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Activation of complement—a mechanism for the inflammation in acne
Author(s) -
SCOTT D.G.,
CUNLIFFE W.J.,
GOWLAND G.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1979.tb05625.x
Subject(s) - inflammation , mechanism (biology) , complement system , acne , complement (music) , medicine , immunology , dermatology , biology , immune system , genetics , philosophy , phenotype , epistemology , complementation , gene
SUMMARY An immunofluorescence investigation of thirty‐six non‐inflamed and thirty‐four inflamed acne lesions has been carried out. Fluorescence for C 3 , unaccompanied by fluorescence for immunoglobulins, was found in the walls of dermal blood vessels or at the basement membrane zone of the comedo or at both these sites in fifty‐seven lesions. Fluorescence for C 3 accompanied by fluorescence for immunoglobulins was found in nine lesions. In two papules and three nodules the comedo was surrounded or replaced by a mononuclear cell infiltrate. These findings have been taken to indicate that cellular immune mechanisms are a late event and activation of complement is an early event in the pathogenesis of inflammation in acne. The mechanism of complement activation remains uncertain.