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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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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.
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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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Antibody Actions01:26

Antibody Actions

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Antibodies, or immunoglobulins, are critical players in the immune system's arsenal against invading pathogens. Produced by B cells and plasma cells, their primary role is to detect and bind to specific antigens, molecules found on the surface of pathogens like bacteria or viruses. Beyond antigen recognition, antibodies perform several vital functions that contribute to immune defense.
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Humoral Immune Responses01:36

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Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens01:29

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

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The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
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NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
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The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

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The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays
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Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays

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Enhanced complement activation and MAC formation accelerates severe COVID-19.

Calder R Ellsworth1,2, Zheng Chen1,2, Mark T Xiao1,2

  • 1Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, 70433, USA.

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS
|September 16, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The complement system

Keywords:
C3Cd59ComplementEndothelial dysfunctionMACSevere COVID-19

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The complement system, particularly the membrane attack complex (MAC), is implicated in severe COVID-19.
  • The specific pathogenic roles of MAC in COVID-19 have not been experimentally verified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of complement activation and MAC formation in severe COVID-19 pathogenesis.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential of inhibiting MAC formation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized C3 knockout (C3-/-), C7 knockout (C7-/-), and Cd59ab knockout (Cd59ab-/-) mice models.
  • Administered anti-C5 antibody to inhibit MAC formation.
  • Assessed disease severity, MAC deposition, and endothelial dysfunction in SARS-CoV-2 infected mice.

Main Results:

  • Inhibition of complement activation (C3-/-) and MAC formation (C7-/-, anti-C5) attenuated severe COVID-19.
  • Enhanced MAC formation (Cd59ab-/-) accelerated severe COVID-19.
  • MAC deposition in lungs correlated with disease severity; absence of MAC formation protected against endothelial dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Demonstrated the causative role of MAC in severe COVID-19 pathogenesis.
  • Highlighting complement system modulation and MAC inhibition as potential therapeutic strategies for severe COVID-19.