Transcript Complement
Complement
Objectives
Discuss the role of complement in the immune
system.
Discuss complement regarding its:
Components
Activation pathways
Biological activities
Complement
System comprised of more than 25
glycoproteins
Make up about 10% of total serum proteins
Components formed mainly in the liver
C1 forms in intestinal epithelial cells
Factor D forms in adipose tissues
Components form a cascade, with each step
triggering (and often amplifying) the next step
Complement
In plasma – the components are in inactive form
Once activated, each component splits
The smaller “a” fragment serves to stimulate the
immune system
The larger “b” fragment further activates the cascade
The exception to this is C2… C2a is the larger
molecule that promotes the cascade
Activated components are written with a line over the
letter or number. For example:
____
C4b2a
3 Functions
1. Cell lysis – Cell swells and bursts
2. Opsonization - Neutrophils and
macrophages have receptors for C4b or
C3b, which promotes phagocytosis
3 Functions
3. Regulate immune and inflammatory response
Immune adherence – enhanced response to an antigen.
Receptors for complement found on Red Blood Cells
(RBCs), platelets, B lymphocytes, endothelial and epithelial
cells
Anaphylatoxins - chemicals that increase vascular
permeability, contract smooth muscle, and cause the release
of histamine from basophils and mast cells
C3a, C4a, and C5a are anaphylatoxins
Chemotaxins – signal leukocytes to migrate to an affected
area
C5a is also a chemotaxin
C5b67 promotes monocyte and neutrophil adherence
to blood vessel endothelium, and extravasation
3 Activation Pathways
Classical
Alternative
Lectin
Classical Pathway
Begins with antibody
sensitization of antigen on cell
2 Fc pieces in close proximity
IgM better than IgG (1 IgM vs.
800 IgG)
IgG1 & IgG3 better at
activation than IgG2 or IgG4
C1 = Recognition unit
C1q
C1r
C1s
C1
Y
Recognition Unit
C1q combines with the Fc piece
6 globular heads attached to
collagen-like tails.
C1r that acts as a protease on
C1s
C1r and C1s intertwine with
the tails.
2 C1q heads must interact with
Fc pieces for complement to be
activated.
Y
Classical - Activation Unit
C4a
C4
C4b2a
C1
C1s
C2
C2b
C4, C2, and C3 components participate
Amplification of cascade
1 molecule of C1s activates approximately 30 C4
molecules.
Activation Unit
C2 is active only if it binds to C4b before
being cleaved by C1s
This reaction is enhanced if C4b binds to the
antigen rather than being free in serum
Once C4b2a is formed, antibody is no longer
necessary to ensure cell lysis
Activation Unit
C4a
C3a
C4
C4b2a
C1
C1s
C2
C3
C3b
C4b2a3b
C2b
C4b2a = C3 convertase
One C4b2a complex converts about 200 C3
molecules
Requires Mg+
Activation Unit
C3 most abundant complement component
C3 common to all pathways
C3b on a cell enhances opsonization
C3b combines with C4b2a to form C4b2a3b =
C5 convertase
Classical – MAC
C4a
C4b2a
C1s
C8
C6
C5a
C4
C9
C7
C3a
C1
C2
C2b
C3
C3b
C4b2a3b
C5
C5b
Membrane Attack Complex = C5, C6, C7, C8, C9
MAC
C5b binds to C6 and C7 in serum
This complex will bind to any nearby cell membrane,
not just the cell that originally triggered the cascade.
(The “innocent by-stander” effect)
May also form a micelle – free floating sphere- which
has antiviral properties
C5b678 form a surface on the cell membrane for
polymerization of C9
A pore forms in the cell, allowing an influx of water
The cell swells and lyses
Hemolysin
An antibody that can activate complement,
resulting in lysis of an RBC is termed a
hemolysin.
C1
Alternative (Properdin) Pathway
Properdin
C3b
C9
C8
C7
C6
Factor B
C3bBb
Factor D
C5a
C3bBbP
C5
C5b
Activated by bacteria, fungus, yeast, viruses,
parasites, and tumor cells
Oldest pathway
Relies on the natural splitting of C3 into C3a
and C3b (exact process unclear)
Alternative
C3b and Factor B need Mg+ to combine
Factor D splits Factor B that has been bound
to C3b
Properdin stabilizes the C3bBb complex
C3bBbP is a C5 convertase
Once C5b formed, cascade continues as in
the classical pathway
Lectin Pathway
C4a
C3a
C4
MBL
C4b2a
C3
C5a
C2
C2b
C9
C8
C7
C6
C3b
C4b2a3b
C5
C5b
Mannose is a sugar commonly found in
bacterial cell walls
This pathway can be activated by bacteria,
yeast, viruses and protozoa
Lectin Pathway
MBL= Mannose Binding Lectin equivalent to
C1q of classical pathway
MBL also increases opsonization
MASP-1 and MASP-2 function similarly to C1r
and C1s respectively
MASP = Mannose Associated Serine
Proteases
Once MBL activates the cascade, the
cascade continues as in the classical
pathway
Inhibitors of Complement
Activated enzymes decay quickly.
Half life of activated components ranges from
a fraction of a second to approximately 30
minutes.
If Ca+ and Mg+ are not present, the cascade
can NOT be activated.
Carboxypeptidase N inactivates
anaphylatoxins.
Heating serum at 56oC for 30 minutes
destroys complement components.
Specific Inhibitors
C1-INH irreversibly binds to the active sites of
C1r and C1s.
Factor I degrades C4b and C3b
Membrane cofactor protein –cofactor for
Factor I
C4-binding protein – prevents C4 and C2 from
joining (cofactor for Factor I)
Specific Inhibitors
Complement Receptor 1 (CR1)
Found as a surface protein on most WBCs
and follicular dendritic cells
Binds C3b allowing degradation by Factor I
Increases clearance of C3b coated cells via
macrophages of liver and spleen
Also increases the length of time antigen
remains near germinal centers of lymph nodes
(May assist with B cell differentiation)
Specific Inhibitors
Sialic acid of cell membrane inactivates C3b
bound to cells
Decay Accelerating Factor (DAF) –
dissociates C2 from C3
S protein – prevents C5b67 complex from
binding to cell
MIRL – Binds to C8
MIRL = Membrane Inhibitor of Reactive Lysis
Protectin – Prevents binding of C5b678 to
cell, so no polymerization of C9 is allowed
Inhibitors - Alternative
Properdin
C9
C8
C7
C6
C3b
Factor B
C3bBb
C5a
C3bBbP
C5
C5b
DAF & Factor H – compete with
Factor B for binding with C3b
Complement Deficiencies
Complement deficiencies rare
C2 deficiency most common (1 in 10,000)
C3 deficiency most problematic as it
participates in all pathways
Deficiencies in complement components can
lead to:
Increased susceptibility to infection
Accumulation of immune complexes
Autoimmune disease
Pathologic Conditions
Complement is harmful if:
Activated systemically
Activated by tissue necrosis
Allows build up of immune complexes
Immune complexes play a role in
Goodpasture’s syndrome, SLE, MS, GuillainBarre’ syndrome and other autoimmune
diseases
Pathologic Conditions
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
Abnormal DAF on RBCs
Cells more susceptible to lysis
C1-INH deficiency – Hereditary angioedema
C2b accumulates, but does not participate in
the complement cascade
Increases vascular permeability
The End
Can you list the complement components
in order of activation?