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Molecular biology of complement
Author(s) -
Colten Harvey R.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.950040604
Subject(s) - biology , effector , complement (music) , complement system , complement component 2 , gene , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , complement deficiency , mechanism (biology) , complement control protein , regulation of gene expression , dna , genetics , computational biology , cd46 , alternative complement pathway , immunology , phenotype , philosophy , epistemology , complementation
Complementary DNA clones corresponding to most of the proteins of a major amplification and effector of immune host defenses, the complement system, have been isolated and characterized. Availability of these molecular probes has substantially increased our information about and understanding of the structure of the complement proteins and regulation of complement gene expression. Information about the proteins has led to the generation of potential pharmacological agents for the selective control of inflammation. Understanding of the regulatory mechanism has provided insights into the mechanisms accounting for the response to several cytokines including interferon‐gamma, interleukin‐1 and tumor necrosis factor. Finally, complement molecular genetics has been stimulated so that the basis for several complement deficiency disorders has been elucidated.