Module 3 ITn
Module 3 ITn
Complement
“Complement is a group of serum proteins which circulate in the serum in an inactive proenzyme form. These
inactive proteins can be activated by various specific & nonspecific immunologic mechanisms. The activation of
complement molecule helps in the formation of Membrane Attack Complex (MAC) & other smaller peptides”.
Dr. Amulya Giridasappa, The Oxford College of Engineering
• These help in elimination of microorganisms from our body either by damaging the cell membrane of
pathogenic microorganisms or by facilitating their clearance. Complement acts as the effector of the humoral
branch of the immune system.
• The proteins and glycoproteins that compose the complement system are synthesized mainly by liver
hepatocytes, although significant amounts are also produced by blood monocytes, tissue macrophages, and
epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. These components constitute 5% (by weight) of
the serum globulin fraction.
• Complement components are designated by numerals (C1–C9), by letter symbols (e.g., factor D), or by trivial
names (e.g., homologous restriction factor). Peptide fragments formed by activation of a component are
denoted by small letters. In most cases, the smaller fragment resulting from cleavage of a component is
designated ―a‖ and the larger fragment designated ―b‖ (e.g., C3a, C3b; note that C2 is an exception: C2a is
the larger cleavage fragment). The larger fragments bind to the target near the site of activation, and the
smaller fragments diffuse from the site and can initiate localized inflammatory responses by binding to specific
receptors. The complement fragments interact with one another to form functional complexes. Those
complexes that have enzymatic activity are designated by a bar over the number or symbol (e.g., C4b2a,
C3bBb). Dr. Amulya Giridasappa, The Oxford College of Engineering
Complement Activation - Inactive proenzyme form of complement can be activated by two different pathways.
They are
• Classical pathway
• Alternative pathway
Both pathways follow different mechanism to produce the C5b. The final steps that lead to a membrane attack
complex are same in both the pathways.
Classical pathway
Complement activation by the classical pathway commonly begins with the formation of soluble antigen-antibody
complexes (immune complexes) or with the binding of antibody to antigen on a suitable target, such as a bacterial
cell. IgM and certain subclasses of IgG (human IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3) can activate the classical complement
pathway. The initial stage of activation involves C1, C2, C3, and C4, which are present in plasma in functionally
inactive forms.
1. Initiation: The classical pathway is initiated when antibodies (IgM or IgG) bind to specific antigens on the
surface of pathogens. This antibody-antigen interaction is a key event that marks the pathogen for destruction.
Type I Hypersensitivity: Involves an IgE-mediated immune response. Upon initial exposure to an allergen, B cells
produce IgE antibodies, which bind to mast cells and basophils. Subsequent exposure to the allergen leads to cross-
linking of IgE antibodies, triggering the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators. It is rapid onset,
occurs typically within minutes of exposure.
Examples: Allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, anaphylaxis, and some types of food allergies.
Dr. Amulya Giridasappa, The Oxford College of Engineering
Type II Hypersensitivity (Cytotoxic Hypersensitivity): Antibodies, often IgG or IgM, target antigens on the surface
of cells, leading to cell destruction through complement activation or phagocytosis. This type is often associated with
autoimmune reactions. It can vary in onset.
Examples: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, blood transfusion reactions, and certain drug-induced reactions.
Type IV Hypersensitivity (Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity): Involves activation of T cells, particularly CD4+ and
CD8+ T cells. T cell-mediated inflammation and tissue damage occur, usually 24 to 48 hours after exposure to the
antigen. I t has delayed onset, usually occurring 24 to 48 hours after exposure.
Examples: Contact dermatitis (e.g., poison ivy), tuberculin skin test reactions, and certain autoimmune diseases.
• Immunotherapy with repeated injections of increasing doses of allergens (hyposensitization) has been known for
some time to reduce the severity of type I reactions, or even eliminate them completely, in a significant number of
individuals suffering from allergic rhinitis. Such repeated introduction of allergen by subcutaneous injections
appears to cause a shift toward IgG production or to induce T-cell–mediated suppression (possibly by a shift
to the TH1 subset and IFN-γ production) that turns off the IgE response.
