Complement deficiencies

Complement deficiencies

Complement cascade: activation and regulation. Complement is activated via three pathways, the classical, the alternative, and the lectin pathways. This results in: (1) the generation of various pro-inflammatory peptides, which bind to specific receptors on multiple immune cells, as well as (2) the assembly of the membrane attack complex, C5b-9 (MAC). On each level of the cascade reaction, complement is tightly regulated by soluble and membrane-associated inhibitors.

Adapted from a figure provided by Michael Kirschfink DVM, PhD; used with permission

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