What is the complement system in immunity?

Complement is a system of plasma proteins that can be activated directly by pathogens or indirectly by pathogen-bound antibody, leading to a cascade of reactions that occurs on the surface of pathogens and generates active components with various effector functions.

What role does complement play in immunity?

Complement is a major component of innate immune system involved in defending against all the foreign pathogens through complement fragments that participate in opsonization, chemotaxis, and activation of leukocytes and through cytolysis by C5b-9 membrane attack complex.

What are the 3 things complement can do for the immune system?

The function of complement in innate host defense is accomplished through three broad effector pathways; lysis, inflammation, and opsonization/phagocytosis.

What are the 3 main functions of the complement system?

At the basic level the broad functions of the complement system can be split into three areas: (1) the activation of inflammation; (2) the opsonization (labeling) of pathogens and cells for clearance/destruction; (3) the direct killing of target cells/microbes by lysis.

How does the complement system cause inflammation?

Activation of inflammation – Several peptides produced by proteolytic cleavage of complement proteins bind to vascular endothelial cells and lymphocytes. These cells then produce cytokines which stimulate inflammation and enhances responses to foreign antigens.

What is function of complement system?

The complement system, also known as complement cascade, is a part of the immune system that enhances (complements) the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear microbes and damaged cells from an organism, promote inflammation, and attack the pathogen’s cell membrane.

How important is complement system?

The complement system plays a critical role in inflammation and defence against some bacterial infections. Complement may also be activated during reactions against incompatible blood transfusions, and during the damaging immune responses that accompany autoimmune disease.

What is the major function of complement system?

The complement system helps or “complements” the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism. It is part of the innate immune system. The complement system consists of a number of small proteins found in the blood, made by the liver.

What is the role of complement system?

How does the complement system fight infection?

Complement works with the immune system Proteins of the complement system react with each other to bind pathogens and trigger an inflammatory cascade response to fight infection. Many complement proteins are proteases that are activated by proteolytic cleavage. These proteins are called zymogens.