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Scheme of the complement system. The complement system, also known as complement cascade, is a part of the humoral, innate immune system and 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. [1]
Membrane attack complex (Terminal complement complex C5b-9) A membrane attack complex attached to a pathogenic cell The membrane attack complex (MAC) or terminal complement complex (TCC) is a complex of proteins typically formed on the surface of pathogen cell membranes as a result of the activation of the host's complement system, and as such is an effector of the immune system.
The direct Coombs test is used to detect antibodies or complement proteins attached to the surface of red blood cells. To perform the test, a blood sample is taken and the red blood cells are washed (removing the patient's plasma and unbound antibodies from the red blood cells) and then incubated with anti-human globulin ("Coombs reagent").
The complement fixation test is an immunological medical test that can be used to detect the presence of either specific antibody or specific antigen in a patient's serum, based on whether complement fixation occurs. It was widely used to diagnose infections, particularly with microbes that are not easily detected by culture methods, and in ...
Complement is responsible for immune inflammatory response in adipose tissues which has been implicated in the development of obesity. [8] Obesity in turn results in an abnormally high level of complement activation via production of the C1 component of the classical pathway, which can lead to tissue inflammation and eventually insulin ...
The classical and alternative complement pathways. Alternative pathway. (Some labels are in Polish.) The alternative pathway is a type of cascade reaction of the complement system and is a component of the innate immune system, a natural defense against infections.
Complement deficiency is an immunodeficiency of absent or suboptimal functioning of one of the complement system proteins. [4] Because of redundancies in the immune system, many complement disorders are never diagnosed. Some studies estimate that less than 10% are identified. [5]
Complement component 4 (C4), in humans, is a protein involved in the intricate complement system, originating from the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. It serves a number of critical functions in immunity, tolerance, and autoimmunity with the other numerous components.