Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ricklin D
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3521040 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Immunobiology 20121101 11
The complement network is increasingly recognized as an important triage system that is able to differentiate between healthy host cells, microbial intruders, cellular debris and immune complexes, and tailor its actions accordingly. At the center of this triage mechanism is the alternative pathway C3 convertase (C3bBb), a potent enzymatic protein complex capable of rapidly converting the inert yet abundant component C3 into powerful effector fragments (C3a and C3b), thereby amplifying the initia ...[more]