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Atlas of Allergic Diseases pp 17–23Cite as

The Complement System

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Abstract

The complement system is a vital part of the immune system in humans. It is composed of a group of highly coupled proteins that interact with one another to effect inflammation and the humoral immunity fly. Important aspects of the function of the complement system in triggering action in humans include the following [2]:

  1. 1.

    Opsonization of foreign organisms and particles

  2. 2.

    Cytolysis of invading organisms

  3. 3.

    Rendering immune complexes harmless to the body

  4. 4.

    Generation of complement byproducts that act as chemotactic agents that recruit inflammatory cells

  5. 5.

    Anaphylatoxins, which are complement byproducts that stimulate release of chemical mediators such as histamine from mast cells

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Authors
  1. Michael S. Blaiss
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Tennessee College of Medicine; Allergy & Asthma Care, Cordova, Tennessee, USA

    Phillip L. Lieberman MD (Clinical Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics) (Clinical Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics)

  2. Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Tennessee Medical College; Allergy & Asthma Care, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

    Michael S. Blaiss MD (Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine) (Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine)

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© 2002 Current Medicine, Inc.

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Blaiss, M.S. (2002). The Complement System. In: Lieberman, P.L., Blaiss, M.S. (eds) Atlas of Allergic Diseases. Current Medicine Group. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6481-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6481-2_3

  • Publisher Name: Current Medicine Group

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-6483-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-6481-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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