Research on complement: old issues revisited and a novel sphere of influence.
Immunology in recent years has taken a somewhat surprising turn, expressed by a renewed interest in innate immunity. Especially intriguing is the regulatory role exerted by the innate components on the adaptive response, with Toll receptors and complement components being the most investigated. This function has been firmly established for complement protein CR2 (CD21) as part of the BCR co-receptor CD19/CD21/CD81. New findings are now providing a broader picture of complement and its tuning of the immune response; for example, complement proteins have been implicated in the control of T-cell-mediated responses. We will review some of these data here and summarize new discoveries in areas of research on more traditional topics within the complement literature, such as complement and renal diseases, and the therapeutic use of C1-Inhibitor. We cover papers selected from studies presented at the XIX International Complement Workshop, held in Palermo in September 2002, and published within the past six months.
Clemenza
Liliana
L
Department of Biopathology and Biomedical Methodologies, University of Palermo, Italy, Corso Tukory 211, Italy.
Dieli
Francesco
F
Cicardi
Marco
M
Salerno
Alfredo
A
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D050718:Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D015843:Serpins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; C497857:CD46 protein, human; C493495:CFH protein, human; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D050718:Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C469952:SERPING1 protein, human; D015843:Serpins; D017242:Complement Factor H; D003165:Complement System Proteins