Therapeutic Targeting of the Complement System: From Rare Diseases to Pandemics.

ABSTRACT: The complement system was discovered at the end of the 19th century as a heat-labile plasma component that "complemented" the antibodies in killing microbes, hence the name "complement." Complement is also part of the innate immune system, protecting the host by recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. However, complement is multifunctional far beyond infectious defense. It contributes to organ development, such as sculpting neuron synapses, promoting tissue regeneration and repair, and rapidly engaging and synergizing with a number of processes, including hemostasis leading to thromboinflammation. Complement is a double-edged sword. Although it usually protects the host, it may cause tissue damage when dysregulated or overactivated, such as in the systemic inflammatory react

SUBMITTER: Garred P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7956994 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature