nonaka

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Fukushima Medical University, and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Japan. tfujita@fmu.ac.jp

Molecular Immunology
|May 26, 2004
PubMed
Summary
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The complement system, crucial for immunity, evolved independently in ascidians and vertebrates. While sharing domains, their unique combinations suggest distinct evolutionary paths and a later integration in higher vertebrates.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The complement system is vital for innate and acquired immunity, involving over 30 components for pathogen recognition and elimination.
  • Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins are key pattern recognition molecules activating the lectin complement pathway via MASPs.
  • Ascidians possess a similar lectin-based complement system functioning in an opsonic manner.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary origins and complexity of the complement system in deuterostomes.
  • To compare the complement system of ascidians with that of mammals.
  • To understand the evolutionary trajectory leading to the modern complement system in higher vertebrates.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis of complement system components across different species.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Identification and analysis of conserved and unique domains in complement proteins.
  • Evolutionary analysis of gene duplications and domain combinations.

    • Main Results:

    • Most complement component domains are present in both protostomes and deuterostomes, but unique combinations are exclusive to deuterostomes, suggesting a deuterostome origin.
    • The ascidian complement system exhibits complexity comparable to mammals, indicating independent gene expansion via duplication.
    • Despite domain similarities, evolutionary analysis reveals differences in reactivity, suggesting further integration steps in vertebrate evolution.

    Conclusions:

    • The complement system likely originated in deuterostomes, with independent expansions in ascidian and vertebrate lineages.
    • Ascidians provide a model for studying early complement system evolution due to their comparable complexity.
    • The modern complement system of higher vertebrates required additional evolutionary steps beyond gene duplication and domain acquisition.