Complement System Flashcards
What is complement good for (big picture)?
- Lyse bacteria
2. Clearing immune complexes
What is the broad definition and function of the complement system?
- A group of plasma proteins that acts as an auxiliary system in immunity, both on its own and in conjunction with humoral immunity.
- –A primitive surveillance system for microbes, independent of T cells and antibodies
- –A major effector system for humoral immunity
What are the specific functions of complement?
- Lysis of many microorganisms, viruses, and nucleated cells
- Opsonization of antigen - uptake of particulate antigen by phagocytes
- –Opsonin - molecule that binds to antigen and phagocyte to enhance phagocytosis - Source of mediators of the inflammatory response
- Solubilization and clearance of immune complexes
- Clearance of apoptotic cells
- Augments stimulation of the B cell through the CR2 receptor to increase the humoral immune response.
What are the four basic roles of complement?
- Lysis
- Opsonization
- Activation of Inflammatory Response
- Clearance of Immune Complexes
What is the order of the basic components of complement?
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You don’t have to have lysis to. . .
. . .gain something from complement.
What diseases are associated with deficiency in C1q, C1r, C1s, C4 and C2?
- SLE
- Glomerulonephritis
- Encapsulated bacterial infections or pyogenic infections
What diseases are associated with deficiency in MBL?
-Increased susceptibility to bacterial infection
What disease is associated with deficiency in C1-INH?
Hereditary angioedema
What disease is associated with C3 deficiency?
Glomeronephritis, SLE, Pyogenic infection, neisseria infection (recurrent)
What diseases is associated with B deficiency?
Meningococcal infection
What diseases are associated with D deficiency?
Meningococcal and encapsulated bacterial infection, Neisseria infection
What diseases are associated with Properdin deficiency?
Meningococcal infection
What is Factor I associated with?
Encapsulated bacterial infection, Recurrent infections
What becomes a problem if you don’t have complement?
Immune Complexes!
What is Factor H deficiency associated with?
Atypic hemolytic uremic syndrome, age-related macular degeneration
What is deficiency in MAC (C5, C6, C7, C8 and C9) associated with?
Meningococcal infection, Recurrent neiserrial infections (otherwise usually healthy)
What pathways are most important in getting rid of Neisseria?
- MAC complex (C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9)
- Start of alternative pathway
What do complement component deficiencies usually present as?
Infections!
- Pyogenic infections and infection with encapsulated bacteria (classical and alternative)
- –Opsonization and phagocytosis are a primary host defense
What types of infections are most common with complement deficiency?
- Pyogenic infections and infection with encapsulated bacteria (classical and alternative)
- –Opsonization and phagocytosis are a primary host defense - Neisseria infections (C3, alternative pathway and terminal lytic pathway)
- Serious pyogenic infections with MBL deficiency
What types of infections do you get with MBL deficiency?
Serious pyogenic infections
What deficiencies present as immune complex disease or autoimmune disease?
Classical pathway or C3 deficiencies
Where is complement?
- Primarily in plasma, but also interstitially and in secretions (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, etc.).
- Present at portals of entry
- Concentration of different proteins in the plasma ranges:
- –1-2 ug/ml - MBL and Factor D
- –300 ug/ml - C4
- –1,200 ug/ml - C3 - LOTS!!
Where is complement synthesized?
-Primarily by liver hepatocytes & by tissue macrophages, but also by epithelial cells, fibroblasts and monocytes
What are the three pathways of complement activation and what are their start signals?
- Classical - antigen antibody complexes
- Mannose binding lectin - mannose
- Alternative - LPS, carbohydrates, etc.
Where do proteolytic cleavages of complement components operate?
C1-C5
non-proteolytic events for C6789
What does MBL and MASP stand for?
MBL - mannose-binding lectin
MASP - MBL-associated serine protease