Complement Cascade Flashcards
Complement system
Collection of circulating and cell membrane proteins
complements the humoral branch of innate and adaptive immunity
coordinated enzymatic cascade –> seqeuntial proteolytic cleavage of C’ proteins (zymogens)
C’ functions
triggers and amplifies inflammation rxns
attraction of phagocytes by chemotaxis
clearance of immune complexes
cellular activation
Direct microbial killing
Development of humoral responses
what are the components activated by cleavage into peptide fragments
smaller fragment “a” - away
- anaphylatoxins
- diffuse AWAY from site
- helps initiate localized inflammatory response
larger fragment “b”
- active complement component
- BINDS to target near site of activation
what does a bar over a symbol mean in the nomenclature of C’ system
it means the complex (such as C4b2b3b) is activated and has enzymatic activity
Complement system activation differs in the stimulus that triggers the cascade but all merge into a common pathway leading to the formation of what?
lethal membrane attack complex (MAC)
What are the three different C’ activation pathways?
Classical
Alternative
Lectin
What activates the classical pathway
antibody binding to antigen
antibody defines the target antigen
this is part of humoral arm of adaptive immunity
Alternative pathway
Independent of antibody
- not necessary for the host to have had prior exposure (so innate)
- constant trickle (surveillance)
- don’t have exquisite specificity that you have to have in classical pathway
Lectin Pathway
activated when a carbohydrate-binding plasma protein, mannose-binding lectin (MBL), binds to terminal mannose residues on the surface glycoproteins of microbes.
component of innate immunity
What are the initiation steps of Classical pathway
Antibodies bind antigens
C1 component
What is C1 and what does it bind to?
C1 is a hexamer (6 globular domains) associated to two C1s and C1r molecules
binds to antigen/antibody complex
binds 1 IgM
binds 2 IgG
***Classical pathway
what does C1qrs cleave?
C4
C2
generates an amplification b/c it cleaves and activates many C4 and C2 molecules
C4b2b
aka C3 convertase
cleaves many molecules of C3
responsible for the distinction b/w self and non-self b/c C3b deposits deposits rapidly on non-self surfaces which leads to opsonization
self surfaces limit the deposition of C3b
C4b2b3b
aka C5 Convertase
this brings in C5 and cleaves it to C5b and C5a
initiates the final series of events leading to MAC formation
C5b67 complex
Inserts itself into the membrane and forms a small pore
eventually leads to slow lysis of target cells
association of C5b67 can occur in fluid phase as well as on membrane… so that means this complex can diffuse and insert itself into other near by membranes
C8
associated with C5b67
C8 recruits 10-16 copies of C9
C9 forms hole in membrane and leads to lysis of cell
MAC
C5b67 with C8 and C9
Alternative pathway
Protects from pathogens in the absence of antibody
slow. less efficient
initiation of alternative pathway?
spontaneous conversion of C3 to C3b in serum
if there is a microbe in the area then C3b will deposit itself onto the membrane surface of the microbe
How does C3 identify self from non self
Self membranes
- high levels of sialic acid
- rapidly inactivates bound C3b molecules on host cells
Non self membranes
- bacterial cell walls, yeast walls and viral envelopes
- low levels of sialic acid
- bound C3b will remain active longer
what does factor B bind to
binds to deposited C3b on microbe surface
alternative pathway
cleaved by Factor D
Complex C3bBb
aka C3 convertase
cleaves more C3 into C3b
alternative pathway
what does factor D do…
cleaves factor B into Bb and Ba
alternative pathway
Alternative C5 convertase?
C3bBb3bP
formed when a second C3b binds to the C3BbP complex (which is the C3 convertase stabilized by a P)
Lectin pathway
innate immune response (antibody independent)
another surveillance method
plasma contains Collectin Family
- Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) or ficolins
- MBL- associated serine proteases (MASPS)
what is MBL
used in lectin pathway
Mannose binding lectin attaches to microbes
structurally similar to C1 in classical pathway and acts to activates C4
what is MASP in the lectin pathway equivalent to in the classical pathway
C1qrs complex
so it needs to be activated and then cleaves C4 as well as C2