Is complement system specific or nonspecific?

Complement components also amplify antigen–antibody reactions, attract phagocytic cells to sites of infection, augment phagocytosis, and activate B lymphocytes. The complement system is nonspecific and will, in theory, attack host cells as well as foreign cells.

What is the complement system specialized for?

The complement system, also known as complement cascade, is a part of the immune system that 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.

Why is complement system activated?

Complement is a system of plasma proteins that can be activated directly by pathogens or indirectly by pathogen-bound antibody, leading to a cascade of reactions that occurs on the surface of pathogens and generates active components with various effector functions.

Which function does the complement system serve during an immune response?

The complement system is a part of the immune system that helps or complements the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism.

What causes high complement ch50?

Increased levels of complement may indicate: Acute-phase immune response. Cancer. Ulcerative colitis.

What are the three main important activities of the complement proteins?

Key Points The following are the basic functions of the complement: Opsonization (enhancing phagocytosis of antigens ); chemotaxis (attracting macrophages and neutrophils); cell lysis (rupturing membranes of foreign cells); and clumping (antigen-bearing agents).

Why are complements important in cellular and humoral mediated immunity?

The complement system of innate immunity is important in regulating humoral immunity largely through the complement receptor CR2, which forms a coreceptor on B cells during antigen-induced activation. However, CR2 also retains antigens on follicular dendritic cells (FDCs).

What is required for C1 activation?

Activation of C1 which, in vivo, is controlled by C1 inhibitor, can be achieved by various activators, such as immune complexes; it appears to result from the suppression of a negative control and resides in a positive modulation of the intrinsic autocatalytic potential of C1r inside C1.