title: [The complement system and its biological activities].
abstract: The complement system is a non specific humoral defence mechanism which can be triggered by various effectors : immune-complexes, extrinsic proteases, bacterial cell-wall polysaccharides, viral membranes. Different peptides or multimolecular complexes are formed by a cascade of proteolytic cleavages; they take an active part in the inflammatory response and may contribute to different pathological manifestations.
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins
vernacular_title: Le système complémentaire et ses activités biologiques.