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Physiology and pathophysiology of complement: progress and trends
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Wales College of Medicine, Health Park, Cardiff.
Insights
The complement system, a cascade of proteins, defends against bacteria and immune complexes. Research explores its role in diseases like neurological disorders and potential therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The complement system is a crucial part of innate immunity, involving over 20 plasma and membrane proteins.
- It functions as a tightly regulated cascade to eliminate pathogens and clear immune complexes.
- Deficiencies in the complement system lead to increased susceptibility to bacterial infections and immune complex diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the fundamental mechanisms of complement activation and regulation.
- To discuss the role of complement in various immunological and neurological diseases.
- To highlight therapeutic strategies and novel physiological functions of the complement system.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on complement system mechanisms, activation, and biological roles.
- Discussion of clinical research findings, including new assays for complement activation.
- Summary of evidence regarding complement's involvement in disease and reproduction.
Main Results:
- Complement activation involves a cascade of protein fragments with diverse functions.
- Complement deficiencies are linked to specific diseases, particularly bacterial infections and immune complex disorders.
- Emerging research implicates complement in neurological diseases and reproduction.
Conclusions:
- The complement system is vital for host defense and immune homeostasis.
- Therapeutic inhibition of complement activation shows promise for treating complement-mediated diseases.
- Further research is uncovering novel roles for complement in physiology and disease pathogenesis.
Abstract:
The complement system comprises a family of at least 20 plasma and membrane proteins that interact in a tightly regulated cascade system to destroy invading bacteria and prevent the deposition of immune complexes in the tissues. This brief review addresses the basic mechanisms of complement activation and control and describes the active fragments produced during complement activation. The biological importance of the complement system is amply illustrated in patients with complement deficiencies, who are susceptible to bacterial infections and immune complex diseases. The involvement of complement in other immunological diseases is an expanding area of clinical research, supported by the development of new assays for the identification of complement activation. This area is discussed here with particular reference to neurological diseases. A promising new prospect involves the use of complement inhibitory molecules in therapy of complement-mediated disease and this exciting area is also discussed. Novel physiological roles of complement also are being revealed and new evidence that complement and complement receptors play an important role in reproduction is summarized. It is hoped that this brief overview will convey some of the enthusiasm currently pervading research in this underappreciated area of immunology.