• Another form of immunotherapy is the use of humanized monoclonal anti-IgE. These antibodies bind to IgE, but
only if IgE is not already bound to FcεRI; the latter would lead to histamine release.
• Another approach for treating allergies stems from finding that soluble antigens tend to induce a state of allergy by
activating T cells in the absence of the necessary co-stimulatory signal.
• Several drugs block release of allergic mediators by interfering with various biochemical steps in mast-cell
activation and degranulation. Disodium cromoglycate (cromolyn sodium) prevents Ca2+ influx into mast cells.
Theophylline, which is commonly administered to asthmatics orally or through inhalers, blocks phosphodiesterase,
which catalyzes the breakdown of cAMP to 5′-AMP. The resulting prolonged increase in cAMP levels blocks
degranulation. Dr. Amulya Giridasappa, The Oxford College of Engineering
• A number of drugs stimulate the β-adrenergic system by stimulating β-adrenergic receptors. Epinephrine (also
known as adrenaline) & its analogs are commonly administered during anaphylactic shock. It acts by binding to β-
adrenergic receptors on bronchial smooth muscles and mast cells, elevating the cAMP levels within these cells.
• The increased levels of cAMP promote relaxation of the bronchial muscles and decreased mast-cell
degranulation.
• Cortisone and various other anti-inflammatory drugs also have been used to reduce type I reactions.
• Paul Ehrlich, the German Immunologist at the turn of the 20th Century coined a term ―horror autotoxicus‖ and
described that the immune system could do mistake and, instead of reacting against foreign antigens, could focus
its attack on self-antigens.
• Nowadays this term ―horror autotoxicus‖ is called as autoimmunity. During the development of immune system,
every individual show an important phenomena called immune tolerance. During immune tolerance the
individual‘s self reacting clones of lymphocytes undergo apoptosis without selection and proliferation. These
clones of lymphocytes which react to our own body molecules (self antigens) are selected and deleted from the
body. Thus an individual‘s immune system doesn‘t produce any immune response to his own body cells or
molecules.
• The immune system must effectively defend against diverse types of pathogenic microbes while simultaneously
maintaining tolerance to self-antigens. But under certain circumstances immune system fails to produce immune
tolerance. This results in an inappropriate response of the immune system against self-components. This
phenomenon is known as autoimmunity.
Dr. Amulya Giridasappa, The Oxford College of Engineering
• Autoimmunity is defined as an immune response produced against self antigen, (i.e., any molecule that is a
normal body constituent of the individual) leading to destruction or impaired function of a cell, tissue or organ.
Such diseases affect 5%–7% of the human population, often causing chronic debilitating illnesses.
• Autoimmune diseases can be classified based on the following criteria
✓ Extent of organ involvement
✓ Innate immune system requirements, and
✓ Effector mechanisms involved
• However, each type of autoimmune disease has unique pathophysiologic characteristics. Based on the organ
involvement, autoimmune disorder can be classified into
• i) Organ-specific and ii) Systemic autoimmune disease
Organ-specific autoimmune disease - In an organ-specific autoimmune disease, the immune response is directed
to target antigen, that is unique to a single organ or gland, so that the manifestations are largely limited to that organ.
• The cells of the target organs may be damaged directly by humoral or cell- mediated effector mechanisms or in
some organ specific autoimmunity the antibodies may over-stimulate or block the normal function of the target
organ. Dr. Amulya Giridasappa, The Oxford College of Engineering
• Some organ specific autoimmune diseases mediated by direct cellular damage.
• Autoimmune diseases involving direct cellular damage occur when lymphocytes or antibodies bind to cell-
membrane antigens, causing cellular lysis and/or an inflammatory response in the affected organ.
