The role of the complement system in cancer

In addition to being a component of innate immunity and an ancient defense mechanism against invading pathogens, complement activation also participates in the adaptive immune response, inflammation, hemostasis, embryogenesis, and organ repair and development. Activation of the complement system via...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of clinical investigation Vol. 127; no. 3; pp. 780 - 789
Main Author Afshar-Kharghan, Vahid
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Society for Clinical Investigation 01.03.2017
Subjects
Animals
Antigens
Apoptosis - immunology
Biomedical research
Cancer
Cell Communication - immunology
Cell Proliferation
Chemotherapy
Clinical trials
Complement Pathway, Alternative - immunology
Complement Pathway, Classical - immunology
Complement system
Complement System Proteins - immunology
Complications and side effects
Dendritic cells
Development and progression
Humans
Immunoglobulins
Inflammation
Ligands
Lymphocytes
Neoplasms - immunology
Neutrophils
Proteins
Regulation
Review
Signal transduction
Signal Transduction - immunology
United States
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:In addition to being a component of innate immunity and an ancient defense mechanism against invading pathogens, complement activation also participates in the adaptive immune response, inflammation, hemostasis, embryogenesis, and organ repair and development. Activation of the complement system via classical, lectin, or alternative pathways generates anaphylatoxins (C3a and C5a) and membrane attack complex (C5b-9) and opsonizes targeted cells. Complement activation end products and their receptors mediate cell-cell interactions that regulate several biological functions in the extravascular tissue. Signaling of anaphylatoxin receptors or assembly of membrane attack complex promotes cell dedifferentiation, proliferation, and migration in addition to reducing apoptosis. As a result, complement activation in the tumor microenvironment enhances tumor growth and increases metastasis. In this Review, I discuss immune and nonimmune functions of complement proteins and the tumor-promoting effect of complement activation.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-3
content type line 23
ObjectType-Review-1
ObjectType-Article-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
ISSN:0021-9738
1558-8238
DOI:10.1172/jci90962