Complement: History
Discovered in 1894 by
Bordet
It represents lytic activity
of fresh serum
Its lytic activity destroyed
when heated at 56C
for 30 min
Complement functions
• Host benefit:
– opsonization to enhance phagocytosis
– phagocyte attraction and activation
– lysis of bacteria and infected cells
– regulation of antibody responses
– clearance of immune complexes
– clearance of apoptotic cells
• Host detriment:
– Inflammation, anaphylaxis
4
Proteins of the complement
system (nomenclature)
• C1(qrs), C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9
• factors B, D, H and I, properdin (P)
• mannose binding lectin (MBL), MBL associated
serine proteases (MASP-1 MASP-2)
• C1 inhibitor (C1-INH, serpin), C4-binding
protein (C4-BP), decay accelerating factor
(DAF), Complement receptor 1 (CR1), protein-
S (vitronectin)
• C-activation: alteration of C proteins such that they
interact with the next component
• C-fixation: utilization of C by Ag-Ab complexes
• Hemolytic units (CH50): dilution of serum which
lyses 50% of a standardized suspension of Ab-coated
r.b.c
• C-inactivation: denaturation (usually by heat) of an
early C-component resulting in loss of hemolytic activity
• Convertase/esterase: altered C-protein which acts
as a proteolytic enzyme for another C-component
Definitions
Activation product of complement
proteins (nomenclature)
When enzymatically cleaved, the larger moiety,
binds to the activation complex or membrane
and the smaller peptide is released in the
microenvironment
Letter “b” is usually added to the larger,
membrane-binding, peptide and “a” to the
smaller peptide (e.g., C3b/C3a, C4b/C4a,
C5b/C5a), EXCEPT C2 (the larger, membrane-
binding moiety is C2a; the smaller one is C2b)
Activated component are usually over-lined: e.g.
C1qrs
Pathways of complement
activation
CLASSICAL
PATHWAY
ALTERNATIVE
PATHWAY
activation
of C5
LYTIC ATTACK
PATHWAY
antibody
dependent
LECTIN
PATHWAY
antibody
independent
Activation of C3 and
generation of C5 convertase
9
10
Components of the Classical
Pathway
C4
C2 C3
C1 complex
Ca++
C1r C1s
C1q
Ca++
C1r C1s
C1q
C
4
C4a
b
Classical Pathway
Generation of C3-convertase
Classical Pathway
Generation of C3-convertase
C4b
Mg++
C4a
Ca++
C1r C1s
C1q
C2
C2b
a
C2a
_____
C4b2a is C3 convertase
Classical Pathway
Generation of C5-convertase
C4b
Mg++
C4a
Ca++
C1r C1s
C1q
C2b
C2a
C3
C3a
b
________
C4b2a3b is C5 convertase;
it leads into the Membrane
Attack Pathway
15
Biological Activities of Classical
Pathway Components
Component Biological Activity
C2b Prokinin; cleaved by plasmin to yield kinin, which
results in edema
C3a Anaphylotoxin; can activate basophils and mast
cells to degranulate resulting in increased vascular
permeability and contraction of smooth muscle cells,
which may lead to anaphylaxis
C3b Opsonin
Activation of phagocytic cells
C4a Anaphylaotoxin
C4b Opsonin
16
Control of Classical Pathway
Components
Component Regulation
All C1-inhibitor (C1-INH); dissociates C1r and C1s from
C1q
C3a C3a-inactivator (C3a-INA; Carboxypeptidase B)
C3b Factors H and I; Factor H facilitates the degradation
of C3b by Factor I
C4a C3a-INH
C4b C4 binding protein (C4-BP) and Factor I; C4-BP
facilitates degradation of C4b by Factor I; C4-BP
also prevents the association of C2a with C4b thus
blocking formation of C3 convertase
C1-inhibitor deficiency:
hereditary angioedema
Components of mannose-binding
lectin pathway
C4
MBL C2 MASP1
MASP2
Mannose-binding lectin pathway
C4
MBL
C4b
C4a
C4b
C2
C2b
C2a
C2a
_____
C4b2a is C3 convertase; it
will lead to the generation of
C5 convertase
MASP1
MASP2
Components of the
