PMID: 9159241Mar 1, 1996Paper

Pharmacological manipulation of the complement system in human diseases

Frontiers in Bioscience : a Journal and Virtual Library
S S Asghar

Abstract

Complement is one of the powerful effector systems involved in the body's defense. When present in a dormant state it can, in concert with other components of immune system, protect the individual from foreign pathogens. However, inappropriately activated complement can cause disease. Several disease states such as immune complex and autoimmune diseases and deficiencies of some complement regulators are associated with inappropriate activation of complement. In some diseases complement is activated for a long or indefinite period while in others for a comparatively short time; in some it is activated systemically, in others locally; in some whole cascade is activated, in others only a few components are activated; in some classical pathway is activated, in others alternative pathway. In some diseases activation of complement takes place on cell and tissue surfaces. In many complement activating diseases biological activities of complement fragments become detrimental resulting in tissue injury and disease. Inhibition of complement by specific inhibitors is likely to arrest complement mediated disease processes. From this point of view, some laboratories are developing low molecular weight synthetic inhibitors whereas others are...Continue Reading

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