14/05 Lecture 32 - Immunology III

Complement system

This is a system of nine major protein complexes (C1-9) that act in sequence to clear pathogens from blood and tissue

Inflammatory response

This is an immune response triggered by the introduction of foreign bodies, when neutrophils act on a site of injury

Chemokine

This is a chemical signal produced by immune cells that guides neutrophils to the site of injury

Diapedesis

This is the process of neutrophils changing shape to diffuse through the capillary wall and enter tissue during the inflammatory response

Phagosome

This is a vesicle containing pathogens or external material

C3 convertase

This is an enzyme complex that produces effector molecules from classical, alternative, or lectin pathway triggers

C3b

This is the protein complex that triggers opsonisation

C3a and C5a

These are the protein complexes that act as peptide mediators of inflammation and recruit phagocytes

Membrane attack complex

This is formed from the activated complement system components (C5b and C6-C) that inserts into the target cell membrane, creating pores that can lyse the target cell

Mast cell degranulation

This is the process of mast cells releasing inflammatory substances, like histamine, into circulation upon activation