alternative pathway
C3 B
D
P
Spontaneous C3 activation
C3
H2O
i
B
D
Generation of C3 convertase
C3iBb complex has a very short half life
b
C3
C3a
b
B
D
b
C3b
If spontaneously-generated
C3b is not degraded
C3-activation
the amplification loop
C3
C3a b
C3a
B
D
Bb
C3b
C3 b
C3-activation
the amplification loop
C3b
C3a
b
C3a
C3a Bb
C3b
C3b
C3 Bb
B
D
b
b
C3a
C3-activation
the amplification loop
C3b
C3a
C3a Bb
C3b
Bb
Bb
C3b
C3a
C3-activation
the amplification loop
C3b
C3b
C3a
C3a Bb
C3b
Bb
Bb
C3a
C3-activation
the amplification loop
C3b
C3b
Control of spontaneous
C3 activation via DAF
C3b
DAF prevents
the binding of
factor B to C3b
B
Autologous cell membrane
DAF
CR1
Control of spontaneous
C3 activation via DAF
DAF dislodges
C3b-bound
factor Bb
Bb
b C3b
Autologous cell membrane
DAF
CR1
B b
Autologous cell membrane
C3b
C3b
Bb
H
I
iC3b
Control of spontaneous
C3 activation via CR1
B b
I
iC3b
DAF
CR1
DAF
CR1
Degradation of spontaneously
produced C3b
C3b
C3b
iC3b
iC3b
I
I
C3dg
C3dg
C3c C3c
C3b stabilization and
C5 activation
C3b
C3b finds an activator
(protector) membrane
C3
C3a
b
B
D
b
P
This is stable C5 convertase
of the alternative pathway
C3b regulation on self and
activator surfaces
C3b
C5-convertase of the two
pathways
C3b Bb C3b
C5-convertase of the
Alternative Pathway
C4b C2a C3b
C5-convertase of the
Classical and lectin
Pathways
Generation of C5 convertase
leads to the activation of the
Lytic pathway
Lytic pathway
Components of the lytic pathway
C6
C
9
C8
C7
C5
Lytic pathway
C5-activation
C3b
C2 a
C4b
C5 b
C5a
Lytic pathway
assembly of the lytic complex
C5 b
C6
C7
Lytic pathway:
insertion of lytic complex into cell membrane
C5 b
C6
C7
C8
C
9
C
9
C
9
C
9C
9
C
9 C
9
C
9
C
9
Biological effects of C5a
Product Biological Effects Regulation
Biological properties of C-activation
products
C2b
(prokinin) edema C1-INH
C3a
(anaphylatoxin)
mast cell degranulation;
enhanced vascular
permeability;
anaphylaxis
carboxy-
peptidase- B
(C3-INA)
Product Biological Effects Regulation
Biological properties of C-activation
products
as C3, but less
potent
(C3-INA)
C4a
(anaphylatoxin)
opsonization;
phagocytosis
C4b
(opsonin)
C4-BP,
factor I
C3b
(opsonin)
opsonization;
phagocyte activation
factors H & I
Product Biological Effects Regulation
Biological properties of C-activation
products
anaphylactic as C3, but
much more potent;
attracts & activates PMN
causes neutrophil
aggregation, stimulation
of oxidative metabolism
and leukotriene release
C5a
(chemotactic
factor)
carboxy-
peptidase-B
(C3-INA)
C5b67 protein-S
chemotaxis, attaches
to other membranes
43
Complement Deficiencies and Disease
Classical Pathway
Pathway Component Disease Mechanism
C1INH Hereditary
Angioedema
Overproduction of C2b
(prokinin)
C1, C2, C4 Predisposition
to SLE
Opsonization of immune
complexes help keep
them soluble, deficiency
results in increased
precipitation in tissues
and inflammation
44
Complement Deficiencies and Disease
Lectin Pathway
Pathway Component Disease Mechanism
MBL Susceptibility to
bacterial infections
in infants or
immunosuppressed
Inability to initiate
lectin pathway
45
Complement Deficiencies and Disease
Alternative Pathway
Pathway/Component Disease Mechanism
Factors B or D Susceptibility
to pyogenic
(pus-forming)
bacterial
infections
Lack of sufficient
opsonization of bacteria
C3 Susceptibility
to bacterial
infections
Lack of opsonization and
inability to utilize the
membrane attack pathway
C5, C6, C7 C8, or
C9
Susceptibility
to Gram-
negative
infections
Inability to attack the outer
membrane of Gram-
negative bacteria
46
Complement Deficiencies and Disease
Alternative Pathway cont.
