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Overview of the Complement System

The document discusses the complement system, which is part of the innate immune system and helps antibodies and phagocytes clear pathogens. It describes the history and key discoverers of the complement system. There are over 30 complement proteins that are found free in serum or on cell surfaces. They activate through three pathways: classical, lectin, and alternative. C3 is a central component that marks pathogens for destruction. The complement system is tightly regulated to prevent damage to healthy tissue.

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Kush Shrivastava
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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279 views13 pages

Overview of the Complement System

The document discusses the complement system, which is part of the innate immune system and helps antibodies and phagocytes clear pathogens. It describes the history and key discoverers of the complement system. There are over 30 complement proteins that are found free in serum or on cell surfaces. They activate through three pathways: classical, lectin, and alternative. C3 is a central component that marks pathogens for destruction. The complement system is tightly regulated to prevent damage to healthy tissue.

Uploaded by

Kush Shrivastava
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
  • Introduction
  • The Complement System
  • Discovery
  • Overview
  • Components of Complement System
  • Pathways
  • Alternative Pathway of Complement Activation & Regulation of C3
  • Basic Features of Classical Complement Pathways
  • Complement Activation by Lectin Pathway
  • The Terminal Complement Pathway
  • Other Consequences of Complement Activation
  • Regulation
  • Acknowledgements

Kush Shrivastava PhD Scholar Division of Animal Genetics I.V.R.

I Izatnagar , Bareilly

Meaning - help, make complete In Immunology - The complement system


helps or complements the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism.

Primarily the part of Innate Immune System of


an organism.

Hans Ernst August Buchner -

Alexin

Jules Bordet Properties of Alexin Paul Ehrlich Coined term

Complement

Group of about 30 different proteins.

Found free in serum or as cell bound receptors. Named with prefix C (e.g. C1, C2, C3 etc) or designated by letters. Synthesis Various sites like liver, macrophages. Three pathways of activation Classical pathway
Alternative pathway Lectin pathways

C3 convertase A protease , central to all three pathways.

C1

C1q

C4

C2

C3

C1r

C1s

C5

C7

C9

C6

C8

C3 Central components of complement system Has highly reactive thioester group. Needs activation, can bind to surface of many pathogens (as well as normal tissue) & mark them for destruction by immune cells. Highly regulated molecule Factors I & H are involved in regulation of C3 level

ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY OF COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION & REGULATION OF C3 C3b C3 C3a


SPONTANEOUS BREAKDOWN

In the presence of an activating surface

C3b
Under Normal Circumstances (No activating surface)

Ba B
C3bBb

H
C3bBb

D
C3bH

I
C3bBbP

Inactivated C3b P

BASIC FEATURES OF CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAYS


Ag + Ab

Inactive C1

Active C1

C4a

C4

C4b

C2

C4b2b C4b2a C4b2

C3b C3a C3

COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION BY LECTIN PATHWAY


Bacterial surface C2

Mannose Binding Lectin

C4b C4a C4

Inactive MASP-2

Active MASP- 2

C4b2b C4b2a C4b2 C3b C3a C3

THE TERMINAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY


C3b
C5

C3b5b C3b5 5a

C3b5b C3bBb C4B2b

C7

C6

C8

C9

Various fractions formed have different functions.

Regulated by complement control proteins. Present at a higher concentration in the blood plasma than the complement proteins. Some are present on membrane of self cells.

For e.g., CD59, (protectin) which inhibits C9


polymerisation during the formation of the membrane attack complex, C1 inhibitor inhibits the activity if C1 during the classical pathway.

Kush Shrivastava PhD Scholar Division of Animal Genetics I.V.R.I Izatnagar , Bareilly
Meaning - help, make complete In Immunology - The complement system helps or “complements” the ability of antibodi
Hans Ernst August Buchner - Alexin Jules Bordet – Properties of Alexin Paul Ehrlich – Coined term Complement
‣ Group of about 30 different proteins. ‣ Found free in serum or as cell bound receptors. ‣ Named with prefix C (e.g. C1, C
C1 C1q C1r C1s C4 C2 C3 B D C5 C6 C7 C8 C9  C3 – Central components of complement system  Has highly reactiv
P C3bBb Ba B H C3a ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY OF COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION & REGULATION OF C3 ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY OF COMPLEMENT
C3b C3a C4b2b C4b2a C4 C4b C4a BASIC FEATURES OF CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAYS BASIC FEATURES OF CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT
Active MASP- 2 C4b2b C4b2a C2 C4b C4a Bacterial surface Bacterial surface COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION BY LECTIN PATHWAY COMP
C9 C9 C9 C8 C6 C7 5a C3b5b C4B2b C3bBb THE TERMINAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY C5 C3b C3b5 + C3b5b

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