• Gradually, the damaged cellular structure is replaced by connective tissue (scar tissue), and the function of the
organ declines. Eg., Hashimoto thyroiditis, autoimmune anemias, Goodpasture‘s syndrome, insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus, Addison’s disease, vitiligo, etc.
• Spontaneous animal models- A number of autoimmune diseases that develop spontaneously in certain
animals exhibit important clinical and pathologic similarities to certain autoimmune diseases in humans. Certain
inbred mouse strains are particularly valuable models for studying the immunologic defects involved in the
development of autoimmunity.
Innate immunity
➢ The innate immune system involves phagocytosis and cytotoxicity mediated by NK cells.
➢ The phagocytes has Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR) (Toll-like receptors, mannose receptors and scavenger
receptors) that recognizes Pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and causes phagocytosis.
➢ Ficolins, collectins and pentraxins etc. act as soluble opsonin by binding to pathogen surface and enhancing their
phagocytosis by phagocytes.
Humoral immunity – here, the Abs produced by plasma cells can act directly on protozoa to damage them either by
itself of by activating the complement pathways.
➢ Antibody can neutralize the parasites directly by blocking its attachment to a new host cell. Antibody can enhance
phagocytois by macrophages, the effects are mediated by Fc and complement receptors on macrophages.
➢ Antibody eliminates the protozoans by ADCC.
Dr. Amulya Giridasappa, The Oxford College of Engineering
To sumup…..
It is a condition in which the immune system is unable to produce an immune response against any infectious
agent or self transformed cells. Thus it fails to protect the host from disease- causing agents or from malignant
cells. Immunodeficiency can be classified into two types:
i) Primary immunodeficiency - A condition resulting from a genetic or developmental defect in immune system is
called as primary immunodeficiency. In these conditions, the defect is present at the time of birth but it may not
manifest itself until later in life.
ii) Secondary immunodeficiency - Also called acquired immunodeficiency, it is a condition in which the loss of
immune function occurs as a result of extrinsic factors such as disorders of blood or bone marrow, metabolic
disorders, drugs, treatment of cancers and infectious agents such as HIV.
• HIV infection of target cells – a). HIV gp120 binds to CD4+ on target cell. Fusogenic domain in gp41 and
CXCR4, a G-protein–linked receptor in the target-cell membrane, mediate fusion.
Dr. Amulya Giridasappa, The Oxford College of Engineering
b) Nucleocapsid containing viral genome and enzymes enters cells.
c) Viral genome and enzymes are released following removal of core proteins.
d) Viral reverse transcriptase catalyzes reverse transcription of ssRNA, forming RNA–DNA hybrids.
e) Original RNA template is partially degraded by ribonuclease H, followed by synthesis of second DNA strand to
yield HIV dsDNA.
f) The viral dsDNA is then translocated to the nucleus and integrated into the host chromosomal DNA by the viral
integrase enzyme p32.
2. Purified antigen vaccines These are based on purified antigens isolated from concerned pathogens. Since
these vaccine preparations do not contain organism, therefore the pathogenicity is avoided. These includes-
i) Purified polysaccharide antigens- vaccines based on polysaccharide antigens from the bacterial cell wall
capsules of N. meningitis, S. pneumonia. These antigens will induce humoral immune response in the host.
ii) Toxoid vaccines - Toxoids are inactivated toxins. These are vaccines directed at the toxins produced by a
pathogen. Such as vaccines against tetanus and diphtheria.
3. Recombinant vaccines
• These vaccines are produced by using recombinant DNA technology.
• These vaccines are composed of either a protein or a gene encoding a protein of pathogen origin that is
immunogenic and critical to the functioning of pathogenic organism.
• Subunit vaccines – the vaccines based on recombinant proteins. Proteins are generally immunogenic and many
of them are critical for the pathogenic organisms. The genes encoding such antigenic proteins from a pathogen
can be identified, isolated and expressed in E. coli or some other suitable host for mass production of proteins.
Dr. Amulya Giridasappa, The Oxford College of Engineering
Recombinant protein vaccines such as Hepatitis B vaccine production