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5 - Complement System

Intro_immunology

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abody abody
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10 views

5 - Complement System

Intro_immunology

Uploaded by

abody abody
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The complement

Objectives
To define the component of complement
system.
To determine the three pathways of
activation.
To specify the function of complement
system.
To determine the regulation of
complement function.
The complement system is a
part of the immune system that
helps or complements the ability of
antibodies and phagocytic cells to
kill pathogens.

- It is a part of the innate immune


system , but it can be activated by
the adaptive immune system.
Functions of the complement
1- Opsonisation :coating the Ag.
2- Chemotaxis – attracting macrophages
and neutrophils.
3- Cell Lysis – killing process by rupturing
membranes of foreign cells.
4- Agglutination – clustering and binding
of pathogens together (sticking) to block
them from attach to tissues.
- The complement system consists of a
number of small proteins found in the
blood, synthesized by the liver, and
normally circulating as inactive precursors
(pro-proteins).
-when they are activated , any one
activate the second one by protease action
in a cascade mechanism.

-The end result of this activation is


activation of the cell-killing component
(membrane attack complex MAC).
-Three biochemical pathways activate
the complement system: -
1-the classical pathway,
2- the alternative pathway,
3-the lectin pathway.

-each pathway need different type of


activation, but at the end all of them
activate the membrane attack complex.
Classical pathway
-The main activator of this pathway is
the {Ag-Ab} complex.
-This pathway start by activation of C1
complex (C1qrs) by [Ag-Ab] complex.
Activated C1 break C2 in to C2a and
C2b,C2a released and c2b attach to the
membrane.
 Activated C1 break C4 in to C4a and
C4b,C4a released and c4b attach to the
membrane.
 C2b attach to C4b to make a complex
[C4bC2b] which is called C3 convertase.
C3 convertase break C3 in to C3a and
C3b,C3a released and C3b attach to
[C4bC2bC3b] which activates C5 in to C5a
and C5b,C5a released and C5b attach to
C6,C7,C8,C9 to form MAC.
Activation of C5 is a goal of the three
pathways and is called terminal pathway.
 MAC is the end of each path way.
It is a lytic component that makes pores
in cell membrane that lead to its rupture
and death.
Lectin pathway
It is similar to the classical pathway
different in the activator , which is binding
of the mannan-binding lectin, a serum
protein, to mannose-containing
carbohydrates on bacteria or viruses’
 So it is a part of innate immunity.
Alternative pathway
-This is apart of innate immunity activated
directly by the Ag.
The C3 is spontaneously cleaved in C3a
and C3b, C3b bind to the Ag and to factor B,
which is activated and broke by factor D
into Ba and Bb, Bb attach to C3b to break
more C3 and is called C3 convertase of
alternative pathway.
C3bBb complex is un stable until it binds
to Properdin, a serum protein to form
C3bBbP, a stable compound which form
alternative pathway C5-convertase.
(terminal pathway)
C2a,C4a,C3a,C5a are inflammatory
component attract the neutrophils and
monocytes.

C3b is opsnin that is important in


opsonisation and phagocytic activation.
Regulation of complement
system
Some plasma proteins are bind to the
complement component to stop the
cascade activation to prevent tissue
damage.
Regulatory proteins
C1 inhibiter (C1 INH) : inhibit the classical
pathway.
factor H : inhibit the alternative pathway.
 factor I:-inhibit all the pathways.
Decay Accelerating Factor (DAF):- inhibit
the alternative pathway also.
Objectives
To define the component of complement
system.
To determine the three pathways of
activation.
To specify the function of complement
system.
To determine the regulation of
complement function.

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