Analysis of Complement C3a (Human) by MSD Hypersensitive Multi-Factor Electrochemiluminescence Analyzer (CAT#: STEM-MB-0113-LGZ)

Introduction

The complement system is composed of more than 30 kinds of plasma proteins and membrane proteins, widely present in blood, interstitial fluid and cell surface, and is a protein reaction system with precise regulation mechanism. The main physiological function of complement is to promote the phagocytosis of phagocytes and dissolve target cells, so it is an important part of the body's immune defense mechanism. Complement C3a is an activated cleavage product of the intrinsic complement molecule C3. Under the action of C3 convertase, C3 is activated and cleaved into two biologically active fragments, C3a and C3b. C3b is primarily involved in complement opsonization. C3a is a positively charged strongly basic polypeptide with a molecular weight of about 65-95kDa. It consists of 86 amino acids and has the functions of chemotaxis and activation of leukocytes, promoting leukocyte degranulation, and releasing inflammatory mediators such as histamine. C3a is involved in three activation pathways of the complement system, including the classical pathway, the alternative pathway and the lectin pathway. The active fragments of C3a, C4a, and C5a, which are produced when the complement is activated, are collectively called anaphylatoxin (AT), which, as ligands, can bind to corresponding receptors on the surface of inflammatory cells to initiate and regulate inflammatory responses.