title: Holding T cells in check--a new role for complement regulators?
abstract: Complement is not only part of the innate immune system, but has also been implicated in adaptive immunity. The role of complement and its regulatory proteins in modulating T cell activity has been the focus of several recent studies. These, which have included work on the membrane co-factor protein (MCP or CD46), decay accelerating factor (DAF or CD55) and CD59, indicate that complement regulators can influence the proliferative capacity of T cells and their ability to produce cytokines, influencing the outcome of a T cell response to a given antigen. Here we review these studies, which reveal another important link between the innate and the adaptive immune system.
authors.affiliation: Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, Henry Wellcome Building, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: M Paula
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: Claire L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: B Paul
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Awen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallimore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018957:CD59 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018957:CD59 Antigens; D008024:Ligands; D014157:Transcription Factors; D003165:Complement System Proteins