Role of complement in immune regulation and its exploitation by virus

Complement is activated during the early phase of viral infection and promotes destruction of virus particles as well as the initiation of inflammatory responses. Recently, complement and complement receptors have been reported to play an important role in the regulation of innate as well as adaptive immune responses during infection. The regulation of host immune responses by complement involves modulation of dendritic cell activity in addition to direct effects on T-cell function. Intriguingly, many viruses encode homologs of complement regulatory molecules or proteins that interact with complement receptors on antigen-presenting cells and lymphocytes. The evolution of viral mechanisms to alter complement function may augment pathogen persistence and limit immune-mediated tissue destruction. These observations suggest that complement may play an important role in both innate and adaptive immune responses to infection as well as virus-mediated modulation of host immunity.