[The terminal complement complex (TCC)--a mediator in the development of disease in man?]

Activation of the terminal complement pathway leads to the formation of the terminal complement complexes (TCC). TCC exists in one active membrane form, C5b-9 and in one inactive fluid phase form, SC5b-9. The paper explores the structure and regulatory mechanisms of TCC. In addition, methods of detecting TCC in tissue and in biological fluids, guidelines for sampling and the importance of TCC as an inflammatory mediator in human disease are discussed.