Complement production and regulation by dendritic cells: molecular switches between tolerance and immunity

Mol Immunol. 2008 Oct;45(16):4064-72. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2008.07.015.

Abstract

In recent years it has become clear that the innate and adaptive immune systems are highly integrated and interact at several levels. Dendritic cells (DCs) are on the one hand instrumental for directing and controlling adaptive immunity and on the other hand are specialized in detecting and integrating signals from the microenvironment. In view of the strong link between deficiencies in certain complement components and the development of autoimmunity, interaction between complement and DCs seems to be of fundamental importance. We will discuss the role of C1q, C3, as well as complement regulators in DC biology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Complement C1q / immunology
  • Complement C3 / immunology
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology*
  • Immunity / immunology*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Models, Immunological

Substances

  • Complement C3
  • Complement C1q
  • Complement System Proteins