Immunology Help

collisster · 14 Feb 2011 at 01:10

Hi,
I'm currently studying immunology as part of my course at uni, I'm confused as to how the complement system fits in with the specific and non-specific defence mechanisms?

Help would be much appreciated !

Thank you!

Xordium · 14 Feb 2011 at 01:51

collisster said:
Hi,
I'm currently studying immunology as part of my course at uni, I'm confused as to how the complement system fits in with the specific and non-specific defence mechanisms?

Help would be much appreciated !

Thank you!

The complement system is part of the inate(non-specific) system. It is not adaptive (specific).

Jolteh · 14 Feb 2011 at 02:25

As Maustin says, they're non-specific. Complements are proteins, made mainly in the liver, that float around in the blood and are part of the innate immune system.

They bind with the antibodies on the surface of pathogens and cause the cells to split open and die.

There's some fairly good youtube videos on it.

collisster · 16 Feb 2011 at 00:52

ok thanks, does the specific defence system have a role in activating the complement system though?

Phog · 16 Feb 2011 at 18:05

C1 binds to the Fc region of bound antibodies (specific); it's the classical pathway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_complement_pathway

A.N.Other · 16 Feb 2011 at 19:15

Janeway has a good run-down on the complement, but it depends on how much detail you're after

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27100/#A161

Your university library will have the most up-to-date copy of it (the NCBI one is a few editions behind), but it's worth getting if you're going to be doing much immunology.