Pathway Component Disease Mechanism
Properdin (X-linked) Susceptibility
meningococcal
meningitis
Lack of opsonization of
bacteria
Factors H or I C3 deficiency
and
susceptibility to
bacterial
infections
Uncontrolled activation of
C3 via alternative
pathway resulting in
depletion of C3
49
50

Complement system microbiology lecture.ppt

  • 2.
    Complement: History Discovered in1894 by Bordet It represents lytic activity of fresh serum Its lytic activity destroyed when heated at 56C for 30 min
  • 3.
    Complement functions • Hostbenefit: – opsonization to enhance phagocytosis – phagocyte attraction and activation – lysis of bacteria and infected cells – regulation of antibody responses – clearance of immune complexes – clearance of apoptotic cells • Host detriment: – Inflammation, anaphylaxis
  • 4.
  • 5.
    Proteins of thecomplement system (nomenclature) • C1(qrs), C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9 • factors B, D, H and I, properdin (P) • mannose binding lectin (MBL), MBL associated serine proteases (MASP-1 MASP-2) • C1 inhibitor (C1-INH, serpin), C4-binding protein (C4-BP), decay accelerating factor (DAF), Complement receptor 1 (CR1), protein- S (vitronectin)
  • 6.
    • C-activation: alterationof C proteins such that they interact with the next component • C-fixation: utilization of C by Ag-Ab complexes • Hemolytic units (CH50): dilution of serum which lyses 50% of a standardized suspension of Ab-coated r.b.c • C-inactivation: denaturation (usually by heat) of an early C-component resulting in loss of hemolytic activity • Convertase/esterase: altered C-protein which acts as a proteolytic enzyme for another C-component Definitions
  • 7.
    Activation product ofcomplement proteins (nomenclature) When enzymatically cleaved, the larger moiety, binds to the activation complex or membrane and the smaller peptide is released in the microenvironment Letter “b” is usually added to the larger, membrane-binding, peptide and “a” to the smaller peptide (e.g., C3b/C3a, C4b/C4a, C5b/C5a), EXCEPT C2 (the larger, membrane- binding moiety is C2a; the smaller one is C2b) Activated component are usually over-lined: e.g. C1qrs
  • 8.
    Pathways of complement activation CLASSICAL PATHWAY ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY activation ofC5 LYTIC ATTACK PATHWAY antibody dependent LECTIN PATHWAY antibody independent Activation of C3 and generation of C5 convertase
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
    Components of theClassical Pathway C4 C2 C3 C1 complex Ca++ C1r C1s C1q
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Classical Pathway Generation ofC3-convertase C4b Mg++ C4a Ca++ C1r C1s C1q C2 C2b a C2a _____ C4b2a is C3 convertase
  • 14.
    Classical Pathway Generation ofC5-convertase C4b Mg++ C4a Ca++ C1r C1s C1q C2b C2a C3 C3a b ________ C4b2a3b is C5 convertase; it leads into the Membrane Attack Pathway
  • 15.
    15 Biological Activities ofClassical Pathway Components Component Biological Activity C2b Prokinin; cleaved by plasmin to yield kinin, which results in edema C3a Anaphylotoxin; can activate basophils and mast cells to degranulate resulting in increased vascular permeability and contraction of smooth muscle cells, which may lead to anaphylaxis C3b Opsonin Activation of phagocytic cells C4a Anaphylaotoxin C4b Opsonin
  • 16.
    16 Control of ClassicalPathway Components Component Regulation All C1-inhibitor (C1-INH); dissociates C1r and C1s from C1q C3a C3a-inactivator (C3a-INA; Carboxypeptidase B) C3b Factors H and I; Factor H facilitates the degradation of C3b by Factor I C4a C3a-INH C4b C4 binding protein (C4-BP) and Factor I; C4-BP facilitates degradation of C4b by Factor I; C4-BP also prevents the association of C2a with C4b thus blocking formation of C3 convertase
  • 17.
  • 18.
    Components of mannose-binding lectinpathway C4 MBL C2 MASP1 MASP2
  • 19.
    Mannose-binding lectin pathway C4 MBL C4b C4a C4b C2 C2b C2a C2a _____ C4b2ais C3 convertase; it will lead to the generation of C5 convertase MASP1 MASP2
  • 20.
  • 21.
    Spontaneous C3 activation C3 H2O i B D Generationof C3 convertase C3iBb complex has a very short half life b C3 C3a b
  • 22.
    B D b C3b If spontaneously-generated C3b isnot degraded C3-activation the amplification loop C3 C3a b
  • 23.
  • 24.
