THE ROLE OF THE COMPLEMENT CASCADE IN SEPSIS

Complement provides a critical and multifaceted defence system against infection. Following activation, complement can clear invading microo rganisms by lysis or by opsonization, which promotes recognition by co mplement receptors on phagocytes. Complement activation products promo te a local inflammatory response and are involved in the modulation of adaptive immune responses that lead to antibody production. The host has developed regulatory mechanisms for controlling complement activat ion and for protecting its own cells against complement attack. Some m icroorganisms have also evolved ways to avoid the opsonic and lytic ac tion of complement.