ROLE OF COMPLEMENT IN IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO LUNG INFLAMMATORY REACTIONS

Complement is one of the integral buttresses of the inflammatory respo nse. In addition to host defense activities, proinflammatory propertie s of several complement components are described, This overview elucid ates the role of complement in inflammatory reactions in vitro and in vivo, focusing on the complement activation products, C5a, and the mem brane attack complex, C5b-9, Using several approaches, the impact of t hese complement components in mechanisms relevant to neutrophil recrui tment is emphasized, In addition, the participation of complement in e ndothelial superoxide generation and its essential requirement for ful l expression of lung injury is demonstrated, as are the involved intra cellular signal transduction pathways, Understanding the mechanisms of complement-induced proinflammatory effects may provide a basis for fu ture therapeutic blockade of complement and/or its activation products .