Title of Document: Activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes during complement-mediated phagocytosis by macrophages Rahul Suresh, Doctor of Philosophy, 2015 Directed by: Dr. David M. Mosser, Professor Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics The Complement System is an important component of innate immunity, whose activation has been associated with acute inflammation. Activation of complement l...

Forty four patients undergoing open heart surgery were divided into three groups. Group 1 (17 patients) underwent routine anaesthesia and surgery; group 2 (17 patients) received two doses of methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg), one during induction of anaesthesia and the other immediately before induction of cardiopulmonary bypass; and group 3 (10 patients) received pulsatile flow while undergoing pu...

Complement is a central part of the immune system that has developed as a first defense against non-self cells. Neoplastic transformation is accompanied by an increased capacity of the malignant cells to activate complement. In fact, clinical data demonstrate complement activation in cancer patients. On the basis of the use of protective mechanisms by malignant cells, complement activation has ...

Complement activation is needed to restore tissue injury; however, inappropriate activation of complement, as seen in chronic wounds can cause cell death and enhance inflammation, thus contributing to further injury and impaired wound healing. Therefore, attenuation of complement activation by specific inhibitors is considered as an innovative wound care strategy. Currently, the effects of seve...

PURPOSE Complement activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and complement activation products such as membrane attack complex (MAC) are present in eyes of individuals with AMD. Herein, we investigated the effect of complement activation on induction of ApoE accumulation in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. MET...

BACKGROUND The complement system has been implicated in pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The goal of the present study was to evaluate improved complement biomarkers in SSc. METHODS The presence of C4d, reflecting activation of the classical/lectin pathways, C3bBbP corresponding to activation of the alternative pathway, and soluble terminal complement complexes (all complement pathwa...

A critical first line of defense against infection is constituted by the binding of natural antibodies to microbial surfaces, activating the complement system via the classical complement activation pathway. In this function, the classical activation pathway is supported and amplified by two antibody-independent complement activation routes, i.e., the lectin pathway and the alternative pathway....

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the CD20 surface antigen on B cells are widely used in therapy of cell malignancies. Upon administration, bind to expressing and induce their depletion via cell- complement-dependent cytotoxicity or by induction direct killing. The three currently most often clinic Rituximab (RTX), Ofatumumab (OFA) Obinutuzumab (OBI). Even though these all human IgG1 subcl...

During (nearly) all steps in retroviral pathogenesis, viruses are confronted with complement and complement receptor (CR)-positive cells. As all of the retroviruses tested so far activate the complement system, members of this virus family have adapted different protection mechanisms to keep complement activation under the threshold necessary to avoid complement-mediated lysis. As a consequence...

The complement system was discovered a century ago as a potent defense cascade of innate immunity. After its first description, continuous experimental and clinical research was performed, and three canonical pathways of activation were established. Upon activation by traumatic or surgical tissue damage, complement reveals beneficial functions of pathogen and danger defense by sensing and clear...