Biomaterial Database

Complement system in human colostrum: presence of nine complement components and factors of alternative pathway in human colostrum. 1977

S Nakajima, and A S Baba, and N Tamura

Evidence has been obtained for the presence in human colostrum of all nine components of complement (C), C1 through C9, and factors of the alternative pathway. Samples of colostrums collected from five women at 1-4 days after normal parturition were assayed for the haemolytic activities of individual components. As compared with normal human sera, the activities of each component ranged from 0.03 to 7% of those in sera. The activities of C4, C7 and C9 were relatively high, while that of C1 was extremely low. In most of the cases, the activities of individual components gradually increased following delivery, when expressed as the activity per unit weight (g) of protein in the colostrum. When the colostrums were treated with cobra venom factor, most of the colostrums showed 10-20% reduction in the C3 activity. This finding indicates the presence of factors such as B and D which are involved in the activation of C through the alternative pathway. The role as a defense factor of the C system in human colostrum and milk is discussed in connection with the ability of secretory IgA to react with C.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007070	Immunoglobulin A	Represents 15-20% of the human serum immunoglobulins, mostly as the 4-chain polymer in humans or dimer in other mammals. Secretory IgA (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A, SECRETORY) is the main immunoglobulin in secretions.	IgA,IgA Antibody,IgA1,IgA2,Antibody, IgA
D007074	Immunoglobulin G	The major immunoglobulin isotype class in normal human serum. There are several isotype subclasses of IgG, for example, IgG1, IgG2A, and IgG2B.	Gamma Globulin, 7S,IgG,IgG Antibody,Allerglobuline,IgG(T),IgG1,IgG2,IgG2A,IgG2B,IgG3,IgG4,Immunoglobulin GT,Polyglobin,7S Gamma Globulin,Antibody, IgG,GT, Immunoglobulin
D007075	Immunoglobulin M	A class of immunoglobulin bearing mu chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN MU-CHAINS). IgM can fix COMPLEMENT. The name comes from its high molecular weight and originally was called a macroglobulin.	Gamma Globulin, 19S,IgM,IgM Antibody,IgM1,IgM2,19S Gamma Globulin,Antibody, IgM
D003126	Colostrum	The thin, yellow, serous fluid secreted by the mammary glands during pregnancy and immediately postpartum before lactation begins. It consists of immunologically active substances, white blood cells, water, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.	Colostrums
D003165	Complement System Proteins	Serum glycoproteins participating in the host defense mechanism of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION that creates the COMPLEMENT MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX. Included are glycoproteins in the various pathways of complement activation (CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; and LECTIN COMPLEMENT PATHWAY).	Complement Proteins,Complement,Complement Protein,Hemolytic Complement,Complement, Hemolytic,Protein, Complement,Proteins, Complement,Proteins, Complement System
D003172	Complement C1	The first complement component to act in the activation of CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY. It is a calcium-dependent trimolecular complex made up of three subcomponents: COMPLEMENT C1Q; COMPLEMENT C1R; and COMPLEMENT C1S at 1:2:2 ratios. When the intact C1 binds to at least two antibodies (involving C1q), C1r and C1s are sequentially activated, leading to subsequent steps in the cascade of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION.	C1 Complement,Complement 1,Complement Component 1,C1, Complement,Complement, C1,Component 1, Complement
D003175	Complement C2	A component of the CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY. C2 is cleaved by activated COMPLEMENT C1S into COMPLEMENT C2B and COMPLEMENT C2A. C2a, the COOH-terminal fragment containing a SERINE PROTEASE, combines with COMPLEMENT C4B to form C4b2a (CLASSICAL PATHWAY C3 CONVERTASE) and subsequent C4b2a3b (CLASSICAL PATHWAY C5 CONVERTASE).	C2 Complement,Complement 2,Complement Component 2,C2, Complement,Complement, C2,Component 2, Complement
D003176	Complement C3	A glycoprotein that is central in both the classical and the alternative pathway of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION. C3 can be cleaved into COMPLEMENT C3A and COMPLEMENT C3B, spontaneously at low level or by C3 CONVERTASE at high level. The smaller fragment C3a is an ANAPHYLATOXIN and mediator of local inflammatory process. The larger fragment C3b binds with C3 convertase to form C5 convertase.	C3 Complement,C3 Precursor,Complement 3,Complement C3 Precursor,Complement Component 3,Precursor-Complement 3,Pro-C3,Pro-Complement 3,C3 Precursor, Complement,C3, Complement,Complement, C3,Component 3, Complement,Precursor Complement 3,Precursor, C3,Precursor, Complement C3,Pro C3,Pro Complement 3
D003181	Complement C4	A glycoprotein that is important in the activation of CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY. C4 is cleaved by the activated COMPLEMENT C1S into COMPLEMENT C4A and COMPLEMENT C4B.	C4 Complement,C4 Complement Component,Complement 4,Complement C4, Precursor,Complement Component 4,Pro-C4,Pro-complement 4,C4, Complement,Complement Component, C4,Complement, C4,Component 4, Complement,Component, C4 Complement,Pro C4,Pro complement 4
D003182	Complement C5	C5 plays a central role in both the classical and the alternative pathway of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION. C5 is cleaved by C5 CONVERTASE into COMPLEMENT C5A and COMPLEMENT C5B. The smaller fragment C5a is an ANAPHYLATOXIN and mediator of inflammatory process. The major fragment C5b binds to the membrane initiating the spontaneous assembly of the late complement components, C5-C9, into the MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX.	C5 Complement,Complement 5,Complement C5, Precursor,Complement Component 5,Precursor C5,Pro-C5,Pro-complement 5,C5, Complement,C5, Precursor,C5, Precursor Complement,Complement, C5,Component 5, Complement,Precursor Complement C5,Pro C5,Pro complement 5