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The Complement System

The complement system consists of over 30 proteins that are part of the immune system and work together in a cascade to help eliminate pathogens. It has two activation pathways, the classical pathway which is activated by antibodies and the alternative pathway which is activated spontaneously on foreign surfaces. The complement system kills microbes through opsonization to mark them for phagocytosis, inflammation to recruit other immune cells, and cytolysis by forming a membrane attack complex to lyse the cell membrane.

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88 views19 pages

The Complement System

The complement system consists of over 30 proteins that are part of the immune system and work together in a cascade to help eliminate pathogens. It has two activation pathways, the classical pathway which is activated by antibodies and the alternative pathway which is activated spontaneously on foreign surfaces. The complement system kills microbes through opsonization to mark them for phagocytosis, inflammation to recruit other immune cells, and cytolysis by forming a membrane attack complex to lyse the cell membrane.

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putri sari
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THE COMPLEMENT SYSTEM

Mirna Marhami Iskandar


FKIK UNJA - 2019
THE
COMPLEMENT
SYSTEM
THE COMPLEMENT SYSTEM

• A defensive system consisting of over 30 proteins produced


by the liver and found in circulating blood serum.
• Complement kills microbes in three different ways
• 1. opsonization
• 2. inflammation
• 3. Cytolysis
A C ASC ADE SYSTEM

• The complement works as a cascade system.


• Cascade is when one reaction triggers another reaction which
trigger others and so on. These types of systems can grow
exponentially very fast.
TWO PATHWAYS

• The complement pathway can be activated by either


of two different pathways.
• Classical pathway (specific immune system)
• alternative (non-specific immune system)
THE CLASSIC AL PATHWAY

• The classical pathway is


considered to be part of the
specific immune response
because it relies on
antibodies to initiate it.

• C1 becomes activated when


it binds to the ends of
antibodies
THE BUILDING OF A C3
ACTIVATION COMPLEX
• Once C1 is activated, it activates 2
other complement proteins, C2
and C4 by cutting them in half
• C2 is cleaved into C2a and C2b
• C4 is cleaved into C4a and C4b
• Both C2b and C4b bind together
on the surface of the bacteria
• C2a and C4a diffuse away
C3 ACTIVATION COMPLEX

• C2b and C4b bind


together on the surface to
form a C3 activation
complex

• The function of the C3


activation complex is to
activate C3 proteins.
• This is done by cleaving C3
into C3a and C3b
C3B

• Many C3b molecules are produced by the C3 activation complex.


• The C3b bind to and coat the surface of the bacteria.

• C3b is an opsonin
• Opsonins are molecules that bind both to bacteria and phagocytes
• Opsonization increases phagocytosis by 1,000 fold.
eria
Bact

Opsonins
C3A

C3a increases the inflammatory response by binding


to mast cells and causing them to release histamine
THE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY

• The alternative pathway is part of the non-specific defense


because it does not need antibodies to initiate the pathway.

• The alternative pathway is slower than the Classical


pathway
THE ALTERNATIVE
COMPLEMENT
PATHWAY
MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX

• The MAC causes Cytolysis.


• The circular membrane attack
complex acts as a channel in which
cytoplasm can rush out of and water
rushes in.

• The cells inner integrity is


compromised and it dies
FACTOR B

• C3b on the surface of a


foreign cells binds to
another plasma protein
called factor B
FACTOR D

• The binding of C3b to


factor B allows a protein
enzyme called Factor D
to cleave Factor B to Ba
and Bb.

• Factor Bb remains
bound to C3b while Ba
and Factor D disperse
away.
THE C3 ACTIVATION COMPLEX

• Properdin, also called factor P, binds to the C3bBb


complex to stabilize it.

• C3bBbP make up the C3 activation complex for the


alternative pathway
C5 ACTIVATION COMPLEX

• When an additional C3b


binds to the C3 activation
complex it converts it into a
C5 activation complex.

• The C5 activation complex


cleaves C5 into C5a and
C5b.

• C5b begins the production


of the MAC.
OVERVIEW

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