  • 25.
  • 26.
  • 27.
    Control of spontaneous C3activation via DAF C3b DAF prevents the binding of factor B to C3b B Autologous cell membrane DAF CR1
  • 28.
    Control of spontaneous C3activation via DAF DAF dislodges C3b-bound factor Bb Bb b C3b Autologous cell membrane DAF CR1 B b
  • 29.
    Autologous cell membrane C3b C3b Bb H I iC3b Controlof spontaneous C3 activation via CR1 B b I iC3b DAF CR1 DAF CR1
  • 30.
    Degradation of spontaneously producedC3b C3b C3b iC3b iC3b I I C3dg C3dg C3c C3c
  • 31.
    C3b stabilization and C5activation C3b C3b finds an activator (protector) membrane C3 C3a b B D b P This is stable C5 convertase of the alternative pathway
  • 32.
    C3b regulation onself and activator surfaces C3b
  • 33.
    C5-convertase of thetwo pathways C3b Bb C3b C5-convertase of the Alternative Pathway C4b C2a C3b C5-convertase of the Classical and lectin Pathways
  • 34.
    Generation of C5convertase leads to the activation of the Lytic pathway Lytic pathway
  • 35.
    Components of thelytic pathway C6 C 9 C8 C7 C5
  • 36.
  • 37.
    Lytic pathway assembly ofthe lytic complex C5 b C6 C7
  • 38.
    Lytic pathway: insertion oflytic complex into cell membrane C5 b C6 C7 C8 C 9 C 9 C 9 C 9C 9 C 9 C 9 C 9 C 9
  • 39.
  • 40.
    Product Biological EffectsRegulation Biological properties of C-activation products C2b (prokinin) edema C1-INH C3a (anaphylatoxin) mast cell degranulation; enhanced vascular permeability; anaphylaxis carboxy- peptidase- B (C3-INA)
  • 41.
    Product Biological EffectsRegulation Biological properties of C-activation products as C3, but less potent (C3-INA) C4a (anaphylatoxin) opsonization; phagocytosis C4b (opsonin) C4-BP, factor I C3b (opsonin) opsonization; phagocyte activation factors H & I
  • 42.
    Product Biological EffectsRegulation Biological properties of C-activation products anaphylactic as C3, but much more potent; attracts & activates PMN causes neutrophil aggregation, stimulation of oxidative metabolism and leukotriene release C5a (chemotactic factor) carboxy- peptidase-B (C3-INA) C5b67 protein-S chemotaxis, attaches to other membranes
  • 43.
    43 Complement Deficiencies andDisease Classical Pathway Pathway Component Disease Mechanism C1INH Hereditary Angioedema Overproduction of C2b (prokinin) C1, C2, C4 Predisposition to SLE Opsonization of immune complexes help keep them soluble, deficiency results in increased precipitation in tissues and inflammation
  • 44.
    44 Complement Deficiencies andDisease Lectin Pathway Pathway Component Disease Mechanism MBL Susceptibility to bacterial infections in infants or immunosuppressed Inability to initiate lectin pathway
  • 45.
    45 Complement Deficiencies andDisease Alternative Pathway Pathway/Component Disease Mechanism Factors B or D Susceptibility to pyogenic (pus-forming) bacterial infections Lack of sufficient opsonization of bacteria C3 Susceptibility to bacterial infections Lack of opsonization and inability to utilize the membrane attack pathway C5, C6, C7 C8, or C9 Susceptibility to Gram- negative infections Inability to attack the outer membrane of Gram- negative bacteria
  • 46.
    46 Complement Deficiencies andDisease Alternative Pathway cont. Pathway Component Disease Mechanism Properdin (X-linked) Susceptibility meningococcal meningitis Lack of opsonization of bacteria Factors H or I C3 deficiency and susceptibility to bacterial infections Uncontrolled activation of C3 via alternative pathway resulting in depletion of C3
  • 47.
  • 48.

Editor's Notes

  • #2 Complement refers, historically, to fresh serum capable of lysing antibody (Ab)-coated cells. This activity is destroyed (inactivated) by heating serum at 56C for 30 minutes. The lytic activity of complement is decreased in certain diseases, e.g. SLE, serum sickness, chronic infections, complement deficiencies, etc.
  • #11 Chelating agents dismantle the C1 complex and are anti-complementary. Heat destroys the C2 component. Sample for C measurement should be drawn in a green-top vial (no EDTA), must be kept cold and tested as soon as possible.