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Related Concept Videos

Complement System01:27

Complement System

The complement system is a group of approximately 20 plasma proteins that strengthen the body's defenses against infections through opsonization, inflammation, and cell lysis. Opsonization involves coating pathogens with complement proteins, making them more recognizable and facilitating phagocyte engulfment. Certain complement proteins induce inflammation that attracts immune cells to the site of infection. Cell lysis involves the destruction of pathogens through the formation of a membrane...
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Organization of the Brain

The brain is an integral component of the nervous system and serves as the center for processing sensory inputs, making decisions, and directing bodily actions. This complex organ is organized into three primary sections: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, each responsible for a range of vital functions.
Hindbrain
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The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It consists of four main parts: the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.
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The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
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The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

A Model of Epileptogenesis in Rhinal Cortex-Hippocampus Organotypic Slice Cultures
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Complement in the brain.

Robert Veerhuis1, Henrietta M Nielsen, Andrea J Tenner

  • 1Department of Clinical Chemistry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. R.Veerhuis@vumc.nl

Molecular Immunology
|May 7, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The brain

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The brain is an immune-privileged site due to the blood-brain barrier, relying on innate immunity for clearance.
  • Neuronal and glial cells express innate immune factors like Toll-like receptors and complement receptors.
  • Inflammation in the brain must be tightly regulated to prevent interference with neural function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of the innate immune system, particularly complement, in brain function and disease.
  • To investigate how complement dysregulation contributes to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease.
  • To examine the dual role of complement in both neurodegeneration and neurodevelopment/protection.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on innate immunity in the central nervous system (CNS).
  • Analysis of findings from animal studies using transgenic models (overexpressing or knockout mice).
  • Examination of complement activation and its regulatory proteins in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.

Main Results:

  • Accumulating amyloid proteins in Alzheimer's disease trigger complement activation and chronic neuroinflammation.
  • Glial cell activation by complement can lead to the production of neurotoxic substances.
  • Complement activation products are involved in normal brain development and synapse formation, as well as neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.

Conclusions:

  • Complement plays a critical role in both the pathological processes of neurodegenerative diseases and the physiological processes of brain development.
  • Understanding complement's complex role offers potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative conditions and CNS injury.
  • Fine-tuning complement regulation presents a promising avenue for novel therapeutic interventions in neurological disorders.