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Tissue synthesis of complement as an immune regulator
P A Andrews1, W Zhou, S H Sacks
1Department of Nephrology, United Medical and Dental Schools, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Molecular Medicine Today
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Tissues produce complement components, regulated by cytokines. Understanding local complement synthesis is key to explaining organ-specific immune diseases and their protective or injurious effects.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Growing evidence indicates diverse tissues synthesize complement components.
- Tissue-specific production is differentially regulated by inflammatory cytokines.
- Locally produced complement can exert protective or injurious effects based on context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the significance of locally synthesized complement.
- To discuss the implications of tissue-specific complement production in disease.
- To introduce emerging techniques for differentiating local vs. systemic complement contributions.
Main Methods:
- Review of accumulating evidence on tissue-specific complement production.
- Discussion of cytokine regulation of local complement synthesis.
- Introduction of novel analytical techniques for distinguishing local and circulating complement.
Main Results:
- Complement component production is not exclusive to the liver.
- Inflammatory cytokines differentially regulate complement synthesis in various tissues.
- New methods allow separation of local and systemic complement contributions.
Conclusions:
- Local complement synthesis plays a critical role in tissue immunity.
- Understanding tissue-specific complement regulation is essential for explaining organ-specific diseases.
- Appreciating local complement synthesis may unlock new therapeutic strategies for immunological disorders.