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Complement System

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells

Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells

Published on: January 29, 2014

Quantification of complement system activation by measuring C5b-9 cell surface deposition using a cell-ELISA

Hyungtaek Jeon¹, Ji-Su Lee¹, Seungmin Yoo¹

¹Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.

Journal of Immunological Methods

|September 28, 2014

Summary

We developed a new assay to measure complement system activation in eukaryotic cells by detecting C5b-9. This method quantifies complement activation on cancer cell lines, aiding immune defense research.

Keywords:

Complement system ELISA Membrane attack complex

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Last Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells

Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells

Published on: January 29, 2014

Measuring the 50% Haemolytic Complement CH50 Activity of Serum

Measuring the 50% Haemolytic Complement CH50 Activity of Serum

Published on: March 29, 2010

Evaluation of the Interplay Between the Complement Protein C1q and Hyaluronic Acid in Promoting Cell Adhesion

Evaluation of the Interplay Between the Complement Protein C1q and Hyaluronic Acid in Promoting Cell Adhesion

Published on: June 15, 2019

Area of Science:

Immunology
Cell Biology

Background:

The complement system is crucial for immune defense against pathogens.
Eukaryotic cells use regulatory proteins to prevent self-damage from complement activation.
Constitutive complement activation in some cells affects proliferation and survival, but lacks standardized measurement methods.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a novel quantitative in vitro method for measuring complement system activation in eukaryotic cells.
To validate the assay by comparing its results with established methods like flow cytometry and immunofluorescence.
To investigate complement system activation levels across different cancer cell lines.

Main Methods:

Developed a quantitative in vitro assay to detect C5b-9 (the membrane attack complex) on cell surfaces.
Validated the assay by measuring C3b deposition using flow cytometry.
Validated the assay by detecting C5b-9 deposition using immunofluorescence microscopy.

Main Results:

The developed assay quantitatively measures complement system activation by detecting C5b-9.
Assay results showed strong correlation with C3b deposition measured by flow cytometry.
Assay results correlated with C5b-9 deposition detected via immunofluorescence.
Demonstrated varying levels of complement system activation among different cancer cell lines using the assay.

Conclusions:

A reliable quantitative in vitro method for measuring complement system activation via C5b-9 detection has been established.
This assay provides a valuable tool for studying the role of constitutive complement activation in eukaryotic cells, including cancer.
The assay successfully differentiated complement activation levels in various cancer cell lines, opening avenues for further research.