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Related Concept Videos

Complement System01:27

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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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Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
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Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
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Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that  degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However,...
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Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 18, 2025

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

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Local and Cell-intrinsic complement: The new player in cancer progression.

M Revel1, N S Merle2

  • 1INSERM, UMR_S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Universités, Université de Paris, Paris, France.

Seminars in Immunology
|June 25, 2025
PubMed
Summary

The complement system plays a dual role in cancer, suppressing tumors but also promoting growth and spread. New research reveals its surprising intracellular functions, impacting cancer progression and therapy resistance.

Keywords:
Canonical cascadeComplement systemComplosomeIntracellular complementNon-canonical functionsTumor biology

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Last Updated: Sep 18, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The complement system is a critical part of innate immunity.
  • Traditionally, its role in cancer was viewed as extracellular, with dual functions as a tumor suppressor and promoter.
  • Emerging evidence points to non-canonical, intracellular roles in tumor progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the paradoxical roles of the complement system in cancer.
  • To highlight recent discoveries on intracellular complement functions.
  • To discuss challenges and future directions in understanding complement's role in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature.
  • Analysis of gene expression data (acknowledged limitations).
  • Discussion of emerging technologies like gene editing and single-cell analysis.

Main Results:

  • Complement system exhibits both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting activities.
  • Intracellular complement activation influences tumor proliferation, immune evasion, and metastasis.
  • Tumors utilize complement for immunosuppression and resistance to therapy.
  • The concept of an intracellular complement system ('complosome') suggests roles in metabolism and stress responses.

Conclusions:

  • Complement's role in cancer is complex, extending beyond extracellular functions.
  • Understanding intracellular complement signaling is crucial for cancer research.
  • Further research using advanced technologies is needed to develop novel cancer therapies targeting the complement system.