Complement components, regulators and receptors are produced by human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Complement and dendritic cells (DCs) are essential components of innate immunity. Both participate in local inflammation and moreover have roles in the initiation of the acquired immunity response and in the maintenance of tolerance. Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of DCs to synthesize C1q, C3, Factor I, Factor B and complement receptors 3 and 4. In this study, we demonstrate that human DCs are a source of other soluble complement proteins including C1q, C4b binding protein (C4BP), C7 and C8. Complement receptors (CR)1 and the CD18 chain (common for CR3 and CR4) were also present on DCs while CR2 was not detected.