The Complement System Flashcards
What are the three pathways of complement activation?
Classical, alternative, lectin
What are the 3 functions of major complement components?
Release of inflammatory and chemotactic mediators
Opsonization of microbes
Direct killing of microbes
Classical pathway name?
Antigen-antibody complex
Alternative pathway name?
Bacterial endotoxin
Lectin pathway name?
Mannose-binding lectin
When does the complement system occur?
Early on
What cells are leukocytes?
Macrophages, granulocytes, NK cells, dendritic cells
Locations of proteins in CS?
circulate in serum, cell surfaces (as receptors), neutrophil granules
What type of role does the complement system play in the adaptive system?
regulatory role
Functions of complement system in innate defense system (3)?
Protection against infections
Regulation of inflammation
Removal of damaged cells
What cells produce the proteins of the complement system?
Hepatocytes, monocytes, macrophages, epithelial cells in GI tract
Describe how the biochemical cascade principle works.
Proteins are synthesized as inactive precursors in health
They are ACTIVATED by cleavage by another complement protein immediately upstream to it
Results in active B protein that can continue to activate other proteins via subsequent cleavage
Nomenclature of inactive complement. Example?
simple number
C1
Cleavage product nomenclature? Example?
lower case letter suffix
C3b
Biochemical cascade is an extremely efficient process of __________.
amplification
letters of the alphabet alone in CS are?
Factors
How is the complement system activated? (2 ways)
pathogen itself or antibody bound to pathogen
Final goal of complement system? 3 methods?
Removal of the pathogen
Phagocytosis by macrophages and neutrophils
Direct killing
Facilitates inflammatory responses that help to fight the pathogen
Describe 3 steps of CS activation?
- Classical, alternative, lectin pathways
- Generation of C3 convertase
- Generation of terminal membrane attack complex and other complement fragments which all facilitate removal of the pathogen
What is the classical pathway activated by?
antibody bound to the pathogen
REQUIRES ADAPTIVE
What is the alternative pathway activated by?
directly to pathogen surface