reviewFrontiers in ImmunologyMay 26, 2015GOLD OA

Complement System Part II: Role in Immunity

Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers · Sorbonne Paris Cité · +7 more institutions

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Abstract

The complement system has been considered for a long time as a simple lytic system, aimed to kill bacteria infecting the host organism. Nowadays this vision has changed and it is well accepted that complement is a complex innate immune surveillance system, playing a key role in host homeostasis, inflammation and in the defense against pathogens. This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of the role of complement in physiology and pathology. It starts with a description of complement contribution to the normal physiology (homeostasis) of a healthy organism, including the silent clearance of apoptotic cells and maintenance of cell survival. In pathology, complement can be a friend or a foe. It…

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