Complement system Flashcards
What are the 3 pathways in the complement system?
Alternate/properdin pathway
Mannose-binding lectin pathway
Classical pathway
Which 2 types of microorganisms directly activate the alternate/properdin pathway of the complement system?
Fungal
Bacterial
Does the alternate/properdin pathway of the complement system need to be activated after establishment of the immune response?
No
Give 2 reasons why alternate/properdin pathway of the complement system can be activated before immune response establishment?
Doesn’t need antibodies
Doesn’t involve the early complement proteins C1,C2,C4
In the alternate/properdin pathway of complement system, what is the initial complement protein?
C3
In the alternate/properdin pathway of complement system, how does C3 bind to bacterial surfaces?
C3 spontaneously cleaved in serum and can covalently bind to bacterial surfaces
In the alternate/properdin pathway of complement system, what happens to C3 which is bound to the bacterial surface?
Properdin B factor binds to the C3b part of the C3 that is bound to the bacterial surface
In the alternate/properdin pathway of complement system, what happens after properdin b has bound to the C3b part of the bound C3 protein?
Properdin factor D splits properdin factor B in the complex to yield the Bb active fragment that remains linked to C3b
Properdin B -> Bb
So C3bBb is formed (alternate C3 convertase)
What is the active unit formed at the end of the alternate/properdin pathway?
C3bBb (alternate C3 convertase)
Which 2 types of microorganisms activate the mannose-binding lectin pathway?
Bacterial
Fungal
Does the mannose-binding lectin pathway of the complement system need to be activated after establishment of the immune response, and why?
No
This pathway is independent of antibodies
What is a mannose-binding lectin?
Large serum protein that binds to nonreduced mannose, fucose, and glucosamine on bacterial, fungal, and other cell surfaces.
What 3 substances on bacterial and fungal surfaces can mannose-binding lectin bind to?
nonreduced mannose, fucose, and glucosamine
In the mannose-binding lectin pathway, what binds to the microbial surface, and what does this activate?
Mannose-binding lectin binds to microbial surfaces
Activates the cleavage of the mannose-binding lectin–associated serine protease
What is the action of the cleaved mannose-binding lectin–associated serine protease, in the mannose-binding lectin pathway?
Cleaves C2 and C4 to produce C3 convertase
C4bC2a is C3 covertase