Clinical Information

Complement proteins are components of the innate immune system. There are 3 pathways to complement activation: 1) the classic pathway, 2) the alternative (or properdin) pathway, and 3) the lectin activation (mannan-binding protein [MBP]) pathway. The classic pathway of the complement system is composed of a series of proteins that are activated in response to the presence of immune complexes. The activation process results in the generation of peptides that are chemotactic for neutrophils and that bind to immune complexes and complement receptors. The end result of the complement activation cascade is the formation of the lytic membrane attack complex (MAC).

The absence of early components (C1-C4) of the complement cascade results in the inability of immune complexes to activate the cascade. Patients with deficiencies of the early complement proteins are unable to clear immune complexes or to generate lytic activity. These patients have increased susceptibility to infections with encapsulated microorganisms. They may also have symptoms that suggest autoimmune disease and complement deficiency may be an etiologic factor in the development of autoimmune disease.

C3 is at the entry point for all 3 activation pathways to activate the MAC. C3 deficiency may result in pneumococcal and neisserial infections as well as autoimmune diseases such as glomerulonephritis.

Complement levels can be detected by antigen assays that quantitate the amount of the protein (C3 / Complement C3, Serum). For most of the complement proteins, a small number of cases have been described in which the protein is present but is non functional. These rare cases require a functional assay to detect the deficiency.