Immunology 3 Flashcards
Complement aids:
- phagocytosis
- destruction of microorganisms
- inflammation
what are the 3 pathways of complement activation?
- alternative pathway
- mannose-binding-lectin (MBL) pathway
- classical pathway
explain the alternative pathway of complement activation
complement component 3 (C3) acts as a pattern-recognition receptor - binds to the surface of a pathogen
explain the mannose-binding-lectin (MBL) pathway
triggered by binding of MBL (another pattern-recognition receptor) to mannose-containing CHO on bacteria/viruses
explain the classical pathway for complement activation
when antibodies bind to a pathogen, C1q binds to the Fc portion of those antibodies
all activation pathways lead to the production of what?
a stable C3 convertase
what does C3 convertase do?
C3 convertase cleaves C3 -> C3b and C3a
C3b forms a part of what?
C5 convertase
what forms the C5 convertase?
when C3b binds to the C3 convertase
what does C5 convertase do?
it cleaves C5 into C5a and C5b
what does C5b do?
becomes associated with the cell wall/membrane of the microbe and causes lysis as it activates other components of complement (C6-C9)
what do C5b + C6 + C7 + C8 + C9 do
form a large pore in the microbial membrane and cause lysis
what is C3bBb?
it converts C3 -> C3a + C3b
basically a C3 convertase but in the alternative pathway
explain the alternative pathway in more detailed
C3 forms C3a and C3b spontaneously in the bloodstream, but is degraded quickly under normal conditions
- factor B, a circulating protein, is also spontanesously cleaved to a protein known as Bb
- Bb complexes with C3b to form C3bBb which then converts C3 -> C3a + C3b
what is properdin
a circulating protein that helps stabilize the C3bBbC3b complexes on the bacterium to form the stable C3 and C5 convertases
C5 convertase of the alternative pathway is produced by?
C3bBbC3b + properdin
for the lectin and classical pathways, when C1q detects a bound antibody or MBL detects mannose on a membrane, they bind complement activating proteins which…
cleave C2 and C4
cleaved C2 and C4 produces what?
C3 convertase (C4bC2a)
what is MAC and its sequence of events
MAC = membrane attack complex
C5b triggers assembly of complex of C5b, C6, C7, and C8
upon binding to C7, C8 will insert into membrane
induces polymerization of C9 forming pore in membrane
what else can C3a and C5a do?
cause vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, smooth muscle contraction and histamine release from mast cells