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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Ex vivo Culturing of Whole, Developing Drosophila Brains
Published on: July 27, 2012
Complement: The Emerging Architect of the Developing Brain
Liam G Coulthard1, Owen A Hawksworth2, Trent M Woodruff2
1Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Abstract:
Complement activation products have long been associated with roles in the innate immune system, linking the humoral and cellular responses. However, among their recently described non-inflammatory roles, complement proteins also have multiple emerging novel functions in brain development. Within this context, separate proteins and pathways of complement have carved out physiological niches in the formation, development, and refinement of neurons. They demonstrate actions that are both reminiscent of peripheral immune actions and removed from them. We review here three key roles for complement proteins in the developing brain: progenitor proliferation, neuronal migration, and synaptic pruning.
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