Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

"Acute Red Eye in Contact Lens Users: Clinical Pearls for Frontline Clinicians".

The American journal of medicine·2026

Same author

Tomographic phenotypes and conditional time to atrophic conversion in dry age-related macular degeneration among progressors: an interval-censored study.

Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie·2026

Same author

Associations between psychiatric disorders and medication use, and retinal occlusion: a large-scale retrospective cohort study.

Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie·2026

Same author

Deep Learning-Based Automated Segmentation and Quantification of the Ellipsoid Zone and the RPE-Bruch's Membrane Complex in Healthy Subjects and in Geographic Atrophy.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Correction: Pickleball and Ball Sports-Related Ocular Trauma in the United States.

Eye (London, England)·2026

Same author

Comparison between thin and thick choroid eyes in central serous chorioretinopathy.

Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Limbal Approach-Subretinal Injection of Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy in Mice Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Limbal Approach-Subretinal Injection of Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy in Mice Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Published on: August 7, 2015

The Complement System as a Therapeutic Target in Retinal Disease.

Joshua Ong¹, Arman Zarnegar², Amrish Selvam²

¹Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.

Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)

|June 27, 2024

Summary

The complement system is crucial for retinal health but its dysregulation causes diseases like geographic atrophy. Therapies targeting this system are now available, offering new hope for treating retinal conditions.

Keywords:

age-related macular degeneration choroid complement system retinal therapy

More Related Videos

An Acute Retinal Model for Evaluating Blood Retinal Barrier Breach and Potential Drugs for Treatment

An Acute Retinal Model for Evaluating Blood Retinal Barrier Breach and Potential Drugs for Treatment

Published on: September 13, 2016

Efficient Dissection and Culture of Primary Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Efficient Dissection and Culture of Primary Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Published on: February 10, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Limbal Approach-Subretinal Injection of Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy in Mice Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Limbal Approach-Subretinal Injection of Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy in Mice Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Published on: August 7, 2015

An Acute Retinal Model for Evaluating Blood Retinal Barrier Breach and Potential Drugs for Treatment

An Acute Retinal Model for Evaluating Blood Retinal Barrier Breach and Potential Drugs for Treatment

Published on: September 13, 2016

Efficient Dissection and Culture of Primary Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Efficient Dissection and Culture of Primary Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Published on: February 10, 2021

Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Immunology
Molecular Biology

Background:

The complement cascade is essential for host defense and maintaining retinal integrity.
Dysregulation of the complement system is implicated in retinal pathologies such as geographic atrophy and diabetic retinopathy.
The aging process can affect complement function, increasing susceptibility to retinal diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

To discuss the role of complement system dysfunction in retinal pathophysiology.
To review cellular, animal, and clinical studies targeting the complement system for retinal diseases.
To provide an overview of approved complement inhibitors for geographic atrophy.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on complement system in retinal diseases.
Analysis of data from in vivo, ex vivo, and clinical trials.
Examination of approved therapeutic agents targeting the complement cascade.

Main Results:

Complement system dysregulation is a key factor in the development of specific retinal pathologies.
Therapeutic strategies targeting complement components have shown promise in preclinical and clinical studies.
Several complement inhibitors are now FDA-approved for treating geographic atrophy.

Conclusions:

The complement system represents a significant therapeutic target for various retinal diseases.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate complement mechanisms and optimize treatment strategies.
Targeting the complement cascade offers a promising avenue for managing and treating debilitating retinal conditions.