Work

Complement and the Regulation of T Cell Responses

Year: 2018

Type: review

Abstract: The complement system is an evolutionarily ancient key component of innate immunity required for the detection and removal of invading pathogens. It was discovered more than 100 years ago and was originally defined as a liver-derived, blood-circulating sentinel system that classically mediates the opsonization and lytic killing of dangerous microbes and the initiation of the general inflammatory reaction. More recently, complement has also emerged as a critical player in adaptive immunity via its ability to instruct both B and T cell responses. In particular, work on the impact of complement on T cell responses led to the surprising discoveries that the complement system also functions within cells and is involved in regulating basic cellular processes, predominantly those of metabolic nature. Here, we review current knowledge about complement's role in T cell biology, with a focus on the novel intracellular and noncanonical activities of this ancient system.

Source: Annual Review of Immunology

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-042617-053245

Authors: Erin E. West, Martin Kolev, Claudia Kemper

Institutions: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, King's College London, University of Lübeck

Language: English

Topic: Complement system in diseases

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institutes of Health