title: Evolution of the complement system: from defense of the single cell to guardian of the intravascular space.
abstract: The complement system is an evolutionarily ancient component of immunity that revolves around the central component C3. With the recent description of intracellular C3 stores in many types of human cells, our view of the complement system has expanded. In this article, we hypothesize that a primitive version of C3 comprised the first element of the original complement system and initially functioned intracellularly and on the membrane of single-celled organisms. With increasing specialization and multicellularity, C3 evolved a secretory capacity that allowed it to play a protective role in the interstitial space. Upon development of a pumped circulatory system, C3 was synthesized in large amounts and secreted by the liver to protect the intravascular space. Recent discoveries of intracellular C3 activation, a C3-based recycling pathway and C3 being a driver and programmer of cell metabolism suggest that the complement system utilizes C3 to guard not only extracellular but also the intracellular environment. We predict that the major functions of C3 in all four locations (i.e. intracellular, membrane, interstitium and circulation) are similar: opsonization, membrane perturbation, triggering inflammation, and metabolic reprogramming.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Elvington
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
authors: M Kathryn
authors: MK
authors: Liszewski
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA. j.p.atkinson@wustl.edu.
authors: John P
authors: JP
authors: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003167:Complement Activation; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology*; D005110:Extracellular Space; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D042541:Intracellular Space; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D018448:Models, Immunological
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3
keywords: C3; C3 recycling; evolution; intracellular complement system