EXPRESSION OF COMPLEMENT IN THE BRAIN - ROLE IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

The brain is an immunologically isolated site, largely sheltered from circulating cells and proteins of the immune system such as plasma com plement. Here, Paul Morgan and Philippe Gasque present evidence that b rain cells can biosynthesize a complete, functional complement system and also express receptors for complement fragments. They propose that complement synthesis and activation in the brain is important in immu ne defence but also plays a role in brain disease.