Main description:

Interest in complement developed at the end of the nineteenth century from observations on cellular and humoral defense mechanisms against bacteria. It was recognized at that time that there were factors in body fluids of animals and man that were capable of killing and lysing bacteria in the absence of cellular factors. Due to the efforts of two of the founders of immunology, Bordet and Ehrlich, and their colleagues, by 1912 the multicomponent nature of complement action was well recognized, the sequence of reaction of the components in the lysis of erythrocytes was defined, complement fixation as a major tool for studying antibody-antigen interaction was well established, and studies on the physicochemical properties of the components had been started. Yet, with a few notable exceptions, research on complement was largely abandoned by most "mainstream" immunologists for the following two or three decades. When one looks at the contents of the present volume, it is hard to imagine that as recently as 20 years ago, there were probably fewer than ten major laboratories where complement research was the primary theme. The contents attest to the fact that there are today dozens of laboratories on three continents where research on complement is pursued in depth. It is not easy to point to all the advances that have occurred in complement research during the past few years.

Contents:

1 Biochemistry and Biology of Complement Activation.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Biochemistry of Complement Activation.- 3. Regulation Mechanisms of the Complement Reaction.- 4. Biological Activities Generated during Complement Activation.- 5. Conclusion.- References.- 2 Alternative Modes and Pathways of Complement Activation.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Activation by Agents Not Components of ? Nor Acting as Antigens.- 3. The Alternative or Properdin Pathway of ? Activation.- 4. Initiation of the ? Sequence by Heterotopically Activated Complement Components.- 5. Summary.- References.- 3 Complement Synthesis.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Methods for Studies of Complement Synthesis.- 3. Sites of Synthesis of Complement Components.- 4. Genetic Regulation of Complement Synthesis.- 5. Nongenetic Control of Complement Biosynthesis.- 6. Conclusion.- References.- 4 Plasma Membrane Receptors for Complement.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Definitions and Nomenclature.- 3. Molecular Structure of C3 and C4.- 4. Complement Receptors.- 5. Reagents for the Detection of b and d Receptors.- 6. Cells Bearing Plasma Membrane Receptors for Complement.- 7. Functional Significance of the Receptors for Complement.- 8. Conclusion.- References.- 5 Opsonization.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Immunoglobulin G.- 3. Complement.- 4. Other Opsonins.- 5. Cytophilic Antibody.- 6. Intracellular Effects of Opsonins.- 7. Mechanism of Action of Opsonins in the Ingestion Phase of Phagocytosis.- 8. Conclusions.- References.- 6 Killing of Nucleated Cells by Antibody and Complement.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Role of Antigen, Antibody, and ? in the Killing of Nucleated Cells.- 3. Role of Cell Repair of ? Damage or Inhibition of ? Action.- 4. Summary.- References.- 7 Serum Bactericidal Activity and Complement.- 1. General Considerations.- 2. Methodology.- 3. Immune Hemolysis: An Analogous Process.- 4. Insensitivity of Gram-Positive Organisms and Mycobacteria.- 5. Anatomy of the Gram-Negative Bacterial Cell: Its Relationship to the Cell's Complement and Lysozyme Sensitivity.- 6. Antigenic Targets of the Bactericidal Reaction.- 7. Sensitivity Differences between Rough and Smooth Strains.- 8. Antibody Source.- 9. Complement Source.- 10. Interactions of the Immune Bactericidal Reaction.- 11. Role of the Immune Bactericidal Reaction in Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections.- 12. Summary.- References.- 8 Biologic Aspects of Leukocyte Chemotaxis.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Methods for Quantifying Leukocyte Chemotaxis in Vitro.- 3. Chemotactic Factors.- 4. Defective Chemotaxis in Human Disease.- 5. Summary and Conclusions.- References.- 9 Phylogenetics and Ontogenetics of the Complement Systems.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Ontogeny of the Human Complement System.- 3. Ontogenetic Study of Complement in Animals.- 4. Phylogeny of the ? System.- 5. Humoral Immunity, Cellular Immunity, and Complement in Phylogenetic Perspective.- 6. Summary.- References.- 10 The Chemistry and Biology of the Proteins of the Hageman Factor-Activated Pathways.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Biochemical Properties of the Components of the Hageman Factor-Activated Pathways.- 3. Regulation of the Activation of Hageman Factor-Reciprocal Activation.- 4 Biological Activities Associated with the Activated Components of the Hageman Factor Pathways.- 5. Participation of the Hageman Factor Pathways in Experimental and Human Disease.- 6. Summary.- References.- 11 Isolated Deficiencies of the Complement System in Experimental Animals.- 1. Introduction.- 2. C1 Deficiency in Chickens.- 3. C4 Deficiency.- 4. "C3" Deficiency in Guinea Pigs.- 5. C5 Deficiency in Mice.- 6. C6 Deficiency.- 7. Conclusion.- References.- 12 Inherited Deficiencies of the Complement System.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Clq Deficiency in Man.- 3. Clr Deficiency in Man.- 4. Deficiency of Cls Inhibitor.- 5. Hereditary Cls Deficiency.- 6. Hereditary C2 Deficiency.- 7. Hereditary C3 Deficiency.- 8. Deficiency of C3b Inactivator.- 9. Hereditary C4 Deficiency.- 10. C5 Dysfunction.- 11. Hereditary C5 Deficiency.- 12. Hereditary C6 Deficiency.- 13. Hereditary C7 Deficiency.- 14. Hereditary C8 Deficiency.- 15. Conclusion.- References.- 13 Complement and the Major Histocompatibility Systems.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Major Histocompatibility Systems.- 3. Evidence of Genetic Association between the H and ? Systems.- 4. Conclusions.- References.- 14 Complement in Cancer.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Complement in Tumor-Bearing Animals.- 3. Complement in AKR Leukemia.- 4. Feline and Canine Lymphosarcomas (Leukemias).- 5. Complement Levels in Human Cancer.- 6. Complement and Therapy.- 7. Conclusion.- References.- 15 Perturbations of Complement in Disease.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Acquired Abnormalities.- 3. Genetic Abnormalities.- References.- Abbreviations.- Inde.