Immunology - E4 Flashcards
Classical Complement System
- series of proteins that mediates host defense against various extracellular pathogens, especially bacteria.
- activated by Ag-Ab Complexes (both IgG and IgM)
- C1q, C1r and C1s bind to the complement binding site on the Fc portion of the antibody molecule (complex= Activated C1)
- Activated C1 splits C4 into C4a and C4b
- C4b sticks to activated C1 (complex= C14b)
- C14b splits C2 –> C2a and C2b (complex=c14b2b)
- C14b2b splits C3 –> C3a and C3b (complex=C14b2b3b)
- C14b2b3b splits C5 –> C5a and C5b
- C6, C7, C8 and C9 bind to C5b –> Membrane Attack Complex
Activated C1
Complex formed when C1q, C1r and C1s bind to the complement binding site on the Fc portion of the antibody molecule
C14b
C4b sticks to the activated C1 and this complex is called C14b
After C14b is formed
C14b splits C2 –> C2a and C2b (complex= C14b2b)
C14b2b splits C3 –> C3a and C3b (complex= C14b2b3b)
The complex of C14b2b3b splits C5 –> C5a and C5b
Membrane Attack Complex (MAC)
C6, C7, C8 and C9 attach to activated C5 –> MAT
- porates cell membranes causing osmotic disruption and lysis
Opsonization
Macrophages and neutrophils express a cell-surface receptor, called CRI, which binds to C3b
Microorganisms coated with C3b –> brought into contact with these phagocytic cells where they will be readily phagocytosed.
C3a and C5a functions
- Chemotaxis (attack phagocytes to site of antigen)
- Anaphylatoxin production (degranulate mast cells and basophils –> release histamine and other vasoactive substances that increase capillary permeability, inflammatory response)
“anaphylatoxins”
C1-inhibitor (C1-INH)
Inhibits the first step in the activation of the classical complement pathway
Alternative Complement Pathway
Activated by bacterial or viral products e.g. Lipopolysaccaride (LPS)
Occurs in the absence of specific antibody (thus, and effector arm of the innate immune system)
Proteins of the Alternative Complement Pathway
- C3b (generated from the natural breakdown of C3)
- Factor B
- Factor D
- Properdin
- ^ Together –> generate C3bBbP that splits C3 –> C3a and C3b and continues the complement cascade
Inhibitors of alternative complement pathway
Factor H and Factor I are inhibitors of the alternative pathway and regulate the activation of the system
Lectin pathway
Initiated when mannan-binding lectin binds to carbohydrates on the surface of microbes
Important proteins: MBL (Mannose binding lectin)
MASP 1
MASP 2
Absence of C1q, C2 or C4
Associated with SLE (systemic Lupus Erythematosus) – no recurrent infections, you have other pathways. But have a very high incidence of lupus
Absence of C3
Severe recurrent bacterial infections, no complement system
Absence of C5
Bacterial infections (have c3b and c3a, so not as bad)
Absence of C6, C7, or C8
Overwhelming Neisserial infections (N.meningitidis and N.gonorrhea) These ppl are fine until neisserial infection arises
Absence of alternative pathway components
Recurrent bacterial infections
Absence of Lectin pathway proteins
infection in childhood, overcome later in life by Ab/T-cell repertoire
C1-INH Deficiency
Hereditary angioedema
- Uncontrolled C2/C4 cleavage causing localized edema (not itchy, like hypersensitivity), causing increased kinin production (vasodilation).
Hereditary angioedema
- Rare AD disorder via inherited deficiency or dysfunction of the C1 inhibitor
- recurrent episodes of angioedema w/o urticaria or pruritus (affects the skin, mucosal tissues, upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts)
- swelling is self-limited, laryngeal involvement may cause fatal asphyxiation
C8 and C9 important functions
Lysis of organisms coated with specific antibody
CRI receptor
On macrophages/neutrophils, recognizes C3b for opsonization
T-cell regulation via CTLA-4
CTLA-4 is made which competes with CD28 (on T-cell) for B7 (on APC)
Deficiency –> autoimmune disease
T-cell regulation via PD-1
Programmed death 1 (PD-1) –> inhibitory receptor on cytotoxic T-cells, interacts with PD-L1 (on tumor cells ) and PD-L2 found on dendritic cells and macrophages –> inhibiting immune responses.
Pembrolizumab and nivolumab –> anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors