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Related Concept Videos

Complement System01:27

Complement System

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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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Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions01:19

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Type III hypersensitivity reactions occur when antigen–antibody complexes form and activate the complement system. Normally, these complexes help the clearance of antigens by phagocytes and red blood cells. However, when large numbers of immune complexes are present, they can deposit in tissues—particularly in the walls of blood vessels—leading to inflammation and tissue injury. These deposits trigger complement activation and neutrophil recruitment, resulting in serum...
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What is the Immune System?01:38

What is the Immune System?

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Overview
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Hypersensitivity Reactions: Cytolytic Reactions01:01

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Cytolytic Reactions

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Type II hypersensitivity involves IgG and IgM antibodies targeting cell surface antigens, leading to cell destruction. This can occur through complement activation, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), or acting as opsonins for phagocytosis. When excessive, these reactions cause significant tissue damage.Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is a common example, where drugs like penicillin or cephalosporins bind to red blood cells, forming drug-protein complexes. These complexes...
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Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

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Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
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Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

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Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
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Depletion of Specific Cell Populations by Complement Depletion
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Complement system in dermatological diseases - fire under the skin.

Jaana Panelius1, Seppo Meri2

  • 1Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland ; Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital , Helsinki , Finland.

Frontiers in Medicine
|February 18, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The complement system is crucial in skin diseases, causing damage through overactivation or aiding microbes. New drugs targeting complement offer hope for treating these inflammatory skin conditions.

Keywords:
complement deficiencycomplement evasionhereditary and acquired angioedemapartial lipodystrophypemphigoidpemphigussystemic lupus erythematosusvasculitic syndromes

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The complement system, a key part of innate immunity, plays a significant role in various dermatological conditions.
  • Dysregulation of the complement cascade, including overactivation or deficiency, is linked to the pathogenesis of numerous skin diseases.
  • Mechanisms involve autoimmune responses, complement-mediated tissue damage (e.g., membrane attack complex), and microbial evasion strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the critical role of the complement system in a wide spectrum of skin disorders.
  • To discuss how complement system abnormalities contribute to dermatological disease development and progression.
  • To highlight current and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the complement system for skin conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on complement system function in dermatology.
  • Analysis of the mechanisms linking complement activation to skin inflammation and injury.
  • Overview of drugs affecting the complement system and their clinical implications.

Main Results:

  • Abnormalities in complement function are implicated in autoimmune blistering diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, and infections like Lyme disease and staphylococcal infections.
  • Certain drugs can induce complement-mediated SLE-like symptoms.
  • Novel anti-complement therapies, such as recombinant C1-inhibitor and eculizumab, show promise in managing complement-driven dermatological diseases.

Conclusions:

  • The complement system is a vital effector in immune-mediated skin injury and inflammation.
  • Understanding complement's role is essential for diagnosing and treating diverse dermatological diseases.
  • Targeting the complement cascade represents a promising therapeutic avenue for inflammatory and autoimmune skin conditions.