The role of complement in B cell activation and tolerance

Abstract

The complement (C) system plays important roles in host defence but activation at inappropriate sites or to an excessive degree can cause host tissue damage. C has been implicated as a factor in the causation or propagation oftissue injury in numer- ous diseases. The brain is an immunologically isolated sitc, sheltered from circulating cells and proteins of the immune sys- tem; nevertheless, there is a growing body of evidence implicat- ing C in numerous brain discascs. In this brief articlc we rcvicw the evidence suggesting a role for C in diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system and discuss the possible sources of C at these sites. Some brain cells synthesise C and also express specific receptors; some are exquisitely sensitive to the lytic effects of C. The evidence suggests that C syr,thesis and activation in the brain are important in immune defence at this site bclt may also play a role in brain disease. .................

Key Biomarkers

Symptom Clusters