Complement Activation

Cancer Terms -> Biological Process -> Subcellular Process -> Biochemical Process -> Complement Activation

Complement Activation Definition

The complement system consists of more than 30 proteins engaged in host defense. It provides both an independent immune system capable of attacking microbes as well as other foreign material and an adjunct to the antibody system. Once activated, the complement system fires in a cascade-like fashion in which one component activates the next. Both swift and powerful, millions of complement components can deposit on an invading microbe within only a few minutes. Such a potent system requires strict regulation to avoid host injury. Membrane cofactor protein (MCP) is one critical regulator aimed at controlling inadvertent complement activation on host cells and nearly every cell examined expresses MCP on its cell membrane.