Assignment 5 Flashcards
what is the complement system?
a family of > 30 activation and regulatory proteins found either bound to cell membrane or in circulation
what is the source of complement proteins and distribution
mainly by the liver
some by macrophages and fibroblasts
what are the general features of the complement system?
the complement proteins function as enzymes and are activated in a cascade called the complement pathway (alternative and classical pathways). each pathway generates a “C3b” which is important in host defense - after, both pathways converge into a common/terminal pathway
list 5 immunological functions of complement
- facilitate interaction of phagocytes to induce opsonin-mediated phagocytosis
- induce osmotic lysis of microbes
- enhance vascular permeability by inducing degranulation of mast cells/basophils
- induce chemotaxis of neutrophils
- facilitate immune complex elimination
describe the mechanism by which complement facilitates immune complex elimination
complement component C3b can bind to immune complexes in circulation
now the immune complexes can be eliminated by neutrophils (opsonin mediated phagocytosis)
the complexes ca also be transported to the liver and/or spleen via red blood cells. RBCs express CR1 and bind to C3b –> transport to liver and spleen where resident phagocytes strip the complex off the RBCs
what are the components for the classical pathway of complement activation?
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
explain how the classical complement pathway is activated
occurs only after adaptive host defenses have been recruited - IgM or IgG (subclasses 1,2, or 3) antibodies specific for an antigen must be generated and bind to that antigen!
explain why IgM is more effective at activating complement than IgG
because IgM is a pentamer - even 1 molecule of IgM provides 2 Fc regions which is the minimum number required for C1 activation
about 600 IgG molecules are required to generate 2 IgG molecules that are close for binding by C1
what is the fab region on the antibody for
where the antigen binds
what is the Fc region of the antibody for
where the complement protein binds
list the components of the C3 convertase in CP and AP
CP => C4b2a
AP => C3bBb
list the components of the C5 convertase
CP => C4b2a3b
AP=> C3bBbC3b
what is the role of C3a and C5a?
- induction of histamine release
- chemotaxis of neutrophils
what is the role of C3b
- serves as an opsonin
- facilitates elimination of immune complexes
- component of C3 convertase AP
- component of C5 convertase in CP + AP
what is the role of C2b
- weak kinin
- increases vascular permeability = genesis of inflammation