title: Complement system response to decompression.
abstract: A role for the activated complement system in the pathogenesis of decompression sickness has recently been suggested. In this study we aimed at evaluating the response of the complement system to decompression in 24 human volunteers. A significant reduction was observed in the levels of iC3, which is a conformationally changed form of the third complement component (C3), and C3A after decompression (P < 0.001). The levels of total C3 did not change during the experiment. A relatively mild decompression has thus led to a distinct change in the complement activation profile in human volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pekna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ersson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015926:Complement C3a / Q000378:metabolism; D003664:Decompression; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000276:immunology; D004242:Diving / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D015926:Complement C3a