The complement cascade as a mediator of tissue growth and regeneration.
Recent evidence has demonstrated that the complement cascade is involved in a variety of physiologic and pathophysiologic processes in addition to its role as an immune effector. Research in a variety of organ systems has shown that complement proteins are direct participants in maintenance of cellular turnover, healing, proliferation and regeneration. As a physiologic housekeeper, complement proteins maintain tissue integrity in the absence of inflammation by disposing of cellular debris and waste, a process critical to the prevention of autoimmune disease. Developmentally, complement proteins influence pathways including hematopoietic stem cell engraftment, bone growth, and angiogenesis. They also provide a potent stimulus for cellular proliferation including regeneration of the limb and eye in animal models, and liver proliferation following injury. Here, we describe the complement cascade as a mediator of tissue growth and regeneration.
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Martin J
MJ
Rutkowski
Michael E
ME
Sughrue
Ari J
AJ
Kane
Brian J
BJ
Ahn
Shanna
S
Fang
Andrew T
AT
Parsa
D000818:Animals; D003167:Complement Activation; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
D003165:Complement System Proteins